The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-08-05
A REAL GHOST.



Seances In Philadelphia.
Our readers will recollect that DIR.
Wallace Wood, Prof. Crookes, F. r.
s., and a married daughter of Captain
Marryat all testified to the actuality
of the appearance of the ghost which !
called itself Katie King" and which |
had the appearance of beautiful
young woman, dressed in white mus
lin. This ghost appeared in connec-
ton with a medium named Florence |
Cook, and the manifestations took |
place in Professor Crooke's own house
under circumstances which seemed
to preclude all attempts at fraud: To-
ward the latter end of May last, Katie
King" announced that she could ap- |
pear no more, as she was about to move !
to higher spheres" It's somewhat
flattering to our national vanity that
the said higher spheres" turn out to
be America; as Katie King" has re-
Gently appeared in Philadelphia, with
Mr.. and Mrs. Holmes, two Spiritual
lists, who have long been known as
mediums. A correspondent of the
New York Times, writing from Phila-
delphia, gives the following account
of his experiences at one Of these
seances:
1.-THE house is an old-fashioned,
three story brick, occupied, as to its
first floor, by a music store, and as to
the rest OF it by the Holmes family
and the spirits. The seances are held
in the second story front room, an or
binary apartment, perhaps eighteen
! feet wide by sixteen feet deep, with
two windows looking out on Ninth st.,
except the cabinet" which is made
by stretching a dark partition across
one corner, thus cutting Cff triangu-
lar space. The partition reaches to
the ceiling, and contains small door
with a threshold about six inches high.
Over the door and about seven feet
from the floor is small, pentagonal
opening, while another of similar
shape, but larger size, is about foot
lower on the right. This is the aper-
ture at which Katie usually appears.
1t is about a. foot in greatest width
and height. The cabinet is hung with
loose. dark curtains, and door ut one
side leading 10 back room, is board
ed over in a manner apparently Sc
cure. The audience sit in semi circles
facing the cabinet. the inner circle be-
ing composed Of the most faithful
SWiritualists. On one end of this
row sits the principle medium, Mrs.
Holmes, her husband sometimes tax
ing a chair at the other end, some
times entering the cabinet and going
into mesmeric Sleep" When your
correspondent was present both medi.
ums remained in full view of the audi.
ence during the entire performance
They did not 60 into trance, but sal
tanning themselves, and laughed and
joked like ordinary mortals. One
window was closed and darkened, ant
the other remained open. The dool
was locked and the room dimly illumi
mated by a coal-oil lamp with rec
shade, which threw upon the scene
that roseate tinge 20 much affected il
the spectacular drama. The cOmpan,
being seated, without joining hands
the spirits were invoked through tn
agency Of q small music box an,
when this did not seem to fetch EN-
the audience sang some familiar mel
ody. After q short overture conduct
ed in this way, Katie appears at tn
little window above mentioned. Sh
usually begins by thrusting a whit
and shapely arm, speedily followed b
a pretty lace, framed in a mass Q
black rlnglets and set off by a jaunt
Spanish veil, which lies lightly on he
head. There is profound silence unit
) she says in a ghostly whisper, goo
evening. The salutation is courteousl
returned. and then ensues brisk dia
logue of the smallest kind Of sma
talk, interrupted by frequent dissar
pearances on the part of the youn
lady. The tenor of this importaI
communication from the land of til
: hereafter is about as follows:
Good evening, Katie"
: Good evening"
! Are you alone this evening"
mo. Father is here, and Gcner'
Rawlinsi but they can't materialize t.
! Katie, Mr.. Owen (Robert Da'
!, Owen) is here. Don't you want
speak to him?"
. :" Why. Of course, stupid. Goo
!. evening Father Owen"
!, Mr.. Owen bows, and says, Wi
you have this bouquet, Katie?"
: "Of course l will" says Katie, an
; teaches her hand for it. 1t is given h,
u and she disappears with it, but pre-
! emily returns and gives it 10 somebot
to hold for her.
>. Katie, can you come out for US t
= = SI'll try, but it's very warm al
Z very hard to materialize.
!. Katie accordingly disappears. al
:, the singing is resumed. Presently 4
e door Of the cabinet opens slowly.
. sat directly OPT osite the opening, b
p could zee nothing until it was ",
: ajar; then a white figure seemed
e grow out of the darkness within, al
u Katie stepped forward gracefully, to-
:. two or three steps into the room, al
= retired, closing the door after her
u lifting her hand to the latch. S
y was dressed in somewhat theatrit
e costume of pure white, which flow
e. to her feet and seemed to be Of f
?, kind Of muslin. The sleeves We
90 loose and flowing, and as she wav
'e her hands in the stereotyped style
the stage sylph, the sleeves fell aw
:, to the shoulder, displaying pair
= perfect arms which might we'll arou
~ ~ the envy OF any earthly belle. b
;e figure was full and round, and her "a
Is was beautiful in outline and expr,
sion, with complexion SO clear a
transparent that it either seemed
d. or actually did, shine with mild RAJ
., ance. In her hand she held FIRE
- - bouquet, and a dagger fan given !
- at some former seance was stuck
.e .e her girdle, while ON her neck spark
y a silver cross, also present, susper
g ed from what was said to be nee
g lace of diamonds. She came anl ",
ll- several fines tnuching with her ha