The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-09-02
MANTUA.
Correspondence.

ME-. EDITOR AS many OF your
readers are Interested in the phenomt :
ma, called spirit naturalization, yom
correspondent embraced the opportu-
nifty of attending a seance held for that
purpose on Wednesday & evening" last
at the residence of wealthy citizen Of
Charlestown, in this County, and to
briefly record the proceedings there:
Arriving about dark, we found {"
score or more persons assembled, whs
all appeared to be honest investigate re
some were believers, and some thour-
oughly sceptical. After all had arriv-
ed, we were soon seated in plain, un-
furnished parlor, save few chairs and
benches, and arranged in three ranks
extending diagonally across the room,
and facing small cabinet, which was
placed in one corner. This cabinet
was just large enough for one person
only, TO be seated therein, having tive
doors in front opening outward,
Soon the medium was introduced
"a Mrs. Wilson, from N. W, a COM
mittec chosen, consisting OF a gentle
man from Kent and Mr.. N. Nichols OF
Hiram, who were required to take all
measures possible to rreyent fraud or
collusion. They proceeded to secure
ly tie the mc;iium's hands behind her,
using stout cord, tieing the ends 81
the cords together with strong waxcd
twine with inumerable knots, then
placed six thicknesses of court plaster
over her mouth, thus making it abso-
lutely impossible for her to use her
hands or lips. She was then placed
in the cabinet, the doors closed and
fastened outside, the lamplight partial
lv turned down, all requested to join
hands and sing, or furnish music of
some sort. After a song or two, and
violin music by our friend, w. II. Farr.
during which the audience were per-
fectly quiet for perhaps five minutes
when a voice came from within the
cabinet clearly and distinctly, "Good
evening, friends, happy to meet you
all" A response and enquiry was
made, when the spirit of Ben. Tack
berry, Lake Erie sailor, announced
his presence, and willingness to con-
verse and manifest himself in form.
Soon other voices, entirely different,
were heard within the cabinet in con
versation with each other, and with
the audience. After a lime a small
curtain at an aperture in the doors OF
the cabinet was moved aside by
mans hands, and mans face appear
ed, both Totally Hnlike the mediums.
They were Withdrawn, and other faces
were shown, also a child's hand, all
distinctly visible, and remaining for a
short time, perhaps minute or two.
Questions were answered, songs sung,
and an exceeding interesting lecture
ON naturalization and other subjects
delivered from within the cabinet, oc-
cupying more than an hour of the
time. In couple of hours, the COM
mite examined the medium and found
her totally unconscious, securely fast
ened and mouth sealed as when first
seated. The doors were again fasten-
ed, when in minute, the rope was
united and thrown out among the au-
dience. The mediums hands being
then unbound the rope was placed in
the cabinet and in few minutes, she
was found more securely bound than
before, the knots were many and very
intricate, and the ends of the cord
completely concealed, requiring long
time to unloosen them. The seance
lasted three hours, during the whole
of which time, the forms appeared at
intervals, sometimes. clear and well
defined an at othertimes some ewhat in
distinct, yet the room was very we'll
much so that every per-
sons countenance in the room was
plainly distinguishable. The above is
a brief account of part of the occur
rences of that evening, and as every
effort was made to prevent imposition
and no fraud detected we will leave
your readers to make their own COM
ments and form their own conclusions.
We simply state the facts, as heard
and seen by VERITAs.
Nantus, Aug. 3Oth, 1875.