Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-01-17
A Visit With the Spirits.
Fifty Cent. worth Of eho.,..


those who profess to believe in it have
great deal to do with mysteries and that,
in general way, amounts to the same
thing. For this reason the subject is an
one to that large class of pei
sons who dote ON the marvellous and are
ready to accept as supernatural all that
they cannot understand.
For some days it has been quietly told,
among the favored few, that a most won-
derful medium was in our midst--one who
dealt with the pow supernal as ordina-
day life-one who could call up forms of
the dea d and, by some recent process, en-
dow them with the features they wore on
earth, SO that they could be seen and rec
who was able, in brief, to do
more than even the great Chieftess who
dwells on the hill at Mnravia. Desirous
Of verifying the report and Of making pub
lie facts Of such general interest, repre-
sentative OF the JOURNAL was sent to see
this man of mighty power, and witness an
exhibition of his efforts to hold converse
with those whom ordinary people suppos-
ed to be dead beyond recall.
whom he is stopping, secured an introduc-
ton to the medium, Mr.. Raynor. In ap-
pearanee there is nothing about Mr.. Ray.
nor 70 indicate the possession of such ex-
traordinary powers as he claims to have.
IL stature he is of medium size, rather
thin, with sallow face, sanken eyes, a
blonde moustache. and light brown hair,
combed low down upon his forehead. A
few moments conversation revealed the
fact that he is printer by profession. AS
soon as this was told, all doubt as to
his ability to dispose of all the s. dis
embodied spirits" that might come was
dispelled and we were prepared to ac-
cept any amount of work from him in that
line. Mr.. Raynor is not disposed to be
communicative upon the power he posses
ses over spirits and seems more willing to
let others see and conjecture for them
selves than to do SO for them. We were,
there lore, forced to rest content with the
promise that if we would be on hand
promptly at seven O'clock we should form
one of the circle for that evening. and
ceuld there be able to see and judge for
ourselves.
Punctually at the time appointed we
mounted the stairs leading to Mr.. Gibbs
rooms and reported as ready. We found
four others present-all residents of this
place, and all equally anxious to see the
promised wonders. At seven O'Clock we
were shown into the room where the se-
ance was to take place. To remove any
doubt as to the genuineness of the mani
festations we were requested to make a
thorough examination of the place and its
appointments. The room was an ordinary
one, containing only the usual articles of
furniture and with nothing noticeable
about it except the preparations that had
been made for the seance. All the per-
sons present, with the exception OF the
medium and Mr.. Gibbs, We're ranged in a
semi-circle facing one side of the room,
and directed to all join hands. This was
done, as we were told, to /" create har-
mony" end perfec. the circle" and without
the slightest intention of preventing inves.
tigation. Directly in front stood a table
upon which was placed two guitars, three
bells and a tin speaking trumpet. At one
side OF this and facing the spectators, the
medium took his seat. At the rear
OF the table was an open doorway,
leading into small adjoining room. All
preliminary preparations being made, the
lights were turned entirely out and the
manifestations began. AS soon .as the
room was in total darkness, Mr.. Gibbs,
who had previously seated himself at one
side OF the circle. commenced playing va
rious lively airs upon his violin, and in a
moment or two the guitars were heard,
playing an accompaniment. First one in.
strument was heard alone and then the
two together and finally the bells and one
guitar. Part OF the time the sounds m
parently came from the table and part of
the time from the air above the heads of
those composing the circle. These mani
festations, occasionally varied by a guitar
hitting some member of the circle. were
continued for about thirty minutes-aud
the dark seance was then declared to be
ended. Lights were brought, and every.
thing was found to be as before. even in.
cluding the medium-who sat by the table
as innocently aud demureiy as If he had
bad no part in producing the sounds or
making the manifestations. luasmucb as
there had been no particularly inexplica.
bie phenomenon the question was aslad
AS to what purpose the dark seapce was
supposed 70 hav'. The satisfactory an.
swer was ''to rsader the conditions righ,