Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-06-06
THE HERALD.
Spiritualism Exposed.

The people OF Wheeling, w. Va,
have recently been enjoying most
complete and crushing expose of this
most arrant humbug. There has
for years, in that city, been little
circle of persons who have believed
in this wretched delusion. During
the present winter they have been
specially Jealous. They have had
among them succession Of those
mountebanks who travel over the
country in order to make living by
imposing upon the credulous.
Their last visitor was a man nam
ed Ellis, who, with his daughter,
performed certain mysteries Of the
usual sort-as they represented-by
the and Of the spirit Of Blake,a so ldier
killed at Bull Run. The hands of
the girl were securely tied together
behind her neck. She was then
placed upon a seat in a cabinet, in
shape and size resem bling an ordin-
airy wardrobe. In this position her
feet were tied together, and her hands
and her head were, by additional
bGndages, made fast 10 the back Of
the cabinet When the door was
closed, Immediately all sorts of mys-
terious thines-such as tying knots
about the neck, rapping on the side
OF tho cabinet and playing a dru NJ
were done. After she was firmly
gagged voice was heard in the cabi-
net, musicalinstrument was played,
and the like. Finely the fastenin gs
were mysteriously cut, and she came
forth. The performance was Of such
q character as not only to confirm
the spiritualists in their faith but
even 10 mystify others who wit
messed them.
These meetings had been held for
nearly week, when young man
who had witnessed the proceedings,
privately experimental until by
sleight Of hand he could perform the
very same tricks. On Saturday eve-
ming, 18th inst, one Of the best
physicians Of the place. who had
been asked TO oversee the fastening
Of the girl, and who was also in the
secret of the young man, stated that
the whole was mere legerdemdia.
The young man at this point rose
and offered TO 20 throughthe perform
ance. Ellis refused permission, and
the proprietor of the hall, who had
been somewhat identified with spirit
ualism, would not allow the room TO
be used for the expose on that oc-
casi0n.
The result was that Ellis and his
daughter left the city as soon as
practicable, and on Monday tho ear
pose was made under the supervisor
Of several Of the leading physicians,
druggists, and other citizens. The
proceeds were given to the Children's
Home. The largest ball in the city
was packed with the most prominent
people Of tho place, and among
others with the spiritualists them
selves some OF whom served on
committee to blind the young man.
The whole entertainment passed off
without jar. 1t opened with an
address a Ia Ellis. 1t was precisely
in his style, even to the grmmar.
The only alterations were in names
and some ludicrous illusions. The
young man then went through exact
ly tho same performance as had been
done by the girl Even the time oc,
cupied did not percepibly differ.
After he had finished, an humble
man resident in the city, who at one
time had travelled with the Deven>
port Brothers, appeared on the stage
and executed the most difficult Of
their tricks. He was tied in the
every possible manner, and yet re-
leased himself without opening
knot was thoroughly gagged and
yet blew horn, and the like. Last
ot all, the front Of the cabinet was
knocked away so as to leave the
whole inside exposed to view, the
young man was rebound, placed on
tho seat, and proceeded to show how
the wonderful mysteries were per-
formed. And as usual in such cases.
the whole thing was very simple.
When tho command was given, he
twisted his right arm around, and in
so doing slipped the bandage off his
arm, reached to his neck, tied and
united the knot, beat the cabinet
with stick, and ended by cutting
himself loose with his own hands.
There could have been no more
iudicrous, and yet more effective, er-
pose Of the humbug. The people of
Wheeling do not expect soon to be
troubled with any more Of these
travelling spirits or spirituaists.-
PRESBYTERIAN Runner