Section 13

132 SPIRirUS SANCTUS.
securely, the key being given into the care of the writer. The slate, untouched, remained in the hands and under constant ob- servation.
At the confrere's request the gas was now turned off, the room being in darkness. A gentleman present commenced to play upon a parlor organ standing in the room. Soon was observed an in- distinctly-defined phosphorescent hand, which passed slowly about the apartment on either side of the room and from one end to the other, and at various heights between the floor and the ceiling. Not a sound save of the music was heard. The confrere, standing at one end of the room, asked if spirits were present prepared to do his bidding. In answer there were three raps, seemingly upon a table in the centre of the room. " Will the spirits write answers upon the slate ?" Three raps in reply. After a pause of a few moments : " Is the writing done?" Three raps, signifying yes.
" Lights," said the confrere. The jets were lighted. " Expose the slates." First the envelope was torn off, the sticker over the screw being found undisturbed. The screw-driver was now brought into requisition, and the slates, being exposed, were found covered with writing, — upon the one side answer to one query, upon the other side answer to the other. These answers were direct and explicit replies to the questions asked.
The writer has to interpolate that during the dark portions of the seance the slates were tightly held in his hand.
On opening the pasteboard box containing the rest of the boxes, heretofore described, and the handkerchiefs, these were found missing, while in their place was an accordion ; and in the wooden box, which was locked and corded empty, were found the nest of boxes and the handkerchiefs. The seals and marking were critically scrutinized before being broken. There were found, besides the original two cylinders containing the questions, two others of similar character. The two holding the questions were seen to be sealed precisely as originally placed. In the comple- mental two were found equally direct answers to the questions as were those written upon the slates, but of different wording.
On subsidence of the overwhelming surprise, the confrere seated himself upon a chair. The lights having been turned off for a
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moment, he was found intricately knotted up in a rope tied at the ankles and below and above the knees. The wrists were also tied, and in turn bound down to the knees. Offer of a large sum was made to any one who in fifteen minutes would untie the knots without the use of a marline-spike. The lights having been again extinguished, but for a single moment, a heavy iron, ring was found to have been placed on each arm above the cords which bound the wrists together. These rings were then slipped along the confrere's arms and carried up to his body by a gentle- man present, who next took up a chain, passing which through the rings, the two were made almost to meet by the drawing back of the shoulder-blades, the chain being locked while the apparatus was in such position. The lights were now again turned off; the rings, together with the still locked chain, were in a moment thrown upon the floor.
The accordion which had so mysteriously found its way into the locked and roped box was now corded securely by one of the guests, with a multitude of turnings and knots, and placed upon a table, together with a mouth-organ and a number of different-sized bells, the table being close alongside the host. The lights were again turned off, and music from the two instruments sounded freely, while the various-toned bells were rung singly and then simulta- neously. Reillumination of the room discovered the confrere to be tied up as before ; yet what impressed those present most was that the accordion remained certainly undisturbed as to a single turn or knot. In response to the common suggestion that imita- tion of the accordion had been secured from the harmonica. Dr. W. assured his guests that what had been heard was music from the accordion itself, — the particular one at that moment before them upon the table, still so tied that no one else could draw a sound from it. The light being now put out, and the organ music brought into requisition, a moment or two sufficed to show the magician not only free, — the rope lying untied and unknotted upon the floor, — but the wonder-worker standing composedly at the other end of the room.
A succeeding accomplishment was the tying of knots in an end- less rope. This is the performance in which originated Professor 12
134 SPIRITUS SANC2US.
Zollner's book on the fourtli dimension of space, and which had perhaps the greatest of all influences in converting a number of German savans to spiritualism.
A wonderful part of this performance, so far as Dr. W. is con- cerned, lies in the fact that he had never heard of these knots until his attention was called to the matter by the writer on this special occasion.
" You know of the Zollner knots?" queried the writer.
"No," said the confrere; "never heard of them. What are they like?"
It was explained that when Mr. Slade, the professed medium, visited Professor Zollner at Leipsic, a common rope was taken, the free ends of which were attached by means of seals, thus con- verting the line into a circle. The portion of this circle held by the seals was laid upon a table and kept covered by the hand of Zollner, the loop being allowed to fall to the floor. At the oppo- site side of the table sat Mr. Slade. It is written in the Leipsic professor's book, "Transcendental Physics," that in broad day- light, Slade's hands remaining upon the table and being covered by the free hand of Zollner, four knots were tied in his endless rope.
