Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-01
THE OLD R0CHE~TER RAPPINGs
OGTDONE.
A Strange Maiady with Which Young
hoy IL Afflicted.

\ strange story comes from Rochester. Five
weeks ago. it IL related. Army WestveeT, the
twelve year old son OF "A weil-to-do paper hanger
was seized apparently with form OF st. Vitus
dance and for fully fifteen minutes was unable
To- control the muscles Of his lower limbs. The
lit passed of and no other symptoms appeared
until he retired in the evening. After getting
into bed he was seized again with "a shock,
which apparently affected all the muscles in
his body. The boy cried for help, and his
parents entered the room. As they did so they
were astounded to see the chairs and other iur-
nifure moving up and down seemingly III uni
sou with the movements Of has muscles the
chairs would rise SIX or eight inches, while the
bed and "a bureau would shake perceptibiy
Finally the >huCk passed away and the motions
ceased only L. be ioiIoyed as the family stale
by noises or pings which seemed to come
from the walls and ceilings ul The room. The
Tapping also died away. since that time Army
has had the hts or SHOCKS at intervals OF two or
three days They are now Increasing in IRE
qHency, and naIuiy u day passes without one,
tiIougu They do not increase in violence. In
each instance the shocks were accompanied by
the moving ci articles IN the vicinity OF the
boy.
\ correspondent writing about the case say.
Residents Oi tue Heishtorho0d soon heard of
the peculiar ease ana IL Was generally believed
the story tulC by the itmiIy was "a hoax. sew
eral prominent residents called at TIE house
one evening To ~ce ior themselves, While there
the boy attacked strongly that il required
two men JO hold nIm Ia ms CHAIR. Meanwhile
everything IL ttle room, except the carpet
in MOTION chairs rost. 10 two fret hi.h ANA a
heaFy center table was lifted several inches
above The HOoT. Since the evening mentioned
parties have been at the nOuse almost daily To
WEES the strange phenomena. Among those
- nave called are Kew feisr DE B4uy II. pas
IOT Jf the church which the We>tNccr> attend,
and Rev; Mr. MeIT>na. OF the German church.
loui- "t>tfecI ist> hIu medical altCnustnce
Tor about a month. The pay sICians are ali puz-
zled by the s. nptUIIs They say he Is not
Troubled with ~. NltISs dance or epilepsy.
DEs. Kemp and SchucharI are inclined to believe
he has heart disease, but DR.. StIiweIl says his
heart is IN normal condition. 1t beats eighty
LAY - a
when ne II asleep. 1t increases in rapidIty often
To ITO when TIE paTOXI SIMS seize him. The
physicians scout at the IDEA of WItchcTaft, but
Cannot account ior tine movements OF furni-
ture and the rappinss winch accompany each
spell.
The victim of this strange maIady is said to
be perfectly conscious when uEderits influence,
poWtrie>s 10 control himself, ana cannot move
a muscle until the trouble passes oil. When
the attack >eizes MIN lac G, morally has had
strength enough. II not III bed 10 >It III "a chair,
but O1 tate Is generally under lis influence about
10 - clock Ia the evening or just .IItcr going To
bed. lie !eei> no PAIN. but the doctors say he
Is becoming weaker ANA weaker, and that,
shOuld the hts continue much longer, he will die
from exhaustion. There il notflin. peculiar i'm
his COuntenancc when attacked, except that
the pupils oil the eyes dIlate and glow more
brilliant, like IA persons in u fever. Physically
the boy Is somewhat small Tor his age and OI
dark complexion. His eyes are brown and his
general appearance Is that of "a delicate person.
The remalndtrOl the 1InIIIy are in good health,
and have never had symptom oI the Illness
which affects the boy. Occasionally articles in
another room from that in when he Is af
lecb:d, out only when the spells are very VlJ-
lent The articles nearest hin move more than
Otner>- rs an illustration OF ne power OF THESE
movements, ii il related that the boy WAS III
the yard ABOUT two weeks after tine attacks be-
gan, and was seized with one. About ten Ieet
away were two pianks, each two Inches thick
anu several feet in length. The ends nearest
aim were raised over two feet i'll the air. Tut
immediately dropped to the ground. The
ur:tnge case has attracted widespread interest,
ma crowds visit the house nightly. Supersti-
ilous persons FIRMLY believe young We,tNeer is
NE victim OF an evil spirit, Is DeWitcned,
while spirltuallst> say he IL Il medium