Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-28
FOR PLIMPTON AND PIATT.
A Remarkable Spirit Medium-A New
Use for Court Plaster.
Erom the New York worId, 2Oth.I

I rom the New loEh W oIltl4 1Uilsi
Last evening, at DR.. Shades mansion
in West FOrty-third street, fashiona-
BILE party assembled to witness a seance
by Miss Harriet Tackerbury, the great
Cleveland spiritualist. Among the as
semblage there was Professor A. Thur
Der, DIR. Simpson, DR.. Higgins, Profess
sOr Mcdonald, Charles A. Slainbridge,
and number of other spiritual disciples.
At eight O'Clock Professors King and
Thurber introduced Miss Harriet Tacker-
bury to the audience. Drs. Higgins and
Simpson, who are skeptics, were ap-
pointed as a committee, and what is
termed "a cabinet, by the spiritualists
was brought into the room and placed
in the front parlOr. The cabinet is a
slight wooden frame which shuts up like
closet. The frame is covered with
black glazed cloth, and the open
space at the top was covered
with a shawl. 1t was placed in front of
one of the large mirrors that adorn the
walls. A bundle of rope was then
brought in and a roll of cOurt-plaster.
The latter was placed over Miss TackeT-
bury's mouth, and then layers of stick
ing-plaster firmly glued on the top of
that. The committee then examined
her mouth, in order to see that the
sticking plaster was firmly put on. Af-
ter they were satisfied Miss Tackerbury
suffered herself to be tied with a rope,
and fastened by another rope to the
chair, after which the audience exam |
ined the chair, and came to the cOnclu- |
sion that she was tied fast. Professors |
Thurber and King then lifted her into |
the cabinet.
Mr.. Thurber now announced that Miss /
Tackerbury had departed to the spirit |
land. The cabinet-dOOr was closed and |
the lights turned low. A murmuring |
sound followed, and lights appeared at
different parts of the room, while the |
cabinet seemed to move in a mysterious
manner, which caused many to quake |
and tremble. Mr.. Thurber announced /
that spirits were moving around. The !
lights were again turned on, when a
knocking was heard. One of the audi
ence then asked who was there. The
reply from the cabinet was that spirit
had come. The spirit was then asked
his name. He replied, "Uncle Ben
TackerbUry." The skeptic then put
several puzZling questions to Uncle Ben,
which ne answered.
He said that in the spirit world those
who are not troubled spirits linger in
blissful repose. A voice then asked what
were troubled spirits. The spirit replied,
"ThOse who had not followed the paths
of duty toward their brother and sister
spirits while sojourning in the world.r
The committee then asked the spirit if
he had power to until Miss Tack
erbury. The spirit replied, EYES,"
but that he would sing a scng
first. The spirit then sang "Old Dog
Tray" After the song was con-
cluded the spirit announced the me-
dunn united. The committee opened
the cabinet, and there sat Miss Tacker-
bury in a trance, with the sticking-plas-
ter on her mouth, and the rope united
and laid in bunch in her lap. The cab
met door was then closed, and the spirit
threw the ropes through the door. The
audience then requested Uncle Ben to be
the medium again, which he did in
few minutes.
The cabinet door was again opened
and Miss TackerbuTy was found still
tied firmly to the chair as when she was
placed there two hours before. She
looked pale and wan and lifeless. The
ropes were then unlOosed, when look
of horror was depicted upon the counte-
nance Of the audience. Miss Tacker-
bury had swoomed. The medical men
felt her pulse, while Professor a. Thur
Der administered restoratiues. All was
for a time useless. The mediums
head was bathed, when all of a sudden
the lights burned blue, the table
moved, music played, and the pictures
moved to and fro. Strange voices were
heard, and several again trembled with
fear. A voice then said: "The spirits
depart, but will return again." The
lights again burned up bright, and Miss
Tackerbury awOke as from dream, and
stared wildly around her. This ended
the affair, and many left, wondering by
what unknown power all this was
brought about. Everybody left satisfied,
and several were glad to leave.