The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-26
acknowledgement:
INVOKING THE SPIRITS.

Aroused, ana hh0 DtSITsd F"THeT III
formation.
BE tbou Ghost or Goblin damned, I'll follow
tlCc."-HGts!st
Editors Of tho IntellIGeneer:
For several weeks past have been
much interested in observing the degree
or excitement produced among q number
OF intelligent and educated ladies oil my
acquaintance who have witnessed tho
marvellous powers Of a well known clair
aYoyaut and spiritual medium now
residing in Wheeling. II appears that
some OF the ladies referred to had repeat
edy interviewed this oracular parsonage
with the most astounding results. She
had revealed with surprising accuracy
many well guarded secrets connected
with their personal and family histories,
aud had described many peCuliRrities Of
habit and character in individual cases
with such amazing precision that even
the most persistent and illiberal skeptics,
laUy said, would be compelled to &C.
knowledge the supernatural agency by
which such communications were made.
She had produced various physical man.
iicslaliOnS in the presence OF my lady
friends, absolutely alarming in their char
scters, and quite sufficient TO make their
hair "stand on end like quilts upon the
trctiul porcupine." Indeed it was appa.
rent that they had become thoroughly
converted 10 the doctrine Of spirituslism
10 all its length, breadth and depth,
aud evidently regarded the woman
10 question az skilltul and favored ex.
FOUNDER OF all its subtle and mysterious
principles. They represented the medium
us being en- illiterate a1d uhcultiVated
woman ot German extraction, who had
accidentally discovered herself to be pos.
sesSed OF miraculous powers, who had no
motive whatever In practiciDg deception,
and who invariably declined to receive
leea, except when requested TO enter the
clairvOyaut state, which she seldom did,
IS it had proven injurious TO her health
and interiered with her domestic duties,
to which, like sensible housewife, she
preferred to give priority OF attention.
lmsy as well here confess that my Gu
FiOsily was naturally excited by listening
to the numerous and striking illustrations
Of this wOman's wonderful powers, and
was, perhaps, further stimulated by read.
ing al elaborate essay recently published
by Mr. Robert Dale Owen, explaining
how he came 10 study spiritual phenom-
eu8, and after more than twenty years Of
profound research, and experimental tests
at more than one thousand sittings, finally
yielded to an irresistible conclusion, and
md pronounced spiritual communi.
cation, whether for good or evil, to be
IN uncomfortable truth. Now can it be
possible that, alter all, Mr.. Owen may DO
mistaken, and the great object Of his in
vestgations into this phenomenon, which
WAS 10 establish the absolute certainty OF
existence after death, under the belief
that such knowledge would benefit
mankind, is as lar from being realized as
ever, aud that for twenty years he has
been deceived and deluded by lot oil
cunning trlcksters? l do not propose to
answer these questions now, but will pro.
coed to relate the particulars Of my visit
to the woman l have already mentioned
bly, first Interview was in company with
friend. had called upon tho woman
in the morning and made an engagement
for the evening. Promptly al 8 o'clock
we catered her cosy parlor and without
waste Of time proceeded to business. She
seated herself behind small, plain, IN.
painted pine table, and alter sCrulini7ing
US for few moments, said:
MAY ask you o question? Arc you
two gentlemen connected by family
ties {"
We replied in the negative.
Then there is some other tie, fos you
are ClOeCly bound together"
We explained that we had been init.
IN ale iriCnd5 for many years. .....
She then began slow and not ungraco.
tul motion OF her hands, waving them 10
and fro from right 10 left, p2uslng occa.
slonaily to rub the palms together. She
addressed us alternately and spoke in
low, hcaitating and mOnotonous tone.
Among the many things she said 10 me
personally In the course Of the ensuing
two hours we remained with her shall
select only tho most prominent and start.
ling, repeating the substance OF her mar
ralivo IN my own words. Assuming q
rigid attitude and fixing her halt closed
eyes upon mine abe said:
VI see standing by your side man
whom you strongly resemble. There has
been an accidental terrible accident
aud he appears 10 be mutilated and dis.
figured"
"MerCiful heavens |" exclaimed, at is
my father. He lost his life in n steam
boat explosion several years ago."
II see standing at his right, but still
clothed in earthly habiiDents lady who
neems to be a constant sufferer, not exact.
ly An invalid, but ono who suffers con.
slant pain"
ut is my mother" Iinvoluntarily cjac.
u|ated. "She is afflicted with rheuma.
tiBm"
That lady Is the widow of that man."
continued the medium, without apparent.
ly noticing my interruption, land survives
him with six children. There were seven,
but one has passed away. Iseo narrow,
Ghallow stream and crowd Of persons
gathered around something lying stiff and
cold by the waters edge. 1t is d human
form"
Stop | cried, this passes my understand.
Ing. The woman has described the
drowning OF my brother, which occurred
eighteen years ago.
ResumiDg the narrative she continued
the description OF many minor incidents
o'my lite, nearly all OF which were per.
fecily true, aud at the close Of the SeGHee
attempted TO have the spirits manifest
themselves by on exhibition Of knock.
ings and table fittings, but the conditions
seemed unlsVorable and they failed to re.
spOnd.
This ended our interview and on re.
gaining the street said to my friend
who had received equally opposite
communications from tho spirit world,
what do you think OF this!
Humbug, preposterous humbug!-he 70.
Piled tremendously.
l do not agree with You was my quick
response, and thereupon We fell into a iis.