Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-03-20

Ilce-namely, that through one SlQe OF
the bell projected the ends of Whit
looked like ordinary telegraphic wirF,
terminating in those metal handts
with which all who have experimental
with the induction coil shock battery
are familiar.
The professor walked leisurely rouli
the bell, inspecting the metallic coating
infinitely, as likewise the wires whidl
projected through the sides. Having
apparently satisfied himself of the ft-
ness of the apparatus before him, ie
turned to Ashley and said:
II received your letter regarding the
lady. and shall be happy to assist YOU,
so far as l can, in your search for I'M
formation, and perhaps in a still mo1e
hazardous experiment. if it becomes netS
essary. and if you have courage enough
to undertake it. The first step, how
ever, will be ascertain the lady's presi
e1t position and surroundings"
So saying the professor led the way
to the glass bell, which he proceeded
to raise from the floor, by means of a
rope passing round a drum and through
a pulley overhead. After raising it
about four feet, he kept it in position
by adjusting ratchet on the drum,
and, placing a chair upon the glass
slab, requested Ashley to seat himself
thereon: Ashley did so, and the pro-
lessor then put into each of his hands
one of the handles terminating the
wires which ran through the side Of the
bell. These wires l now saw al to the
outer wall of the apartment, where
they disappeared.
"They are" explained the professor,
ttmerely private connections with our
ordinary public telegraph wires. They
arc, however, under certain conditions,
rendered peculiarly sensitive to cur.
rents which would be powerless to at
feet ordinary telegraphic instruments
in any manner whatever" Thus say
ing he loosened the ratchet on the
drum, and proceeded to let the glass
bell descend until it completely covered
Ashley, inclospg him as if in a vase,
its edges resting on the glass slab on
which his chair was set.
''There is, as you see." explained the
professor, in answer, as it were, to an
unspoken idea, ''no danger of asphyx-
%iation, as the holes through which the
side wires and the top rod pass are by
no means tight, this condition not be-
ing essential to the success OF the ex-
pertinent"
He then proceeded to take cautiously
from Il glass jar at n side of the al
cove the end Of q piece Of thick rubber
tubing, a wire at the end of which he
attached to a hook on the metallic
coating of a bell; and then, from a
second glass ;ar in another corner, a
similar piece Of tubing, the end of
which, by standing on a chair, he con-
nccted with the end of the rod which
projected upward from the apex of the
bell. l noticed that these latter India
rubber-coated wires ran out into the
street like the simple telegraph wires
first mentioned. L noticed, too, tina:
they looked peculiarly similar to the
rubber-coated wires used for conveying
the fluid which feeds the electric lights
in streets and public buildings.
lit is now," said the professor, de-
scending from his chair, after attaching
the second wire to the rod at the top
of the bell, ''that the nicely of our 9 X
pertinent comes in. l have had these
insulated wires, from the works of the
Electric Lighting Company, brought
into my apartments in order to save
time and trouble in changing my bell,
an operation tedious to accomplish by
generating electricity by a plate appar-
atus in the ordinary manner Still, the
great speed and force with which
transmitted through these wires
necessitates extreme care in
manipulation. A degree too much
in tension might be productive of the
most serious consequences to any one
confined inside. Still, there is no fear
in the first stage of the experiment, and
none, if strict care is taken, in the Sec
ond." So saying, the professor APP
preached the bell with an electrometer,
and presently, after disconnecting the
r~ubber-coated wires therefrom, return
ing them carefully to their respective
%insulators.
1t was now apparent that while we
were conversing Ashley had closed his
eyes, and was now reclining back in
his chair, seemingly in deep sleep, his
hands still clasping the handles Of the
telegraph-wires that ran into the inte-
rior of the bell.
'That is the effect of a moderately
strong charge of static electricity in the
human Frame" explained the professor.
81. induces a highly wrought condition
of the nerves, which in their turn act
upon the ganglion of the brain; that, in
its turn, reaching again, through the
duplex series of nerves, upon the wire
held in the left hand, which brings the
holder into communication with what
ever object enthrals his attention at the
time of trance. The experiment is, in
effect, clairvoyance reduced to an art,
the mesmeric trance accomplished by
scientific means and conditioned by the
recognized and accepted laws of cleo
trical science. Your friend is now, rs
I verify believe, in direct spiritual COM
munication with her who is dearest to
his heart-the last object that held pos
session OF his soul before the mesmeric-
electric trance overlook him. 1 will
put myself in communication with him
and ascertain"
The professor then walked around to
the side of the bell where the wires en-
tered the glass, and applied the fore
finger of either hand to the orifices. As
he did SO, Ashley gave a visible START.
-