On the conclusion of the explanation — the writer, in the mean time, having knotted the free ends of a rope held at the moment in his hands — a circle thus prepared was thrown towards Dr. W., with a request, laughingly made, that his spirit try a feat impos- sible to earthly physics. Taking up this circle and turning him- self so as to conceal the manipulations, the confrere gave the writer the profoundest surprise of his life by throwing the circle part of the rop^e back in less than half a minute with two complete knots tied in it.
Dr. W. then produced a rope of some twenty feet in length. This cord, having been examined inch by inch, was taken by the writer and converted into a circle by attachment of the free ex- tremities to either hand, twisting these about his different fingers so as to insure undoubtable fixation. The lights having been turned out for the space of about a minute, the circle of this cord was found with fifteen knots upon it. Close examination, made
TRANSCENDENTAL PHYSICS. ,,-
under much light, by twisting, pulling, and biting, discovered nothing different from any common rope.
Still another mystery shown by Dr. W. consisted in taking two lengths of common tape, over which a napkin-ring was slipped. When this was pushed to the middle, it was tied by a common knot made of the tapes. In apposition with this fixed ring two others were placed, these latter being slipped upon the tapes from either end and the knotting repeated. Next a coat was supported upon the tapes, the arms being threaded by them. The ends of these tapes being held at opposite sides of the room by gentlemen of the audience, the operator quickly removed the rings and handed them to the spectators. A moment more sufficed to show the coat alike cleared, the ends of the tapes being still held and their continuity remaining unbroken.
Another demonstration. He took a piece of rope and tied two knots in it, so as to leave free ends of about two feet in length and a loop sufficiently large to be passed over the head, the rem- nant of the rope being a circle resting upon the floor. The loop was passed over the head and about the neck of the writer and the free ends given into his grasp. Next was laid upon his lap a common cast-iron lathe-wheel weighing about twelve pounds. The light being put out for a moment, this wheel was found strung upon the circle of the rope.
In still another demonstration fourteen rings were employed, no two alike. These were of cast and wrought iron, of cast and wrought brass, of rope, of wood, of leather, of tin, of pasteboard, etc., and one was the rim of an old silk hat. These rings were of varying sizes and of different weights, — from six to twelve inches in diameter and from a couple of ounces to a couple of pounds each. These various rings were placed by Dr. W. upon the right arm of the writer, reaching from shoulder to wrist. Next the operator's left hand was grasped in the full light by the left hand of the writer.
The doctor at this point asked that special attention be given to the anatomical relations of the grasped hands, in order that any attempt on his part to effect a solution of continuity between them might the more readily be detected. Due attention was given the
1^6 SPIRITUS SANCTUS.
hint, and two hands, as it seemed to the writer, were never more carefully and intimately united by muscular grasp. The light being now put out, considerable commotion ensued among the rings, and they appeared to slip down the left arm of the confrere and to be pushed up the left arm of the writer.
The gas being relighted, all the rings were found upon the writer's left arm, note of the fact being added as to positive con- viction that no change had occurred in the grip of the hands.
In order to meet the explanation of possible substitution. Dr. W. gave into the hands of the writer a heavy polished and nickel- plated iron ring, with request that a ribbon be tied to it, and that a piece of the end of the ribbon be cut off and preserved for matching at the close of the experiment. The ring being held in the left hand of the writer, his left hand and that of the confrere were firmly joined and the light again extinguished. In an in- stant the ring was snatched out of the writer's hand, lights called for, and at the same moment the ring was, with apparent force, hung on the right arm, the hand of which still grasped that of Dr. W. Subsequent comparison of the piece of ribbon given into the writer's possession with the end of that still tied to the ring showed the two portions as relating exactly.
Dr. W. next allowed his feet and hands to be securely tied each to a separate chair, he sitting in one chair with his arms ex- tended in opposite directions, the hands grasping each the arm of another chair, his feet resting each on an additional chair. The hands and feet were then securely tied each to a separate chair. There were laid on the floor beside him four large brass rings. The light being again extinguished, a few moments sufficed to show a ring on each arm and leg, above each cord and knot. A careful examination of the bindings by the four gentlemen who had, each after his own method, tied the knots failed to show that the rope had been interfered with. Again the lights were turned off, and in less time than it takes to note the occurrence the rings were thrown violently to the floor, light called for, and the con- frire found as tightly corded as ever. . . . Another moment of darkness and he stood upon the floor free of his bonds.
Some wonderful exhibitions were given, in which was answered
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promptly writing done on folded slips of paper held against th^ medium's forehead. One singular exception to the correct reading of these slips was when Dr. W. gave the name of a gentle- man, when in the paper his name had been suggested only in- directly by mention of a journal which he edits.
