Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-30

Tux DAVENPORT BROTHERS exhibition
OF the Davenport, Brothers last night. at Masonic
Hall. drew n large audience. The manifesto
tons were unacc0untablc upon any natural laws
known to- ~: "a the same time. the exhibition il
one not calculated TO amused mixed crowd. The
audience WAS requested 10 select three citizens.
take a position on the stage. and watch care
fully 10 see that no trickerv was practiced.
Judge Mcdonald. Simon Iandes. ESQ. and Mr.
James Sulgrove were named. and consented TO
act The testimony of these gentlemen would
be conclusive anywhere
A large box, something like wardrobe, about
eight feet wide two feet deeD, and ten feet high.
placed upon the stage. with chairs under il
There was an opening in one of the doors near
the top. The committee examined the chest or
box thoroughly. to see that there were no false
panels. slides or c0ntrvanceo OF any sort 10 enable
an expert in slight of hand practice "A decep-
ton. They reported il simple box The
brothers were placed in this chest in sitting po-
sition and securely tied. one each side Their
hands were tied behind their backs, their legs
being tied together at the knees. and they were
securely fastened by tho ropes SO that IL would
be impossible without getting loose change
position. There was a violin. a tamborine.
trumpet. guitar and bells in the box with them.
Judge Mcdonald informed the audience that they
were secured as efiectually as ropes could tie
them, and in his opinion they could not get loose.
The door closed and Instantly hand
thrust through the opening in the door and con
tinued to appear at intervals Mr. Sulgrove
reached up and his hand was shaken. Judge
Mcdonald put up his hand but it was only struck
with the trumpet The violin commenced tuning.
and in short time all the instruments, except
the trumpet were in full blast, PLAYING hoe
down and the sounds of feet in a merry JIG is
sued from the box. The music was not very
spiritual, but It was music and lively at that
The spirits were having gay time. One would
think it was a lot of negro minStres on a spree
although the music was not quite as good "a that
class OF performers usually make. This contin-
ued for probably ten minutes when the doors
few open ''and the brothers appeared in exactly
the position they were in when the doors were
closed upon them The Committee stepped for
ward. and Mr. Yandes reported the mediums Sc
curely tied.
Judge Mcdonald was then asked, and consent
Ell to enter the box He did 50. aud suffered his
hands to be tied with the brothers The doors
were closed and the faint tinkling of guitar was
! heard There was no loud noise from the box
/ The spirits were on their good behaviour out of
compliment, We suppose. 20 the venerable Judge
Some five or ten minutes elapsed and the doors
flew opeu. \ banjo or guitar rested on the head
OF Judge Mcdonald, but with this exception
things in the box were just a they were when the
KEY was turned upon them. The Judge stated
that he felt hands upon his face, head and shout
deFs. and that the banjo placed gently upon
his head. and IN his opinion II could not have
been done BY either Of the mediums. as they did
not stir 70 his knowledge The doors were then
closed again and the sound Of ropes rafting
/ against the sides of the box heard and when
they flew open the mediums united The
ropes were carefully examined by the committee.
and were found u be uncut and were reported
to be genuine ropes. they verify believed
The hext manifestation was the tying of the
mediums by the invisible agency. Il Was report
Ell by Mr. Salgrove 70 DC more securely done
than /. had been done by the committee The
doors were again closed. and the spirits had
another dance to the tune OF Yankee Doodle
Dixie. and several old fashioned JIG dance tunes
/ that We remember to have heard in our boYish
DAYS at country parties This closed the per-
Torrance. IL : Gnaccountable. and that : al
We can say about il. II i very clear thst there
IA. no slight Of hand about IT, and yet j. doe.
seem strange that visitors from the spirit land
should treat IN audience T. such old fashioned
tunes a. were given last night. IL i all matter
OF taste presume.
The performance will he repeated this evening
All believers in spiritual manifestations should
20 10 see il. IL have their faith confirmed and
disoellevers should certainly 20 ~ see il they
cannot study out solution of the mystery.