Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-01-18
HUMAN SALAMANCA.
Young Machinist Who Bathed
Flames Was Unhurt.
NO SIGNS OF SCORCHING EVEN

Fred E. Foskett Said He Did Not Feel
Slightest Sensation Of Burning.
Professor James and Other PsychoI-
osists Conducted Remarkable Tests
In Boston.
The marvellous psychic power Of
Fred f. Foskett. young machinist
Of Orange. Mass. has attracted the
attention OF Professor James of Har-
ward and other leading members OF
the Boston branch Of the American
Society Of Fsychical Research. who
recently gave him tests on two days.
The first Of the tests was held at the
home OF Prescott +. Hall on a Sat
urday afternoon. Professor William
james and several we'll known physi-
clans were there. and test conditions
as nearly perfect as possible were
made. Foskett was seated in the cen
ter Of room before a small table
There he performed every feat Of the
Hindoo faker and the Buddhist adept
On the table was an ordinary kero-
sepe lamp with chimney and a fiat
wick. a pan and several quarts Of al
cohoi. According 10 the reports Of
those present. Foskett succeeded In
every test The first test was made
with ordinary sulphur matches. Eos
kett lighted half dozen. one after
the other. holding them with one hand
So close 70 the fingers OF the other
that the flames curled around them.
He then lighted the lamp and held his
hands above the wick. while the
flames curled over them and the SCOT
completely blackened them.
From one Of these tests TO smother
Foskett went. while the scientists
held their breath and watched every
motion. until be came to the climax.
In this he poured quart Of alcohol
into the basin. lighted II and then
washed his hands bathing them for
nearly ten minutes IN the burning
fluid. washing Il up over his arms and
70 his fac>ii.erally bathing himself
In blazing alcohol. That completed
the tests for the first day. AS soon as
they were finished the physicians
present examined Foskett. and they
could find not the slightest trace Of a
burn or blister. Foskett told them
that the flames did not give him the
slightest sensation Of burning: that he
felt comfortably warm and pleasant
and nothing more.
The second tests were made on the
next afternoon az the home Of FRO
fessor James In Cambridge Mass.
and under the same conditions as the
day before Considerable mystery Is
thrown about them. Mt Hall said
they were So startling that he did re-,
care to discuss them until they had
been tried again. Another scientist
who was there said that Foskett per-
formed all Of his experiments Of the
day before and then absolutely and
positively deulater.slized.
He seemed 70 dissolve into thin air
SIS we wstched him: WAS sone forty
one seconds and then rnater.al;.ed. I,
was 50 startling thar We. an atra:d
los. sight 81 the test conditions. and
we have asked him 10 appear before
Us agan. I, seems unbelievable. bu.
/: certainly seemed So. We hardly
know wha. 70 think q Il"
Professor James refuses 70 talk
about the tess.
According - those who were Y-es-
en-, Foske., seems = : passive s:a,a
during the ,escs. anG he says Re
thinks q nothing II particular. Those
who examined him 6!>c-tiir the hy-r-
rotic theory They believe Re has
some ia,er, rhych!, t,-ce ;hs. reve-
has been studied