The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-04-01
Mr., EprroR:
JOHN LOWRIE,
p. Z. DAWLEY,
D;rec'rs P. C. In.
GUAM CLEMENTS,
Superintendent.
Singular Phenomenon.

A correspondent of the New York Tribune
| writing from Avoce, Ill.,, says:
Having noticed short article in your pa.
! per OF Feb. 90, on the clerks" in this place,
and thinking perhaps it would be interesting
| 10 some of your readers, l concluded 10 write
you short account of the phenomenon. II
made its first appearance in this neighbor.
hood, at q pro,racted meeting held by the
Methodists, at Indian Grove, about Novem
Der ], and continued 10 increase gradually
(,hcugh not causi G much exciicmcnD until
Christmas, when there was similar meet.
ing commenced here by the same ministers,
! at which it b:oke ont with redoubled vic
lence, and continued to increase until there
were as many as O hundred persons affected d
| with 1t in this vicinity. The persons attack
ed are generally rather under medium capa.
city, from ten 10 twenty years OF age, there
being bat few cuses above the latter age.
1t is impossible to give you particular de.
scrlption Of the manner in which it Affects
different persona; as they are as differently
affected as there are d;tf+ren, tcmperaments,
dI, positions, muscles, &c. While some are
only affected In the head IND neck, causing
taem to shake the head with amazing rapid.
tY and violence, others are only affected in
the mu cles Of the legs, Causing them 10
3amp and dance in the most violent manner;
then again, others are affected ia all the
muscles at the same time, causing them TO
make the most lud;crous and horrible con.
torlions Of which the human body is capa.
Ole.
The scene in the church was often su
premely ludicrous. Just imagine forty or
Fl ty persons going through al the diffesent
poslures, twistings, bendings, strikings,
kickings, and other violent motions of which
the human frame is capable, together with
occasional barking and other unusual sounds,
and you will hsve faint idea of the scene
exhibited here night after Light.
When the phenomenon first made its 40
pea.ance, many imagined II 10 be the direct |
operation VI the Spirit Of God; others tho,
It mere animal excitement; others ascribed
It 10 the Influence Of Onimal msgnelism.-l
From as clear an observa lion as | am able
TO make, ] have Come to the latter opinion.
am certain il is an affection over which the |
will has entire control, from the fact that, If |
. person affected wishes to perform any par.
IiculOr act, lsuch, for instance, as taking !
drink Of water } II matters not how violently |
he may be Jerking"
As soon ~ the will Is directed TO that OBJ |
|ect the muscles are Obedient to it, the arm |
becomes steady, the d'ink is taken, when
the j rkings" are instantly begun ogsin IL
Another fact shows il is still more obviously !
under the control OF the will. s me per. |
sons OF rather strong will being affected, re- |
solved that they would quit j., and BY q pcr. |
s'Sering tfiHt for = few days we're able 10 |
get the entire command Of the muscles sg.in,
and have not since been sfectcd, .h,osh |
some OF them tell me il rs quires eon.idera. !
bic effort Of the>w to prevent it when in !
the company Of those who are "jerkine.
These, with other reasons ! could name. Il, |
necessary, lead me to dt.ribute il to mes
meTic influence.
am also OF opinion tint II 10 sympatheti. (
cally contagious, as the subjects ore more
affected when several Of them are |
together at church, school or any other place. |
There are instances we'll nuthe ntic sted.
where number Of pupils have been seized |
while at school, in such msnuer ss to leave
no doubt but that it was directly cemmuni. I
Gated from one to another. So strong was
the conviction Of the teacher that this was
the case, that he dismlssed the school with.
Ont ceremony, and directed them tu separate
% quickly as possible; and as quick as they
separated the spasms began to abate, and in
short time they lett some Of them, and have
rot since-returned. =" asal.ls,
The phenomenon 10 gradually dying awsy.
md, think, will shortly be. among the
hings that were. have just heard Of the
'ase Of one Of the Arst persons seized by il +
i Indian Grove, whe js.in-R raiher danger:
rs Sltuation; She has spells in which she
oseS the power Of motion entirely, and is
nabie to- utter word oy move d muscle,
xcspt to breathe for twenty -four hours at
GT.Ths Sheriff q Newark 4dvsrtises for.
.ls tha entire village o. Malagss in New
'r'sy. -.-,.,, Ii