Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-02
a Spirit Voice Frem the Rocky Noun
talns-The Most Remarkable Event
of Modern Times.
A Father, Dead Six Years, Appears TO
and COnVerses with his DaHgh-
ter and Other Persons.
Six Years OF PUrgatOrial Suffering, and
Six Days Of Earthly Probation
Terminate in a Brilliant
Flight TO Ethereal
Realms,


Terminate in a Brilliant
Flight TO Ethereal
Realms,
Virginia city Territorial Enterprise, Novem-
pcr ISL
We are about 10 relate a series of
events which have recently happened in
this city, 50 marvellous in character that
the must cre'tuious might well withhold
their belief were not every circumstance
substaniated by unimpeachable wit
nesses. Our authorities for the state
ments we are about TO make are Rev.
Father ManOgge, Rev. Father Nulty, J.
{. MaSel, Mrs. Masel, Agnes Melon
Ough, and John McDonOugh, all ofwhom
witnessed a part or the whole Of the oc-
curences in question. The strange
manifestations were also observed by
Rev. Father Clark and Rev. Father
Haupt, of Good Hill; Rev. Father Tor
my, of Carson; Michael Lynch, Mr.. Sef-
fern, and others; but we have not
thought il necessary TO consult any of
these, as il would only be accommodating
additional proofs Upon testimony already
satisfactory. There can be no doubt of
the absolute truth of every statement
we are about to make. We viii mention
that ali the parties whom We consulted
at first questioned the prOpriety of pub
fishing an aeeOaRt Of the wonderful af-
fair; and it was only by our representa-
ton that it had already become the
tOwn-talk, and that il was better the
public should receive a correct and au-
Ihentic version, that they reluctantly
consented to its appearing in print, and
1zIn u ErHI
TO BEGIN TIE NARRATIVE.
Six years ago james McDOnough fol-
lowed the occupation Of an expressman
in this city. he is spoken of by those
acquainted with him as an upright, con-
scientious, and industrious man. He
was a Catholic, but we have not been in
formed as to the strictness of his reli-
giCus observances. He was attacked
with dropsy, and died al his residence
at the corner Of A street and Sutton av-
enuc, six years ago next April. He left
"a widow and two children, son and a
daughter. The widow has since mar
ried, and the children are living with J.
G aMasel, whose wife was q cousin Of
their father. John, the son, is about
eighteen years old, and is employed in
Mr.. Masers butcher-shOp, at the corner
OF c street and Sutton avenue: Agnes,
the daughter, is fourteen, and is attend
ing the First Ward Public School. She
is a tall, healthy girl, with light brown
hair, blue eyes, with long, dark lashes;
frank and regular features, and q modest
and candid manner. Mrs. Masel states
that though exceedingly vivaciOus she is
dutIful and piOus child, and that her
whole nature is foreign TO anything like
untTuthfulness or deception
THE SCENE OF THE OCCURRENCE.
The residence of Mr.. Masel is at l63
North B street, nearly at the extreme
I2rth end Of the-city. 10 is neat, one
story, brown cottage, with a porch in
front, yard in the rear, houses adiOin-
ing sOlidly on the south, and a vacant
spSce on the north side.
The family consists of SIR. and Mrs.
Masel, two SONS, respectively seven and
eight years old, babe, and John and
Agnes McDOnOugh. Mr.. Masel is of fine
physical build, about thirty-six years of
age, an energetic and clesr-headed busi-
ness man, and one of our best known
and most respected citizens. His wife is
a bright, cheerful, intelligent lady, ana
the children are two as handsome AMI
manly boys of the period as Nevada has
ever produced. The whole tone of the
household is that Of health, sound sense, /
and cheerfulness, pervaded by an earn
est feeling Of piety.
TIE FIRST MANIFESTATIONS.
On several occasions during the past /.
few months the family has been dis- /
turbed by prowlers, two Of whom were |
detected entering the kitchen window, /
and others of whom had knocked at the |
doors without warrant. In consequence !
OF this the female members Of the /
household had become a little nervous /
and apprehensive. On Sunday after /
noon, October p, Agnes was at home (
alone with the children, the others be- /
Gng at church. A loud knock came az I
the front door, but Agnes refused to open /
IL, suppOsiuS the summons to come
from one Of the intruders of
which we have spoken. The knocks, /
however, continued at intervals, and 1
when Mrs. Masel returned from church /
the ncighbOrs, who had heard the dis /
tuTbances, informed her Of the unac-
countable noises at her door. She en-
tered, and when the sounds were re-
newed, supposing them 70 originate in
trickury or intrusion, she advanced to
the door, but nothing was visible. Ag
nes was dispatched 10 q neighbor's upon
an errand. As she left the house loud
knocking was heard upon the door, but
nobody was to he seen near IL. While
she WAS absent no sounds were audible,
but they recommended upon her return.
That evening she went to visit her
mother, aud during her absence the
noises entirely ceased, but they began
again as soon as she re-entered the house.
None Of the household were believers in
spiritual manifestations, and, therefore,
no one has assigned the singular Ocf ur-
Hesces TO that cause, but they were thor.
oughly perpleXed, and Mrs. sel snd
Agnes, al least, retired TO rJ-- with
strange and unquiet emotions.
VOICES IL THE AIR.
The next morning the household rose
Al half-past four. Business called Mr..
Masel 70 Truckee Meadows and John
to the shop down town.
While II was yet dark Mrs. Masel was
TO do Eer washing, and Agnes
was standing near the kitchen stove,
when the terrible knocking was heard at
the back door. The child's nervous sys-
TEN had become 50 unstrung that she
was nearly paTalyzed by the sound, but
Mrs Masel dsuntlessly proceeded TO the
door, and found, as usual, nothing. The
knockiDgs continued throughout the
on doors, walls, picture-frames, sewing
and even on the fence, when
she chanced TO go into the yard But
a stranger occurrence now mingled with
noises. Whenever Agnes
was alone She could hear voice distinct
ly say 10 her, "Do not fear, "Be not
afraid and other assuring phrases.
The words seemed to be whispered in
her ear Out Of the empty air, no object
being visible and no person near her. 50
the day wore on, the child surrounded
by the strange knocks and voices, until
she became prOstrated from nervous eX-
element
THE VISION.
At evening Mr.. Masei returned, and !
being informed at the supper table of
the occurrences Of the day, was moral ,,
iZing upon the strange visitations, when
Agnes started to 60 to the middle bed
room, which opened from the dining
room. A loud knock from within sent
her affrighted back. Mr.. Masel directed
hel 10 enter the bedroom and ask who !
thai visitamt was and what he wanted. !
She slirank from the trial at first, but '
upon Mr.. Masel advancing near the
door 10 assure her, she entered the room.
No sooner was she inside the door than S
shesaw a shsdOwy figure near tle cor !
ner to her left. She cannot say whether
t stood out in relief, or was spread on
he wall like a picture; but she saw it !
distinctly, and noticed that il had short
upOa the chin, that the eyes
we're fixed and partly closed, that the ,
ihirt was white, the coat black, and that
/ small black hat was upon his head.
She exclaimed, "In the name of God,
father, is that you?'
She saw the lips Of the apparation
move a. II replied: Yes"
The voice was audible 10 every per-
son ia ,iis dining-roOIn. IL was an un-