New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-27
Rochester Knockings' at Bufialo-The other
side of the story.


To the Editor Of The Tribune
The University Of Buffalo" embracing three
Professors, one of Psychology" one Of PA
thoogy and Materia Medics," and one Of Prin.
ciples and Practice Of Medicine and ClinicsI
Medicine" have lately made an official report or
exposition of the mode by which the Rochester
knockings or spiritual rapping a. they are some
times called" are produced Attached to the report
| is a halfway endorsement by the Editor Of the
| Commercial advertiser OF this city, the paper
chosen as the organ 70 expose the imposltion,l
in as much as the University seems to have
been under deep conviction on this subject, hav-
ing felt that a public statement is called for.
which may perhaps serve to prevent further
waste OF time, money and credibility, Ito say
nothing Of sentiment and Philosophy in connec-
ton with this so long successful imposition. -
| They could do no less il seems 10 me- than to
meet this thing on the Threshold and strip
II OF its mysterious bearings by solution
purely anatomical and physiological. This
they profess TO have done, and il was very
kind in ,hem that as propnetors Of public se2ti-
ment they generously oyercame the natural mod
esty evinced by our local institutions and were
willing to assume the Independent attitude OF ex-
posing so intolerable humbug. The language
OF the report is not as courteous as II might De-
but no matter for that. do not know that it is in
cumbent on so noted an institution as the Univer-
sity Of Buffalo to search through Webster for the
softest epithets for so harsh q subject | cannot
ask for a criticism Of the report in your paper It
would take up too much room. Among sensible
men in this city the emanation from the Unlver-
sity is deemed failure. Now as 10 the raPPings,
they are as mysterious as ever. Aside from
the knee Joint theory there are various other
theories, and there speculstions going on
here which may tend to give rational account
a. IL. al. 3 HaNa eha aIua .eaS
Of the specuations will be more satisfactory than
any theory that assumes that IL is the will power
over the Joints of the body. IL must be explainedon
some other hypothesis than mechanical ingenutty,or
action of the joints before It will satisfy many en-
quirng minds. have been to see the ladies, have
heard great many questions pFopounded, and
have heard some extraordinary answers given to
mental questions, ofmy own asking. | have heard
from gentlemen, whose words | would not doubt
on any other subject, a relation OF events which
they have witnessed, CT movements OF various
kinds of furniture in the room when these ladies'
were present, and without the aid OF physical
power All this | believe and am satisfied that the
mysterious agent that produces 1t will be dig
covered. AS an act Of Justice to the ladies, Mrs.
Fish and Miss Fox, who are the mediums OF
this unaccountable agent wish 10 say that so Tar.
there cannot be an exception taken 10 their mode
Of conduct they are kind and atiable and seem to
take the utmost pains to crafty every perso1that
calls on them by answ ering all their questions and
admitting TO all reasonable tests that are required.
have not even heard the mostrgid skeptics ques-
ton the proprety, conduct or bearing OF these Ia
dies That thereis an increasing interest manifested
on this subject is certain that 1t is matter wor-
thv of investigation, OF calm II not deyout rehec-
tion seems 10 me evident. IL these are emana-
tons from the spirit.world, are we not bound TO
heed theml If they are the effect OF natural
causes as yet unexplalned-lf there Is IN Nature
| an agent as powerful, subtle and pervading as
N
world that it be explained on scientific principlesl
| We are living in an age when we are met every
day by solid facts. Shall we turn our backs upon
them and call them humbugs, or shall we investi-
| gate them, praying that ia tue progressive 40
| Velopmcnt Of the age mankind may become
more harmonious, and better prepared to meet an
existence beyond this temporary and transitory
state of being
| More about The Rappings'-S. Is. Brittan.
NEw-HAvEs, Conn Saturday, Feb o.
| To the Editor OF The Tribune:
In response to your inquiries, will briefly say
that my opportunities for satisfactory investiga'
ton of tho remarkable phenomena now attracting
public attention, have only been limited by the
ncapacity of the mind, in its earthly condition, to
penetrate the veil that separates visible effects
| from their invisible causes. Though have never
been unduly excited on the subject, have found
it quite impossible to treat the matter with indf-
ference. These and singular exhibitions
of power and intelligence, which, notwithstanding
they are in measure dependent on earthly in
strumentalities, mnst, as hunibly conceive, have
their origin without and above the sphere of vsi-
Bile existence.
1t is, doubtless, true that the mysterious mes
sengers accompany an infant child in bridgeport.
As the mother is known 10 be a medium, IL oc-
| cured TO me that the sounds might be produced
| through her. Accordingly, few days since,
called on the family to ascertain the facts and on
this occasion learned the following particulars:
Ever since the birth of the child lit is yet three
months old the sounds have frequently occurred
on and about person, the cradle and the floor.
and often under circumstances calculated TO begot
and foster the idea that the child was itself the
medium. This impression has been repeatedly
sanctioned by the invisible presence. But tho
evidence which may be deemed most conclusive
is that of young lady who lives in the family
and occasionally has the care of the child. This
person positively atiirms that when left in charge
Of the child during temporary absence OF III
mother, she has received Intelligent responses
These manifestations, il should be observed, can
not b. induced al pleasure; bat that the child 10
occasionally medium-not only OF the sounds,
but of Ineligible communications confirmed
by the testimony of several respectable wit.
nesses.
A little bog, some five years Of age-the offspring
of the same mother-is alleged TO be medium
through which the power OF the invisible actors 10
sometimes exhibited 1t has happened when this
child has been seated in an ordinary char-his
feet being from six TO ten inches from the floor
that the chair and the child have been moved sud-
denly, yet with uniform motion, distance Of
three or four feet and in different directions Will.
no other person in contact with the chair, and
no TANGIBLE or other known instrumentallties we %
employe for this purpose. These Manifestations
have occurred in the daytime, and in the presence
of a number of the inmates Of the house. The en-
inent Lecturer on Toe0LOgy who has recently en-
lightened your City, has asummary mode which
he APPLIES 70 the solution Of these and all similar
nrobiems The nature Of his process may be
briefly comprehended thus: The witnesses all tiei
There are other medicines in Bridgeport and its