In my previous posts in this intermittently-appearing "Spookiest Years" series I analyzed and quoted accounts of the paranormal from the years 1848, 1850 and 1851. Now let us look at accounts of the paranormal dating from 1852.
In 1852 there appeared the book "An exposition of views respecting the principal facts, causes, and peculiarities involved in spirit manifestations : together with interesting phenomenal statements and communications” by Adin Ballou which can be read here. Adin Ballou (1803-1890) was a Christian clergyman who wrote quote a few books on different topics, including the autobiography that can be read here. It is always desirable to have lots of information about someone who claims observation about the paranormal, as well as his diverse samples of his writings, as such things are useful in judging whether the witness is a credible one.
On pages 7-9 the author categorizes various types of event he calls "spirit manifestations," including a variety of mysterious noises such as raps, and also the following:
- "The moving of material substances, with like indications of intelligence ; such as tables, sofas, light-stands, chairs, and various other articles ; shaking, tipping, sliding, raising them clear of the floor, placing them in new positions, (all this sometimes in spite of athletic and heavy men doing their utmost to hold them down ;) taking up the passive body of a person, and carrying it from one position to another across the room, through mid air ; opening and shutting doors ; thrumming musical instruments ; undoing well clasped pocket-books, taking out their contents, and then, by request, replacing them as before ; writing with pens, pencils, and other substances both liquid and solid, sometimes on paper, sometimes on common slates, and sometimes on the ceilings of a room, &.c.... "
- "Presenting apparitions, in some instances, of a spirit hand and arm, in others, of the whole human form, and in others, of several deceased persons conversing together ; causing distinct touches to be felt by the mortal living, grasping and shaking their hands; and giving many other sensible demonstrations of their existence."
- "Through these various manifestations communicating to men in the flesh numberless affectionate and intelligent assurances of an immortal existence, messages of consolation, and annunciations of distant events unknown at the time, but subsequently corroborated ; predictions of forth-coming occurrences subsequently verified, forewarnings against impending danger, medicinal prescriptions of great efficacy, wholesome reproofs, admonitions and counsels, expositions of spiritual, theological, religious, moral and philosophical truths appertaining to the present and future states, and important to human welfare in every sphere of existence, sometimes comprised in a single sentence, and sometimes in an ample book."
Most of those who have studied this topic are aware of how such claims eventually appeared in the decades following 1848. But it is remarkable to see a claim in 1852 that such things were already occurring at that date. We then have in the book several pages that are quoted from the work described in my previous post. On page 39 we have a long 1850 statement by a Charles Hammond quoted "from a pamphlet by D. M. Dewey." I have not been able to find the original document. On page 46 Ballou gives some eyewitness testimony, claiming he saw some amazing things:
"I have seen tables and lightstands of various size moved about in the most astonishing manner, by what purported to be the same invisible agency, with only the gentle and passive resting of the hands or finger-ends of the Medium on one of their edges. Also, many distinct movings of such objects, by request, without the touch of the Medium at all. I have sat and conversed by the hour together with the authors of these sounds and motions, by means of signals first agreed on ; asking questions and obtaining answers — receiving communications spelled out by the alphabet — discussing propositions sometimes made by them to me, and vice versa — all by a slow process, indeed, but with every possible demonstration of intelligence, though not without incidental misapprehensions and mistakes. I have witnessed the asking of mental questions by inquirers, who received as prompt and correct answers as when the questions were asked audibly to the cognition of the Medium.
I have known these invisibles, by request, to write their names with a common plumbago pencil on a clean sheet of paper — half a dozen of them, each in a different hand....I have requested what purported to be the spirit of a friend many years deceased, to go to a particular place, several miles distant from that of the sitting, and to bring me back intelligence respecting the then health and doings of a certain relative well-known to the parties. In three minutes of time the intelligence was obtained, numerous particulars given, some of them rather improbable, but every one exactly confirmed the next day, by personal inquiries made for that purpose...."
There follows a great deal of metaphysical speculation by Ballou. Notably on pages 54-55 he denounces slavery as sinful, and also denounces other things such as war and intemperance. He tells us on page 56 that these speculations and moral teachings are what is taught by "ninety-nine one hundredths of the communications of reliable spirits throughout the country," but fails to back up such a claim with specifics. There then follows a very long and rather tedious section of the book in which Ballou answers objections that could be made to the reports and teachings he has given.
On page 127 Ballou begins a chapter quoting what critics are saying about reports of spiritual manifestations. He documents the enormous hatred and calumny and character assassination that went on by those desperate to suppress the flourishing spiritual movement he was part of. Finally on page 176 Ballou gives us some more testimony regarding paranormal events. There follows about two dozen pages that are not worth summarizing, because they fail to mention specific witnesses.