Various other demonstrations entirely incomprehensible were given, the company being at complete loss to account for the man- ifestations. Several highly-intelligent gentlemen, including a well- known doctor of divinity who was present, spoke subsequently of their profound bewilderment over the strange experiences of the night, accepting that clearest evidence seemed afforded of the agency of occult force.
As a conclusion to the evening's seance, two common slates were marked, and a question having been written upon a piece of paper, which paper was laid between them, the slates were wrapped together and enveloped. This envelope was next carefully tied in position with twine. Five masses of sealing-wax were next used as further security for fixation of the envelope and twine, and these masses were impressed with a special mark, to make which required a seal in the possession of the writer. These en- veloped and sealed slates were placed in a closet familiar to the writer for years, — a simple closet with shelves holding medicine- bottles, — the door of which was locked. Later the door was un- locked, and the enveloped slates were taken out. The seals were first minutely examined by means of a magnifying-glass, and no disturbance whatever could be detected. The envelope being removed and the slates exposed, one of them was found full of writing in answer to its enclosed question. It is to be added that a piece of pencil, about an inch in length, which had been placed between the slates was found broken into small fragments.
A repetition of this experiment was made, in which the writer was assisted by several of those present. Ingenuity was exhausted in trying to so complicate the wrapping and sealing that no human skill should suffice to overcome the obstacles intended to prevent, access to the slates. But, as before, although every fold of the enclosing paper, eveiy turn and knot of the encircling cords, and every seal were found intact, so far as a most careful and thorough
\2*
1 38 SPIRITUS SANCTUS.
examination could determine, the slate, when exposed, was found to have been written upon, and explicit reply was received to the question which had been asked.
The development of the confrere has advanced to a point where manifestations constitute a series of overwhelming surprises. From what I have been seeing and continue to see of the power exhibited through this man, I can have no hesitation in expressing a positive promise to any one requiring for his conversion to the new faith such occult exhibitions, that a common stone may be picked from the street, placed in the open light of mid-day, upon the marble surface of a table, the eyes being never removed from it, no covering of any kind being used; that this stone after a few moments may be lifted, a conversion, as would be verified by every sense, into pure gold ; or, with as little doubt as to success, I may assume that putty will be found changed into bread, or a splinter of wood into a stick of steel.
Here are recorded, in words written at the time, the progress and manifestations of a seance.
" I am seated in the library of my confrere. The date is March II, i8 — , a year later than the record just made. The time is nine o'clock in the evening. The company assembled numbers nine persons. The room is brilliantly lighted.
" Dr. reaches me a simple bag containing a score of common
visiting cards, the character of bag and cards testifying to the senses in examination. The cards have questions written across their face. I am requested to select or to take any one of these cards from the bag, and, after reading the question privately, drop it back. One, lifted at random, read, ♦ What is anthropology ?'
Dr. now turned to the common centre-table of the apartment,
and, taking up a double slate which lay upon it, handed it around for examination. To assure myself that there is no chemical or concealed writing, I examine with every care the four faces of the slate. I chalk and re-chalk these thoroughly, and sponge, rub, and re-sponge them. Next I screw the frame together, not having allowed the slate in the mean time to go out of my hands, and, this done, I hold it uncovered in the air.
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** After perhaps two minutes the confrere asks if the spirits have written. Response is in the form of a double knock made appar- ently upon a distant table, these two knocks signifying * No.' After another minute three knocks are heard, implying ' Yes.' Placing the slate now upon my lap and removing the screw, the two approximal faces are found covered with lines, written evi- dently with a common slate-pencil ; these lines affording answer, after a learned manner, to the question so secretly scanned by my- self This answer is in shape of a double reply, with marked dif- ferences as to construction of the definitions. The communication found on one leaf is signed Noah Webster. The other purports to be written by Ben Jonson.
" The sponge which has been used to test the slates is now lifted from the table and again applied, when the writing rubs off as do any slate-pencil marks."
The Zollner Knot under Original Test. — A reconsideration of the matter and a careful re-reading of Professor ZoUner's book combined to arouse a doubt as to the absolute oneness of the manifestations of knot-tying, as I had seen it, with that which had impressed to the extent of converting to the new faith the eminent and learned German and his no less eminent and learned friends. I spoke this doubt to the confrere. Like other mediums, he is emotional. " Occult," he answered, " is to be accepted as of such different signification from Open that tests or conditions should make no difference as to accomplishment. We will see what we shall see!"