Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-11-13
The Terre EEaute Apparition

win me IN the SeanCe-rO0m,I VIII
try to make him see just what /
saw-not during all the seances /
have attended here, but at single
one There stands the cabinet--a
plain simple thing, made of thin
walnut boards The folding doors
are flung wide open; the light
shines into every part oft leaving
not the sign of shadow in any
nook or corner. Look all around.
behind, and underneath il; moth
ing can you find TO awaken suspi-
eion in the most suspicious mind.
1t is seven O'Clock in the evening,
and here comes the little woman,
carrying about her no indications
Of The wondTous power she posses
SEES PLAINLY yet neatly dressed,
She is modest and unassuming
greets you with a sweet smile, and
takes your hand with cordiality;
conVerses a little with her friends:
passes TO the cabinet; enters and
closes the door after her.
The light is turnrd down, but
not so far as TO enable a confederate
10 enter the cabinet without being
seen Now we listen to the tink-
ling sounds of a music box which
our accommodating friend, DR..
Pence, has just brought in. BY
and by one side ofthe cabinet door
slowly opens, and out steps slight
but beautiful figure, robed IN pure
white garments, looking a girl of
about seventeen; not quite SO tall
as the medium, but with step con-
siderably more elastic. Pausing
aa instant near the threshold, she
says Good Ever ing" in softest
Imaginable tones; then, turning
round, throws open the other door
of the cabinet, showing the medi-
um sitting in a chair apparently
asleep.
A stranger whispers to me" MAY
not the figure in the chair be made
up. and consist of something other
tnan flesh and blood, while the
creature in while is really the me-
dium playing ghost ?"
Did some invisible ear, as well
| as my own, catch this whisper Of
suspicion .? Immediately the chair
in which the medium sat entranced
commenced rocking, and the un-
conscious occupant thereof, lifting
her arm, waved white handker-
chief. But all this failed to satisfy
the skeptic. "Ah, the thing is a
machine, said he, moved by a
wire" These words, though utter
ed in an undertone, fell not UNI
heard by The apparition moving
before US. Going at once to the
medium the figure in white raised
her to hei feet, brought her out OF
The cabinet, and stood side by side
with her. Having thus swept
away dark suapiciOn, the appari.
ton returned to the cabinet with
the medium and closed the door.
Very soon a tall male figure glided
out of the cabinet, gracefully bow
ing to the circle, and looking the
fuIl-orbed man. Fixing his gaze
steadily upon lady who sat next
me, he whispered few words, but
SO feebly our dull ears caught them
not. The lady at once claimed
him for her husband, and he bow
ed as If to confirm the claim. Ris-
ing,the lady offered the appariiion
her hand. Advancing a pace he
sought to grasp il, but failed, being
suddenly pulled back as If by some
invisible power.
Now, returning to the cabinet
l tha ann.arit i'm .i0 snh tho Aoor aud
remained about two miDutes in
the dark, az if TO gain additional
strength, then came out again,und
after what seemed painful effort
made his way to the lady already
mentioned, and took her hand in
his with a whisp, cred "God bless
you ~ Several other figures varl-
ously alfred and differing greatly
in size and stature, came out one
after another during the seance.
Finally ti,e figure in white came
out again / requested her to give
us the best proof she could that she
was o moral like ourselves. -
After expressing willingness to
try, she called for pair of scissors.
which, being furnished, she hand
eel 10 me; then kneeling down be-
fore me, requested that / should
Gu lock of hair from her head.
complied, clipping quite a large
lock from her crown. The tress
was passed round the circle. as all
were curious to feel Oft. The ap
partition then taking the hair into
her town hands, laid it upon a
white handkerchief close by me,
and folded 1t carefully therein;
then rising. she went into the
cabinet and shut the door Di-
rectly the kerchief deliberately
unfolded itself, and the hair
straightway appeared to act like