Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-06
SPIRITS IN GLEE.
A NATURALIZATION THAT WAS SURPRISING
TO THE NATIVES.
Abraham Lincoln, the Martyr President Of the
United States, Visits the Earth Again
twenty-five Other Ghosts Visit the Same
Meeting and Entertain the Crowd

Twsnty-Two Other Ghosts Visit the Same
Meeting and Entertain the Crowd
New YORK, April "a materializa'
tion seance was held in White Plains,
under rather remarkable circumstances.
The scene was the sick room In which
Mrs. Nettie Colburn Maynard, the once
famous medium and now the wife OF the
postmaster OF White Plains, has been
confined TO her bed for nearly ten years,
helpless and suffering but patient IN
valid. For most of this time she has
been engaged in debating to an amanu-
ensis a book containing an account oil
her seances in Washington with Lin
coin. Seward, Stanton and Chase during
the most critical period of the nations
| history.
1t is well known among those who
knew Lincoln at al intimately that the
emancipation proclamation was issued
by direction Of spirit said TO have
been that OF Webster speaking through
Nettie Colburn. as she was then known.
For two years, from 1868 to 1865, Mrs.
MAYNARD was engaged exclusively by
President LIncold, and made her home
In the White House, where she gave
the President seances almost daily.
Careful notes were kept of all these i'm
portant communications, and the book
was completed and put into the hands
OF DR.. s. b. Britain for publication
about two years ago. lie died soon al
terward, and the manuscript was lost.
Mrs. Maynard heroically set to work to
rewrite the history, having, as she says,
been assured that she would be assisted
by her spirit friends and kept alive un-
Ill the task was finished.
To verify certain dates and other de-
tails, Mrs. Maynard has during the pro-
gress OF the work consulted the spirit OF
Lincoln and other spirits. During the
last two years while she has been lying
In precisely the same position on her
bed, her hands and feet twisted terribly
by rheumatism, she has been further
favored by the visits of Mrs, NJ. f. Will
liams, OF this city, through whose me-
diumship the shades of the iavaid'S
departed friends visited her in visible
and tangible shape, bringing her
strength and counsel. The last OF these
seances were held yesterday In the
sick chamber of the coSey house in
White Plains.
The cabinet" consisted OF an inn
promptu arrangement OF curtains OF
soft black woolen stuff drawn across one
corner Of the room. Those who were
privileged to be present were Henry j.
Newton, Gen. and Mrs. Wentworth, Mr..
and Mrs. benjamin Il. Hill, Charles
Ouinby, Mrs. Colburn, Mrs. Marble, w.
Il. Hartranft, Miss Gertrude Williams
and the reporter. These occupied
chairs ranged around two sides OF the
room.
The medium took her seat behind the
curtains about o'clock, and despite
some fears expressed by her as to the
effects of poor conditions as TO light, ar
rangements, and sick magnetism, the
seance that ensued was one OF the most
remarkable in the history OF spiritual
ism.
In the dim red lift from small lamp
with colored glass sides no less than
twenty-three different individuals
emerged from to cabinet, walked
about the room, were recognized as the
shades of departed friends, and con-
versed with Mrs. Maynard and others.
Those in the circle were singing
Nearer. Ny God, to Thee" when sud
denly form in feminine white drapery
appeared and extended her arms
toward the company. 1t was explained
that this was "Priscilla," one OF the
mediums guides, who usually appeared
first TO "bless the circle" She faded
away as silently as she had come.
Then the voice OF bright Eyes" a little
Mexican maiden well known as the
mediums family spirit, was heard.
followed by tina: Of Frank CuShman,
the cabinet spirit. Congressman SomeS,
of Maine, an intimate friend OF Lincoln,
came out and walked up to Mrs May
nard's bedside to give her the precise
dates OF some events recounted In the
latter part of her book which she had
been trying for weeks past in vain to
remember. The shade OF Lincoln, tall,
stern. dark and sad looking, appeared
for few moments, gave Mrs. Maynard
assurances as to some details In her
story and promised to control her and
communicate more fully and particular
ly as to these events later.
Gen. Morgan Chrysler, who COM
manded the Thirtieth New York Regi-
ment, appeared in his Brigadier's uni
form and was recognized by Mrs. May
nard and her sister Mrs. Colburn. He
reminded them of a certain evening IN
Washington twenty years ago, aud of a
practical joke that occurred after
which they gave him the nickname OF
Duck Leg"
Frank Cushman and his sister Mary
appeared together, and greeted the com
pany courteOusly. Other occasions
when two spirits distinctly appeared to-
gether were the apparitions OF "katie
Robinson" and "AXiS Sprague" in com
many. and OF little bright Eyes"
and boy named Eddie Young" "
known to several members present when
in the flesh. Mrs. Colburn, the mother
OF Mrs. Maynard, came to her sick
daughters bedside and comforted her
with voice and touch, as did her sister
Julia, who died only two weeks ago.
Both conversed earnestly about family
matters.
The other spirits that appeared in
quick succession during the two hours
OF the seauce were those of DR.. ). X.
Beecher, cousin of the Rev. DR..
LYMAN Beecher and Mrs. MayDard's old
physician; DR.. j. Il. Newton, DIR. War
rem. Mrs. Cora Dyer Clough, Bessie
Turner. E. V. Wilson, Mr.. Clymer,
Daniel Hale, OF Chicago; Margaret Ful-
lor. authoress; pr. Cutler, Preston I.
Holland. who discussed briefly on the
philosophy of spiritualism, and last
"Pinkie," the control" OF Mrs. May
nard. laid to be an Aztec princess VINO
lived in Mexico 500 years ago.
She was radiant in jewels OF brilliant
phos osphoreScent light thae decorated
her hair and her dress, and OF when
she was evidently very proud.
DIR. Hollands discourse brought the
seance to an end. All present expressed
their extreme satisfaction with the man
ifestations. and the invalid for whom
the seance was chiefly given said she
had been greatly comforted and
strengthened. The revision OF the
final ehapters OF the book will be push
ed rapidly, and it will probably be put
10 press within a month.
He Drank too Much.