Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-12-18
4 Singular Perf0rmance---NaS It the work or
spirits 7---t Plea for investigation or SO-tRllcd
spiritual" Phenomena.

spirits - Plea for Investigation or SO-CRllcd
spiritual Phenomena.
T, 5.. Editor % iLe Free Press and Times
knowing that one of the chief functions
% journalism j. the collection Of facts, and
seeing that JUS; now any fac. which bears
even remotely on tie Sahject Of spiritual
Ism, and tends To- ciucilate 1t, Will receive
attention, lay before the readers of the
Fans Pass an incident Of that character
which has recently come under my obscrya-
ton not that tie incident Itself is at all
remarkable, except that the performer was
alone in the 17ihi;isn Of his powers. Or
knar.iy when >ucu exhibitions are given,
as they frequently are III our lprge towns
and cities the exhibitor has facilities Tor tho
introduction Of conlederates. and under such
circumstances the impossibiIity Of certain
iy excluding them is apparent. Here, how
ever, BE wa clearly unas>i,ted, and while
his performances fell far short Of what the
professional juggler can do, yet the method
Of it, accomplishment was totally inezpli-
cable To the intelligent company witnessing
it.
some tao years OF more ago there cume
one evening lato one Of the largest
hotels, in one of cur largest towns, a
young man from twenty to twenty five
yelr- DID, d well clad. lair appearing. in
te.ligent enough fellow. a rover, probably.
VINO aa- out of pocket and desirous in some
nay, other than by honest labor, Of dis
tending his collapsed p5eket-book lie ask
ed of the pr9prietors the privilege Of using
their rarlor Tor the purpose of giving an
exhibition to the boarders and guests of the
house, no, at all a. q spiritual medium. nor
as 4 nocr0mancer, bat as person who
could do some most astonishing things IN
der most extraordinary conditions. lie Of
fered among other things to let himself be
bound and gagged and promised to sing and
play on the piano thus hampered His request
was readily granted, and the company assem-
ble1. Two gentlemen, well known to all,
were requested to bind the exhibitor. which
they did with long clothes line, begin
ming at his feet, and winding him up in it
and fastening him to 4 char as securely as
they could, using up all the rope in 30 do
ing. They then stuffed a handkerchief into
his mouth and tied another one over it
around his iace, fastening it at the back of |
his head lie was then placed In one corner |
oil the larlor and the piano was drawn in |
'front.' OF him, its two ends touching the |
IatHN inn y l
The two gentlemen took their stations. one !
at each end Of the instrument having first |
drawn a shawl in front Of the piano. let |
ting 1t touch the floor and keeping their |
hold of II 50 as to detect any person in anv /
attempt to reach him, should sny sueh at
tempt be made. The piano, it should be
stated. was open and the key board on the
side OF the prisoner. The gas was then turned
to the lowest point possible, without com.
pletely extlngulshing it. This made the
room almost entirely dark. No sooner WAS
TINS done than the man (apparently) began
10 sing and to play on the piano. The
voice was not masculine one, but ialset-
to. The singing and playing was com
menced at once. as quickly as il could have
been done had the prisoner had his hands
Ind mouth perfectly Tree. Upon turning
~ the gas he was found bound and gagged
Il he was left. The handkerchief was now
'emoyed, his face having become of a fiery
ed from Its excessive tightness
lie next proposed to take off his coat
While still bound, and still bound TO the
hair. The lights were accordingly turned
iown and in an instant of came his coat
he lights went up again and there he sat
n his shirt sleeves with not a cord dis
laced, not knot united. The coat was w.
~ On the hoOr at his side. The lights
we're turned down again and the coat went
q A. It had come off. All of this was done
lst as quickly rs any person could do il
hose movements were not impeded by in
folds of a stout cord.
The next performance was slightly DIFF {
;rent. The ropes were removed and a pair
handouts were procured from the sher- I
othce, and placed on his wrists and i
'eked. They were of the sliding pattern i
nd were drawn up tightly SO as to gripe /
Is arms securely. Previous to the hand {
lfnng. large, solid iron ring was placed t
one arm. IL was very much such . ring
the large ring OF an or yoke The gen q
enan--onc OF the company and we'll ,
novn TO all-who locked the handouts
ok the key himself and pat il in his
opin' The sas vss no srcss inySt