Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-05

\ and Houston streets. These were on the
| first floor and held his large and valuable
| library. He was an unbeliever in regard to
/ the ''rappings," not only so far as spiritual
influence prevailed, but with respect to the
! production of the sounds themselves, which
he pronounced call trick" 1t was pro-
| posed to invite these 'girls" to meet a num-
Der of gentlemen at DIR. Griswold's rooms
where it was expected the "spirits" would be
| present, when we felt confident of exposing
! the ''humbug."
Witnesses of the Performance.
The invitation was accepted AT the ap-
pointed hour the following gentlemen met
in DIR. Griswold's apartments: J. Feni-
more Cooper, George Bancroft, W. c. Bry-
| ant, the Rev. DR.. Hawkes., DIR. John W.
| Francis, DIR. E. E. Marcy, John Bigelow,
and myself The three Fox girls came
| promptly. They were seated by table,
but not near enough to touch it. The COM
pany made large circle around it, and we
I all impatiently waited for the perform
ance" to begin. Utter ineredulity per-
vaded our little assembly.
Half an hour passed and the spirits made
no sign. The girls were repeatedly asked
how soon they would begin to demonstrate.
They replied gravely that the spirits were
not under their control, that they had inti-
mated that they would be present-that was
all they could say.
AT length raps began to be heard, sound
ing like slight shocks from an electric bat
terry. Questions were at once in order, and
DIR. Francis took the floor. His interroga-
tories were leading ones, and at the end Of
few minutes he resigned in favor of Dr.
Hawkes., the Fox girls getting the best of
It, With DIR. Hawkes., who had been bred
lawyer, things did not flow so smoothly
with them, but there were several answers
which excited surprise.
Cooper Was a Skeptic.
I was seated next to Mr.. Cooper, and
perceived he exhibited much impatience
while the questioning was going on. When
DIR. Hawkes. finished, Cooper exclaimed,
'Iet me have hold of them" He began
accordingly. Here are the questions and
answers:
''Some years ago lost near relative.
Was it male or female?'
ga female.
''By a natural death, or otherwise
"Otherwise.
''Please rap the number of years since the
person died. T"
The rappings began. We all listened at
tentiyely, counting the number. As it ran
from 20 to 80, from 80 to 40, from 40 to 80,
we began to hold our breath. The rappings
stopped at 50. There was some discussion
over again at 90.
had watched Cooper narrowly. As the
raps proceeded he became deadly pale At
the conclusion all eyes were turned on
him.
Gentlemen" said he, "when was about
2 years old, my sister was killed by being
thrown from her horse. The years since
then have been correctly raped"
Satisfied Every Test.
saw that Cooper was profoundly affect
ed. This did not, however, stop the pro-
ceedings. Mr.. Bancroft suggested that the
rappings should be transferred to the door,
he being on one side and Bryant on the
other. No questions were asked, but the
raps came out strong After some further
experiments we adjourned with the feeling
that we had not succeeded in "confounding
the Fox girls" and we agreed that the least
said about it the better.
Fenimore Cooper died about 1S months
after this occurrence. Two or three years
later L was dining with Mr.. Phinney, of the
book firm of Ivison & Phinney, and near
of Mr.. Cooper's. In the course
of conversation he asked me if 1 knew
Cooper had become confirmed Spiritualist
before his death. said did not He as
,ured me of the fact, but could not account
for it.. told him believed 1 could ae-
count for it, and / repeated to him what I
nave now recorded here.