The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-02-24
pRo11GHr BACK BY THE SPIRITS.

The San Francisco Chronicle Is resPohS1-
BILE for the following interesting account Oh
the manner in which Mrs. Charles L. DE
Long. wife of the late United States minis
ter to japan, acquired the knowledge OF ner
title to some valuable property In tnat Vi
-cinity: When Foster, the sp1rltuaI me
dium. first came TO this city, ana nung OUT
his shinple at the Grand hotel, ne was an
object of much curiosity. Among those
xURo went to witness the marvellous mann
fastations which il was claimed were daily
made, was a well-known gentleman, WHOSE nose
,anoe we are not authorized to give. Inc
Gentleman had heard Of the shp-oi-paper
frick. and believing that he knew thlng OF
- more than Foster did, he resolved 10
plav a sharp game with him. BEFORE going
10 the mediums room he wrote name on q
slim of paper, which he wrapped ana Ioloeu
fjabtlv in a piece of tinfoil. When he got
thera in cempany with several other 1rlenus
be handed the little roll OF tinfoli 10 rosteI,
and awaited events. The little paper lnslue
the tinfoil contained merely the Iuil hanlS
of the gentleman's mother-her maiden anu
,,arried name. Foster took 1t, pressed IL
to his forehead in that dreamy, hstless way
he has and then laid it on the table. Pres
emily he said, E" Yes, sir, have message
for You. There is the spirit OF lazy mere
who wishes NE to write you this message.
Here Foster took up pencil, ana Win many
Jerks and quirks, wrote: s.,,,o.
ssDo not remove the remains of your fatner
and myself Let US iest mne,e UIemt " Se wong
The message was signed by both the
maiden name and married name OF tnS
oentIeman's mother. The gentleman turned
az white as a sheet, for he at once recognized
the message as having been written IN the
name of his deceased mother. he had long
been intending to remove her remains anu
those of his father from an eastern cemetery
to his vault at Lone Mountain. de had not
Thought of the matter at all that day. Foster
had never seen him before. Neither roster
nor apy Que else-not even the gentleman ;
wife-knew what the mother 5 maiden nAine
had been. Hence the clearness, the strange
entness with which It referred to
his project with regard to the re-
mains of his parents, gave the astonlsned
gentlemen something TO thlnk ABOUT Ior
days to come. He did not wait for an an
swer to his tlnfoil puzzle, but started away
very much in the condition of the young
man who went to church to scoh, Dut hnaily
concluded to remain and pray. Next DAY
the gentleman met his friend,
THE HON. CHAs. E. DELoNG
vbo had inst then returned from Japan. To
him he told his remarkable experience OF the
day before. DeLong laughed at him Tor his
apparent credulity, and secuted the idea that
spirlts had anything to do with the message.
Nettled at this the gentleman invited Mr.;
DolIOnQ 10 go WIFI ulIll anu SCO N.Na
Judge for himself. That night they both, In
company with Howard Colt, called
at the Grand hotel and were shswn
into Fosters room. They all sat down to the
table and after Foster had smoked while
at his cigar he said: L can only get one
message tonight, and that is for person
named Ida. Do either of you know who Ida
is? Mr.. DeIong looked at Foster with
rather a startled look, and said; Wen,
yes; / rather think do. My wlfe's name
f--,.1 fnnfn
message is for her, and it is important. But
she will have to come here and receive 1t.
This was lust enough to excite DeL0ng
CURIOSITY and after endeavoring in vain to
get Foster to reveal the message to him, be
consented to bring his wife the next night
to receive the important communication In
person. Accordingly the next even
ing the same two, accompanied by
Mrs. DeLong, were ushered into roster
parlor They were soon seated arounc
the table, waiting eagerly for the spirits &c
arrive. After Foster had smoked for severa
minutes in silence he suddenly said: "Ih'
same message comes to me. 1t is for Ida
This is the lady, is it?" he asked, as OF TIT
spilit "Oh, you will write the message
will YOU? Well all right" and with thi
he took up pen and dashed off the follow
ing:
TO My DAUGHTER IDA: Ten years ago in
trusted a large sum of money TO Thomas Mad
den to invest for me in certain lands. After m
death he failed to account for the investment
my executors The money was invested, an
twelve hundred and fifty acres OF land wer
bought, and one-half of this land now belong
to you. l paid Madden on account OF my snar
of the purchase $3.50. He must be made 70 max a
Both Mr.. and Mrs. DeLong sat and hear
this communication read with
AsroNIsHED FACES.
Mrs. DeLong knew that in life her father ha
business dealings with MIR. Madden, bus
what extent, or even the nature of them, 81
did not know. She was terribly frightene
at the denouement, for she knew that rosie
did not know who she was, nor who her f
ther might have been, and when the con
munication came in so remarkable a wa
the effect upon the whole party may be De
tar imagined than described. Mr.. DeLOI
had jast enough faith in the correctness
Mrs. belongs communication to want
see what there was in l.. any way. So Il
next dav he called oH Mr. Madden, at Il
Occidental hotel. Without saying what G
pecial reason he had for asking the questiO
he asked Mr.. Madden if there was not y
some unsettled business between him and q
estate of the late Mr.. Vineyard. Mr.. Ma
den thought for moment and then he sa
there was. He said several years ago he al
Mr. Vineyard had purchased tract of Ial
together, and their interest was yet undiN
ded. The land had increased and was st
increasing enormously in value, and he su
posed Mr.. Vineyerd's daughter desired to
her interest lie untouched, which was t
reason why the matter had never been 81
tied up Besides she had been absent 10
time from: the country and was not here
have the matter settled. When inform
that Mrs. De Long had only just learned
this investment of her fathers, Mr. Madd
expressed much surprise. He said
supposed she and her husband and the
ecutors knew all about it but were 81
ply letting the matter rest for the proper
to increase in value Mr.. Madden then s.
that he was ready to make a settlement
any time. This was readily consented to
Mr.. DeLong, and accordingly, on Stature
last. Mr.. Madden transferred deed for
hundred and twenty-five acres of land
Mrs. DeLong, her heirs and assigns foreS
Having done this, Mr.. Madden offered
lad,r SlQ 000 tha nrNHartU- lnL laX