Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-22
MIND READER BISHOP.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES BY
HARRISON WILLARD,
Some of Bishops Famous Experiments
aud Misunderstanding Facts
Medium Frauds.

Irving Bishop and myself, writes Harri.
son Willard in the New York Herald
started from San Francisco September Isl
last, for the halls of the Montezumas. y
Within a few days of or arrival we ar
arranged for a private seance with Presi-
dent Diaz and some of his intimate friends.
The President impressed me as a genial,
Straightforward man ofstrong common sense
who shows in his features he is full
blooded Mexican or Indian. He speaks
only Spanish, and | was surprised that his
wife, who isonly about "A, spoke no French
She pronOuDces English well, and resem-
bles our pretty American women more
than any Mexican lady | saw there. 1t is
said Nine. Diaz in her girlhood was much
attached to- won't say whom-of Mex
leo, and | was amused while watching her
pretty face to see the look Of anxious
alarm that came over it when Mr.. Bishop
said that among his various experiments
he could give the names of any dear ones
thought of by the company present
During our stay the leading Spiritualist
of the country called and desired permis-
sion to bring one of his mediums for a con-
ference with Mr.. Bishop. Mr.. Bishop said
he did not object to passing an evening
that way, although, as he had seen thou
sands of mediums without being convinced
they were not all frauds he did not take
much interest in it. The gentleman said
on leaving have three or four medi-
ums, and | hardly know which one to
bring; but | wilt submit the question to a
circle tonight, and bring whichever one
they may select" He did not keep his
appointment, which | much regretted, but
he told me few days afterward he duly
submitted the question to the circle, and
the reply was that it would be a waste Of
time as Mr.. Bishop was himself one of
the strongest mediums in the world but
that he was possessed by powerful spirit
who was opposed to the dissemination of
the belief of spiritism, and Mr.. Bishop
had been warned by this spirit that if he
ever failed to denounce Spiritualism when
ever he had the opportunity, his power
would he taken away entirely" ! must
give Mr.. Bishop the credit of most faith
full compliance with this command, for he
lHNdI ldDlN NOIlllGIGGu Ills GilSI
by stating his disbelief in all supernatural
agencies and announcing that he himself
could do any experiment ever done by
s0-called mediums"
At San Francisco Mr. Bishop did his
cabinet trick, as he called it. Hermann,
Keller and other magicians do this trick
also, but with confederates and false sides,
etc. / can say nothing about how the
trick is done, except that Bishop had no
confederates and no false compartments in
the cabinet. When at Huston, Texas, he
offered to find pin which was to be con-
cealed anywhere within a radius of mile
from the hall, he to be blindiolded and to
drive pair Of horses, with the committee
in the carriage through the streets The
committee concealed the pin, but on their
return stated in fairness to him they
ought to say that it was useles for him to
attempt to find it, as it was simply i'm
possible. The report of the experiment
il the daily paper said Mr.. Bishop smiled
and went on blindfolding himself, first
with cotton wool, then tightly drawn
silk handkerchief, then a stuffed black
silk bag over all-making darkness COM
plete. He succeeded, to the great surprise
of the committee, who thought they had
given him an impossible task. He took
the reins, after mounting the box, and
went some twenty blocks distant to a large
beer saloon, demanding that certain doors
be unlocked; then to a shed in the back of
the yard to the rear, he threw aside
large pile of wood which covered barrel
filled with vegetables-then at the bottom
of the barrel he found a loaf of bread, and
inside of it the pin, which had been placed
there by the committee, and, as they
thought, thoroughly concealed This is
no trick of prestidigltation, but it is bona
fide, square and surprising experiment.
Once, in Sacramento, Cal, he ammo unced
that he would do one of the most noted
tricks of the late Charles Foster. Under
no circumstances did he ever have any
confederates in his experiments, except
those who unconsciously transmitted their
thoughts through their muscles, which is
called "muscle reading" He requested
one of the committee to retire to an ante
room alone and write on pellets of paper
the name of some favorite poet not living,
and also the name of some well-known
melody. The committeeman having done
as requested, returned with the pellets in
closed, as he was directed to do, in an en-
velope.
Mr.. Bishop asked if there was any
writing of any kind on the paper except
the name. The gentleman replied there
was none, as he had been particular not to
use any of the paper slips found in the
ante-room. He had torn out of his own
book a leaf and written
name as requested.
Mr.. Bishop then asked for a wooden
lead-pencil, and after breaking off the lead
point handed it to the subject, requesting
him to insert the point into the envelope
without unsealing it. When this was
done Mr.. Bishop went to the blackboard
and wrote the name in facsimile of
" William Cullen Bryant" and seating
himself at the piano, played Home,
Sweet Home" with his usual variation.
The committeeman stated to the audi
ence that 1t was the name written by him.
Mr.. Bishop then requested him to show
the envelope, which had not been out of
his possession, to some other one of the
committee for verifcation, and to see if
there was no other writing on it. The
latter opened the envelope and said there
was something else at the bottom of the
paper, which on being read was, Good
night. w. |. B."
This | always considered one of Bishops
most puzzling experiments, and he did it
only on one occasion.
asked him once how it was done. The
only reply was: ''Rats | don't intend to
give my business away to any one" ex-
planned that it was only curiosity on my
part, as there was no possibility of my
ever doing it myself Moreover, that |
did not believe by his answer that he
knew himself how it was done He made
no reply.
On an occasion in England all the royal
family except the Queen were present.
The old Duchess Of K, who was quite
a guy on account of her age and eccentric
tiles, was also there. 1t was suggested by
that the best hiding place for the
gold sovereign would be inside the stock
ing of the aged Duchess, She consented,