The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-08-13
THE Pa IFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
A Stra nge story.
The Spirits On the Rampage.

Inc SplrltS On the UampuSes
Cooper Institute was crowded last night, saws
a late y. Y. Herald, by q fashionable as well as a
promiscuous audience TO witness the performances
of the Davenport Brothery-a couple of young
men who have creaeed a marked sensation where
ever they have exhibited their feats. Their per-
formances are variously ascribed to the powers oil
spirituali-m and to l~egerdemain, or sleight OF
hand and quite q spirited controversy hao arisen
among the old bunker spiritualists and the young
democracy spiritualists as to whether they work
under the influence of true spirits or are only
operated upon by physical and mortal causes.
This feeling exhibited itself last night among the
audience, and the uproar at times between the
two wings Of spirituaiists, aided by a number of
outside fun and mischief lovers, was so great as
10 interrupt the performances. All the mysteri-
Gus feats are performed in a box. or cabinet, in
height and shape something like a common ward
robe, having three doors. Near the top of the
centre door is an aperture about n foot in diane
ter, screened by a mall curtain otherwise,
when the doors are closed, the cabinet seems per-
fectly tight, and entirely disconnected either with
the floor, ceiling or walls of the hall.
At eight o'clock, after = few preliminary re-
marks, MIR. Lacey, the agent of the Brothers,
proposed TO nominate an examining ommittec Of
three, whose names were handed in to him on q
slip of paper. The FIRST name was Colonel John
s. Du Sole. A voice. We had n colonel last
night. We don't want any more coiouels." Mr..
Lacey blandly remarked that there were more
eolonels this year than formerly ; bnt the Colonel
was stricken from the list. Where's Peter
Cooper 2" cries another voice. Mr.. Lacey-"Mr.
Cooper, like many other men, is afraid he will be
convinced of something he don't understand"
Several other names Were mentioned, and, amid
considerable confusion, "a gray haired, venerable
looking old gentleman, IN spectacles, rose and
claimed the attention of the audience. He said
he was from the country, and wanted to examine
into this thing. III there is any good in it,
the people should know it; and If there is any
0ecpprIun in II IL ShOuld he exnOSp6 - NnicPS-
- Name ~ "Name - What's your name,
old fellow ?' .My name is Gordon COnklin."
A Voice. Oh. that fellow is an old played out
spiritualist.'' Captain Dickinson, of the Seven
tenth precinct, was nominated and elected, but
Judge Woodruff was next elected, but
failed to show himself. 1t was finally agreed,
amid much uproar, that Mr.. Conklin and Mr.. F..
II. Bradbury, pianolOrte manufacturer of this
city, should constitute the investigating commit
On ascending the platform Mr.. Conklin
kept the audience in a continual strain of up
mirth by the minuteness with which he
examined everything connected with the cabinet.
peered and felt & I'D fumbled inside and out
side of it, and on t p Of it, crawled upon his
hands and knees benz nth it, as well as he could
examined critically Il G supports which sustained
it, and finally answer d that, with the exception
Of the supports, there were no indications of any
whatever with the flooring, or with
under it.
Presently the Brotl ers make their appearance,
ii1 tIt e III u Tie lucm III Il SlLLlDg !
posture, facing each other, in the cabinet. 4
trOng cord is used, and twisted around their
Inkles, limbs, wrists, arms and bodies in an al
most endless series o. strong knots, and all tied
asst to wooden bars a tached to the box. A num-
Der of musical instruments were now placed in
he cabinet with the Brothers, including a brass
lorn or trumpet, a violin, u tamborine, a guitar,
common bell, &c. The operation of tying the
Brothers occupied above half an hour, and the
became extremely inpatient, assisting
- L. - -
~,estions, all calculated rather to retard than to
the labors of the committee, especially
hose of the indefatig ible Conklin. All in readi-
the doors are closed, the lights put down,
nd like a fash out pops through the aperture
poken of the trumpet. Conklin springs to de-
ect the moving cause. The doors are opened,
nd the Brothers are found still tied. The doors
re again closed, and the inquisitive Conklin,
pproaching too near the aperture, is saluted
nth n crack over the head from the trumpet,
hitch is again violently elected through the hole.
gain are the doors opened, and no change is
in the posture of the Brothers. This
at was repeated once or twice more, the indom-
able Conklin coming in for another whacking
low from the mysterious trumpet, amid the con-
ilsive laughter of the assemblage. The doors
% again opened, and Mr.. Bradbury announces
at the youths are tied as securely as when the u
were first closed. Shut up again, strange
uses are heard inside the cabinet. The tun-
z of a violin and the jingling of a tamborine n
& plainly detected. Suddenly the violin COM
ences a lively strain, accompanied by the tam
and at the same moment a human hand
seen at the aperture. A bell is rung at the
u time, and the next instant the bell is vio-
nlly dashed through the aperture, coming very
taking an eye out of the head of the prying
opklIn. Next follows the trumpet again, and
the midst of much rafting and banging the
are thrown open, the lights turned up. and
the Brothers are, sitting as composedly as
with the cords still tight about them. The
mmjttee examine the cords, and report them
st as they had tied them at first. Again are
g doors closed, and after an interval of perhaps
Q minutes they are opened, and the Brothers
E found standing upright, with no signs of !
rd5 anywhere about their persons. This feat
Is received with a spontaneous utburst of ap- =
,u5e, in the midst of which Conklin was called
on for n report. The poor man looked amazed, ,
ldered. He could only say 80 You see,
ntlemen, as well as | do. But he continued,
bling his bruised head, 81 can't see how that =
rn came out of that window" More laugh 4
TIE Brothers now re-enter the cabinet, and in
ew minutes, apparently without earthly assist
&c, the doors are opened, and the youths ap-
1T more firmly tied than ever. Mr.. Bradbury
reports. Mr.. Conklin says, vaguely ~
III see how that's DONE" A gentleman pro-
ses that, as the Brothers might slip their hands
c IF the ropes and in again, that thread, in
ad of cord be used TO tie them. There was at "
time indescribable confusion among the au- ]
nee. Mr. Conklin is urged to get into the
{ with the Brother and find out the deception
he can. Get into the box, Conklin." Ii
at the audience. He is evidently to
rilly confused. 4 lull in the cries and noises :
Ibles him to be heard. Gentleman" he
IS, g be men and aides" This speech was -.
led with another general outburst of merri- e
Mt IN the midst OF which Mr.. Conklin enters
80 nnnIn nIarA ~