The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1891-08-24
COOPER AND SPIRITS.
WAS THE NOVELIST CONVERTED
BY THE FOX SISTERS?

WHICH NoLcu men were frGSGnE7An
swers Through spirit Raps' Which
Made a Profound Impression.
The statement by one of the "Foz
girls" of Rochester rappings fame, de.
claring that all the spirit sounds and
noises were caused by the cracking OF
her toe joints, leads me to give an &C.
count of a remarkable m with these
three girls at the time they paid their
first visit to New York. After perusing
it | think the reason will be satisfied,
whatever Of deception may have been
practiced, that the toe joint story is an
ineffable hu1nbug.
1t was in 1850 that the Fox girls came
to New York, astounding reports having
preceded them of the noisy visitation of
the spirits which had literally compelled
them to leave their home. DIR. Rufus
W. Griswold, the author and critic, &C.
cupied rooms at that time in Broadway,
between Blocker 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 any spirit
ual influences prevailed, but with respect
to the production of the sounds them
selves, which he pronounced "all trick"
It was proposed to invite these girls
to meet a number of gentlemen at DR..
Griswold's rooms, where it was expected
the ''spirits" would be present, when we
felt confident Of exposing the humbug.
AN INTELLIGENT AUDIENCE.
The invitation was accepted. At the
appointed hour the following gentlemen
met in DR.. Griswold's apartments: J.
Fenimore Cooper, George Bancroft, w.
@. Bryant, the Rev. DR.. Hawkes., DR..
John w. Francis, DR.. E. E. Marcy, John
Bigelow and myself. The three Fox
girls came promptly. They were seated
by a table, but not neal enough to touch
it. The company made a large circle
around it, and we all impatiently waited
for the performance to begin. Utter in
credulity ~pervaded our little assembly.
A half 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 intimated they would be
present-that was all they could say.
At length raps began to be heard,
sounding like slight shocks from an cleo
trio battery. Questions were at once in
order, and DR.. Francis took the floor.
and at the end of a few minutes he re-
in favor of DR.. Hawkes., the Fox
girls getting the best of it.. With DR..
Hawkes., who had been bred a lawyer,
did not flow so smoothly with
them, but there were several answers
which excited surprise.
| was seated mex to Mr.. Cooper, and /
perceived he exhibited much impotence
while the questioning was going on.
When Dr.. Hawkes. finished, Cooper ex-
claimed, Let ne have hold of them"
He began accordingly. Here are the
questions and answers:
Some years ago | lost a neal relative.
Was it a male or a female?"
ga female"
''By a natural death or otherwise?"
"Otherwise."
PLEASE rap the number of years since
he person died
I~NDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE.
The rappings began. We all listened
lttentively, counting the number. AS
t ran from twenty to thirty, from thirty
o forty, from forty to fifty, we began to
lold our breath. The rappings stopped
Vt ffty-eight. There was some discussion
whether it WAS ffty-scven OF ~ffty-eight,
it was raped over again at fifty
light.
| had watched Cooper narrowly. AS
he raps proceeded he became deadly
'ale. At the conclusion all eyes were
urned On him.
"Gentlemen," said he, when | was
bout two years old my sister was killed
y being thrown from her horse. The
ears since then have been correctly
| saw that Cooper was profoundly af-
ected. This did not, however, stop the
roceedings. Mr.. Bancroft suggested
hat the rappings should be transferred
D the door, he being on one side and
on the other. No questions were
sked, but the raps came out strong.
lfter some further experiments we ad-
burned with the feeling that we had not
ucceeded in ~''confounding the Fox
iris" and we agreed that the least said ]
bout it the better.
Feninore Cooper died about eighteen
lonths after this occurrence. Two or
lree years later | was dining with Mr..
Kinney of the book firm of Ivison &
Kinney, and a nea connection of Mr.
In the course of conversation
g asked me if | knew Cooper had be-
ONE a confirmed spiritualist before his
| said | did not. He assured me
{ the fact, but could not account for it.
told him ! believed | could account for .
!, and | repeated to him what | have
wv recorded here. Richard B. Kimball
New York Times.