Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-04-21
WRESTLING WITH SPIRIT.


e A Boston Reporter Catches a Ghost
the Leg, and Finds it Solid Bone
and Muscle.
d The Boston Globe has recently gone in
e the detective ghost and spirit humbug e,
:, pose business. The first attempt ON a s.
called medium named Keller, was unsucces
full. The second venture was more fortunat
| and has shaken the faith of some of the no.
: Thoroughbred believers. The skeptics WI
2 boldly wrestled with the spirit--not met;
t physically, but physically-con of
: reporter, Inspectors Knox and Mountain,
3 Boston police; Prof Dayton and an elderl
lady and her daughter, the two latter bein
1 employed as decoys, so to speak Keller,
= seems, was assisted in his manifestations b.
: a man who wore glasses, and who passed a
Keeler's agent The cabinet was placed, a
usual, at one end of the room, and in Orde
to prevent too inquisitive and iTeveren
materialists from making unexpected raid
on the cabinet. a rope had been stretched
around it. The audience, which compris
about dozen other persons thar, those men
toned above, was carefully seated by th'
man with spectacles, the elderly lady gettin!
one in the front row on the strength of he
assumed air of simplicity. Then Keeler go
into the cabinet, the spectacled man wOun(
up and started music boz, the gas was turn
ed down, and q buzz of expectation ruI
through the circle of the faithful. Loud rap.
were next heard: then white arm anG
shoulder appeared from behind the curtains
next face and bust loomed dimly into view
and the spectacled man asked the spirit
whether it couldn't come out. 1t came out
The old lady, according to preconcerted az
rangement, called out loudly, in agitated
tones, why, that's my daughter" This
completely drew Keeler's agent off his guard
and he requested the spirit to come and shake
hands with her. What followed is best de-
scribed in the Globe reporters own words:
Slowly and with measured pace the appara-
tion advanced, ard, as it did SO, the lady
purposely drew back little; as though from
fear.
Don't be afraid of it, lady," assuringly re-
marked the four-eyed man.
mo, | won't be-" came back what pretend
ed to be somewhat frightened reply.
During this time the apparation continued
to advance, and came within q foot of the
rope against which the lady was leaning,
Then the specter raised one arm and reached
forth white, sepulchral-looking hand, and
placed it within that of the elderly lady
awaiting it. All eyes were intent On the
movements of the spirit, and almost instantly,
before single person in the room except the
Globe contederates and the spectators thought
OF anything but the ghost, Prof. Dayton and
the Globe reporter dashed under the ropes.
Prot. Dayton grasped the spirit by the leg,
and, the four-eyed man following: suit, Jump
ed upon the Professor, and seized him viO-
lently by the throat. Meantime the Globe
reporter grasped the spirit by the throat, and
all four were piled up in a heap down in the
corner OF the closet, into which the spirit had
been pushed during the raid. All this was
done in an instant, and during its occurrence
Inspector Mountain lighted the gas, while
his companion, Inspector Knox, in an incredi-
bly, short space of time had jumped over the
chairs in his way, and, followed by Inspector
Mountain, came to the assistance of the Globe
reporter and Prot. Dayton, who were having
very lively struggle with the spirit and it's
tOur-eyed agent, though Prof Dayton was
rapidly getting the better of the latter, while
the reporters 175 pounds avoirdupois was
bearing rather heavily on the spirit and his
hand on the apparation's throat was causing
the visitor from other regions some difficulty
in obtaining the necessary amount of air.
Surrender" shouted the reporter Off
GERS are here and it's no use we've got you."
"Well, then," grasped the tour-eyed man,
who was still engaged in a hand-to-hand en-
counter, "let us out"
No, you don't" spoke up Inspector Knox.
Come out here and let us get good view of
you"
Upon this the inspector seized the four
eyed man and dragged him out, while In
spector Mountain took good grip on the
spirit, who had by this time had the tarlatan
torn from its countenance, revealing q face
white with terror, or paint, or both-the face
of none other than the medium Keller. In
spector Mountain backed this lovely looking
object against the table on which the music
box stood, adjustered the twisters about
Keeler's wrist, and held him fast
You're pretty looking spirit, you are"
declared Inspector Mountain. $50 you're the
being from another land. You are, indeed,
grand sight"
During this time Keeler shook like leaf
with fright, but said nothing except to reply
yes and no to questions asked by the inspec-
tor. A good view was obtained of him at
this point by the Globe reporter Keeler had
on no coat, vest or boots but was in his
stocking feet, and was drapped from head to
WV
closely resembling, in cut, rector's robe.
Over this was still another robe, made of
coarse tarlatan, and all firmly tied on by
strips of cloth. After thorough look at the
orlorn spirit land Keeler was, indeed, pitt
lble looking object after the exposure) the
Globe man hastened into the closet, or "cab-
let" as the agent called it, whence the spirit
lad issued, and there, upon shelf, upon the
loor were found the various costumes in
which Keeler was to have appeared later in
he evening, including long, false beard,
worm by the spirit" of John King, the
irate," which spirit was described in the
rticle preceding this. Keelers vest, coat
nd boots were also found there. The re- {
orter seized the beard and various portions /
the costumes, and carried them, after the !
xpOsure, to the Globe Office, where they may
e seen on exhibition. ,
Family Names. t
gentleman had five daughters the first 6
whom married man by the name of
oOr, the second Mr.. Little, the third Mr.. I
hort, the fourth Mr. Brown, the fifth :
[r. Hogg. AT the wedding of the latter her
sters with their husbands were there, and ,
ne old gentleman said to his guest, II have !
lken pains to educate my daughters that ]
Z Il II =