Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-07-03
BATTLING WITH MYSTERY
STRONG MEN UNDER ABSOLUTE
AND UNWILLING CONTROL.
Exhibitions orsthc Strength Of Her
Unnamed Force = Amusing tsyra-
lions Of Seekers for light rhe
Method of Work.


Unnamed Force = Amusing tsyra-
tions Of Seekers for Light rhe
Method of Work.
Miss Lula Hurst, who has started the
scientific world agOg by mysterious manifea-
tation Of supernatural power, fgave a private
exhibition to number Of presa representa-
tives in her parlor at tho Clayton House FRI
| day afternoon. After formal presenta-
ton the young lady proceeded TO demon
strate to the skepiical guests her marvellous
powers in a way that completely mystided
the entire party. Her first exhibition was
| given with chair in the hands Of the stur-
dlest. editor Of them all, whose Adonis like
form and Herculean strength are the pride
| The chair was held with its back
directly against the form Of the volun-
teer who grasped its legs In his hands
with an iron grip. He was directed and pre-
| sumed to have tho strength to hold it quite
immovable. Miss Hurst placed the palm OF
her right hand lightly upon the chair back
| and the other she laid loosely upon the cane
scat. For an instant she stood complaisantly
smiling, as il in amused anticipation ut the
ease with which the form OF great muscle
and sinew would yield submissively to her
will. Soon there was violent struggle, the
editor holding fast to the chair, as
cayorted back. and forth and
III
young lady exerted her force without the
slightest effort. Like ch-as-catch-can
wrestler he battled with the mysterious power,
etrniniug every nerve, to overcome the great
force, but was helpless and powerless in the
contest. The gyrations through which the
chair holder WAS put were irresistably funny,
and the young miss added her merry child
like laugh to the salvo Of editorial outlaws at
the holders discontinue. One after the
other essayed TO hold the chair, but each was
tossed mercilessly about the room at pleasure
Of the STRIPPING Georgia school girl.
The char upon which the young lady laid
the palms Of her hands was then suspended
in mid -air, with the direction to push it down.
Four of the party sprang upon 1t savagely,
and with all their might aud power vRinly
strove TO press it TO the floor. There efforts
were gently thwarted by the two dimpled
hands upon the sides through which the all
powerful and mystic agency was at work.
Holding light reed cane furnished the
next amusement. The reed was held in the
hands Of volunteer and by the young lady's
hand being laid upon it, it was instantly un-
controllRble and led the holder merry dance
about the apartment. At one moment he
stood erect with determination indicated on
his face; the next, like sapling in the wind,
he bended to and fro, powerless TO retain
the power, but none succeeded in mastering
it. Then an effort was made TO put the end
Of the cane on the floor, but despite the fact
that four men put their entire weight upon
it, it refused to quit the girls palm, wherein
it rested without the hand being closed.
The force exercised by the young girl was
wholly incomprehensible and absolutely ire
sistable and was only known in the fact that
the oxporimenters used their utmost genuine
endeavor to overcome 1t. The opposing hid
den power brought to bear upon the objects
appeared to be gently manipulated, and the
more for that reason inexplicable. 1t was
plant in small degree, but beyond that
point it was absolutely unopposable
In the evening Miss Hurst gave q perform
ance at the Opera House and most completely
mystitied her spectators. To an invitation for
gentlemen to step upon the stage TO aid in
testing the genuineness Of the performance
Job II. jackson, Benjamin Nields, G. W.
Humphry, w. FL. Smith, Richard II. Ewbanks,
=. r. Smith, Esq, DR.. LRwton, William G..
Gibbons, W. Scott Way Of Middletown, J. b.
Bell and Others responded. Miss Hurst first
performed with an umbrella, holding il open
above her head. Beneath the oapacious
folds gallant bank cashier took a position,
by special invitation. Suddenly as il struck
by cyclone, the umbrella showed every
indication OF collapse. The banker took Il
by the handle to hold it over the young lady,
but had a task more than he could fulfill.
