The Richmond palladium., 1865-03-23
The Davenport Brothers Mobbed.



Scene of Excitement in liverpepl-The
Davenport Cabiaet- DESTROYED.
The Davenport brothers were mobbed
al Liverpool, England, ON the 18th ulti-
mo. The Liverpool Post of the 10th
says:
The audience elected Mr.. Cummins
and Mr.. Hulley as the committee to tie
the brothers. The Davenports objected
at first, bat ultimately agreed Ira
Davenport wrigxied and twisted q good
deal during the operation and at its con-
clusion turned round suddenly to DR.
Ferguson. Mr. Cammins shrugged his
shoulders and walked away, while DR.
Ferguson Immediately stepped up and
ins-antaneously Ira Davenport stood
free. He at once created a great sensa-
ton by exposing the back of his hand to
the audience, with blood flowing from it.
The excitement at this point was extreme,
and though it was hardly applicable how
rope could produce wound from
which the blood would thus copiously
flow, the tables for the moment seemed
to be turned upon the gentlemen whose
brutality had been so strongly animad-
verted upon. Mr.. Ira Davenport, hastily
eountenance, left the stage, followed by
his brother
Mr.. Cummins then addressed the antf-
ence nearly in these words Ladies'
and gentlemen, you have seen blood up
on the hand of the person who has just
left this platform. That blood was
caused by DIR. Ferguson in cutting the
rope" Upon this an Immense shout of
mingled triumph and indignation arose
from the audience, whose sympathies il
was at once evident had scarcely waver-
ed even during the sensation incident
they had just witnessed. In the noise
which ensued DIR. Ferguson's explana-
ton was TO us inaudible Mr.. Cummins
was heard to declare that if any medical
man would certify that the wound had
not been produced as he had stated he
would give five pounds to any Liverpool
charity.
The audience now began TO take mat
tiers in their own hands One gentleman
led the way and several others scrambled
over the footlghts on to the platform,
with the view, apparently, of demanding
their money of DR.. Ferguson. 1t is due
to Messrs. Hulley and Cummins to say
that they did their utmost to keep the
crowd back, and to protect DR. Ferguson
and Mr.. Leighton, who were still on the
stage. The numbers, however, were too
great for the resistance to avail, and the
next thing witnessed was the overthrow
of the cabinet, DR.. Ferguson being push
ed backwards into it, He Immediately
rose bat as imm etiiately retreated, and
we are informed that he, the Davenports,
and Mr. Fay were out of the building
almost as soon as DIR. Ferguson was off
thn Of =. Il
ley was borne from the room on the
shoulders of an admiring throng
The crowd on the platform at once
proceeded to demolish the cabinet, and
DR.. Ferguson's much ridiculed "struc-
ture" will never again battle the scrutiny
or beguile the credulity of British audi
ence. The scene during the smashing
and distribution of the fragments Of the
cabinet was very exciting. Pieces were
thrown up into the galleries, aud the oc-
cupants of that part of the hall busily
wed with those in the body in scrambling
for the spoils, while many resorted, prob
ably as a relief to their excitement, in
letting themselves down from the gal
leries on to the stage. One person only
fell into the hands of the police, upon
charge of breaking one of the carya-
tides by which the gallery is supported
A portion of the right arm of the figure
was knocked off by the young man plac-
ing his hand upon it as he dropped from
the gallery. The proceedings, though
turbulent, were exceedingly good humor-
ed, and they were enlivened by few
burlesque addresses, delivered from the
platform 10 those in the body of the
hall In the meantime some thirty DO
hcemen hal arrived they occupied the /,
stage, and the hall was shortly afterwards +
cleared.
Ef-It viii be recollected that the |
Davenports' met with some grief in our
city, when they exhibited their box and /
tying apparatus, DC, here, mainly thro'
the efforts of G.. W. WooD, Esq, editor
of the Telegram They came near being
put through the same process then that
they have met with as above described |
Suit was brought against them for obtain
ing money under false pretenses, they
were bound over for their appearance at
court, but the case was dismissed. We
allude to the part taken by Mr.. w. in un-
the Davenports. to show the fal-
lacy of the charge made against him Of
sympathizing with and being a confirmed
believer In ''spiritualism,' or s'whang-
doodleism. as it is vulgarly termed.
I ED TAL