Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-01-25
One Shade Of a Bois-
ferrous Nature.
Courageous Reporter Admits
Feeling Nervous.
"Late Departed" Says His Present
Abode Is a Grand 0ne.

One of the most successful trumpet
seances ever held by the Spiritualists
in this city was that Thursday even
ing at the residence of Mrs. j. w.
McCaslin, 206 North Howard st. Mr..
ID. A. Heirick, well known to local
spirtualists, was present.
Were those who have never attended
D. seance of spiritualists, and are skep-
tical as to the appearance and pre-
sence OF spirits Of departed ones,
to attend a seance wherein tthe
manifestations We're so frequent and
plain as at this one at the McCaslin
residence, they certainly would admit
that strange things happened which
could not be explained by merely
being spectator.
The seance commenced at s o'clock
and lasted two hours, but the time did
not seem a quarter that long to o
Democrat reporter who was present
among a gathering of 80 OF more, so
interesting were the proceedings.
After all had arrived, Mr. Herrick,
the medium, arranged the circle and
personally superintendent the seating
of the individuals who composed it.
The men and women We're seated
alternately. They were told to join
bands and place their feet firmly upon
the floor.
After these instructions had been
followed, the light was entlnguished,
and midpirht ,lotJruasc paryoda1 tlo
room. Medium Herrick then requested
all to throw away the cares
and worries of the world and allow
their wills to become submissive. In
a short time one could feel the strange
electrical current of animal magnetism
in the hands and arms, as though II
battery had been applied. The reporter
present was fortunate enough to oc-
cupy seat beside the medium. The
latters hands would tremble and the
| fingers twitch in his grasp. In the
center of the room, upon frail center
| stand so placed as to be out of reach
| of any one in the circle, and ut least
| five feet from the medium, was placed
a trumpet about 2la feet In length and
J six inches in diameter at the large
end. A guitar was also placed upon
the stand with the trumpet. The
audience was then requested to repeat
the Lords prayer, which was followed
by sacred song, After the last note
of the song had died away, and 81,
lence rcigned, n sound of a heavy
blow struck against Medium Her,
rick's breast was heard, and the re-
porter could feel his body give as 1,
retreated from the effect Following
medium not to strike SO hard. came
the sound of masculine voice direct
ly In front of the medium. 1t bid wei
come to the circle An instant after
wards the strains of the guitar to,
were heard and the tune. "Way Dowi
Upon the Suwanee River" was played
The guitar did not rest at this tim,
upon the stand but fioated In the air
sometimes near the ceiling and agail
near the floor. AS II brushed through
the mir the stir In the atmospher
could he distinctly felt upon one
face. Upon one occasion the musica
instrument struck lightly upon tn
reporters head and hands, patted hin
upon the shoulder and on the knee
several times, Nearly every persol
In the circle experienced the sam
things, The medium did not move, T.
the certain knowledge of the writer.
During the seance, at least dozel
different voices spoke through tn
trumpet One OF them claimed to he
prominent local physician, who die,
several years ago. He said he wa
In grand place, and that he use,
to be skeptical of the future, but as
surcd those present that there was
hereafter and concluded by request
ing that his best regards he given t
absent friends, Other voices wer
heard by few present who recognize
them as those of departed friends o
relatives.
Taking the darkness into considers
ton. the strange noises to be hear
and the sound of seemingly super
natural voices. the average indivdua
present at seance becomes possesse
with rather awesome aud unearthl
feeling, impossible to be described
1t can only be experienced by attent
ing Il seance.
The next one will probably be hel
In two weeks, the exact time an
place to be selected. Medium He
rick leaves Akron for Detroit Satul
day. Services will be held at III
McCaslin residence, Sunday afte
noon at . o'clock by the local organisi
tion of Spirituallsts.
See ON the third page today, the pas
advertisement of The Boston Stor
onnounrinp their tifth mill end sal