She keeping her hand on the stick sent him
to and fro on the stage, despite his energetic
efforts to keep the parachute erect above the
fair Georgian's head. Others tried the same
act Of gallantry, but signAlly failed, and
made such ridiculous spectacles that the
spectators laughed and shouted themselves
hoarse. The chair performance, described,
was also repeated, as was that with the cane.
III. q. Turner arose 10 inquire if Miss Hurst
could place her hand upon any one directly
without an intervening object and have the
same power over them. He received an
affirmative reply, and in response to shouts
from all parts OF the house went upon the
stage. Then the young lady manifested quite
clearly the power her mind had upon the un-
known forces through which she worked.
With q determination of making an enthu-
siastic convert in right short order the city
an instant as If an enormous electric battery
had been turned on, the inquirer
for light was giving ocular demonstrations TO
the spectators that he was a confirmed be-
lever and exponent Of the new what is it,"
Again he was Induced to stand directly by
her side with another searcher opposite. Like
base ball catchers unmasked they stood in
to catch the chair as it flew which
ever way the hidden power should direct.
Over this movement she claimed not TO have
the slightest control.
Instantly upon laying her hands on the
chair it flew TO the arms OF the city solicitor
where it was caught and the performance
repeated. To the city solicitor 1t flew again
and when he changed TO the opposite side ii
dashed savagely into his outstretched hands
and would go no where else except in one
it dashed madly up and over her
head falling with crash behind her. Three
OF the heaviest men were given q chair 10 put
to the floor but despite their swinging and
pushing down upon 1t it nestled closely TO the
girls hand and the great weight brought to
bear did not force 1t from the mysterious
attachment. Again the heaviest men
sat upon the chair and by simply
placing her hand in contact with its back the
char and occupant were lifted from the floor.
Remarks from those on the stage were made
to the spectators. All aequiesced in the
that the force was wonderful and
could not be subdued by the sturdiest phyBi-
cal efforts. There was not the slightest Bensa-
ton felt by the persons who held the objects
upon which the tests were made, only the
fact that they took up motion which could
not be controlled. the holder was perfectly
free to drop them at his will, and the power
ceased as soon as the lady's hand
was taken from contact.
Miss Lula Hurst in conversation with a
q GAZETTE representative stated that
she first discovered her unknown force about
nine months ago. She is about 16 years old,
has the appearance Of q school girl on an
excursion, and enjoys the mad efforts Of her
confident testers to hold in position any object
upon which she lays her hands and wills to
move. She is decided brunette and wears
straight bangs, falling low over her
ia worn in loose curls, which drop to
her shoulders. Rather stout and above
the medium hight, her young girlish face and
childish manners seem rather strange. She
is diffident and backward until she gets tho
sympathy of her spectators when she gains
her composure and enters with perfect reli-
ance on her work. There is nothing about
the performance which tires her, in fact she
gets quite as much enjoyment as the house from
her exhibitions and rings in her merry and
derisive laugh, which only adds to the en-
barrassment of the object Of her mirth. To
an over. confident person or dIsbeliever OF
her power the visitation OF the myster-
ious force is 80 emphatic and unmis-
taxable as to spread him out upon the
floor or send him whirling with great velocity
before the spectators. Her force is equally
potent when her hand is in contact with steel
or wood, but with iron she has no control.
1t is impossible for her to carry an umbrella
or parasol at any time, as either would be
crushed to pieces directly after her taking
hold Of the handle. Upon other objects,
however her power is directed at will, but at
times is stronger than at others. When discon-
certed or annoyed she no longer can work in
her mysterious way. The discoT=
cry Of the hidden power was purely accidental
and first manifested itself in thumping
ticking sound which accompanied her where
ever she went. II created considerable alarm
among her friends and neighbors Of the little
village in which she lived, Cedar Town, Ga,
and she was regarded as a mysterious being
and held in awe by the colored residents OF
the place. After she could apply her force to
objects the house WAS crowded with curious
people and she stated they were literally
driven from home by the crowds who
IL.