The Death-Blow to Spiritualism Part 13

"MR. SELLERS (after a notification from the medium to proceed). Is Mr.

Seybert still present?

"No response.

"The 'MEDIUM.' It may be a few minutes before you will hear any rapping through these gla.s.ses.

"Ten seconds elapse.

"The 'MEDIUM.' This test is a very satisfactory one, if they do it. And they have done it a hundred times.

"Five seconds elapse.

"The 'MEDIUM' (to Mr. Furness). The gla.s.ses are not placed over the marble, are they?

"MR. FURNESS. No, the floor is of wood.

"MR. SELLERS (after another interval of waiting) informally remarked to Mr. Furness: 'We will wait probably for another minute to see if anything comes. As you know, the 'medium' claims that it is impossible for her to control these things--that she is merely one who is operated through.'

"Another interval expires.

"The 'MEDIUM.' That was a very faint rap. Suppose we change the position of the gla.s.ses.

"Note by the stenographer. No intimation is given that the rap here spoken of was heard by any one other than the 'medium' herself. Pursuant to the request just stated, the carpet is removed and the gla.s.s tumblers are located on the bare floor at a point about five feet distant from the place at which the test was first tried. The new location is in the center of a pa.s.sage-way, about three feet in width, between a side-board on one side, and a wall projection on the other. Its selection is apparently, though not specifically, dictated by the position and movements of the 'medium.' The 'medium' and the Committee resume their positions, the former standing on the gla.s.ses and the gentlemen facing her in a group.

"The 'MEDIUM.' Now, Spirits, will you rap on the floor?

"Thirty seconds here elapsed with no response, when one gla.s.s was heard to click against the other, and the 'medium' exclaimed 'Oh!'

"The 'MEDIUM' (repeating). Will you rap on the floor?

"Thirty seconds now elapse without any demonstration.

"The 'MEDIUM' (aside). It seems to be a failure. They have done it.

"Another click of the gla.s.ses which pa.s.ses without comment.

"MR. SELLERS. We will have to set down the result of the experiment on gla.s.s tumblers as negative. It may be well to try it later.

"The 'MEDIUM' (evidently reluctant to abandon the test). Suppose now, as we have gone so far, we kind of form a chain.

"The company retained their positions with hands joined, and the 'Spirits'

were repeatedly requested to make their presence known. Mr. Pepper, at the suggestion of the 'medium,' asking the 'Spirit' of his friend, Henry Seybert, to manifest its presence by one rap--but all efforts to elicit such response proved ineffectual.

"When the same experiments were resumed, the lady proceeded to the s.p.a.ce _between the side-board and the wall_, where the last preceding test had been made, and there the tumblers were again arranged. The 'medium'

resumed her position upon them, with Drs. Leidy and Koeing, and Messrs.

Sellers and Furness facing her.

"The 'MEDIUM.' Will the Spirit rap here?

"Twenty-three seconds elapse.

"DR. LEIDY. Is any 'Spirit' present.

"An interval of thirty-nine seconds here followed, when the attention of the Committee was momentarily diverted by an inquiry addressed to Mr.

Furness by Mr. Sellers, viz.: Whether a gla.s.s plate of sufficient strength to bear the weight of the 'medium' was procurable. At this moment the 'medium' suddenly exclaimed: 'I hear a rap. You said, "Get a gla.s.s," and there was a rap.'

"The 'MEDIUM' (repeating for the information of Mr. Furness). Somebody proposed a gla.s.s and there were three raps.

"Dr. Koenig inquires of the 'medium' whether the meaning intended to be conveyed by the sounds is that the 'spirits' desire to have the gla.s.s plate produced.

"The 'MEDIUM.' I do not know. I know there were raps. (Turning to Mr.

Sellers, the 'medium' adds:) They may have been made by your heel on the floor, but certainly there were sounds.

"MR. FULLERTON. Then it was not the regular triple rap?

"The 'MEDIUM.' I could not tell.

"Just before calling attention to the alleged rap or raps, the 'medium'

grasped with her right hand the wood-work of the side-board, as if for support. It was then that she stated she heard the sounds. They were apparently not heard by any one but the 'medium.'

"MR. SELLERS (addressing the 'spirit'). Will you repeat the raps we heard just now, a.s.suming that there were some?

"Ten minutes elapse without a response.

"The 'MEDIUM.' There is no use of my standing any longer, for when they come at all, they come right away.

"MR. SELLERS (after scrutinizing the position of one of the feet of the 'medium'). The edge of the heel of the shoe rests on the back tumbler.

(a.s.suming a stooping posture for a more prolonged scrutiny.) We will see whether the raps will be produced now.

"The 'medium' now proposes that all the members of the committee shall stand up and join hands.

"Mr. Sellers and his a.s.sociates accordingly stand, facing the 'medium,'

with hands joined. Changes in their positions were made by some of the gentlemen from time to time, as suggested by the 'medium,' Mr. Pepper and Dr. Koenig being the first to exchange places. This occurred after a silence of thirty seconds, without any response.

"The 'MEDIUM.' Now, Mr. Seybert, if your 'spirit' is here, will you have the kindness--I knew Mr. Seybert well in life--to rap?

"Fifteen seconds elapse.

"The 'MEDIUM.' No, he does not seem to respond.

"At the suggestion of Mr. Sellers, all of the gentlemen approach the 'medium' for the purpose of inducing some acknowledgment by the 'spirit,'

and inquiries similar to those already stated are repeated without result.

"The Commission temporarily abandon the test. When the tumblers are again produced the 'medium' takes her position upon them, with Mr. Fullerton standing next to her upon the right and Mr. Furness to the left. Mr.

Sellers remains for some moments kneeling on the floor to enable himself better to hear any sounds that may be but faintly audible. The 'spirits'

are repeatedly importuned by the 'medium' to produce the 'rappings,' but no response is heard until the company is about to abandon the experiment.

Three raps are then audible. The raps are very light, but very distinct.