Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-19
HER QUEER STORY.
Lincoln Said to Have Consulted
the Spirits.
RECITAL OF A oNE-TlME MEDIUM.

The Martyr President Said to Have At
tended Her Seances and Taken the
Advice of the DwelIers in the Other
World-His Assassination Alleged to
Have been Notwithstanding Gen.
sickies Could Throw Light Upon.
WHITE PLAINS, N. Y, Oct. l9-In a
work entitled "Was Abraham Lincoln a
Spiritualist," Mrs. Nettie Colburn-Mayn-
ard, of this city, makes some startling
declarations in regard to Mr. Lincoln's
belief in supernatural communications.
She states that in the latter part of 1862,
when she was young girl and already
gaining reputation as a medium, she
was in Washington and became acquaint-
ed with Mrs. Lincoln and a number #
other persons of prominence, who were
attendants upon her seances, and through
this means she came in contact with the
president. Mrs. Lincoln induced her hus-
band to attend one of Miss Colburn's
seances, and on that occasion he was
warned through the unconscious medium
not to postpone his issuance of the
emancipation proclamation.
The Warning Was Obeyed.
Those present were surprised, and asked
Mr.. Lincoln if any pressure had been
of the proclamation, and he repl led that
there had been pressure of the strongest
kind. He was much impressed by the in
cident, and the proclamat was shortly
issued. Mrs. Lincoln obtained Miss Col
burn clerkship, and she remained in
Washington, frequently giving seances.
The February following Mr. Lincoln was
again present on one of these occasions.
Aspirit, through her, told the company that
| precarious condition of things prevailed
| in the army at the front, and threatened its
usefulness. The president said: @You
seem to understand the situation, can
you point out the remedy?'
Advised to Go to the Front.
The spirit advised him to go to the front
personally with his family and go amorg
the soldiers without ceremony, inquiring
into their grievances and showing them
that he was the father of his people. Mr..
Lincoln said he would do as advised, and
he afterward did so, with good results At
this seance Mr.. Lincoln. together with d.
f Somes, congressman from Maine;
Colonel S. p. kase, of Philadelphia and
others, sat upon n piano, which was NOV
ed by the spirits, Notwithstanding their
weight. When asked what he thought Of
the affair, Mr.. Lincoln was reticent, but
stated freely that he had not supposed the
things communicated through te
medium were known 10 any one but him.
self
Received Some Exclusive News.
The next time Mr.. Lincoln and Miss
Colburn met was on the day of the battle
of Charlottesville. The president was
very anxious, and at the suggestion of
Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Colburn invited and
received word from the spirit land 1t
was TO the effect that the Union forces
were holding their own. The next day
this was confirmed by the ordinary off.
cial advices. In the winter of 1861 Mr.
Lincoln was present at a seance and the
| terrible condition Of the freedmen was
made the subject OF a spiritual commune
cation, the president being urged to sp
point a committee to investigate the
question, which he soon did. Gen. Daniel
L. Sickles was present at this seance.
His Tragic Death Foretold.
Mrs. Maynard states that during this
winter she held seances attended by Mr..
and Mrs Lincoln, at the presidents ap-
pointment, but as they were private and
she was unconscious when the spirit was
communicating through her she does not
know what WAS communicated, neither
Mr.. nor Mrs. Lincoln having told her after
ward what had occurred. During the
| winter of 1s64-5 Charles Colchester and
Charles Foster, two well-known mediums,
held seances for the president, and through
them, as well as through Miss Colburn,
the president was warned of his approach
ing fate. He did not admit, however, that
he placed any reliance upon these pro-
phecies.