The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-12-10
Tho .Dnvenport Brothers E-posed.

Vho Dnveuport Brothers r. zposed.
Dr. E. V. Wright, OF Pennsylvania,
gave en- exhibition in Baltimore the
other day. during which the perform
ances Of the Davenport Brothers and
quote from the Sun, of the 23d:
DIR. Wright, it is known, travelled with
the youth Gunnell, who exhibited his
tricks in Baltimore and in many other
cities, where, by dexterity and clever
ness, he established himself firmly as
tip-top medium. In addition. the
Doctor stated that he had closely follow
ed cp the neyennerts, Read and others,
until he, believer in them at first, be-
came convinced that they enjoyed the
help of spirits to perform their petty
little tricks Of tying and untying cords"
go. He acknowledged that he had been
somewhat mystified by some of the So
called 'sphysical phenomena" of spiri-
tualism he had witnessed, but he felt
able now to convince his hearers that
most all these seeming wonders arc the
works OF the mediums themselves, and
not Of spirits. He did not wish to be
understood as trying to throw the oblo-
guy upon the honest belief in spiritual
ism of any man present, but to show
that the tricks cf the cheats who had
set themselves up as mediums were hol-
low artifioes and delusive, which every
man owed it to himself to discounte-
nance. In doing this he did not attempt
to discuss one single thought or idea in
connection with the morality of spirit
ualism, or the merits of psychological
Investigations, although it was inferred
from the tone of his remarks that he is
believer to some extent in spiritualism.
His object, throughout, appeared to be
the defence Of this incorporeal belief
from the faint Of the charlatans. To do
this, he proceeded to unmask their
tricks, having first textemporized screen
by hanging an old shawl upon three
chairs mounted on the top of piano.
A table wac placed near, furnished with
ropes and cords for tying, and iron rings
large enough to slip easily on mans arm
over the coat-sleeve.
DR.. Wright himself sat ON q dais very
slightiy elevated above the floor, sur
rounded by the company, very comforta-
bly, and sooiably. The tricks of Frank
Gunn6l were fret exposed. DR.. Wright
said the performances of this youth have
been more astonishing here and in Wash
ington than those of any other person,
and his trick of the tied thumbs was
considered specially wonderful and i'm
pressive with spiritualists. A Agentleman
who had never seen the thumbs tied was
called upon to do that work for DR..
Wright, and Mr.. John Fox was named
by the spectators. Mr.. j. n. Weaver
and Rev. II. nj. Forbes served as super
lntendents to see that it was we'll done.
They had seen all things of this kind be.
fore, and were up to snuff ou the matter.
Hvarvhn1u aov fka I,o 1: "a
with small cord drawn around each
thumb, and then over between them,
the ends looped and tied to the little
finger of one of the bands. DIR. Wright
darted behind his screen and instantly
back again with two iron rings on his
arms, which, apparently, could not have
gotten there unless the thumbs had been
released, but he showed them both bound
together rs fast ns ut first. He then
turned his back to tho audience, and in
the time it took to wheel about had tho
rings spinning on the floor, the thumbs
being again exhibited as tightly tied to-
gether as ever. Exposition: Slip one
thumb ont of its loop by enlargiug the
other loop with all the slack of the first.
This was demonstrated to be practica-
BILE, and the trick was done openly, to
the satisfaction of everybody. It was
explained that the ends of the cord used
for binding the thumbs wore tied to the
little finger to secure leverage. Any
body seeing the trick done once could do
it without paying fifty cents to be hum
bugged by spirits. All that is necessary
is to get one thumb out. and then YOU
can take your coat off or vary the per-
formance by variety of acts, ali of
which look wonderful; then put the
thumb back into the loop, and rush out
on the stage with wild look, as though
you had seen your grandmother 3
ghost. and receive the applause of the
spectators.
DR.. Wright was then tied with rope
a Ia Charles Reed-shat is, both wrists
were bound by what is known as the
Harvard tie, 80 as to give double loop
to each wrist, the end of tho rope being
tied to the ronnd Of the chair. TIE
tying was inspected and pronounced
satisfactory. It seemed impossible that
any one could get out of that scrape.
The lights were put out. and when re-.
stored, lol the captive was unboundl 1t
took him longer than it shonld have