The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-27
The DAVENPORT BROTHERS LAST NIGHT

| The DAVENPORT BROTHERS LAST NIGHT
A Scene Not in the Bills.-The mysterious
feats which have made the Davenport Bro
| theirs famous throughout the world drew a
goodly concourse of wOndcr-seekers, in
Guiding a large proportion of our most in
telligent citizens, to the Academy last even
| ing. Some difficulty was experienced in
| obtaining suitable gentlemen to represent
the audience OH the stage. Messrs. How
land and Cohen were finally chosen, and
the entertainment proceeded much in the
| same manner already noticed in the Nea1S
| on the occasion of the previous visit of the
| Brothers. When, however, the time came
for the performance Of what is known as
"the dark seance,' an incident occurred
which for time created quite ripple of
excitement among the mystified spectators.
An occupant Of place in the family circle,
(whom we have since ascertained to be Mr..
Michael Kelly, Of No. John street,
seized the opportunity when the singu-
lar gyration of the phosphorescent musi-
cal instruments had begun, to spring a
bulPs-eyc lantern upon the prosceniIm.
The light thus cast upon the stage was not
not longer than half a minute. The dark
seance was closed at once, and, the foot
lights being relt, Professor Fay stated the
fact relative to the lantern, which seemed
known to but few OF the spectators, and re-
quested the interference of the police. The
audience Joined in the appeal, and, with
| cries Of Put him OUT" the volunteer
| illumination was arrested and taken to the
guard-house. Our reporter was seated in
the front row Of the orchestra chairs, and
in the dim light Of the momentary illunlina-
ton saw distinctly the figure of man
standing directly in front Of the chair in
which Professor Fay moment before had
been tied and seated. The man was waving
a guitar, which he held by the neck. His
| body and arm were moving from side to
side to give greater scope to the gyrations
Of the shining guitar. The other guitar
and the arm of a man were also visible as
they entered the circle Of light cast by the
lantern. In a moment the lights were re-
| lit, and, upon examination. Professor Fay
and one Of the Dayenports were found
securely tied to their chairs in the same
way in which they had tied themselves in
the preceding scene. The position Of the
man seen in front Of, and his proximity to-,
the chair in which Professor Fay had been
seated and tied moment before, left no
doubt in our reporter mind that the figure
was that of the stout Professor himself.
There was, Of course, neither sufficient
time nor light to identify the features, and
the writer Of this can only state the result
of bis own observations, together with his
impressions and belief, for what they may
be worth. After the interruption the re-
maiuder of the dark seance, including the
coat scene, was given but it is undeniable
that the attempted expose. imperfect as it
was, had the effect Of diminishing in very
material degree the interest of the audience
in what was going on. ...-..s
Mr.. Kelly, the hero of the lantern, who
claims to have been actuated by praisewor-
thy anxiety to disabuse the public mind OF
the presumed intervention OF spirits in the
Seance was, as we have said above, hustled
off to the guard-house. On his arrival
there the officers, probably puzzled as to the
nature of the charge to be brought against
him, detained him a short time, when,
there being no signs either Of spirits OIL
mortals as his aecusers, he was released and
went his way rejoicing Charleston NeacS