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

OF THE EXISTENCE OP SPIRITS. 353and drew the clothes over her head. 7>oth the (huir.ditcr and mother sawit at tliis time, but still the doctor saw nothing, although in us favourablea position as cither of the others.1720. "After two or three minutes had elapsed, the doctor also saw it.It appeared to him to move slowly from the hall chamber into his, andturn and move slowly back. It had the appearance of a very tall personwith a sheet thrown around it; he saw only the sheet. In about oneminute, something was thrown on tothe bed, which proved to be a sheetwhich had been taken from the wardrobe in the hall. Dr. Phelps declaresthat he was not frightened in the least, and could not have beenmistaken in the appearance. Some two or three weeks subsequent to thisa similarappearance was seen, and Dr. P. sprang out of bed, determinedto seize hold of it if possible. It came part way into his room, and thenmoved slowly back. The daughter affirmed that the doctor was withintwo or three feet of it when it disappeared, and a sheet dropped into achair. These were the only instances in which the doctor saw any thinghimself. Others of the family saw persons in a mysterious way severaltimes.1727. " At one time, while Anna was in the dining-room, and a cousinof hers and some of the children in the front yard, her attention wasarrested by some one entering the front parlour. She went in, and sawthree gentlemen— two of them sitting on the sofa, and one on a chair bythe table—all having their hats on, and drawn down over their eyes morethan usual ; the one by the table had his feet upon the table, and wasreading a paper.She was surprised that neither of them rose up, or lookedat her, as she entered the room ; and when she was within five or six feetof the one nearest her, he leaned over on one side and fell, chair and all, onthe floor, and instantly all disappeared ! She was frightened, and ran toher cousin, who was near the front door. She came in, but no personswere there, neither could they have entered without her seeing them. Thechair was thrown down, but no person near who could have done it.1728. "A few other instances occurred in which appearances were supposedto have been seen ;but the circumstances were not of a character toput the matter beyond a doubt, therefore no record was kept of them.About the middle of May, Dr. Phelps spent some time with the Foxfamily in New York. lie soon decided that the manifestations were essentiallythe same as those at his house, with a few points of difference.With them property was not destroyed, and they were not painfully annoyed.The sounds were different, it being with them a double or rollingsound, and at his house a single knock. They could call upon andreceive answers from different spirits, or what claimed to be different ones.This could be done at his house. During the months of June and Julythe same general occurrences continued at Stratford. Sometimes for twoor three days there would seem to be an entire cessation of ^ hostilities/