Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-23
KELLAR, THE MAGICIAN.
China Sens Which Called Our Royal IL
lu,ionist Home to His ComDaniou


China Sens Which Called Our Royal IL
Iusionist Home to His Companion.
I think "Zanoni" is based on the stories
of the Rosicruscians, who were suspected to
be able to place themselves in two or three
places at the same time and to prolong their
lives almost indefinitely, or on the same
powers ascribed to the Buddhist adopts in
India, as for example Koot- Hoomie-Lal-
Sing. the Buddhist hermit, who is supposed
to be the control" of Madam Blavatsky.
and who is said to be over 2, 900 years old.
They say he can project his astral body to
the most distant parts of the earth with
the rapidity of thought. Bulwer spent some
time at Simla, and no doubt based his story
on the traditions current regarding this
power. I think that T. Marion Crawford
also founded his beautiful work, MIR.
Isaacs," on the stories current in India re-
garding the powers of the theosophists. If
1 mistake not Mr.. Crawford was associated
with the Allahabad Pioneer, one of the
leading English papers in India, on the oc-
casion of my last visit to that country.
1 will tell you true ghost story, and one
that sends cold shiver through my frame
L IL
Shanghai, China, in 1878, in company with
Ling Look and Yamadeva 1--WE were then
travelling under the name of the Royal Illu-
sionists), one afternoon Chang, the Chinese
giant, Ling Look. Yamadeva, several ship
captains and drove out the Bubbling Well
road to the Hermitage, sort OF summer
garden about four miles from the English
quarter of Shanghai, and while there we all
took part in a game of ten-pins. One OF the
captains, burly German, made great
many ten-strikes by throwing the largest
ball in the rack.
FELL BACK WITH PAIN.
This reused Yamadeva, and he also at
tempted to throw the large ball, but in doing
so he fell back and complained of pain in
the right breast. We drove him back to
the city and summoned an English physi-
clan, who pronounced it case of ruptured
muscles, and assured US that the young man
would be all right in few days. On the
fourth day alter the accident Yamadeva was
apparently so much better that the doctor
said it would be perfectly safe for him to go
with US to Hong Kong on the steamship
Khiva, which was to leave that afternoon.
We all embarked, and about midnight on
the first night out was awakened by two
piercing shrieks of "Kellar! Kellarr' These
were the last words Yamadeva ever spoke,
for when reached his cabin his head was
lying in Ling Looks arms-he was dead.
The ships doctor said he had burst
blood vessel. The captain of the steamer
kindly consented to carry the body to Hong
Kong, and the ships carpenter made a
rough coffin, and the remains of our COM
pauion were deposited on the bridge. On
the evening OF the second day, at about 9
O'Clock, while the ship was calmly steaming
tbo NJ
Gray, of the Hong Kong and Shanghai
Band, Mrs. Gray, "a clergyman and were seat
ed on the deck in the ait, wher suddenly there
was a clear and distinct whistle-ti-ta-tati-
tati-such as our company used among
themselves for purpose OF recognition.
NO DOUBT OF THE CALLS.
We all were very much astonished, and
more or less excited. Ling Look was very
Yamadeva whistling," and answered the
call by our well known tioo-ti-ti. This was
Immediately answered by the correct reply,
ti-i-i-i-oo. Ling Look now gave the first
call, ti-tati-tati-tati. This was Immediately
answered by the invisible power with tioo-
ti-ti. The calls were repeated by Ling
several times, and each time the correct
reply came from the air above. The
night was clear and bright. and no one
was concealed on deck, as every place
was carefully searched. The ships officers
at first made light of the affair. but when
the whistling was repeated, and Ling Look
would tell them beforehand what answer to
expect, they became as much excited as we,
and the captain said it was the most wonder
tul thing he ever experienced in his life.
Ling Look insisted on opening the coffin,
to see if Yamadeva was really de d, and
when he viewed the body he said, "Yama-
deva is calling ME, and 1 must go with
him." Poor Ling Look was taken sick il
Hong Kong and died in the hospital there,
and we buried him beside his brother Yama-
deva. They are resting side by side in
Happy Valley, the beautiful cemetery Of
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