The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-28
SPIRIT POWER.
How II Worked In the Opera
House Last Night.
And How The MansfIeIds SWIndIc
the Pnblic.

the Public.
In the morning papers Of Saturday
appeared IN advertisement setting forth
that one Mrs. Mansfield would give ere.
ligious illustrated lecture Of spirit power
in the light, assisted by three Of the best
mediums in the world" in the Opera
House on Sunday evening. Hand.bills
containing the same information, and a
great deal more, were also extensively
circulated. These mediums proposed to
prove 10 the citizens Of Wheeling that
genuine mediums do exist, land that
there are more things in this phenomena
than can be accounted for by any natur'
al law" besides performing all the great
manifestations Of the most prominent
mediums.
Spiritual manifestations have always
possessed n peculiar fascination Tor the
Wheeling public, from the time the Ellis
family was exposed by Mr.. Jacob W.
Grub and others, and Us it was announc-
ed that "a small admission fee only
to deiray cxpenses" would be charged at
the door, there was a large crowd in
waiting about the entrance long before
the hour announced for the opening.
When it was discovered that the people
had been deliberately duped by the
Manslields, and that the admission fee was
fifty cents, there was considerable dissat.
isiaction, and great many returned to
their homes. However, the greater part
Of them paid the half dollar and entered
the building, and before the curtain rose
nearly every seat was filled, both upstairs
and down.
Shortly after o'clock the curtain rose
and disclosed an ordinary canvass cab.
met, and a young man who stepped for.
ward, and read from printed slip the
Conditions" under which the manifesto.
tons were TO 10 made, the views Of n
number Of prominent gentlemen npon
spiritualism, and other equally prosy
matters. This young man evidently pos
sesses the idea that lie is finished read
er, judging from the pleasure he seemed
to take in inlicting his eloculiOnRry ex-
ercises upon an innocent and unsuspect.
ing audience. But finally he finished
with grand flourish, and introduced
to the audience a Mr.. Mansfield, who was
to he the first medium to entertain
them. Mansfield made his bow, and
then announced that it would be in order
to select committee from the audience
to represent them on the stage. A mum.
Der OF persons were named in this connec.
ton by the audience, among others DR..
Hazett, Sheriff Tingle and Jacob W.
Grub. But Mansfield paid no attention
whutever to the wishes OF the audi.
ence, and proceeded TO select a
committee, composed Of three gen.
tlemen, to suit himself One Of these
geLllemeu was Mr.. b. i. Caldwell, the
timer; the names Of the others are I'm
known to the writer. Oi course this
proceeding was rather at variance with
the usual custom, and considerable Oppo.
si,On was manifested to il. However, rs
the so.called mediums declared it to be
their intention to run the show according
to their own idea OF the eternal fitness Of
things, order was finally restored and
preparations were made for tue first
manifestations From this time on the
dissatisfaction Of the audience seemed to
be constantly on the increase, and was
freely expressed by Kisses, EXPLANATIONS,
yels and noisy laughter.
The "medium"explained that the man.
ifestations would be made with the assist.
anCe Of the spirit Of the Indian Hamoset,
who was to be imported from the happy
hunting grounds especially to grace the
occasion with his noble presence. After
this he went through the we'll known
rope tricks, which have been exposed
here so many times that there is hardly
school boy that is unable to perform
them, and equally us well. We have seen
these rope tricks performed many times,
and by good many different persons,
and any one Of them can tie and unite
himself, thump his guitar and ring his bell
in less than one.lourth the time occupied
by Mansfield. This fact was evidently
observed by the audience, as the clamor
constantly became greater, and the cries
Of derisiOn more frequent.
Finally request was made by Mans.
field that some lady in the audience
would volunteer 10 enter the cabinet with
Mr.. Caldwell and the medium. Consid.
cradle difficulty was experienced in find
ing 4 lady who was willing to do so, but
finally u Miss Bird, from Steubcnville,
consented to act. The three entered the
cSbinet, and the usual noises were heard,
followed By a fain: scream from the lady,
who afterwards reported that she felt q
pair OF manly arms about her neck, and
that Observation-Disclosures it was Caldwell,
Mansfield or the noble Samoset she did
not say-had actually kissed her There
was no trouble in securing volunteers
after this fact became known, and the
dear creatures could be seen rising to
their feet in all parts OF the building.
Fearing rush upon the stage by the
fair sex, Mansfield hurriedly accepted
the first that offered, and begged the re.
mainder to keep their seats and wait
their turn. These experiments were re.
peated several times, with satisfaction to
the ladies at least.
The announcement had been made
early in the evening that all who were
not satisfied with the entertainment
could have their money returned 10 them
at the door. Several gentlemen who had
become thoroughly disgusted with the
performance retired for the purpose Of
taking advantage OF this proposition, but
found no one either at the door or ut the
box office. Returning, one OF the num-
Der arose 10 his feet in the audi
ence and related their experience,
which had the effect OF creating
fearful uproar. For time the excite.
ment was intense, and row seemed i'm
minent. Demands were made for the Sc
lection oil new committee, which the
mediums" refused to accede TO. Re.
marks were made by ". p. Hubbard,
Esq, DR.. Hazlett and others, and finally,
the sense Of the crowd was taken on mo.
ton TO have new committee, which was
put by Mr.. Hubbard and carried BY 4
unanimous vote. Sheriff Jingle and Mr..
Jacob W. Grubb were then called for, and
stepping upon the stage were greeted with
rounds Of applause.
The rope trick was again repeated,
when Mr.. Grub announced TO the audi.
ence that il the gentlemen would allow
him the use OF their cabinet he would
duplicate their entire performance. This
proposition staggered SamOset and his
pale-iaced friends, and reused the audi.
ence TO high pitch OF enthusiasm. It's
hardly necessary to say that II was not
accepted. The evenings entertainment
concluded with some table Timing exnr.