New-York tribune., 1884-03-09
ROYAL GHOST CATCHERS.
EXPOSURE OF A MEDIUMS" TRICKS N A
VIENNA PALACE.

! Crown Prince Rudolph and Archdu1e John 10 nm
| mask the American spiritualist medium, 4lr
| Bastian. attracted much attention everywhere.
/ >plrtuasm had OF late begun to find belief, not
only with the ignorant classes OF Austria. but with
the highest circles OF this great city The possl-
bltv of the appearance Of ghosts was absolutely
! believed In. and il was high time that some firm
! hand graspcd the ghosts and sent them about
their business But the neophvtes of mysticism
we're already far gone" that unless the SWIM
ders were detected in the very act of cheating there
vas little hope of curing them ArchduSe John Ger
any deserves credit from all clcar>igntcd persons
Ior the radical manner in which he went about this
| liicult business.
| Baron Helenbach, the author OF spiritualist
essay. 50 often spoke in terms Of unbounded adj
miration of the medium Bastian that Archdukc
John at last asked him To engage Nr. Bastan tor
series OF representations in the Archduhe's own
! house Ba,tian after some time came to Vienna
| from London and ArchluSc John, who had in the
| meantime been made Commander OF the Division of
.ahburg and lived at Linz. came to Vienna 10 meet
nim. At the end of January two spiritualist
scance, took place in the Archdukc's palace. a.
which Crown Prince Rudolph Archdukc Rainer and
several invited gentlemen present These
representations were given according to Bdst.an's
programme and be- was allowed to let his ghosts
appear undsturbed IN the darkrned room.
But for the third representation Archdnke John
and Crown Prince Rudolph made preparations TO
cntrap the spirit The Imperial cousins told none
If their friends. and not even their servants OF
what was to happen, 50 that 1t was impossible that
the medium could have been warned beforehand.
The invited guests were besides the Crown Prince,
Archdukc Rqiner Prince Batthyany, Field Marshal
Baron >chlossmgg, Baron Meussfcngen and Baron
iIellenbach. The seance took place in what was
formerly the Archdukc~ study, bare room with no
other furniture than the piano and the necessary
chairs for the company. Mr.. Bastan appeared and
the "seaucc" commenced immediately, N the eN-
press desire of the Crown Prince. BastIan sat on an
armchair in the centre of the room; guitar and
musical instrument operated by cockwork were
placed under the chair: the guests formed a circle
On their chars and each man gIasped his neghbors
wrists so that the mystic circle was not easily
loOsened Crown Prince Rudolph aud AIchduke
John sat nearest to Bastian who began to clap his
lands. and then begged Baron Helleubaeh to ex-
ngui,h the only candle in the room. which then
became quite dark, while the regular capping of
Bastian', hands continued uninterrupted. II had
1een agreed that every man present shonld i'm
mediately state what he observed, If anything nm
usual occurred After very few minutes Baron
Ncussfenceu said that the guitar was lying on his
knees Arcnduke John and some of the others felt
something cold and damp passing over their faces.
shortly aftcrward the guitar began 10 play and the
rlockwork' music heard. but Mr. Bdstlan never
once ceased clapp.ng his hands during these per
fornances. Gradually the scene became more
lively: the music-b0x and the guitar few through
the apartment played first in one corner and then
u the other and the nerves of the spectators
,omewhat excited. When Baron Hcllenbach relit
be candle a the instance OF Mr.. Bdstian the latter
eas observed TO sit quietly IN h.s armchair, still
.lappng h, hands. while the luuar and musical- |
box were living I'D their former places under the |
chair.
