The Portland daily press., 1871-07-19

of Mr.. Harry Bastien, said to be one of the
most accomplished of the class. Mr.. Daven-
port, father of the celebrated Davenport bows,
appeared to be master of ceremonies. The
usual precautions against the admission of light
were observed, such as boarding up the win
dows and closing all doors; SO of course it was
exceedingly hot; and on the table were placed
the musical instruments, bells and trumpets,
commonly considered necessary at such exhi-
billions. The first thing was the collection of
the half-dollars from the audience by Mr. Bas-
ITEMS AGENT and the ceremonies begun by the
selection of Messrs. A. d. Mari and VIM. G.
Davis as a committee to bind the medium in
his chair. Mr.. Davenport said he hoped TO OBJ
tain some manifestations, but if none appeared
or any person was net satisfied with them his
money should be refunded. The committee
refused to use the rope provided for binding
the medium, and proposed white spool cotton,
which was accepted. The room was darkened
and the usual japgle ofipstruments was heard,
and when light was produced one Ofthe threads
was found to be broken; broken, the medium
said by one of the instruments when flying
round. A second test resulted in the same
third test of that kind and insisted that the
rope should he used. A eommotion followed,
and the talk got loose and promiscuous, the
medium taking offence at some unintended re-
mark from the committee and the committee
constituting his words into an insult. Finally
the medium submitted to the thread third
time, and the audience sat for a space in mpen-
pa oil iaI IN,
that the medium proposed or the spirits did
to remove the thread and bind him with the
cord. and tho suspicion found audible express
sion. Light was called for and the medium
was discovered sitting unbound in his chair.
but no trace of the thread could be found
Then came more confusion; the believers 10
the theory talking wildly about 'conditions''
and "inharmonious state OF the eleme nts" &C.;
while another party declared the whole thing a
swindle and a fraud, and demanded and re-
ceived their money and left the house. The
remainder decided to stay and see the thing
out. The medium was placed unbound in his
chair by the side OF the table, and Immediately
there was the clash and changer of bells and
trumpets and the thrum of the guitar When
light Was produced be was found to be bound
by his wrists by the cord so intricately knot
ted that no one made much attempt to unite
it, and an offer OF $50 was made to any who
would release the man in an hour The knot
was quickly united "by the spirits" and Mr..
Bastien was tied hands and feet by the same
n cans to his chair in very ingenious and well
system of the firmest knots known to
sailors. Alter a Concert by the unseen band
hewas found sitting in his chair on the table and
crowned with tambourine. Next he was put
in his original position by the side of the ta-
BILE; his feet were placed on white paper and
worked around so that he could not move them
without being detected. Pennies were put on
different parts of his body and on his bound
hands; the knotted cord still remaining appar-
entity firm and unchanged and securing him
last to his clair. And still the manifestations
went on. Strange voices chatted with their
frie nds in the audience, and asked and ans
wered questions. They were cheerful ghosts,
and not above cracking jokes in Dutch Mr..
Bastien filled his mouth with cold water dur
ing one of these exercises, and when light was
restored emptied the water into vase, to prove
that 1t was no ventriloquism on his part, The
most beautiful manifestation was the last. The
young lady at the piano was asked by the
spirit voices to sing the song Beautiful
Star" and as she sang brilliant stars flashed
and hoated through the darkness, over the
heads and near the audience. The 'sspirits''
said ut was getting late, and time to shut up
shop, and very politely babe Mr. Davenport
and Mr.. Hull and others good night-address-
ing them by name-and promised to come and
assist them at another seance pretty soon.
DEATH IN THE STATE PRIsoN.-Our readers
will remember the case of John White. an
Englishman who was convicted in 1868 of bur-
slary, and v as sentenced by Judge Barrows to
Imprisonment for life. He died at the State
Prison at Thomaston on the 9th inst There
was no doubt of the guilt of White in various
'obberies that had been committed in this CITY
ind vicinity, especially in those houses to
which he had gained access in his capacity as
! paper-hanger.
STATE STREET CHURCH PICNIC. 81 tate
Street Church and Sabbath School will make
heir annual excursion tomorrow, to Lake Sc.
)ago. Cars will leave foot of Exchange street
1t S.15, and p. & X. depot at 8 80 The excur-
'ions of this Society and Sabbath School have
always been very popular as we'll as pleasant,
and it is expected that this will be the most
pleasant one that has occurred. Those who
go should remember to take in addition to
their lunch a mug and towel. Mr.. Hatch
will have refreshments for sale on the grounds.
The Monitor states that the body of the late
DR.. Verrill, who was drowned more than
month since by the capsizing of boat in
pond in Oxford, was discovered through the
agency OF Mrs. S. P. Hall, clairvoyant and
test medium of this city. Mrs. Hall described
the spot where the body was, saying that it
was under log. The second day they locked
for it in this place, in floating over the spot the
grapple caught into sunken log, and when it
was brought to the surface, the body of DR.. Yer
rll came with it,
PERsoNAL.-Our esteemed townsman, E. P.
Gerrish, ESQ., President of Casco National
Bank, with his wife, left in the steamer for the
Eastern Provinces, Monday afternoon, where
he proposes to remain for a short time with
the hope of relief from the illness which has
kept him from active business for year or
more. We understand be intends going as
far as Prince Edwards Island, the climate of
which has been recommended to be favorable
for iDvalids.
THE Massachusetts, papers are getting up
quite an excitement for hot weather over the
governor question. The Boston Times favor
Butler in its way, but the Transcript says the
Butler pronuncimento will be regarded with
especial disfavor by the honest men composing
the backbone of the Republican party in Mas
sachusetts. Irrespective of political divisions.
the people of this Commonwealth have never
evinced much confidence in Gen Butler
They may have consented to use him for GER
tain ends but all the time there has existed an
instructive feeling that he would be true to
them only so long as his personal interests die
tated. This sentiment is deep. seated, and has
not been weakened by the Congressional ca
reer of the Essex representative.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.
HEARTBURN Immediately removed by Cum.
mings Aerated Seiditz Aperient.
A FULL assortment of Paper Hangings,
Window Shades, Screens, etc., for sale by
jy8tf DEvENs g. Co., 10 Free st.
But few people are aware that their worn
out plated ware, such as Tea Sets, Ice Pitch
e2s, Casters, Steel Knives, Forks, Spoons, &c,
can be replated SO as to look nearly or quite as
good as new, for from half to two.thirds the
price Oh new, and will wear equal to the best
INF bot OF not hon J,,,.