Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-12

DELEGATES FROM STYGlAN DISTRICTS


out spoobs by the wholesale has been ia
operation for the last tcw weeks at the
residence Of Ben Winchester on East Wash
ington avenue. Most weird aud uuganny
stories come from ,he place and the interest
has grown until 1t has attracted attention
In all parts oil the city.
Tho manifestations are produced by a
medium" and his manager The medium
Is small, dried-up man, who appears to
be so fral that pun Of wind would carry
him into genuine spirit land, but the man
ager is stalwart siN-footcr Between
them they give a show that is decidedly
interesting ANA that has attracted several
| hundred Of the most prominent men and
women O.. Council Bluffs. The attendance
has been limited each night TO dfty persons
I on the interest that has been awIkcnc :
would have caused a crush. Tho first spook
/ show was given two weeks ago, ana the
last one occurred last night. Every night
the full limit Of people have been present
and for the last week IL has required
! diplomacy and Influence to secure admis-
| Sion. The manager ard his man require no
/ other conditions than that the room shall
/ be lighted dimly. that the people shall
remain quiet during the show and that
! positively no reporters shall be allowed
| about tho premises. The spooks as well
! well as the man and his manager object to
| reporters for there is a suggestion OF
! nashliEht photography and newspaper noto-
riety. The spoo,s don't like to be photo
| Eraphed or described, ana when reporter
has been around the premises they have
| persist emily refused TO reveal their astral
| bodies TO mortal gaze.
! Last night the medium occupied a chair
In durkoncd room, shut off from the par
! lors where the humln spectators sat by
heavy portieres hung across the double door
| way. In front OF the curtains in the room
| where the people sat a large black rug was
| lying. The feet Of the spoOk-maker rested
upon the edge Of this rug, but were con
ccaled by the curtains. He was tied, and
| sewed, ana ropod and bound to the chair
| by every device that human ingenuity could
| suggest, and the chair was sewcd to the
| carpet. His hands were filled with rice and
| -four aud laid in his black broadcloth lap.
would be revealed. The manager occupied
a conspicuous place in the ante room.
PREFACE TO THE MANIFESTATIONS.
Tho selnco began at o'clock. All OF the
| light furnished came from a single tin Ian
! tern hung on nail in the wall II had
| red glass globe just such lantern as is
| used by the street gang to indicate washouts.
II looked simple enough and perfectly harm
less. but before the evening was far ad-
| vanced II became the most uncanny thing
| in the place. When the lights in the room
were turned out the lantern was not lighted
but pre- emily dim, red haze filed the g'ote
which grew brighter as the spook maker
in tho other room went under the "in-
| fluenco" and became rigid. The ghostly
flame Incl oased until It filled the room with q
| fiery red light. Low music was being played
by some person in the audience, and as the
! people present began to be affected by the
| music and the weirdncss of the surround
ings, the fame in the ghostly lantern went
up and down in unison with the strains
| When the fame was at its brightest the
| guOnkg hppan TO and during the
evening there was a surging mob of appari-
tions rising from the black rug and stream
ing through the rooms, talking, kissing
| shaking hands and renewing acquaintance
with living friends.
The first spook was a little girl, whom
the manager announced would have charg,
of the show during the evening, and would
be responsible for the presence of all whit
came. She chose very sensational ant
original manner in making her debut. Al
intensely brilliant light appeared in th
center CT the black rug, followed an instan
| after by a small white hand holding tn
flame which appeared to come from can
| die The hand was followed by an arm, an
| the arm by the handsome body of what ap
. peared to be an extremely well rounded an
! piquant young girl of l6 She was dresse
in the conventional white gossamer of fair
stories, and had beautiful golden hair Sh
didn't stop after she came through the rug
but noated deliberately to the ceiling an
| disappeared INTO lUt pldSltIs An liSNdll
later the portieres were thrown aside an
the face of the girl appeared while sh
announced in a strong, clear voice, like
professional stage whisper, I'm Maudie.
came up through the trap door that time
Did you see me?" The next instant tn
curtains were thrown aside. and MaSdi
pirouetted out on the black rug At he
: heels came n whole troupe of gauZy appari
| tions, whose clothes indicated all ages, seXe
t and conditions. They mixed up and mingle
= with each other in utter defiance of tn
laws of nature, passing through each other
. bodies as easily as one smoke wreath min
giles with another.
I BROUGHT ON MANY REUNIONS.
S At least twenty were out at the first dasl
Each one at the first bath Of publicity az
peared to be dazed and confused and ha
staring, vacant expression of the eyes
Every feature was distinct, and every pc
culiarity Of dress and personal habit q
marked as If it were a ball room gatherin
instead of a congregation of spooks Th
apparitions circled about the room, huntin
for friends and acquaintances. Many
. them found those for whom they sought, an
sibilant sounds, strident exclamations of SUI
prise or JOY came in great volumes froI
g all parts of the room. One of Postmaste
[ | Bowman's great ancestors came noatin
n along and recognized him. Mr.. Bowms
also recalled familiar family features, an
for half an hour the living and the dea
| cCnmuned IN audible tones. NO one
Council Bluffs knew this member of th
Bowman family and Postmaster Bowma
) asked a great many personal questions an
was given correct and valuable inform;
ton
John Danforth and Mrs. Danforth wei
y each talking very earnestly with relative
e who had been dead from a few years
is forty centuries Ovid Wen was talkin
French to his brother, who died in Franc
many years ago. Frank I. True was hol,
- ing an earnest conference with seyer
, relatives and was getting lots of goc
Il stuff Mrs. Wen was very nervous in Il
u presence OF several of her dead frlen,
e and relatives and was inclined to be Il
u credulous The ghostly lantern was fan
e ing its red blaze, and Trowlsons zith
g was twanging with a yehemence that ca
I rled the sounds far out on the night al
Is Suddenly dog beneath the window caug
le sight of the reporter and his stepladd
e and set up a terrific barking Instant
u the ghostly lantern went out and Il
d throng Of spirits disappeared. A minute
y two later a little ball OF red fire appear
rs again in the lantern globe and gradual
10 grew in intensity until 1t filled the roo
,e with the uncanny light When it gre
NJ light enough to see distinctly "Maudii
Is reappeared on the black rug. My he
re that scared me-" she remarked with
is musical laugh. Il believe that dog h
ID got coon up a tree, don't you?" TT
he ! rCDorter's legs were far above the dos