Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-06-23
WHEELING, VA.,SATURDAY MORNING, ,
fpnbl!shptl by rhques

We, the undersigned. having by speciHl
| invitation visited tile rooms occupied by
the Davenport mediums for the purpose of
witnessing some manifestations not before
| produced in this place, assembled at the
hour appointed zap. NJ. on the 4th instj
and by the request of the rvesidingor con-
trolling Spirit, we submit the following
statement of what We then "nd there
witnessed.
The phenomena or manifestations thNt
! took place in our preserve were mostly
produced in box about the size of an or
binary wardrobe with three doors in front,
all fastening on the inside. When the
doors were thrown open the whole iuteri-
or of the box was exposed aud easily ar-
ccssiblc. At each end of this box was
narrow board well secured to its place by
elects and screws, on which the two medi-
ums (Ira and William Henry,) sons OF
Cpat. Davenport, were seated. The medi-
umS took their places respectively in the
box, the doors were closed by Davenport
and Immediately the rustlng of ropes
were heard, indicating that the tying pro-
cess had commenced by what was claimed
to be the spirits. This occupied about
ten minutes when the doors of the box
were thrown open and both mediums were
found with tl.cir hands firmly and secure
ly tied behind them and bound down to
the seat by means of holes through them
for that purpose. The feet and legs of the
mediums were also tied, and upon trial it
was found they could not be ruised from
sitting posture.
In the middle door near the top, some
six feet from the floor, is an opening about
~ inches in diameter over which hangs q
small curtain of black cambric-the doors
being closed we had just time to fix our
eyes on this door in which was the open
ing where the naked hand and arm of II
man. Of muscular proportions, was thrust
out through the said opening and remain
cd IN full view for about three seconds
with bright light shining directly upon
it. Immediately on its return to the box
the doors were thrown open and the medi-
nms found tied precisely in the same man
ner aS when the doors were closed.
The doors being closed again voice in
the box through the trumpet said; Shade
the light little aud we will fill the hole
with hands" This being done, leaving
sufficient light to see every thing in the
room distinctly. the curtain over the OPEN
ing in the door was raised, when to our
astonishmcnt, the promise was made goodr
for not less than six and some think as
many as ten hands were distinctly visible,
shaking and trembling, as il the light WAS
painful and could only be borne for Il mo-
lncut. Again the doors being instantly
thrown open, several persons hurried up
to the hux, but no bodies were visible to
whom this multitude of hands belonged.
None but the patient mediums were to be
seen. and they in the same position. firmly
bound rs Mt first.
The doors heing closed we were request
ed to all he seated and quiet (the same
voice speaking through the trumpet with
which we had become tNmilinr,) said:
I'VE will now show you the hands and
arm of Lady" which WAS Immediately
done, producing as may well be supposed
Il profound sensation. The hand and arm
WAS visible about the same time aS the
one mentioned above, with bright light
shining directly upon it. 1t was a female
hand and arm, snd beautiful beyond de-
scriPtion.
Some two or three pieces OF music were
then performed, in which three instru-
ments were distinctly heard, being played
then called for, when 81 common sized
glass tumhler full of pure lake water was
placed in the box, and the doors closed.
We were then informed by the voice in
side that manifestation would he pro-
duccd never before witnessed in this
place, 'nothing wonderful with us but
simply little working of the Elements to
produce Il certain result"
A sound like some one blowing through
tube which lasted about minute, when
the doors were opened and the tumbler
of water was found converted into very
fair article of MADEIRA wine, of which ""
nll tasted.
The evidence of seeing. hearing and
feeling were we'll established before wit
Messing this last manifestation. To these
were added the remaining two, taste and
smell. The proposition that possibly we
might have been deceived in these cviden-
ccS cannot for n moment be entertained.
1t is proper to state here that while the
hands were being exhibited. several ladies
and gentlemen in the company approached
the uOx and received a friendly shake OF
what purported to be n spirit han |. these
manifestations closed by an exhibition OF
physical strength, which resulted in the
projecting of some twenty lendcu balls of
. OF weight with sufficient force to pene-
tratc and some pass quite thro' an inch
! board The crank on tue end OF shaft
was got on the inside of the box. This
| shaft connected with an engine or piece OF
machinery recently iuvcated hy Mr.. Dick
I insou, OF this city, for projecting balls in
the place of fire arms, called "peacc
maker The united strength of two or
binary men is required to turn the crank
with Snhclcnt velocity 10 pro1ect o"llS my
considerable distance with effect. The
mediums being examined and found tied
secure the doors were closed and the box
made dark inside while sufficient light was
/ left in the room to see objects distinctly.
Several Of us took positions near the en-
ginc, when the crank began turning and
soon increased to Il rapid rate, sufficient
at least to propel balls as they were drop
ped i'll by hand, through an inch board at
tue distance Of four feet. .
The presiding or talking spirit explain
cd the philosophy or manner by which he
aggregated or collected from the utmos-