Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-02-23
spInrr nApplncs.

4uccudy tuSt, tef ahc Puti'vSI VI o"eAoA hi6
ourselves Of the truth or falsity of the vari-
GUS reports we had heard concerning it, and
we must say that unless this matter can be
accounted for upon scientific principles it
partakes considerably Of mysterious agency.
As the rappings have caused considerable
excitement wherever they have appeared, we
viii notice in detail the whole circumstances
attending the exhibition.
A gentleman Of our town being on visit
to his fathers, witnessed an exhibition of these
rappincs, and to the question as to whether
there are any mediums in Darkesville, an af-
frmative answer was given, he was then told
that in order to ascertain who the mediums
were, it would be necessary fer him to name
over the citizens, and that those who were
such, would be designated by rap. In nam
ing over the citizens, three raps we're given
to as many different pcrsons--one his own
son, child probably six or seven years of
age. On the gcnileinan's return TO town he
mentioned the matter TO several persons and
IT was concluded to try an experiment with
one of the persons who had been named as
medium, which experiment was entirely sue
cessful in its character. This of course cx-
cited the curiosity Of the citizens, and ano-
Their exhibition was had which your cores
pendent as well as several other gentlemen,
attended, for the purpose of testing the real
ity Of the whole matter and who went deter
mined not to be humbugged into belief of
the existence of anything of the kind. and
only to be satisfied with the fullest demon
stration and experiment.
Accordingly some six or eight persons
among them the writer of this article, seated
themselves around a small table with the
child noticed above, land when the table had
been charged with the magnetism of the hui
man body, which was done by each person
placing his hands upon the table, and when
so charged manifes'ing itself by raps similar
to the noise produced by electic sparks esca-
ping from battery, and by various oscilla-
tons of the tablet the boy propounded ques-
tons which were satisfactorily answered by
raps and which were astonishingly accurate
in the main.
What was most singular about this most
singular of all exhibitions was, that although
each of the company propounded questions,
no answers were given except to those made
by the little boy, and this was repeatedly
tested through the course of the evening
1t seemed that he could command the table
to jump turn round and raise itself off its
legs at his will, while no one else could cause
it to bulge an inch. To the question how
old each of us were, our ages were counted
OFT with aecutate precision, to the question,
who were married, who were lazy, who liked
their dram, who were religious, together with
multiplicity Of other simple questions, ac-
,uratc answers were given. When the la
ole was commanded by the boy to turn en-
Iirely around, it Immediately commenced the
revolution, when commanded to raise on one,
Two and three legs it was Immediately done,
nor could the united force prevent it, indeed,
1T subsequent exhibition upon the same
evening, the table acquired such momen-
tum in its revolution, that upon gentleman
Selling leg TO stop it, the leg was twisted
from the mortise while the table continued
It's gyrations.
Now, Mr.. Editor, know from this dcsul-
tory description of these strange doings, you
are ready to conclude that your correspon-
lent has been sadly hoaxed, and that the lit
tie common sense, which you may have had
the charity 10 believe he was possessed of,
will have TO suffer considerable dininution
in your estimation. But be this as it NAV,
we assure you that this thing is not even pos
sibly humbug, but real matter of fact,
and that the principle which causes thes G
raps is mysterious and complicated in its ma
ture, ana calculated to produce much excite
ment and speculation.
We are well aware that almost every per-
son who has heard ofthese s'rappings" believe
it to be a humbag, but any one will be con-
WINGED that it is not one, who will witness an
Exhibition, and this any number of persons
may do who will have the patience to mag
netize an object such as a chair, table or
stand, and this can be done in ten or fifteen
minutes. An experiment might be supposed
to create fear of the presence of some su-
pernatural agency and cause feelings Of ter
ror and trepidation, but the reverse is the
case, for it is mirth provoking in its charac-
ter, while at the same time it is mystery Of
mysteries.
1t may be proper to state that the rappings
are not to be COMPOUNDED with the movements
produced by animal magnetism, this is simple
and may be accounted for, but when a oucs-