Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-15
Aistrllanruus 8radin9.
TRICKS OF MEDIUMS.
Table Tipping and Similar Manifesto
tions Not So Hard.


tions Not So Hard.
Being a spook medium is not 50 diff
ficult a profession as it appears to the
uninitiated. Some of the most eff
fective performances are achieved when
the medium is supposed to be held or
tied so securely that it seems impos-
sible that he could have escaped to play
the spook part so actively.
One of these rope-tying devices is
explained in the Bohemian Magazine.
1t is the one used by the Davenport
brothers.
In preparing the rope with which
they are to be tied they take one of
the cords by the middle and form at
that point a bow or double loop. All
that is necessary to make the knot is
to wind the cord once around the fin
gers, and through the ring thus form
ed draw a small portion of the cord
on each side in opposite directions.
This, in fact is a double slip knot, the
loops of which may be diminished or
increased in size as the ends are drawn
tight or released.
Leaving the two loops open, the two
ends of the rope are passed through
two holes bored in the chair, and with
the ends the mediums are secured
tightly, the legs being fastened to the
bottom of the chair, while the arms
are bound close to the body. To all
appearances they are thoroughly secur-
ed, but this is what really happens
The moment that the cabinet is clos
ed they draw back the legs little,
thus slackening the knot sufficiently to
permit them to extract one hand
With the other hand they hold the
knot ready to be drawn tight again as
soon as the hand is replaced and the
legs are extended, but with one hand
free it is quite easy for them to make
all the racket and produce as many
varieties of phenomena as the most
captious critic could require. More
over, when the knots are examined af-
ter the sitting all appear in perfect or
der
Levitating or tipping the table is an
other exhibition of psychic" force that
is always watched with interest and
vet there are scores of means by which
these results may be obtained frau
dulently. In fact apparatus manufac-
tured for this express purpose may be
procured from the established dealers
in such articles, for the old fashioned
method of lifting the table with hand
or knee is now classed as far too prim-
tive a trick to be worked effectively.
Instead, when the table is either Very
small or "" y light the medium used
a little .uDper sucker, but when it is
large or heavy table that is to be levi
tated the services of an accompliCe are
usually employed.
Thus, as one example of these meth
DDS, both the medium and his assistant
wear a leather band strapped to their
wrists under the cuffs. Attached to
this is an iron rod which extends about
an inch beyond the leather band. To
lift the table, therefore, it is only nee
essary that the projecting portion OF
the piece of iron should be slipped be-
meath it, for in this position a wise
like grip can be obtained that will per-
nit of the table being moved in all
directions without the slightest danger
of detection by ordinary inspection
Still another method requires that
both the medium and his accomplice
shall be supplied with a stout leather
strap In this case the strap goes
around the neck under the clothing
and attached to the lower end is a
strong hook. which can be brought in
to requisition as needed. When the
lights have been extinguished the two
operators slip the hook from its place
of concealment, attach it to the under
side of the table and when they
straighten or stand up even the heav-
lest piece of furniture can be levitated
with difficulty.