Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-12-11

- ne last VI AAO lGiLIIIuS L OA SIS lNl >,
whose rappings it is claimed by spirit
ualists have been heard around the
world is dead at her home four miles
north Of Newark n. y. She was Mrs.
Maria Fox Smith, widow of Stephen
Smith, and her age was eighty-tive
years, The deceased was the last Of
the famous family in whose humble
home in Hydesville, just north of the
village of Newark. originated the pro
paganda of Spiritualsm. Here still
stands the original house in which the
wonderful rappings and spook per
formances are said to have occurred.
1t is a small, one-story frame building,
owned by William H. Hyde, and over
the door is the inscription to the effect
t~spiritualism originated in this
house in 1913. The story has been
told many times, but it is interesting
Late in the fall of 1S47 John Fox
and family moved from Rochester to
Hydesville, in the township of Ar
Cadia Just north of Newark village. 1t
was December when they first OC-
Cupied the house, and it is a matter Of
record that from the first day the
mysterious sounds were heard. They
continued for several months there
! after, and became a source of great
annoyance to the family. No mention
was made to the neighbors of the
trouble, as it was feared that they
would only be ridtculed. The noises
still continued, and the family, who
were devOut church members, con
stantIy prayed that they might be
freed from the afIliction.
Friday evening, March 81, 1913,
members of the family had retired for
the night when the noises were re-
peated. The youngest child, Kate,
had become so accustomed to the
sounds that she was no longer afraid
and sat up in bed saying, Here Mr..
SplitfoOt. do as | do at the same time
swapping her fingers. THE invisible
rapper' Immediately responded by rap
ping the same number of times that
Size snapped her fingers The child
repeated the performance several
times, and the "appings always cor
responded to The number of times she
had snapped her fingers. Finally she
made a number of motions without
any noise, but the rappings were given
corresponding to the number of move
ments she had made. Upon seeing
this she cried out, only look, mother,
look; it can see as we'll as hear"
Her mother then entered the room
and asked the invisible" to count ten.
Immediately there were ten raps given.
Mrs. Fox then asked a number of ques-
lions relating to the age and number
of her children, all of which were
correctly answered. She then asked
if the rappings would be given before
the neighbOrs, and, being answered in
the affirmative. summoned several of
them, and the questioning was repeat
ed in their presence.
One of the questions as to the nature
of the cause of the rappings received
the answer that it was the spirit of a
man who had been murdered in the
house some years before. The matter
was investigated and the remains of a
human being were found buried in the
cellar The story of the occurrences of
the Fox family aroused great curiosity,
and it was thronged with visitors. In a
short time strange stories were circu-
lated and the family were made very
uncomfortable The stories came to the
ears Of Mrs. Anna Leah Fish, another
daughter of Mr., Fox. who was a resi-
dent of Rochester Mrs. Fish made a
visit to the cottage, and after a care
full investigation told her mother that
it would be better for her to take Kate
home with her and send Margaretta to
stay with a friend in Auburn.
The trip to Rochester was made by
canal, and Mrs. Fish was congratulate
ing herself that the rappings had been
left behind, when they were heard on
the floor of the cabin of the boat.
They were also heard at the home of
Mrs. Fish, and several of the neighbors
We're summoned to listen to them One
of those summoned was Isaac Postma
Quaker and it was through his efforts
that the alphabet was successfully
used. After a number of meetings had
been held at the home Of Mrs Fish
the "invtsibIes' insisted that a public
meeting be held. This was distasteful
to the family. and they opposed the
spirits, who finally declared that they
would leave the house unless their
wishes in this matter were complied
with. The rappings did cease after a
time, when nothing was done, and
after they began to be missed it was
some time before they could be in
duced to return
1t was finally decided to hold a
meeting, as the spirits had requested.
November II lS49, was selected for
the time and Corinthian hall Roches-
ter was the place for the meeting.
Rev A. II. Jervis Nathaniel Draper.
Lyman Granger, Amy Post. Sarah D.
Fish and Mrs. Pierrepont were Sc
Iected by the spirits 10 appear on the
platform with Mrs. Fish and her sister.
Margaretta the medium Mrs. Post
was further directed to sit by the
medium and to remain there constant