The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-29
LAUGHING LULA ON THE STAGE,

LAUGHING LULA on THE STAGE
An Immense Audience at Hibernian Hal
Delighted and NIystifled by the Goorgia
Phenomenon.
Lula Hurst is the talk of the town
The story of her wonderful feats was the
} most absorbing topic of conversation all
over the city yesterday, and the curiosity
of the public was excited to the utmost
The physicians who we're present at the
private performance in the Medical Col
lege on Tuesday afternoon were met al
every turn by those who wanted to know
whether it was really true that the Geor.
gia girl possessed the phenomenal power
attributed to her. Ever so many men on
Broad street, which, as every one knows,
is place especially devoted to abstruse
speculations, attempted to account for
the mysterious influence by which the
Polk County prodigy performed her feats,
but the explanations were even more
difficult than the occult powers they were
designed to illuminate.
Such was the interest awakened in the
matter that Hibernian Hall was filled
last night by one of the largest aud most
skeptical audiences that has ever assem-
bled in Charleston. Every seat was
taken and the closest attention was paid
to the performances on the stage, upon
which there poured q perfect food of
light. There was no chance for any de-.
ception as to how the thing was done, as
the stage was open to the audience in
front, and the rear and sides of the stage
were occupied by a row Of gentlemen,
all of whom were citizens of Charleston,
and were eager to catch at the slightest
evidence of foul play.
The phenomenon was very neatly
dressed in skirt of black velvet with an
oyerdress of cream colored lace and
looked as fresh as daisy. Her father,
Mai. Hurst, sat on one side of her and
on the other she was supported by Prof.
Atkinson, who, stepping to the front, be-
gan the performance of the evening by
announcing that the peculiar power
possessed by Miss Hurst baff1ed descrip.
ton, that no one knew what it was, and
that she herself was utterly unaware of
its origin. He referred to her father,
Maj. Hurst, as being a man of high
character and as having established his
reputation for courage while marching
with the boys in gray and fighting for
their cause.
Prof. Atkinson then invited a number
of gentlemen from the audience to take
seals on the stage. Among those who
accepted the invitation were Mr.. Octavus
Wilkie, teller of the Peoples National
Bank, Mr.. Alfred Taylor, of the firm Of
o. E. Johnson & Co., Capt. Alex. Mel
chers, G. w. Dingle, Esq, Mr.. Steedman
Yeadon and perhaps half dozen others.
The first test was made with an umbrella,
Mr.. Magwood standing under the prachute
with Miss Hurst and forming quite
taking tableaux. Miss Hurst held the
umbrella in her hands and Mr.. Magwood
was there to catch it when it started off.
But Mr.. Magwood didn't do it, for before
be had time to collect his thoughts the
umbrella went off at a tangent and was
completely wrecked. Another umbrella
was passed up from the audience, and
was entrusted to the watchful care of Mr..
Wilkie, but the fair phenomenon had
hardly touched it before the umbrella
went off with Mr.. Wilkie making Wig
orous but unsuccessful effort to rescue it.
The next test was made with a billiard
cue, which was held with firm grasp by
Mr.. John Colcolougb, his instructions
being to hold the cue steady. Miss
Hurst touched the cue with only the tips
of her fingers and in an incredibly short
time Mr.. Colcolough was forced oft the
stage, dropping the cue and jumping
down into the hall to save his neck.
Several other gentlemen attempted to
hold the cue, but with no better success.
After recess of several minutes the
next test was made with cane.bottomed
chair, the object being for the person
holding it to keep it steady and to resist
the unknown force exerted by Miss
Hurst, who used only muscular force
enough to keep up with the procession
and to keep her hand in contact with the
chair. Mr.. Theodore Melchers failed to
resist the "infuence," and Mr.. Alfred
Taylor, after most desperate and heroic
struggle, which delighted the audience,
gave it up, aud shaking his head graVely
said, as he stepped toward the front of
The stage: "No fraud about ths!."
Prof. Atkinson then recited in fine
style selection called, "Hear our Ruby
play"
The chair was then seized by Mr..
Magwood and Capt Alex. Melchers, two
of the most muscular men in the entire
audience. Miss Hurst, with one hand
resting on the top of the seat and one on
the back of the chair, soon put them to
utter rout. The audience expected q
severe struggle and watched the test with
much interest. At irst Capt. Melchers
began to tremble like a reed shaken by
the wind, and then he looked across the
chair appealingly to Mr.. Magwood who
was also uneasy, and in spite of MI they
could do the chair obeyed the touch of
Miss Hurst.
Other experiments followed, but in
each and all of them the unknown inau'
ence was simply irresistible. Mr.. Din
gle, who held the chair, was driven
directly off the stage before he had time
to draw long breath. A gentleman
weighing IT'S pounds sat down on chair
with one hand touching the chair on
each side, and the man, chair and all
were raised up and forced over the front
of the stage. A young man tried to keep
the seat, but he was turned all about as
if he had been feather, and the chair,
with Capt. Alex. Melchers, who weighs
200 pounds, seated on it, was raised from
the floor. Then the chair was made to
fly from the floor, and all the strongest
efforts of Major E. Willis and two other
gentlemen to force the chair to the floor
were unayailing.
It had been whispered around during
the day that Col. Franz Melchers would
probably go on the stage and expose if
possible the mysterious force which Miss
Hurst exercises. When Col. Melchcrs
went on the stage last night be was
applauded and it was expected that there
would be 8 lively scene. but the "EorceO