The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-03-24

THE DAVENPORT BROTHERS LAST NIGHT-A
SCENE NOT IN THE BILLs.-The mysterious feats
which have male the Davenport Brothers famous
throughout the world, drew goodly concourse
OF wonderfeekers, Including large proportion
OF our most intelligent citizens, to the Academy
last evening. Some difficulty was experienced in
obts ming suitable gentlemen to represent the au-
dience on the stage. Messrs Rowland and Cohen
were finally chosen, and the entertainment pro-
ceeded much in the same manner already noticed
In TIE NEWS 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,n~ az incident occurred which
for time created quite ripple o. ex-
element among the mysttaed spectators.
An occupant OF q place in the amly circle, whom
we have since ascertained to be Mr. Michael Kel-
ly, OF No. John street, seized the opportunity,
when the singular gyrations OF the phosphores.
cent musical instruments had begun, to spring
bull's-eye lantern upon the proscenium. The
light thus cast upon the stage was not by any
means bright, and lasted perhaps not longer than
half q minute. The dark seance was closed at
once, and, the footlights being relit, 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 au-
dlence Joined In the appeal and, with cries OF Put
him OUT" the volunteer illuminator was ar.
rested and taken to the Guardhouse. Our
reporter was seated in the front row OF the
orchestra chairs and in the dim light OF the mo-
mentary Illumination saw dlstlnctythe figure OF q
man standing directly in front Of the chair In
which Professor Fay moment before had been
tied and seated. The man was waving 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 o man
were also visible as they entered the circle Of
light cast by the lantern. In moment the lights
were relt and upon examination, Professor Fay
and one OF the Davenports were found se-
curely tied to their chairs in the same way In
which they had lied themselves in the preced-
Ing scene. The position Of the man seen In front
OF, and his proximity to, the chair In which Pro-
lessor Fay had been seated and tied moment
before, left no doubt in our reporters mind that
the figure was that Of the stout Professor hlmsef.
There wss, Of course, neither sufficient time nor
light to identify the features, ard the writer Of
this can only state the result or his own observa.
tons together with his Impressions and belief, for
what they may be worth. After the interruption,
the remainder Of the dark seance, including the
coat scene, was given; but IL Is undenlable taat
the attempted oppose imperfect as ir was, had
the eject of diminishing, IN a very material d
gree. the interest Of the audience In what was
going on.
Mr. Kelly, the hero OF the lantern, who claims
to have been actnated by praiseworthy anxiety
to disabuss the public mind of the presumee In.
ter. ension OF spiriss in ths seance, was - we
have said above, hustled Off to the Guardhouse
On his arrival there the officers, probably puzzled
as to the nature OF the charge TO be brought
against him. detained him short time, when
there being no signs either OF spirits or mortai
as his accusers, he WAS released aud went hI
way rejoic ng.