Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-01

President Lincoln has an Intervfcw
with the esprit Rappers"--Secre-
faries stanton and wells, and
John w. FSrney, Prcsent-Lafay-
cite, Franklin, Washington, ETC.,
Consulted ON the RebeIffon-The
Fate OF m Alabama Predicted.
We find the following interesting account of an
evening spent by President Lincoln and Others
with the spirits, in the Boston Gazette:
WASHINGTON. April %, 1863.
A few evening, since Abraham Lincoln, the
President Of the United States, was induced to
give a Scriptural svriee in the crimson room in
the White House. to test the wonderful alleged
supernatural powers of Mr.. Charles K Shockle.
lt WAS N cool fortune. as a friend OF the medi-
um. to be present. the party consisting OF the
President. Mrs Lincoln, Mr.. Wells. Mr.. Stanton,
Nj. l., of New Y TX. and Mr.. p, of
Philadelphia. We took our seats in a circle
about . O'Clock, but the President Mas called
away shortly after the manifestations commenced,
r and the spirits, which had apparently assembled
TO convince him Of their power. gave visible 10
kens of their displeasure at the Presidents alb
sence by pinching Mr.. Stanton's ears and witch.
ing Mr.. Wells whiskers. He soon returned, but
it was some time before harmony was restored,
i, for the misbaps TO the Secretaries caused such
! bursts of laughter that the influence was very un-
propitious. For some half an hour the demon
STATIONS were of a physical characicr-tables
D were moved, and the picture Of Henry Clay.
which hangs on the wall. vas swayed more than
a foot, and two candelabras, presented bv the Dey
Of Algiers to President Adams. we're twice raised
nearly TO the ceiling.
Ii was nearly nine O'clock before Shockle was
fully urder spiritual influence, and so powerful
were the subsequent manifestations that twice
5 during the evening restoratives were applied for
n 10 80 rnunb uo.to,ol onI thouob took No
notes. shall endeavor to give you rs faithful an
account as possible of what took place.
Loud r~appings. about nine o'clock, were heard
directly bepesth the Presidents feet, and Mr..
Shockle I'd that an Indian desired to commu-
nicate.
well. sir. said the President. " | should be
happy TO hear what his Indian Majesty has to saw.
We have recently had a v~isitrtioR from our red
D brethren. and it was the only delegation. black,
white or blue. which did not volunteer some adj
D vice about the conduct of the war"
The medium then called for pencil and paper.
and they were laid upon the table in sight of all.
; A handkerchief WIS then taken from Mr.. STAN
. ton. and the materials we're carefully concealed
e from sight. In less space Of time than il has re
quired me to write this, knocks were heard and
! the paper was uncovered. To the surprise of all
. present. II read rs fellows:
q Haste makes waste, hut DELAYS cause vexa-
{ tions. Give vitality by energy Use every
means to sublue. Proclamations are useless;
make a bold front and fight the enemy; leave
r traitors st liome to the care of loyal men. Less
$ note Of preparation, less parade and policy, talk
: and mere action. HENRY KNOX
"1 har is not Iudisn talk, Mr. Shockie," said
+. the p, sident "W no is Henry Knoxf"
q l suggested to the medium to ask who Gen.
I Knox was. and before the words were from nv
Y lps. the medium spoke in n strange voice, 1.-The
: first Secretary of War"
a.0h xas Ganpral Knax - said tho pra-;dant
1 who turning to the Secretary. said. "Stanton.
+ TINT message is for you-it is from your prede
n cessor"
\ Mr. Stanton made no renly.
4 II should Ike to ask General Knox" said
h the President. 'if IL j. within the scope of his
ability to tell US when this rebellion will be put
!" dowui"
e Ia the same manner as before this message was
received:
Washington. Lafayette. franklin. WILDER
force. Napoleon ami myself have he'll frequent
l. consultations upon this point There is some
e thiIg which our spiritu / eyes cannot detect which
n appear well formed Evil has come at times bv
: removal of men from hish positious. and here
$ are those in retirement whose abilities should be
n made useful TO hasten the end. Napoleon saws
q concentrate YOUR inrres upon one point. Lafay
' cite thinks that the rebellion will die Of exhaiIs-
ton. Franklin sees the end approaching MS the
South must give up for want of mechanical
q | tDHltN 10 tliiptt driiU~b AtbititClu UlCOtsilliCSy
Wherefore sees hope only in a negro army.
w ell" exclaimed the President. '.orinians
o dintr among the saints as wtll AS among the sin
5 ner. They don't seem to understand running
the IN ichine among the celestials much better
d than we do Their talk and advice sounds very
. much like The talk of my Cabinet-don't you
think so. Mr. WelleS?"
II well | don't know will think the matter
a over and see VII Il conclusion to arrive at"
Heavy raps were heard and the alphabet was
called for. when That's whats the matter" was
spelled out
There WIS a shout of laughter, and Mr.. welles
u stroked his heard.
e "Thrt mems, Mr.. welles." said the Presi-
dent, 'that you are apt to be long winded, and
think the nearest WAY home Is the longest way
J round. Short cuts in war times wish the
spirits could tell us how to citch the Alabama"
The lights which had been partially lowered
, almost ins,antsncouslv became so dim that |
; could not see sufficiently to distinguish the fea
lures Of any one in the room. and on the large
mirror over the mantle piece there appeared the
l most b~erutiful though supernatural picture ever
heheld IL represented a sea vieS. the Alabama
with all steam up, living from the pursuit OF
another large steamer. Two merchantmen in
the distance we've seen partially destroyed bv FIRE,
ne The picture changed and the Alabama was seen
ii at anchor under the shadow of an English fort
IS from which an English dag was waving. The
r., Alabama WAS floating idly, not n soul on board
t. and no signs of lie visible about her The pic
ture vanished. and in letters at talrple appeared
e 1.-THE English people demanded this OF Ensland's
:, aristocracy
IN "Sa England Is to seize the Alabama finallv?'
e. said the President. cit NAV he possible. but Mr.
o Welle's. don't let one gunboat or monitor less bt
r. built"
The Spiri,s again called for the alphabet. ami
nj again "Thats what's the matter" was spelled
m out 8 n W ft
le II see, I see" said the President. .sMother
ty England thinks tiAt whft's sauce Tor the goose
m may be sauce for the gsnier IL may be tit, tat
TOO. hereafter. But it is not very complimentary,
re TO our NAVY. ANYHOW s
"We',e done our best. Mr.. President" siid
&c Mr. Welles I'm maturing a plan which, whef
perfected. I think it il works we'll. will be a per
feet trap for the Alabama" ai e
well. Mr. Shockle.2 remarked the President
~ al have seen strange things aud heard rather ode
= remarks, but nothing which c%onvinces me. excep
the picture. that there Is ANYTHING very heavenly
o. about all this. I SHOULD like, il possible, TO heal
a what Judge Douglas says about this war"
Us "Ill t-y to eet up the spirits" said Mr. Shockie
ip "bmt it so neiimes happens, ms It did to niehtir
re the case Of the Indian. that though first impressed
by one shirt, | yield to another more power
ful Ii perfect silence H. maintained will see il
I'd We cannot induce General Knox to send for Mr.
douglas" 20
or Three reps were given. sisnifying assent to the
: proposition. Perfect silence was mainrained ant
after an "iB'erval OF perhaps three minutes, Mr.
" Shockle rose quickly I om his chair aud stood az
As behind it. resting his left arm on the back. his
81 ~;gbt thrust i,tn his hoSom In n voice such n