Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-05-15
From the Covington (Ind.) Peoples Friend
Rappings- Intercourse with the
Spirits,

Spirits.
Mr.. Editor: beg leaveto commit the follow
ing facts to the public, through the medium OF
your widely circulated paper, which shall do
in ss briet a manner as possible.
visited CrawfordsvilIe on the llth of April
ult., and remained there until the 24th, during
which time l spent portion Of each day and
night, III investigating the wonderful phenom-
enon, known as the Spiritual Rappings." The
frs. gentleman l acquainted myself with was
Mr.. Daugherty, to whom made my business
known; he Informed me there were both phys
ical and spiritual rappings in the place.
l wss then introduced to the family Of Mr..
Burke, where for the first time heard sounds
that could not account for. We were seated
around centre table Dr. Shook, Mr.. Davis
Ga Universalist minister,) Mr.. DAughery,
Mr.. Burke and family, three in NUMBER and my
self The question was then asked, "Will the
spirits manifest themselves by rapping on the
tablet" which was answered by several rnps,
some loud and others quite ndstinct. Several
questions were then asked by the company, and
correct answers given in return, which | will
not speak OF here, as purpose giving only my
own experience As soon as an opportunity
presented, | inquired "Will the spirits inverse
with me ?" no answer given. then inquired
i'll had any friends in the spirit world!" which
were continued until interrupted by asking if
i. was the spirit Of my father, brother, and so
on, naming several OF my departed relatives, and
also some that are living, but got M reply until
| named my wife, which was responded TO by
quick raps.
then put the following questions-Are you
happy in your spirit homer one rap; how many
months have you been in the spri, world? raps
corrcct.-l then inquired will the spirit spell
its name 4y the alphabet? no reply. then in.
quru, viii the spirit respond to its name by one
Z rap n | should call over number Of names
, mentally? one rap. | then repeated number
! of names mentally, and heard distinct rap
, when came to the right name. | then inqui-
g red, will the spirit converse with Inc in future,
e at this or any other place where there is me.
r dinm? if so manifest 1t by rapping- one rap.
. The following evening went to another part
q Of the town, to the house Of Mr.. Crews, one of
the oldest ctizens.-There were then assem-.
Il 5led some twenty or thirty persons in doors
i and out was shown into Il room crowded
u with persons, some of whom were anxious in
quirer. after tne TRUTH while others had Assem-
: blcd through mere curiosity | obtained sea,
< by the table where the 'rapplngs" were heard,
d asked some questions, but did not obtain salts
!. factory answers, owing to the noise and coniI
Il sion IN the room. Here will remark, that 10
;, person need expect to receive any convincing
o testimony in a crowded room, tor have known
: persons to make raps purpostly which have ac
tually been taken for res ponses from the spirits
and some noises made accidentally have ais,
y been taken for the raps Of invisible agents. Tn,
e crowd finally disappeared going away
e confused, some disappointed, and some few con
u WINGED.
(. Before leaving myself. obtained permis>io.
f. al, A..
le vestigation. Accordingly at s o'clock mex
e morning | called. and found no one present bu
al the family. went Immediately into room
e with no ono present except the two mediums
N After arranging everything to my notion, w
!, seated ourselves around table and remnnet
-, in silence n few minutes, when our silence " a
- broken by several raps in three different part
~ of the table. | then !nquired Is the spirit G
> my wife present? responded to by three ds,inc
raps. ! proceeded to ask some of the sam
'c que'ions that asked the day before, whcl
ST were promptly answered on the precedn,
at day. Proposed other questions, which wer
n answered correctly with enc or two exceptions
L. and these were afterwards corrected. To fur
- Their test the matter, | asked the question men
r. tally, is the spirit OF my father present? answer
- ed by one rap would here remark that tn
! raps OF the spirit purporting TO be the spirit o
y, my father, were different from any that ha,
y. hearc-hcavier and Of deep coarse tone; anl
Il, these sounds ware the same on any table il
Id other parts Of the town, ana SO with ever
as spirit you converse with; they have all their pc
1t cu!ia' sounds and signals. | asked scveru
&c questions concerning his DEATH where he died
at how long since, &c., which arc to tedious {
IN mention here; all were answered correctly.
I'd then arose from my seat and requested the spir
II. it Of my father to further manifest itself by NOV
~ ing the table, which was done by some invsi
:, bic agent; being well satisfied no hand in III
" room moved it. This was repeated three times
VI would say in conclusion. that during IN
VI stay in Charlottesville, visited nearly ever
NJ place where The "rappings" were-proposed
OF great many questions, which were generally an
Is, swered correct -and am now prepared, ate
st close, thorough, and candid investigation,
IL say that there are some invisible agents in thi
nj matter that can comprehend our thoughts, an
he manifest themselves to us by audible sound,
nj by feeling and the moving Of different objects
~ and would also state that the honesty and res
I,' probability of these families would entirely for
> bid the thought or idea OF these mysteriou
sounds and manifestations being produced b
these persons or any other material agency.
no VIM. II. NICHOLS.
O. CoYinston, May lst, 1851.
lis
sh Second Adventism.
m A Second Advent Convention was recent