The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1857-12-30

Many Of our readers may be aware
that the Hon. Charles w. Cathcart, Gov,
Wright's appointee to the U.s. Senate.
has become "spiritualist - but they
may not know, as the following commu-
nication to the Laporte Times will tell
them, that he is specially favored with
manifestations of spiritual powers. We
can hardly imagine more complete re-
ply to all the arguments for the .'spir-
ituap' doctrine than this recital intended
to support it. II is utterly incompre-
honsible that the spirits of the departed
should, even at the request Of the own.
er, tear up carpets, split chairs, smash
furniture. and play the rowdy generally.
just to show that they are spirits. It's
queer way of provoking an immatsrial.
incorporeal existence anyhow. .-. ....
"I'have witnessed some curious phe-
nomena lately, Of which I have con-
cluded to drop you brief report. which
you are at liberty to publish. If you SEQ
proper, over my signature. -
Hearing of a Mr.. Collins. from South
Bend, who intended to show his singular
mediumship at Westvillc. l went to the
place appointed, and saw him tied by
young N. D., as faithfully as about forty
feet o: good rope would permit. when
being placed in q room alone, under 4
guard of skeptics, his bonds were loos-
ed, and like ST. Peter of old, the prisoner
set free afterwards he was tied fast by
the same invisible power which had pre-
viously loosened him.
Mr.. Collius and Mr.. Putnam, a lectur.
er, who accompanies Mr.. c.. were in.
duced to spend 4 few days ut my house.
One evening Mr.. G. was tied as securely
as ingenuity and good clothes-line
would permit, when he was united by
hands not in the flesh, and afterwards
tied up by the same mysterious power
SO securely, that despairing Of releasing
him in any reasonable time by the tedi-
Gus process Of untying, I cut hin. loose
with my knife.
The above is only small part Of what
We Witnessed in his presence. Tho family
went with Mr.. G. into my hall, when
after some musical manifestations the
spirits requested the women to RETRO
they then played with great power on
some half dozen instruments, and oil
spoke to US with an audible voice several
times. then asked them to let us see
what physical power spirits could mani
fest, when my bass drum was torn from
its fastenings-things pretty generally
scattcred-my large table, which was by
iron clamps screwed to the floor, torn
loose and thrashed about-one of the
company patted all over with the tambo-
rine-all Of US gently struck with tho
drum stick, DC, &c. ........... ........'.,.>
told the spirits to tear away. as I
was curious to see their strength exhib-
tied. and was willing and able to repair
all damages. They then tore down two
strings OF bells which l had suspended.
twisted them together, and, to wind up.
picked up chair, and with its legs
knocked holes into the table top ono-
third of an inch deep. l asked them to
take my fageolet out Of my hand, which
was done, and once, when 7 was with .
pin pricking tender tooth, with tho
drum. stick they played with my fingers
holding the pin without hurting the sore
tooth. The boys would ask them to
brush fathers beard, De-, which, would
DO done Immediately. All rhts, and
more, much more, was done under con-
ditious precluding the possibility Of at
tribu.ins these things TO mere human
agency. -.. -...,F.g--.;..E 4.. r.a.a..
CHAs. W, CATHcAnr.