The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-16
Fun at HornbroOk's Hall.
The Spirit Of .Black" Defied
AN EXPOSITION TONIGHT,

army and was at the battle Of Bull Run.
As Black is a color warranted not to
run, he was taken prisoner by the reb-
els and died, and for the sins done in
the body has been condemned ever since
his death to the unhappy fate OF tieing
and untieing Of knots in strips of cloth
placed around Miss Ellis neck, wrists,
the latter behind her back, waist and
ankles; beating sheetiron drum rap
ping the inside of the closet with a stick;
placing a ring on any given finger or in
her ear, and finally cutting with a pen
knife the bapdages with which she is
bound. And to make it rougher on
this unfortunate ghost, he is obliged to
do these things in dark cabinet or
box, because OF the "unfriendly" effect
light has on the spirit OF Black.
Several of our leading citizens,
among whom we may mention DR..
Bates, Dr. Hazlett and Ed. Booking,
concluding that
"For ways that are dark
And tricks that are vain,"
Spiritualistic mountebanks-that is
those who get up these shows for money
can beat all the heather Chinee ever
imported, determined to expose the
whole business. And Tor three or foar
DAYS they have made certain financial
PROPOSITIONS to Mr.. Ellis that would be
greatly to his advantage, if what he
claimed was true, if he would permit
them to tie the bandages. But here
again the ghostot Black interfered, and
declared "he wouldn't stand no such
nonsense, nohow."
On Saturday night the opposition to
these mumeries could no longer be
restrained and the spirit Of Black was
put to flight, and the Spirits of Mr.,
Ellis and his daughter quailed within
them.
DR.. Bates was, at the request Of Mr..
Ellis, selected on the part OF the audience
to act as their committeeman, to report
to them at intervals during the proceed
ings whether in his opinion the mani
festations were produced by spiritual OF
human agencies, or both.
Before the performance commenced
the DR.. arose and stated to the audience
that he was not believer in that kind
of Spiritualism, and that if during the
course of the evening it should be pos
sible for him to expose these manifesto
tons, as being hnman agencies. and
not spiritual, he should do so-whcih
was agreed to by Mr.. Ellis.
The lady was then securely bound,
hands, neck and ankles, and placed in
the Cabinet. After tieing string
about the lady's neck, untying the same
and placing it in her lap ringing bell,
playing a tune on drum. and perform
ing many other apparently impossible
things DR.. Bates stated to the audience
that the lady still remained bound in
her original position, but that he was
now more convinced than ever that
these performances were done not by the
aid of spiritual agencies, but by human
agencies alone, and that he had seen
many Of these things performed before
in this city, and could explain how they
were done.
At this moment young man in the
audience stated to the Doctor that he
could perform these tricks OF course
he was Immediately called upon the
stage, where he reiterated his statement
and said he was ready to carry it out,
and requested Messrs. Hazlett and
Booking to come forward and assist
in the preparations.
At this point Mr.. Ellis, Thos. Horn
brook and persons in the audience, who
are believers in Spiritualism, objected
and would not allow the exposition to
proceed.
Mr.. Hornbrook stated that Mr.. Ellis
was the lessee of the Hall for that night,
and that he would not consent to any
one else taking possession OF the stage.
Here confusion became worse con-
founded. EVERYBODY tried to talk at the
same time, and got mad because every
body else wouldn't quit and let him 60
ahead EVERYBODY" we said. We
must make one honorable exception,
and he kept bobbing up and down like
a cork on rough water, shouting Bully,
Bravo" and "Ongcore," as he could
catch word from this, that or the
other orator.
Mr.. Hornbrook continued to say
"No one can take possession of the stage
to-nigh without the permission of Mr..
Ellis-who wonld not consent-but
that if the audience desired it, on Mon,
day evening he would let them have
the hall for the purpose of exposing the
manifestations, free Of charge.
The following resolution was adopted
with only one dissenting voice.
Resolred, That we are fully convinced
that the so.called spiritual manifesto,
tons are produced by human, and not
by supernatural agencies.
During all this Mr.. Ellis was busy
taking down his cabinet against the
loud and earnest protests OF the
audience. One excited individual
rushed forward with screw driver but
whether for the purpose OF stabbing
Ellis to the heart or having the cabinet
| put together again, we cannot say.
The parties interested have therefore
engaged Washington Hall for tonight,
and will there give an exposition of the
mysteries for the benefit OF the Chill
dren's Home.
That the hall will be filled to
its utmost capacity we are satisfied.
The exposers will first do all the tricks
as Miss Laura Ellis performed them,
and will then show how they are done.
We have no doubt but that it will be
rich affair.
BOARD OF REGIsrRATIoN.-The Board
Of Registration Of Ohio county will meet
this morning at 10 clock, at the Court