Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

290 ADDITIONAL CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE14G4. Shortly after the comiiienccinciit of the sounds in the first circleinstituted in this city, and of which I was, from the first, a member, demonstrationsin the form of movements of tables, chairs, and other articlescommenced. Many times they were very violent, but in most instances it wasnecessary that the hands of the company, and especially those of the medium,should be upon the table. During the session of a circle, however, held inthe afternoon—and of course in daylight—these movements became unusallyviolent. Two card-tables, around which the company sat, having beendrawn to the centre of the floor, were thrown backward and forward with^rcat force. After moving thus for some minutes, one of the tables startedtoward some two or three of the company, and pressed heavily againstthem, causing them to recede until they had reached the wall ; the tablewould then retreat to the centre of the floor, and, as it were, charge sometwo or three more, whom in like manner it would press back. Thus itcontinued retreating and attacking, until the entire company were seatedaround at the sides of the room.1465. Having thus cleared the floor in the central part of the room, thetable rose deliberately at the side next to myself, and so continued until ithad turned some distance beyond the point of equilibrium, with the evidentdesign of performing a revolution.146G. These and other manifestations were at the time so wonderfuland strange to that part of the company present which had never beforemet in a circle, as to cause great terror. One lady became so much alarmedduring the performance of the spirits with the table as above described,that she screamed aloud, which interfering with the requisite conditionsfor success, the table fell heavily upon the floor, breaking off" the top.1467. During the rising of the table on the side toward myself, Ireached my hand and pressed upon it,with the view of seeing what forcewas employed in raising it. Upon removing my hand, it would spring upas if it were suspended from the ceiling by an elastic cord.1468. At the time this phenomenon was occurring, a friend of mine,Mr, J. A. Cutting, of Boston, Massachusetts, being seated by my side,found himself moved, as though some one had drawn the chair on whichhe was sitting.He then placed his feet upon the front round of the chair,so as to entirely insulate himself from the floor, and while in this positionhe was raised from the floor, chair and all. This gentleman was quitelarge and stout, weighing, I should think, not less than one hundred andseventy pounds.1469. I would here state particularly and emphatically, that at the timeof these most violent movements of the table, no hands icere upon them,nor was there any physical contact with the objects moved.1470. At the same session, a tumbler and pitcher being upon a washstandin a corner of the room, some five feet distant from any person present,suddenly a crash was heard in the direction in which those articles