Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-31
NOW IN BOSTON.
Celebrating the Toe Joint Crack
ings Of the Fox Sisters.
Many Maine SpirituaIists Are Among
the Number.
How the Famous Rappinss We're First Made
in New York.


number Of believers Of that faith have
decreased. There are many people in
the State who believed in half
hearted way in spirituaiism, but had
not openly declared themselves.
With some. the belief was simply
that at night their departed friends
had appeared to thcm, while asleep,
ana many strange stories might be
told Of the manner in which these man
ifcstations directed the actions of diff
frrent people. 1t is among these people
that the association has had a mission
AIRY At work, SO that during the past
few months the number Of believers
hls increased.
Many of the spiritualists from other
5 ates will go to Hydcsville. y. y. to
Celebrate the event Of the first mani
fostation.
1t was in that pleasant little village
located in Arcadia township, Wayne
county. New York which gave it birth
in 1913. Hydcsville is Il quaint OLD
place, duh ana sleepy. with an indie
scribable finished appearance convey
ing the idea that it is absolutely COM
lIlctcd and that no more building or
d her changes can ever take place here.
Many Of its picturesque dwellings, are
oVerGTown with vines, and their ar
chitccture includes Just such a porch
as tired pedestrian or cyclcr delights
To rest in on a hot summer day.
1t was in one Of these old frame
houses. still pointed ont to visitors
there. that in 1917 occurred the first
manifestations of modern spiritualism
familiar to the present believers in that
faith.
Though the Fox sisters. Margaretta
ana Catherine, through whom the first
revelations Of supposed spirit power
We're made, have recently admitted the
| fraud, and though they have stated
| that the sO-called spirit rappings.
which created such an immense sen
sation so many years ago. We're pro-
duced by a voluntary cracking of their
toe joints. the faith of believers in
sDiritGalism is in no wise shaken.
The later say that though the Fox
sisters my be imposters, as they have
declared themselves. vet the great
truths and principles Of modern spirit
ualism stand as firmly and shine as
brightly as ever. They say that these
date back far beyond the time Of the
L bA SiTlS- Even III lIdl LOW, IdlilDllllS
tWo-story house in which these menda-
cious young women first cracked their
toe joints, it is claimed that genuine
spiritual phenomena were observed
before the Fox girls ever inhabited It.
In 1S41 the house was occupied by
one Michael Weekman and his family.
a poor, ignorant laborer. with no
thought beyond his daily toll for his
daily bread. He and his family were
soon troubled by mysterious raps
heard in all parts Of their dwelling. es-
pecially at night, and annoyance that
Increased to such an extent that sleep
became impossible.
During all this time the Fox sisters.
then mere children. aged II and 9
years, lived with their parents several
miles away. 50 that they could not
possibly have had hand or a toe
joint in the mysterious rappings at Mr..
| Weekman's house.
IT was this constantly increasing an
noyance of loud raps which, though
diligently investigated. could not be
| traced to any human agency. that soon
caused Mr.. Weekman to abandon his
| residence.
! d. Fox and his family became its oc-
| cupants. The mysterious raps still
| continued The neighbors We're called
! III on several occasions ana every pos
| siblc effort made to trace their origin,
| but in vain.
| 1t was on the night Of March 81. Of
| that same year. 1913, that the mysteri-
Gus raps first gave evidence of being
! directed by some controlling intelli-
| gence The family had retired during
| a brief lull in the mysterious rapping,
when suddenly it began again, occur
ring this time near the bed occupied
! By the two little daughters. Margaretta
and Catherine. The later began tC
| SNAP her fingers in imitation Of the
sounds. which Immediately responded
"Now do as do" she cried. Count
/. 9, 9, 4. ). g." at the same time strlk-
| ing her hands together. Mrs. Fox. the
! girls mother. then desired the unseen
agency to count 10. and that number
| Of raps Immediately followed.
| "Tell us the age of Cathy -the
Younger daughter-"by rapping once
| for each year." said the mother, and
10 distinct raps We're heard. Startled
DIV IntSt IlIdlHltStSihitA'f'' 4'h''''
| asked if it was a human being VINO
was rapping. but no answering souhd
was heard. "If you are a spirit make
two distinct sounds" she said, and
two loud raps responded.
Kate Fox. in her exposure Of spiritual
ism has declared that she and her SIS
fer were producing these mysterious rap
| while wing in bed and almost chokinz
| with laughter at the clever imposition
thpv were practicing on their mother.
THE mower Of cracking the toe JolfltS
nv which they produced their spirit rap.
nings.' they had accidcntally discovers
and had practiced until they had as,
nuired great proficiency. BE that as y
may. these supposed manifestations o.
gnirit mower created intense excitement
! The family rose from their beds ;tIo
| searched every portion Of the house WI T. y
nut result. The neighbors We're called II
and numerous questions asked. to Wnlc;I
answers were received from the mysteri
Nv sunrise the whole village was on tn i'
| enof and the little house was crowded II
Cory mart. Finally the spirit was askeC
| ~ s91oII Ant his or her name by rappiht
N the correct letters as the alphapt,
was repeated. As result Inc name ="