During pause which cnsuod. The preparations for /
he apparjtion Of f~ spirits were Completed Mr. /
ia,tian stood apart, and none OF the gentlemen /
present addressed him. \ door into a small adioin-
ing roou was open, and in the aperture hung a /
heavy Oriental curtain. thc central opening o; /
which WIS covered by black curtain with par /
itjou in the middle. Three yards from this door /
we're placed the chair, for the SPECTATORS Archduke
Iohn took the corner seat nearest to the door and
Baron Hcllenhach sat down 40 the piano 10 accom- /
uanv the apparitluu with melancholy strains of /
music There We're n1 lights IN the room, but |
trough an open door at the back of the company |
.lr U,,lt from % amp iu The adjoining salon some
what dspci',d the darkness. Mr. Bast.au placed /
himself before the black curtain and begged the |
company would search him % make ,ule that he
had nothing with him. The Crown Prince SAID I'M
All right we are quite sure We should /
lind uothiupr The med .um disappeared behind the /
curtain INTO tine dark room. winch contained no
other furniture tAdA One armchair Iu the middle.
I he music began and all hNc, thrlr eyes upJu the |
curtain which opened "a uttle after some time and
Il DISCLOSED "a head All present tried 10 distinguish
hc features but these were 81 ndlsluct tAdt II va.
impossible tO form au opinion. aHd the mead d.Sal-
p.alt.d before the spectators knew what they had
really -,cu Not q word was spoken; Baron ueueu-
bach tiuucd playing. aud every one Wa Nfaut IN
r.r contamination of the black curtaiu. IL soon
q Ia Bp ftT g. f.lI
juparitOu could be -ceu al half length. IL Was
.uo,tiV figure with Indl-tmct and varying outlines !
and rrtrcatcI INTO tnc dIrhnc,~ OF the adlom-
n- chamber I'D tu' pause iHit i'hoN'll h9t even |
breathing was heard. and indeed IL was the decisive
moment. II the ghost dld no reappcar or II he dlI
not leave the threshold Oi the door, ther" was no }
nope oi catching him IN tine trap prepared for nm.
The curtain suddenly opened entirely, and the
figure again appeared and approached the
SPECTATORS. Archdule John bent forward cauClt a
strung concealed behind the curtain. pulled harl.
md without a sound the two wing OF the folding
upon the back of the ghost whose means ~ retreat
EId thu, been euectuaIly cut off. WITH ali the
weight OF ghO-t substance he tried To force open
me door brhHH MN, out Win"ut success. row
Prince Rudolph and Archduke John bounded mp
md cau2ht each hand of the medium. the Arch
luke calling aloud: You are unniSk'd al Last.
suddenly the misty covering of the ghost diSap-
reared. BY some clever conrlvau"e winch no one re-
marked. agd the pale countenance of Ar. BaStian
vt- revealed To all present lie wore his evening !
lre>s and White Crayat, but his feet were IN black
oc,s 80 that the fact of the ghost nolSeless en-
-rauce was arrouutrd for. ArchduiIe John dragged
Iim into the WE'LL GIFTED parlor, where Ilr Bastmn
rigned "a tautfug ir and sank into an armchair.
1rown Prince kudnlphs kind heart was rou@ed he
cassured HIM and SAID: lou need not lear that
.nvthiug Will be done To YOU rs soon as llr Bas
ian heard these words he hcIyed sigh of relief, |
tartrd mp and ran out of the room IN Ms SOCKS.
lOwn the stars of the Archtukes palace, and into
he street. The whole company burst into unCoh- |
rolled laughter at this prrcpltatc cAlt, and theh
1Irned 10 the room when e. he ghost had come 10
ind any papahic proofs of his existence. But moth
ng was found besides Mr.. Bastan's boots, which |
ircAduke John goodnaturedly sent to that gentle
,an's address the verv same evening To get INTO
he dark closet the company had To walk around
- "A second entrance. because the door which Arch |
luke Johns contrIvauce had closed 81 cllrctualy !
ou.d not loo opened. The cord which lie had pulled |
cached up to the top Of the dOor-frame, passed !
brouah several rollers % the upper end Ot the iOd
4. h.I... n frnnl fln