New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-14
TALKING WITH WEIRD FORMS.

| UREs-HOw THEY APPEARED AND HOW THEY
| TALKED.
A few weeks ago there appeared in THE TRIB-
| UNE an account of a reporters observations ut
so-caled naturalization seance." held at the
mouse OF gentleman living in Long Island village.
by PERMISSION of the gentleman his name and resi-
dence are now given and the following description
OF second seance attended by the same reporter is
| written.
The house of Mr.. A. L. Hatch is one of the pretty
villas that line the shore of the East River above
the Astoria Ferry It stands in the midst of largo
garden and lawn at the end of densey shaded,
thorougfare street, the grounds in the extend
| ing to the waters edge, Mr.. Hatch. who is an
| enthusiastic believer in the ghost.y phenomena,
| thinks that the favorable conditions of isolation,
| freedom from disturbing noises and uncongenial
personal magnetism together with pure air and the
fragrance of flowers have much to do with his sue
cess in obtaining what he speaks of as the most
wonderful display of supernatural forces in the
world since the New Testament times His house,
hold commonly consists only of his wife and
servants, but for several months past Mrs.
Hull, a medium, and her husband have been living
as guests with tho family. Both are elderly people
OF very respectable app and intelligent
versation. Mr.. and Mrs. Hatch arc also of an age
when people usually cease to expect much of this
life and begin to speculate the probabilities Of
another existence beyond the grave.
The seances, now ended for the summer have been
hed not ottener than twice week on account is
explained, of their exhausting effort on Mrs Hull
who comes out of her trance looking more dead than
alive, and is in her normal state of feeble nervous
temperament. Only four persons are invited to wit
ness the performance at time, that the sitters
including the host and hostess and Mr. Hull number
seven. Tho arrangement of the rooms on the main
floor OF the house is follows: A broad hall runs
through the CENTRE side are two parlors
separated by thick green curtain and on the other
the linin nd hotu 20 ~,
stairway. The front parlor not lighted during
the sitting and the door leading from it to the hall
was locked. In each of the 9th three rooms and
in the hall a single gas jet burned low. 1t was
light enough however, in the back parlor to read
newspaper, as the reporter found by experiment
The chairs arranged facing the curtained door
way, and in front of the open double doors connect
ing the back parlor with the hail. and in view of the
stairs, 80 that no could up from the base
ment or down from the upper story without being
seen.
After tea and n chat in tho twilight on the breezy
piazza, the guests took seats in the parlor. They
were New-York lawyer and ex-Judgc, Washing
ton lady, nephew of Mr.. Hatch lately returned
from Spain and the reporter. The lawyer appeared
to have the shrcwdness of men of his
occupation the young man had knocked about the
world n good deal and fought in revolution with
the Spanish IntransigcnteS and did not look like
person to be easily imposed upon the lady from
Washington would not be selected as a good subject
for hypnotism, and the reporter thought he had
learned his trade well enough to keep his eyes and
open
The medium went INTO the dark room and
lay upon lounge just behind the cur
tanned doors where she snugly tucked I'D with
shawls by Mrs. Hatch. The spectators Joined hands
a moment. Then the hostess and repeated the
Lords prayer. " Nearer my God to Thee" was sung
Next a big Tnsic-box was set agoing Be-
fore il had nlnVad ito IS
stuffed dove hanging in front of the curtaincd
doorway began IN sway to and fro. and n moment
later the curtains were drawn and out stepped n
tall fair, graceful girl in n white dress ornamented
with numerous broad bands of silver. She was i'm
Inediately welcomed with affcctionatc greetings nv
Mr. and Mrs. Hatch their daughter Lizzie who
died three years ago Around her head and drawn
partly across her face long gauzy veil and
upon her feet which very small and which she
showed coquettishly, were curious slippers that
seemed 30 be made of silver thread and were orna
mcnted with silver flowers that gloyed with phos-
phofescent lustrc. She soon withdrew behind the
curtain, but in instant, to cvcrybody's surprise
reappcarcd in the hall aud came into the paror
through the open doors. She put her arms around
the neck of her father first then of her mother and
then OF her cousin, the young traveller and after
ward touched the heads of each Of the other mem
pcrs OF the company. Near she was to the re- |
porter when she touched him, her face still had
h'SoS appearances, ana dd not look like solid flesh
ana D.ood. Her garments when she walked male |
an electric cracking noise. She stood several min
utcS by the piano, manipulating her veil, which |
snapped and spartlcl like a feytlcn Jar The shade |
around the gas jet then shifted by some unseen
force so rs to throw the light upon her. At the re-
quest of the reporter she went to the curtains |
ana held them wide apart so that |
the medium could be plainly seen upon the lounge |
Finally she held a long whispered conversation |
fhp 81,
She in and ont of the darkened room four or |
hve times, the last time appearing in n different |
costume, much more simple than the robe with the
shining bands
Counting Lizzie rs Number One there appearcd in
AL sixteen forms in the two hrnrs and n half the
sting nu lasted NnmhorT Two wasan Indian girl, who
medium stature, 1.-the and graceful II was dressed
III III II req Skill white lcgcings, moccasns and
s FRI ShaWi ana had silver medal suspended TO
me neck The color of the face and hair sngg ,sted
a llali-breed rather than II purc-bloodcd Indian |
INC hSure seemed about to fall To pieces and
hurrlcdly retIeated Then instead of coming out of
door rom the hall startling the sittcrs bv appear
Ing Ia ci2se behind th'm The attitudes all those
o. or =" itlian; Inc girl seemed greatly asonifhcd
anu entertained by seeing her reflection in n
mirror, ana atterwari approached the music-hoy
c,uti9usly, as II it were strange animal she was
afraid 10 ,3uch. The reporter handed her pair of
scissors ana asked Tor lock of her hair The hair
seemed snort ana scanty, but after she had manipl-
iia'ea IL minute or two it hung down to her waist
III apundaht masses. She cut off trcss and gave it
~ '1C icP0itcI ~ was brown and soft and not ut
AZ IKE the black hair of the medium Number
Three claimed to he Abyssnian woman She
WIS roDrd III whIlc and wrapped III veil studded
i hair. The next appartion was recognized by the
lny rom Washugio on rs an old schoonate who
n rreat at eighteen Ihe two embraced and kissed in
seal III the circle, trembling and in tears