Sharp County record., 1878-12-05
MIRACULOUS MOLLIE FANCHER.

without Food-Her Supernatural Powers
of Vision.
from the Buffalo (N. " Courier.l
The interest that has been aroused re-
Gently in this city in the remarkable
case of Miss Mollie Fancher, will in
sure an eager perusal for the following
letter from DR.. West, Principal of
Brooklyn Heights Seminary, which we
are kindly permitted to publish. 1t was
written to a lady of this city in answer
to inquiries as to the facts of Miss Fan
cher's condition:
BROOKLYN, Oct S.-DEAR MADAM: You
request me to write brief sketch OF MISS
Mollie Fancher, in answer OF the many IN
quiries which have doubtless been made by
those who have examined the beautiful
specimens of her needlewOrk which have
been sent to your loan exhibition, which
were wrought during most extraordinary
illness of more than twelve years duration.
To give any thing like an adequate account
Of this remarkable girl would require
treatise. This can not attempt.
Miss Mary j. Fancher was born N Attic
bourgh, Mass, Aug, 16, 1913, and was edu-
Gated at the Brooklyn Heights Seminary
under my care. She was sweet girl OF
delicate organization and nervous tempera-
ment, and was highly esteemed for her pleas
ing manners and gentle disposition. She
was an excellent scholar, eXcelling in belteS
letters studies; but her delicate health led
to her removal from school short time be-
fore the graduation Of her class in 1864. For
three years lost sight of her, till | learned
from a Brooklyn paper Of her singular con-
dition which hresulted from remarkable ac-
cident.
Her aunt soon after called and invited me
to visit " Mollie," as she is famiiarly called.
l did so March 4, 1867; and from that time
to the present | have been an intimate visit
or OF the family. have kept journal OF
my visits and noted all that was important
which came under my observation. | have
used all the sagacity possess to detect any
fraud or cOllusiOn; but l have never seen
any thing to excite py suspicion or my con-
tidence in her integrity. She is lovely
Christian girl and shrinks from any public
exhibition of herself Spiritualists and Gu
riosity seekers have sought access to her, but
have failed. The power of discriminating
character is so great, that she is rarely ever
imposed upon.
The facts to which attention is called can
be fully verified. They are as follows:
MAY 10, lS64-She was thrown from horse
and severely injured.
June s, lS65-In attempting to leave a street
car, her skirt caught and she was dragged for
block over the pavement.
Feb 2, lS66-She was taken seriously ILL.,
Her nervous system was completely derang-
ed. Her head and feet coming together. She
would roll like a hoop. She would
also stand on her toes and spin like
top, Several persons were required to pre-
vent her from doing personal iujury to her
self.
Feb s, 1S66-She went into trance and was.
to all appearance dead.
Feb l7-She lost her eyesight.
Feb lS-She lost her speech.
Feb l9-She lost her hearing.
Feb 22-She saw, spoke, and heard for half
an hour and then for a time lost these facul-
ties.
Feb 23-She lost the sense of sound.
Feb. 24-The fingers closed.
Feb. 25-The jaws locked.
Feb. 26-The legs took triple twist.
| March THE spasms were violent.
May 20, lS66-She asked for food, ate small
piece of cracker, and took teaspoonful OF
punch-it being the first food she had taken
in seven en- weeks aFdq7a$ple toretain on her
May p, 1866-She was shocked by thunder
and again lost her speech.
May 2S, 1S66-She went into a rigid trance at
/ 2a O'Clock, which lasted till ll:30 a. IN. the
next day. She then passed into q relaxed
| trance till June l.
June 2 lS66-Nourishmen was forced by q
| pump into her stomach which threw her into
! commissions. She was unconsciousandd dead
| ly sick with nausea, and suffered intensely
/ till Sunday evening, June 3, when her tn oat
/ closed, and she was unable to take any n0ur-
| ishment or utter sound.
These items are taken from the diary Of
! Mollie'S aunt, who made daily record of
her condition. l have copied but few Of
them to show the beginning of herremarka-
/ BILE illness.
! My first visit, as | have said, was March 4,
1 1867. / found her lying on her right side
with her right arm folded under her head.
Her fingers were cenched in the palm of her
hand, her thumb lying parallel with them
The thumb and fingers Of the lefthand were
n a similar position. The right hand and
rm were paralyZed, as was her body gen.
rally, excepting her left arm. She was in
trance, sighed and seemed to be in pain.
he remained in this trance till the Sth, a
hOrter time than usual at this period Of
her illness. Her frances often lasting from
10 to u days.
find my letter is growing so large l must
condense my journal observations and neg
lect any chronological order.
will speak of her mental and physical
condition
First, her physical: For u years or more
Sne mas lain III one pOSlIlOn Oh Htl IlS Slue'
For nine years she was paralyzed, her mus
cles only relaxing under the influence OF
chloroform. For the last three years she has
been in new condition-the limp instead
of the rigid. Her muscles are so relaxed
that her limbs can be moved without the aid
of chloroform. While passing into this state
her suferings were intense. For days it
did not seem possible that she could live
Her eyes were open and staring. For nine
years they had been closed. Now they were
open and never closing day nor night. They
were sightless. She could swallow, but take
no food; even the odor Of it was offensive.
During this twelve years. illness there have
been times when she had not the use Of any
of her senses. For many days together she
has been to all appearance dead. The slight
est pulse could not be detected-there was
no evidence of respiration. Her limbs were
as cold as ice, and had there not been some