Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-09-01
AN HOUR WITH THE sPIRIT RAP
PERS.


PERS.
A friend of ours yesterday informed
us that some very mysterious revelations
for several days past had taken place ir
his store, and excited his surprise so much
by what he thought some supernatural
agency, that we went down with him ir
order to satisfy ourselves, Slowly we
walked to the back part Of the store, by
the by, dark as Il dungeon-when he
suddenly stopped and exclaimed:
Hark did you hear that scratch p
We made three jumps for the front
door, With nervous grasp he caught
us by the arm, and allayed our fears with
the assurance that it was nothing but n
rat.
Arrived at the extreme end, by the
feeble light of the vault window we were
able to discern around us huge piles of
coffee, salt bags and barrels. We didn't
feel at all comfortable, for the enormous
rats would sometimes put us in tremor
as they dashed by, rubbing their sleek
sides against our legs.
Our friend laid his hand on our shoul-
der, and in a very sepulcheral voice, in
quired if we were willing to go on, at the
same time admonishing us to be calm
and put our trust in Providence.
Shall raise the devil 2 said he.
We begged him not to try. Slowly he
approached the wall and took thcrefrom
n glass vial appended to q string.
This, said he, lis an important agent
i'll the phenomena am about to exhibit
to you-in fact, will prove what you are
about to see,'
Hc stepped off to one side and took
from salt bag wooden malet with a
long handle.
This said he lis an indispensable arti-
Gle for the successful accomplishment of
this startling mystery. l call it the spi-
rit clucidator; vulgar professors, however,
term it by the more common name of
'bung- starter
Suddenly roaring sound almost dead
cned our senses. We thought a mist
came over our eyes, and faint blue
blaze was burning around us.
We were about to Gaze in, when our
friend again came to the rescue and some
what calmed us by telling us that the
noise which we heard was of earth
that twas the rattling of drays upon the
stony street above, while lucifer match,
which he held in his hand explained the
blue blaze which we had began to think
issued from the Internal regions. He
took us by the hand, and we approached
veteran barrel.
This bung starter" said he, holding
it out in his hand, 'of itself can do no.
thing, yet, in my hand is the involuntary
slave of power, you'll see manifested
shut your eyes
We closed our peppers very tight, not
knowing what was going to come next.
when rap rap rap! was distinctly heard
on the side of the barrel.
Wonderful man thought we. Our
friend now took the vial with the string,
and bidding us not to be afraid, at the
same time telling us to lay our hand upon
the barrel, in solemn and measured tones
thus spoke -
Question.-'spirit, arc you there? Who
are you?'
Answer.-'Old Rye am that!'
Q,-Do you feel good?
Avery
Q,-'How long since you passed from
earth?
A.-'Some time
Q.-Where did it happen?'
Ain Pike county; l was cut of
at quito green age and fingered in the
barn.
Q.-Was your demise natural p
,A.-'Oh, very, was mashed in dis
tillory,'
Q.-'What sphere are you in?'
A.-'Fourth proof
Q,-'What is the highest state of spi
ritual existence?'
A,-'The rectifed state
Q'-"Any body there you know %
A,-'Yes-John Barley Corn, and ole
Here sudden splash was heard il
the barrel, We sorter swooned when ou
friend applied the glass vial to our mouth
and taking it away, said that the spirit ,ca
goRei We rubbed our stomach and fel
perfectly satisfied that he had not decei
we'd us.
HAB1Ts OF THE WILD HoRsE.--All tru
vellers who have crossed the plains e1
tending from the shores of La Plata