Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-29
" SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS"
The Elsie Reynolds-Crindle spirituaiistic
Performance.

s,,iritro1ist in the world, assisted by Henry
Crindle." were on schedule time as per an
nouncement, and witnessed by medium
sized audience. The performance through
ont consisted of the ordinary slight-of-hand
cabinet tricks which have been repeatedly
Given before Sacramento audiences by far
more skilled performers, and with infinitely
greater mystifying effect. The NANTES
tations" consisted, first, of Mrs. Rey-
nolds being seated before table, the front
and sides of which were eneompassed with
cloth. Over her head, arms and hands
were placed wire cages. Beneath the table
the either harp and two bells were placed.
| These were tinkled a few times. 1t was
confessed by the operator that the test
was unsatisfactory it certainly was to the
audience and to the committee, consisting
of Judge Holl, A f. Shattuck and a. Abb
bolt, which committee was selected by the
audience and was perfectly fair in its ac-
ton. An effort was repeatedly made TO
materialize flowers from under the table
| but it completely failed.
| The next number on the programme was
a cabinet test of Henry Crindle. The cabl-
net was a light wooden frame, about Axe
| feet, covered with black muslin, with red
| sliding curtain in front. In the center,
/ fastened to the floor was an upright post
with two ring bolts. Crindle was tied by
| the committee with strips of cloth around
each wrist the knots stitched with needle
and thread. his hands fastened together
behind his back, and when seated at the
post was bound to the lower bolt and hisneck
secured in the same way to the upper bolt.
A mouth-harp was laid on his knee, and the
curtain closed After a few seconds the
harp was played upon and the curtain be-
| ing opened the instrument was found on
the mans knee. His feet were then tied
upon suggestion of the audience, and the
performance repeated. His mouth was
sealed up, and the instrument again played,
and it was suggested by an expert that it
had now become a nose harp. Messrs.
| Adair Welcler and Warren Gale, who were
under the stage at the time testified that at
each performance there was n movement
of the feet upon the floor. A ring received
from one of the committee was then
changed to different positions on
the person of the medium, and
glass of water transferred from
| his lips to his mouth. A tamborne laid
ON his knees was thrown upward in
the cabinet, being seen to move just as the
curtain wouldopen. Finally, the mediums
vest was stripped off from apparently be-
meath his coat, he being still bound. A
pair of scissors was then placed on his lap,
! the curtain closed, and, when opened, his
bonds were found to be cut, the knots and
sewing remaining intact.
This closed Crindle's cabinet perform
ence. There was not thing III it that was
not better done by Il variety of magicians,
exposures ofspiritualism ,andshowmen who
! ha Sra
| edly during the last dozen years. In fact
! from the Royal Illusionists down to the
| Jolly sleght-of-hand performer, Taylor
! there has not been one of the long list who
would not have been ashamed to ask the
/ people for money for 50 poor performance.
! Crindle refused point blank to permit the
committee to tie him with No. 20 sewing
cotton, or even to permit it to be thrown
! loosely about his person. He also refused
to permit the bands holding his wrists to
be sewed to his coat sleeves.
! Crindlc next brought two states in front
of the stage did not present them for eX-
animation; called the nearest spectator to
him. showed him blank piece Of paper,
already concentrated, clappcd it between
the two states, and the two persons held
them thus for q moment Then, with 4
sudden twitch, Crindle separated the states,
and produced apparently the same paper,
upon which were the following words,
which are given verbatim:
Bigotry and superstition must must give way
| to facts demonstrated.
| As spiritualiStS be Watchutul Ovr Your own
actions that you may not be stumbling block
to the cause. JAMES GARDINER
This is 4 transparent trick which has
often been better done. The medium flat
" refused to repeat the performance and
use piece of paper furnished as proposed,
| by gentleman in the audience saying we
never repeat tests And this remark, al
though, he had several times repeated tests
| in his cabinet Just before. His last per-
! formance was 10 have Mrs. Reynolds stitch
the breast lapcls and ends Of the sleeves
of his coat together. In this condition he
went into the cabinet and soon threw the
! coat out, with the stitches broken. An old
trick, and perfectly familiar to boys who
skin the cat or men who peal tight
undershirt.
The curtain was then dropped to prepare
! for naturalization. Mr.. Shattuck, one of
the committeeman, had in the meantime
slipped back of the scenery and Secreted
himself with the intention that, when the
spirits began to walk the stage to interview
one of them and apply the test of touch
He was discovered, however, by the opera
tors, and politely bounced off from the
stage The curtain went up, and
Mrs. REYNOLDS asked for a dozen
ladies who had been accustomed to sit at
seances to come upon the stage Eight re-
sponded. and were seated in a semicirclc-
four each side of the cabinet Mrs. Rey-
nolds stated, i'll response To suggestion,
that She would not accept committee OF
men: that she conducted this " business
in her own way; that she would permit of
no suggestions nor Interruptions, and If
they were made She would at once leave
the stage The conditions required, she
said. were finer than for physical mani
fcstatious, and that she was not very
well and did not know what
She could do. The lights were turned
down to the lowest possible degree until il
was SO dim that the sowest of debtors
could not recognize creditor six feet off.
| Everything was hushcd 10 stiffness, and
the medium entered the cabinet. After a
wait. and a demand for still less of light, q
white dTaped bare arm appeared mo-
mcntarilv between the curtains. Presently
another figure, also in white, but with
shorter skirts and also about the same
hight and size OF the medium, appeared
in like manner. Presently a dwarted
figure, apparently that of a child
appeared and spoke few words
. III Il ItNiAIlsliAN o+ alii''' ''''N' N''N'Nllti '
I assumed voice The first figure then reap
peared and passed out flowers the first o
: which seemed to surprise Crindle, who wa
! master of ceremonies and guard of the
cabinet. rs he asked, "What sort Of I
q flower is this?'
1t was a large white magnolia. the many
trees of which in this city are now timely
in full bloom At one time two femal,
% figures appeared within the cabinet, for Al
. instant. but it was impossible to detcrmin,
e i'm the dim light, an instant of time, how
{ the illusion was produced though mum
f Der of solutions suggest themselves. Fe
. male figure number one, at one time came
ont of the cabinet two or three feet. None
of the large figures spoke. The glrhsl
. voice inquired for several persons but nom
To- responded 10 names given. The light
: were turned up and Mrs. Reynolds cam
on the stage, and so ended tizzle whlci
: diSgusted the true SpirimalistS present
u even far more than it did the skepticS, sine
= the latter expected little and were not dis
/ appointed.
:, Mrs. REYNOLDS announced her perform
ancc here very strongly, upon the credit c
being the medium who materlahzed Georg
sc f. Parsons daughter Those here VIII
= know Mr.. Parsons are unwilling To behev
- that he was deceived by any such thin pei
Torrance rs that witnessed last night. Th
Of question involmtarily presents itself, there
TO fore how it can be that medium VII
l. convinced a man of Mr. Parsons INTEL
he ,,,,,r., ,Vpt,ll hn ,,nr,,,f+toI nv l,ar Spir