Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-18

Miss Lula Hurst Gives Private Exhibit
ton of Her Singular Powers-What
She Can do and How she Does it-A
Nut for Skeptics and Scientists

MISS Luna hurst Gives q Private Exhibit
ton of Her Singular Powers-What
She Can do and How She Does it-A
Nut for Skeptics and Scientists.
An audience of thirty prominent citi-
zens gathered in the Pulaski House dining
room yesterday to witness a private exhi-
bitiOn of the powers of Miss Lula Hurst,
the electrical girl who has excited so
much wonder. Among the audience were
several leading physicians, DR.. r. j.
Mum, DR.. William Duncan, DR.. J. I.
Mcfarland, and Hon. A. P. Adams, Hon.
W. d. Harden, Hon. Robert Falligant,
Hon. Thomas NJ. Norwood, Mayor Lester,
Capt. F. NJ. Hull, Hon. F. G. DuBignon,
Col. Marmaduke Hamilton, Major w. f.
Smythe, Major c. C. Hardwick and
a number of others, including
sthe representatives of the MORN
ING NEWS. The chairs were
arranged about the room in a circle, leaving
an open space in the centre. Miss Hurst,
accompanied by her father and mother
and Prof. Paul Atkinson, were introduced
by Manager Cohen. Mr.. Hurst, before
beginning the test. announced some of the
marvellous powers which the young lady
is claimed to possess. Miss Hurst came
forward and took position in the circle
by chair upon which lay harmless sun
umbrella.
She is a tall, well-formed brunette, with
rosy cheeks, dark eyes and chestnut curls.
Her history, that of an ingenious, UMPIRE
tending country girl, as obtained from her
father, may be summed up in short and
simple annals. She was born in Cedar
town. Polk county, not quite sixteen years
ago. At the age of six months she
walked and talked. She has always been
gentle and amiable GIRL is modest to
the extent of extreme timidity at times.
She is a devout member Of the Baptist
Church. Her father is a well-to-do farm
err and her mother was a niece of Jesse
Wood, one of the most prominent
Baptists in the State. She has known Of
her power only six months, first being
conscious of it while lying in bed and feel
ing the bed move, afterward experiment
ing upon chairs and umbrellas. She has
the most perfect aversion, it is said. to
table rapping or TO MISUNDERSTANDING
she excels all the necrOmancers in the
strength if not the subtlety of her power.
She preserves calmness during her most
powerful manifestations, amounting
almost to want of animation at times.
A most singular fact is that she is unable
to carry an umbrella or handle one even
without smashing it. Taking up the UNI
brella from the chair Manager Cohen re-
quested its owner to step forward The
mORNING NhNC representative cdSI an
eye over the situation, but seeing no alter
native stepped into the circle as skeptical
and unbelieving as possible, and spread
the light canopy over the young lady with
the warning from the Manager to
catch 1t when it began to move.
Miss Hurst took the umbrella in her
hand and held it moment, when the ribs
began to bend and the parachute darted
oil like flash, but not before its owner
had seized it. After several trials. in
which Miss Hurst merely placed her hand
against the handle without grasping it, the
sunshade carried its owner around the
circle, and finally became limp and IN
comfortable and wound up over the head
of gentleman shattered and useless.
The same test was tried by Capt. Hull,
who was hustled over the floor in every
direction. Col. Marmaduke Hamilton in
vested a second umbrella in the test,
which came to a more untimely end, be-
ing broken into several pieces and the
covering torn in shreds.
Another test of the singular force
was made by Mayor, Lester who
ing it firmly in both hands, Miss
Hurst placed hers upon it, and, without
any apparent physical force, drove the
gentleman around the room in every
direction, great effort being required in
lodging the furniture.
MAYOR G. G. Hardwick, gen.
tleman weighing about 100 pounds, was
then seated in chair in the centre of the
open space. The young lady, with the
palms of her hands touching the chair,
lifted it up, and the strongest effort of
the occupant was unable to place it upon
the floor.
The same test was made by Capt. Robert
Falligant, who was lifted from the floor
like a feather. the chair finally flying
ba IN inf no Il
ton of a large mirror, which it
would undoubtedly have shattered had
it not been caught by the pru-
dent manager, who was on the
look out for any impending disaster. The
same test was repeated and in every case
bafiied the efforts of those who attempted
to remain seated in the chair.
Among the numerous other tests, one Of
the most convincing, was that OF holding
a chair in position against the body.
This was tried by Senator Norwood, Capt.
Falligant, Capt. Hull, and nearly all the
gentlemen present, and with all the tug
cling and straining to hold a grip upon
the chair upon which the young lady
simply laid her hand, without grasping it
in any way, it was impossible for any
two or three to hold 1t, as 1t moved
and swayed about carving the GENTLE
man with -. In the final test the MORN
gentleman, threw their entire weight
upon the chair, while third gentleman
aided them in attempting to put it 10 the
floor, Miss Hurst having only the palm
of her hand upon the back, but We're I'M
able to resist the power exerted upon it.
The force which the young lady possess
es in so remarkable a degree, and which
she does not understand and claims to be
unable to control, is called by a number
ofscientific gentlemen psychic force-an
emanation from the mind and prOlonga-
ton of the will-something which has
never been analysed, but which has moth
ing to do with the supernatural or So
called spiritual.
In conversation with Miss Hurst the
MORNING News representative asked:
''Does the effort tire your
"Not at ALL she replied.
''Do you feel any peculiar sensation|'
''None whatever"
"DOes the lifting Of the chair strain you
as lifting a heavy weight'
Il feel no weight at all. 1t seems as if
somebody else was doing the lifting"
'sWhat do you think about it?"
81 don't know anything about it,
This is about all the information that
could be got out of the matter beyond the
visible tests.