The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-14
A .GHOsTLY ORGY.
WILD SCENE AT THE COOPER UNION LAST
MGHT-THE PRESS GANG AND THE SPIRITS AT
WAR

WAR.
Last evening one OF the most cleverly arranged
sWindles perpetrated in New York under the
OF sprtualisc seGnee took place in the great
hall Of the Cooper Institute and attended by about
two thousand persons, one-third OF whom we're ades
1t had been announced that Mrs Harriet Wilson, the
world renowned medium" as she was styled IN the
bills would bring spirits on the stage in fun view OF
the audience and that they would appear in their
full earthly bodies under the gaslight and speak
they were wont in life with natural
voices. At early hour the hall was pretty well
filed and the usual charlntan's box cabinet large
enough for adult TO stand up had been placed on
the stage Mrs. Harriet Wilson remained in the ante
ROOM with two three ladies' Of her acauaintace one
Of whom Mrs Leievre, OF Washington, until half
past eight O'Clock the audience, who had paid nifty
cents for general admission and 81 head for reserved
Seats giving TO their dissatisfaction by stamping,
yelling and cheering. II announced by Tom Lee,
actor who assumed the direction Of affairs, that
the delay caused by the fact that
the lady friends OF Mrs. Wilson were engaged
in undressing and afterward dressing the medium
with their own hands in order that she might not be
able to conceal any appliances for trckery or fraud ON
her person Mrs Wilson at last appeared dressed in
dark clothing and looked be about thirty five years
age Her eyes a strange and wild look, and
she made at the outset decided impression on the
audience. Then ensued for nearly two hours and
half of the most outrageous fun and uproar,
the audience manifestng their ncredulty and suspi
cion by yeIls shouts and disorder continually. 1t had
been announced that committee would be appointed
from the representatives of the press who
present. and Messrs Newboud, Fox,
Connolly, Davenport and Maitland together
with gentleman who represented the Lockport
Herald, appointed to act and investigate, Mr..
Fairchld OF Harlem, afterward volunteering at the
cali of the audience Mrs Lefevre and another lady
hon iced IN mi a xam-
nation of Mrs. Wilson and that she was ''ai right"
Mrs Wilson stepped forward and SAID to the audience
with wild look, II desire silence order and dsci-
pne" At this moment the fifty cent ticket holders in
the back part OF hall with a great
surge and took possession of all the reserved
seats, causing a good deal of alarm to the ladies
in the front seats who imagined that general
fight was in progress. Mrs. wilson then
placed two large pieces of sticking plaster,
one the other, across her mouth completely
sealing lips that she could not speak and could
only breathe through her nostrils Then the medium
had her hands well tied behind her back by Mr.. Matt
land and the man from the Lockport Herald, after
which she took her seat in the cabinet and the doors
fastened upon her. while part OF the committee
took their by the box TO watch proceedings Five
singers then arrayed themselves around paror organ
and music vouchsafed to the spectators 1t
announced by Tom Lee, the manager that the late
Jim Fisk would appear in bodily shape and talk with
dismal yells by the people Mr. Lee, who has a very
humorous face also stated later that Charley Thorne
would volunteer on the committee and he came the
stage
All this time there silence in the box, and Nr
Lee stated that communication would be received from
the spirit world the shape of answers by the spirit OF
Uncle Ben, deceased sailor, but that questions of
q personal nature would be answered by him. Soon
after sepulchral voice OF loud and piercing tone
heard talking the box and Uncle Ben ratified OF
lot OF ungramInatical and senseless gbberIsh Then
a head at the diamond shaped aperture with
visible and positive black whiskers and
tache In the upper part of the features pair Of
large, saucer-like eyes, with vacant stare were
seen, and and then they would be TO rove
madly over the audience Some individual wanted to
know where William NJ Tweed and Mr.. Lee stated
that this question would not be answered. Then
other person wanted TO know how Uncle Ben would
close haul ship in gale of wind on lee shore, and
third desired to have Uncle Ben box the compass TO
which the spirit answered that it long since he
did these things he had forgotten all about it.
R. WANTED.
This ghostly answer was received with derisive
screams by the audience, and the Sprtualists in the
front seats sought diversion favor of the
medium; but they were hooted down Instantly and
there were loud of Let Jim Fisk show up ~ and
'where is Fsk2 He knows how it is himself" The
tied, but little ioOsed, and she seemed
to be shamming a trance state. The sticking
stated loudly the spectators in North of ireland
accent that he believed that theN trick but he
couldn't how II was done Then Mr. Fairchild cot
the stage and Mr. Maitland was ordered to come
down by the audience with cries of 'Tell who you
excited people. Mr. Fairchild said that he Fair
child had broken up Sernce before, ana there
cheer at this remark and general exclamation of
"give them little Harlem oil, old boy" Mr. Lee
stated that he thought that Mr.. Fairchd should go
down. as he did not belong the committee and this
made uproar Mr.. Fairchild descended and Mr.
Fox was demanded by the audience He then took
possession of the stage and drove all the Spiritual
lists OF amid great cheering and cries of "Bully
for you'll" and chow the pools selling
on Uncle Ben now, Mr.. Lee ?" Az this moment
Mr. Fox standing near the cabinet and the medium
kicked up such a sudden and terrific noise
within that Rev Fox jumped about fifteen feet away
from the Satanic influence and the spectators scream
ing with laughter shouted Dor't weaken Fox; stand
by" The voice of Uncle Ben heard again, and
the face became visible TO the people; it
moved its mustache and features, opened its
mouth aud rolled its eyes again A voice
was heard demanding that the cabinet be-
opened, which done, and the hands were still
found tied Now another scene OF uproar began, aud
there were calls for the Harlem man to go on the
nounced the interference. Mrs. Leevro also went to
the box, and Mr.. Farchild examined tho
medium, and declared that II was ventrilo-
quism and that holes had been perforated
in the sticking plaster and that the cords had been
tempered with and he declared that Il was a fraud
vIously thrown out Of the aperture. The audience
then demanded that the medium be brought forth
and examined, and the Spirituasts cried
" Shamcl Don't hurt her She's a woman .
Mrs Wilson found in trance state and as Uncle
Ben had declared that the most "sccpticalist per-
SOM in the audience could not unto the medium Mr.
Fairchd volunteered 20 do II, and succeeded after
a while being oheered loudly Farchild then tied his
hands behind his back and pronounced the stance
a fraud.
LeeJwas groaned loudly he in his turn pronouncing
the the audience "a lot of ours AT this stage
the ghostly orgie ended the most violent uproar
Mrs Wilson retreated in disorder to the ROOM and
emptled the hail. loudly cheering Mr. Fairchild