The Osceola times., 1876-06-03
SPlRITUALISTIC HOCUs.POCUS.
An Ingenious Ex Posure OF the meaiums
aMd Their Trirks.
y. Y. Evening Post. May 20.


aud Their Tricks.
N. Y. Evening Post. May 20.
One of the most remarkable entertain
ments ever given in this city took place
last evening at Chickering Hall The
announcement had been made in the
daily press that Mr.. w. Irving Bishop,
whose private exhibitions have called
forth expressions of admiration from the
favored few who have been permitted tc
witness them, would publicly expose the
fraudulent practices of the class of men
and women who describe themselves as
spiritual mcdiums;" and rs conse.
quence the house was literally packed
with spiritualists, anti-spiritualists, per
SOUS who are halting between the two
opinions, clcrgyhen, lawyers, men OF
science, and ordinary novelty seekers
Dr. William A. Hammond delivered an
address setting forth the objects of the
meeting and at its close introduced the
principal performer of the evening. Mr..
Bishop is a young man, slightly but
symmetrically built, of 1.-THE and easy
carriage. and with face denoting intel.
ligence and quickness of thought The
IT..
Alexander b. Mott were chosen com
mittec to supervise the preparation of
the apparatus, and pronounce upon its
character. A folding screen of three
leaves occupied the center of the stage,
arranged like "box scene" in thcater.
In the recess common chair was
set, directly in front of stout
wooden post which was fastened
by iron joists to the floor. The
committee with their own hands screwed
two iron rings into the post the perform
or was placed in the chair, facing the
audience; his wrists were pinoned by
stout strips of unbleached muslin, sewed
about them by DIR. Mott as tight as was
possible withoutimpedingthe circulation
of the blood and tied fast to the lower
of the two rings behind him; another
band was passed around his neck and &C.
cured to the upper ring; his feet were
tied with rope, the other end Of which
was held taut by member of the audi.
cnse in one Of the parquette. seats and
strong calcium light was turned full
upon him from the real gallery. A tam
BOURNE and several bells of different
tones were laid in his lap, and curtain
draw in front of him. Scarce had ne
disappeared from view before the tam
BOURNE was loudly b aten, the bells rung
and the instruments, one after another
tossed over the top Of the screen on Il
the open stage. The curtain was with.
drawn, and the committee requested to
examine the apparatus. Not thing
they reported, had apparently beer
stirred.
A lady's rfng and strip of cloth wcr,
laid on the performers knee; within q
minute the cloth was found tied in q
double knot around his threat, with the
ring slipped over the knot. Then q
marked board, a hammer and large mai
were placed on chair beside him when
removed, the nail was found driven
through the board. To enumerate all
the marvellous manifestations produced
hy Mr.. Bishop would require more space
than we can spare for this article. Suffice
it that the "spitits" drank water from a
tumblor set on his knee; cut doll out OF
a marked piece of paper with common
shears; thrummed on guitar: blew a
fageolet; produced a bouquet of flowers
",
Deems TO be shat up with them, blind
fold, with his right foot laid across the
feet, his right hand on the leg, and his
left hand on tho forehead OF the "mcdi.
nm" and raised terrible tumult all
about him without disturbing the "me-
dunn enough TO he perceptible to the
reverend gentlemen's sense of touch !.
turned a wooden bucket which had been
placed upright in the mediums" lap,
wrong side up on his head and deported
themselves generally in the fantastic
fashion with which professional "medi-
ums" have heretofore made us ac-
quainted. In each case the manifesto
iions began us soon as Mr.. Bishop had
been concealed from view and when
transformation of any sort took place il
required but few seconds for ITS com
Pletion. During the progress of the en-.
tertalnment the investigating committee
was increased bv the accession of th,
Rev. DIR. Gottheil, of the Jewish church.
Dr. II. b. Sands and DIR. Dalton. Other
well known citizens were called for but
did not appear.
When the committee had pronounced
themselves entirely satisfied with the
performance, but unable To account for
the wonderful phenomena presented,
Mr.. bishops assistant, in a short address,
explained the whole secret, which con
sisted simply OF the peculiar formation
ot the mediums" hands and wrists.
enabling him to slip his arms not out of.
hut through the bandiges to such n
length as to give them free play upon
objects placed near him. To prove that
the explanation was genuine, the curtain
was removed and Mr.. Bishop, though very
weary with the evenings labor, kindly
consented to reproduce number of hi.
fcats in plain view of the audience. Hi.
anatomical pcculiarities, his strength, hi,
surprising agility and his cool nerve.
were succcssively called into play, to tn,
great delight of the spectators, who show
cred him With hearty plaudits.
Before dispensing, the meeting passed
n vote of thanks 10 Mr.. Bishop, his as
sistant and the individual members o.
the investigating committee. Mr.. Bishop
whQr reeeiys<po pay for his performance
hH1 Eote9 ING proceeds 10 the relief o
tho po0f 0f A4w York, makes an oper
oqe3M e5I4zb any charity which may
l,sg ghalGd by any professional "me
di4n" who will perform himself equally
weak D~ Hammond, in his opening ad
drrA alsa apnounced that he was en-
irpstcsl ~ 3 wealthy friend with stand
ing <1cf Of So, 600 to be paid to any
medium" who will lengthcn his body
one foot, who will float through the all
unassistcd, or who will read written
paper which shall have been folded, Gu