National Republican., 1884-05-05
GLIDING GHOSTS.
The Illuminated Forms which Startled o
Spiritualistic SeanCo.
Manifestations Produced Under Severe
Tests in Light and Darkness.


stirred to their depths by tho performances
of noted mediums now visiting this city, and
IL is sad to say that there has been more
or less acrimony among those whose mission
it Is to evoke spirits from the Vastly deep
The matoralizations produced by Mrs. Car
rio NJ. Sawyer, at 915 L street. seem to have
created more marked sensation than others
and the reputed manifestations have seriously
challenged the credulity. of those disinclined
to believe that spooks revisit the earth now
adays as they did when tho Witch of Endor
rose before the astonishcd gaze of Saul. Nu-
merous challenges have been issued to Mrs.
Sawyer, and at an early hour Thursday even
ing company of twenty-five persons ap-
pearod in her parlors to witness seance un-
der the strictest test conditions. In TINS
company were three we'll known physi-
Clans four lawyers, and mum,
Der of other prominent ladi es ana
gentlemen. reporter of THE REPUBLICAN,
was also present and was an eyewitness OF
what took place. The conditions upon which
Mrs. Sawyer was to produce the materializa-
tions were as follows:
/. The medium to retire with four ladies,
to be selected by the visitors, to undress
and put on clothing furnished TO her.
9. To be tied with cord furnished by
committee of four gentlemen tho cord to be
tied, as tho committee saw fit, around the
mediums neck and waist, and tho ends oil
the cord to be passed out of tho door held by
one of the committee in such way as to de-
tect any m Ovement on the part Of the medium.
3. piece of court plaster, two by three
inches, to be placed over the mouth of the
medium to prevent the possibility OF using
her voice.
a. No singing to be allowed, but perfect
quiet to be preserved, so that any movement
in the cabinet could be heard.
thn ,r;oi hod hnan aeciun cd IN qauta
all the above conditions were carefully COM
piled with. The medium sat bolt upright in
chair, placed against the wall of the cabinet,
her neck and waist being eaborately tied to
he wall, and the ends OF tho cord held by
,no Of the committee, prominent physician.
All present testified that the medium was
'ertainly tied so securely that she could not
move.
The committee announced that the condi-
tions had been satisfactorily enforced, aud
the cabinet curtain was lowered, leaving the
medium Within the outer room being in
subdued but plain light. In less than two
minutes female form, much larger and
taller than that of the medium, with flowing
black hair, appeared at the door Of the cabi-
net. The form was Immediately recognized
by gentleman present as that of his sister.
The words MY brother" wore plainly
spoken. Suddenly there emerged from the
cabinet the form Of Il tiny girl, speaking in
childish tones something which the reporter
failed to catch. Two ladies in the audience
seemed to recognize IL at onco as a little
Maude," going up to it and tying q piece of
white ribbon around its hair The ladies
said they had often seen tho little spirit at
seances, and had tied q white bow on its hair
on another occasion, though they had never
touched 1t. This form as well as the larger
one were distinctly seen at the same time by
all in the room.
These two apparitions suddenly vanished,
and were Immediately followed by the form
of large man, with heavy black whiskers
and hair, and attired in full military uniform.
This spirit seemed to have no purpose in
appearing, however, for it quickly vanished.
Following a few moments of silence a vapory
something emerged from the top of the door
that quickly assumed the form of an aged
female hovering in midair near the top of
the cabinet. A voice called for certain
gentleman in the audience, a conspicuous
public man from the northwest, who came up
near where the form was visible, and he said
II was his mother. He asked the name of the
spirit, and time and manner of death, an.
swers to which were given in sepulchral
tones, and, the gentleman said, correctly.
After u few moro manifestations similar
to those described above the gasights
were turned off. leaving the room in total
darkness Two illuminated forms, weird
and beautiful beyond description, in
stantlyt flashed in view and moved
across " the room, almost over the
heads of the visitors. Their movements
seemed to create no noise whatever, no more
than If they were glittering shadows gliding
through the apartment. Near table against
the wall another form in luminous white
rose as if from tho floor, and in a voice clear
and distinct said God bless you ALL" All
three of these forms were visible at the same
time each being in different parts of the
room, and all disappearing at the same mo-
ment. Several other forms followed these.
One Of them spoke to q lady in the audience,
who declared that it was the spirit of her
daughter, dead for many years. young
man was brought to audible sobs by the ap-
partition of u deceased sweetheart, who told
him to give the engagement ring to Hattie"
1t is hardly necessary to say that these
startling manifestations created tho pro-
fOundest awe among those who beheld them.
BY whatever means they were produced, they
were certainly of the most thrilling character,
and calculated to excite CONSERVATION among
those unfamiliar with visitors from the spirit
world.
After the lights had boen turned on, the
medium was found, as she had been left,
securely bound to her chair and the cabinet
wall, and the court plaster still firmly hold
ing her lips together. The gentleman who
had held the ends of the cords throughout
said that he had not detected the slightest
movement The medium was much exhausted,
but quickly recovered.
After making a thorough examination of
the cabinet, the cord, and the court plaster
the committee Of four announced that Mrs.
Sawyer had performed all that she had
promised, and much more; that the condi-
tions had been rigid, and that the manifesta-
tions had been of a most remarkable charac-
ter. Ono of tho committee said that the
special purpose of the seance was to severely
test the quality of Mrs. Sawyer's medium
ship, which had been questioned by envious
persons that the test had boen made by
Investigators not spirtualsts, and that all
must acknowledge that the lady had done
much more than had been expected of her.
The bright forms visible during the dark
seance were, he said, the most wonderful
manifestations he had ever witnessed.