Smyrna times., 1884-07-09
An Unexplained Power.

For some months past Miss Lula
Hurst, of Georgia, has shown herself
the possessOr of a wonderful physical
force which science has not yet ex-
planned and which she does not under
stand. Quite recently she appeared at
the Opera House, Wilmington, where
she most completely mystified her
spectators. To an invitation for gen.
tlemen to step upon the stage to aid in
testing the genuineness of the per- |
fOrmance Job H. Jackson, Benjamin
Nields, G. w. Humphrey, w. H.
Smith, Richard H. Ewbanks, s. R.
Smith, Esq, DIR. I4awtOn, William G.
Gibbons, W. Scott Way, of Middle
town, J. B. Bell and others responded
Miss Hurst first performed with an
umbrella, holding it open above her
head. Beneath the capacious folds a
/ gallant bank cashier took position,
! by special invitation. Suddenly as if
struck by a cyclone, the umbrella
]
The banker took it 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 ener-
getic 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 ridicu-
lOus spectacles that the spectators
laughed and shouted themselves hoarse.
By placing her hands upon chair it
would move about the room despite
the stOutest efforts of the gentlemen
upon the stage. Four of them COM
bined could not hold it to the aoOr.
By taking hold of light cane she
could lead the most muscular merry
dance about the stage. AT one moment
the holder stood erect with determina-
tiOn indicated on his face; the next,
like a sapling in the wind, he bonded
to and fro, pOwerless to retain even
his own equipOise. All did battle with
> 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
5 it rested wi thOut the hand being clos
ed. Three of the heaviest men were
given a chair to put to the floor but
despite their swinging and pushing
5 down upon it it nestled closely to the
girls hand and their great weight
: brought to bear did not force it from
e the mysterious attachment. Agair
the heaviest men sat upon the chair anC
I by simply placing her hand in contact
I with its back the chair and occupants
8 were lifted from the floor. Her fOrct
/ is equally potent when her hand is il
y contact with steel or wood, but will
IL iron she has no control.
'e Miss Hurst is only 16 years old ant
It is accompanied by her father ant
u mother, who do not understand an.
more than the spectators the strang
et forms of their daughter. She discOv
cred this peculiar force but month
ie ago, and has just started out on tOul
and will evidently reap a fortune
p Miss Lula herself cannot account fc
her strange power, she says. All sh
knows about it is, when she takes hOl
NJ of piece of furniture and thinks it
going to go, it just gets up and gOe
re Several chairs were demolished durin
lg the Opera House exhibition. Mi
lg Hurst is just as good natured as 81
o. can be, and when she is vexed at an!
M thing, her father says, she cannot exc
10 her strange power.