Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-02-20
AYNE COUNTY, INDIANA, FEBRUARY 20, 1850.

Mysterious Noises in Western New y ork,
generally received as Spiritual Communi.
cations, just issued at Auburn, New York.
and for sale by Fowler & Wells. l3l
Nassau-st Our readers have had sue
cinct history Of the origin and character
of these noises, as developed in several
public exhibitions at Rochester, under the
direction of a number of the most eminent
and reliable citizens, most if not all of
whom were utterly incredulous when thev
commenced the investigation. bu; who
publicly stated at the close that they could
not account for these noises bv any laws
of nature or of roguery known to man
kind. We shall not now repeat the state
but extract from the pamphlet before US,
some further developments indicating in
telligence on the part of the cause Of these
noises. In speaking Of the Rochester in
vestgation, the pamphlet page So says:
''One member of the first committee
stated he asked the question, who is it
that wishes TO communicate with meE
The answer was Your wife will talk. ,
He evaded the answer. and gave the per-
sons present to understand that he never
had wife. To use his own EXPIRE ession
when he gave his public report. he brow
beat it down He would not admit tn at
there was any truth in it until he reported
in the evening-then he stated it correctly
he had lost his wife some time before -
Collusion or previous knowledge is by
no means impossible in this case, but the
next one relative to G. w who was mys-
teriously directed not to go to Michigan.
as he had intended, but to Rochester. to
apply to certain strange place at a GER
tain hour, and he would have situation
provided for him that week (this was
Thursday,) and actually did have stua-
ton given him at on Saturday evening,
by man whom he had never seen till he
applied to him, ard who did not imagine
on Thursday that he should want anybody
on Saturday. nor soon at all--these aver
ments form a very strong case, which
ought to have been unimpeachably authen-
tcated. This procuring situations for
men i'll need from strangers who never
heard Of them is a touch above Blitz, or
the Fakir of Ava, and. if a juggle, one
that ought to be encouraged and kept up
as long as possible. The pamphlet says:
"These are facts that can be positively
proved, with dates and names Of all the
parties"
Well, then, ii should have been Fewer
marvcls and more irresistible proof OF
them would have improved this pamphlet,
regarded as an appeal to the incredulous.
We continue our quotations, (page SO
COY
The following statement is taken from
the private ournal Of one Of the authors
Of this history:
son the 23d of November. l848, went
10 the city of Rochester on business.
had previously made up my mind to in
vestigate this so-called mystery. if should
have an opportunity. In doing so. | had
no doubt but what possessed shrewdness
enough TO detect the trick. as strongly
suspected it TO be. or discover the cause
of the noise if it should be unknown to
the inmates of the house
a friend Of mine whom | had long
known as skeptic in regard to any such
wonders, invited me to 90 with him TO hear
it. / accepted the invitation with feelings
that was far from serious apprehension c
communicating with anything beyond my
! power to discover,
'.Before heard the sound we seated
ourselves around table As soon as we
got quiet. | heard slight but dstinc
under side. Although | concluded tha
such sound might be made by machinery
| could see no possible motive in the
family taking SO much pains to deceive
people. as they received nothing but an
noyance and trouble in return for the
pains. proceeded to ask some question
and they were answered very freely ant
correctly. | asked if it would rap m,
age! 1t was done correctly. then tool
my memoradun1 book from my pocke: ant
wrote my questions. so that no other per
son should know the nature Of the ques
tons. | would write. rap four times
rap one; rap six: rap seven:' and TO eac
and every question | got correc. ans
wer. then laid aside my book and pro
ceeded to ask similar test questions men
tally. and, as before received correct an
swers.
IL could not believe that persons pre-
sent had the power to discern my thought
and make these sounds in answer. for tn
sounds have peculiarly not easily inn
tated. To suppose this TO be the cas-
would make the matter still greater mys
, terry. knew they could not give thos
answers. for there were questions answer
ed which they could not know anythin
about.
AT another time tried the experime,
, of counting in the following manner:
took several shells from card basket @
the table, fsmall lake shells.4 closed m