New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-06
SINGULAR CASE.
Interesting Physical Phenomena.

From the Woi cester (Massachusettsl Gazettc.1
The recent death at the hospital of the
Sisters of Mercy, in this city, of young
lady, has called to mind series of remark
able occurrences with which she was con-
nected few years since, and which, at the
time, created considerable interest and dis
| cussiOn.' They were of the same general
| character as those usually attributed to
| spiritual manifestations, and, in their de.
| tails and novelty, were equal to any of the
| remarkable cases recorded in scientific
works as of rare interest. The event was
made the subject of an interesting article in
| the Atlantic Monthly for August. 1868. by a
| gentleman well known in this country, and
| from this, and other sources at hand, we
have compiled the following sketch of the
| case:
The person referred to was born in Ire
land, and came to this country in 1867, at the
age of seventeen years. On her arrival she
went to live with family in Fitchburg,
and it was while there that most of the
phenomena alluded to occurred. She was
in perfect health, was faithful and quiet,
made no acquaintance, and was as far as
possible removed, both by surroundings
and lack OF early education, from any
temptation or facility for deceit or impoSi-
| ton in regard to the matters referred to.
Some six weeks after her arrival, the
bells in different parts of the house began
ringing in an uncomfortable manner, and
so continued at brief intervals during the
day, ceasing at night In searching for the
cause of the ringing, the bells were all de-
tached from the wire, but the ringing con-
tinued the same as before. The bells would
ring only when the girl was in the room
where they were hung, but were often
heard when several parties were in the
room with her. few days after the bells
began ringing, raps and knockings began
to be heard, and increased until they be-
came source of great annoyance not only
to the family, but to the girl herself. who,
being naturally superstitiOus, was much
excited. 1t was with difficulty that she
could be kept calm during the daytime, and
at night she was very violent in her sleep,
weeping much, and fearing that she might
lose her place.
Some three weeks after the knocking ap-
peared, more intense manifestations oc-
CURED; furniture was overturned and dis
placed, crockery was broken, and kitchen
utensils were hurled about the room with
considerable violence. A daily. record of
these occurrences was kept, from which it
appears that bench, upon which were two
large tubs filled with water, was moved
several inches; the ironing table was repeat
edly lifted clear of the floor, and soap
stone slab, weighing forty-eight pounds, was
thrown about till it was broken Metallic
articles and this soap stone slab seemed to
be particularly subject to the influence
which was at work, and the occurrences
continued, increasing in frequency and
force till it was hardly possible to keep any
thing In place in the room where she was
The effect of these manifestations upon
the girl was such that, after ten weeks of
fear and terror, her nervous system broke
down, and she was seized with a violent fit
of hysteria, which was repeated several
times. She was removed to anfasylum,
and, after an absence of three weeks, re-
turned to her work in improved health. No
new manifestations occurred, and matters
remained comparatively quiet for some two
months, when she became subject to fits of
somnambulism, rising in her sleep and 90
ing about her work, doing her homework
and studying her reading and spelling les
sons in the dark, and finally returning to
her bed without Weakening.
After this had continued for some time
she became again temporarily Frustrated,
and was received at the hospital of the Sis
tiers OF Mercy, In ths city, in December,
1868, and came underline care of DIR. P. E.
Hubon. Her general health soon improved.
and she was allowed the liberty of the es-
tablishment, and forthwith busted herself
with whatever her hands found to do, never
SO happy as when washing or scrubbing or
sweeping. But behold, in the midst of her
work, without any previous warning, shock
or disturbance, she would 90 off into this
state of trance, as it was called, for want of
O better name. Then she would become
suddenly talkative. She would answer
questions and converse very sensibly.
In her natural state she was rather
timid and silent. She would move
about with her eyes shut, recog-
nizing those around her and .t6e
place where she happened to be at the
time, and manifesting much intelligence in
all her movements. At the end of half an
hour or Whereabouts, she would quietly