Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-07-13
The Secret not Detected.
To Me Eiiior Of The Tribune:

To he Editor Of The Tribune.
An investigation was made Yesterday at
Barnum's Hotel, by several ladies', to search
out the origin of tie " Mysterious Rappings,"
which in Justice to Mrs. Fish and her sisters
should bo made public. The gentleman
who was instrumental in bringing about
this investigation has refused to sign any re
port, and has said that he did not wish his
name coupled with any, but as il is fairly to
be presumed that had trick and deception
been discovered, as he suspected there would
be, ho would readily have taken the credit
to himself of being the discoverer of hum
bug of three years existence which had
escaped the close scrutiny of men wiser and
moro ingenious, il can be doing him no in-
justice TO mention the facts in the case
which are briefly these: At the close of the
second session at Mrs. FisII's rooms. vestcr-
day, the gentleman, who gave his address,
told Mrs. +. that he had come prepared TO
subject her and her sisters to the personal
examination she had the day before invited.
Aitcr some talk between him, Mrs. Fish
aud several of hor friends, rs to the proper
course which should be pursued, and Mr.
- having assured Mrs. Fish that the lady
who had accompanied him there TO take
part in the examination was his wife, The
gentlemen present were requested to retire
from the room, and Mrs. Fish and her sis
ters were eft in the hands of Mrs. - and
three other Indies, all strangers TO them.-
Nearly an hour elapsed when the gentle
men were called to hear the report. Ii was
in substance as follows: the three sisters had
been sufficiently divested of their clothing
TO make it perfectly apparent that nothing
was concealed about their persons by which
they could produce the knockings that while
they were in that condition, the knockings
were heard in different parts of the room.-
Their feet and ankles were particularly ex-
amined and watched while the knockings
were heard, though Mrs. - stated that
once she did not hear them when the feet of
three ladies rested flat upon the fioor.-
Two of the other ladies said they did, and
the sounds appeared near to themselves.
Sofa and tables also underwent thorough
search, and nothing suspicious was found.
Other gentlemen soon after being admit
ted, Mr.. - himself recaptulated the facts
and concluded by saying the knockiDgs did
not appear TO be the result of human agen-
cy, and the ivestigation went far to establish
| the truth of what was claimed for them.-
To wind up the inquiry it was proposed by
| friends of the Indies that they should stand
/ upon glass tumbleIs. Six were according
/ ly brought into the room and placed upon
the floor, board was put across them upon
which the ladies' stood. After considerable
delay on the part of the spirits, who, per-
haps, thought matters had been carried fur
/ ther than was necessary, a beseeching ap-
peal TO them fy Mrs. Fish to clear herself
and sisters from suspicion brought several
distinct knocks which were duly acknowl-
edged by all present. make the foregoing
statement as an impartial witness, being an
entire stranger TO the three sisters or any one
IN any way connected with them. The
question still remains in full force How are
the Knockings produced?