In the last part of the book we have a long series of questions and answers. The answers purport to be from Ballou's deceased son. Ballou says he got the answers from a medium, but does not tell the exact method by which the medium produced them. He tells us that "the ideas were strongly impressed on her mind, and written out with her hand, by a spiritual intelligence superior and distinct from her own." Since we don't have any very strong reason to believe in a paranormal effect here, I won't bother to summarize the answers given, which easily could have come solely from the mind of the medium herself.
Ballou's book dates from 1852. In that year we have the start of another stream of information on this topic: a weekly periodical called the Spiritual Telegraph, one published in New York City. The first edition of that publication (dated May 8, 1852) has an account of an April 4, 1852 meeting in the house of Rufus Elmer in Springfield, Massachusetts. Four named witnesses (including David A. Wells, a professor of chemistry at Harvard) state this:
"The table was moved in every possible direction, and with great force, when we could not perceive any cause of motion...In two instances, at least, while the hands of all the members of the circle were placed on the top of the table—and while no visible power was employed to raise the table, or otherwise move it from its position—it was seen to rise clear of the floor, and to float in the atmosphere for several seconds, as if sustained by some denser medium than air...Mr. Wells seated himself on the table, which was rocked to and fro with great violence, and at length it poised itself on two legs, and remained in this position for some thirty seconds, when no other person was in contact with the table....In conclusion, we may observe that D. D. Hume, the medium, frequently urged us to hold his hands and feet. During these occurrences the room was well lighted, the lamp was frequently placed on and under the table, and every possible opportunity was afforded us for the closest inspection, and we submit this one emphatic declaration : we know that we were not imposed op on nor deceived."
This is the same Daniel Dunglas Home mentioned in the middle of my post on observations of the paranormal in 1851. Again, Home's name is misspelled as Hume. We seem to have some interesting progress reported. While the 1851 account mentioned a table merely rising up on two legs, this account describes the table as fully levitating above the ground. In the August 21, 1852 edition of the Spiritual Telegraph, we have an even more astounding claim: the claim that Home was observed levitating. We read this (again, Home's name is misspelled):
"Suddenly, and without any expectation on the part of the company the medium, Mr. Hume, was taken up in the air! I had hold of his band at the time, and I felt of his feet—they were lifted a foot from the flour! He palpitated from head to foot with the contending emotions of joy and fear which choked his utterance. Again and again he was taken from the floor, and the third time he was carried to the lofty ceiling of the apartment, with which his hands and head came in gentle contact. I felt the distance from the soles of bis boot* to the floor and it was nearly three feet ! Others touched his feet to satisfy themselves."
The author of this statement is identified merely as F--------. If there was no further confirmation of this claim, we might have to dismiss it as some reckless lie. But, in fact, in the coming years very many named witnesses would claim that they saw the same wonder of Daniel Dunglas Home levitating (as you can see by reading the link here and future installments of this series).
An 1853 book reiterates the claim above, telling us that it occurred on the 8th of August, 1852, in the home of Ward Cheney of Manchester, Connecticut, and that the person making the report above was one of the editors of the Hartford Times.
The same book tells us that levitations were also seen in connection with the medium Henry C. Gordon. We read this:
"Mr. Gordon has several times been taken up in a similar manner. This has twice occurred in this city — in both cases at the residence of our distinguished friend, Dr. John F. Gray, in Lafayette-place. In both instances the phenomenon transpired in presence of a number of intelligent and scientific observers. In one case Gordon was carried not less than sixty feet through different apartments, and was supported at irregular distances of from four to eight feet from the floor, while performing this aerial journey."
1852 also saw the publication of the book "The Spiritual Teacher" by R. P. Ambler (Russell Perkins Ambler). The book's full title claims that it was "written by spirits of the Sixth Circle." At the book's beginning we have a testimony by five witnesses that the book was produced with extraordinary speed, rather as if some supernatural or paranormal power was controlling or inspiring the person (Ambler) who wrote down the text. The testimony states this:
"By reference to the facts in the case, it is found that this book has been written with vast and almost incredible rapidity. On this point the undersigned would state that the whole book, which comprises a series of twelve lectures, extending over two hundred and six pages of foolscap paper, was written within four days this process having been commenced on the morning of Wednesday, March 10th, 1852, and completed on the following Saturday evening, March 13th. The average time per day employed in writing was ten hours and fifty-five minutes, and the maximum number of pages produced on a single day was fifty-five, the shortest time occupied in writing a single page being eight minutes.
With relation to the manner in which this book was written, the undersigned would state that the hand and arm of the medium were suspended during the whole time of writing in such a manner as not to rest on the desk or manuscript and that, upheld in this way, the pen glided rapidly over, the paper with an even and continuous movement without any apparent thought or care on the part of the writer, and without any perceptible pause at the commencement of sentences or paragraphs ...
JAMES WILSON,
JOHN D. LORD,
MRS. G, W. HARRISON,
MISS. DELPHINA P. DUBNAR,
MRS. R. P. AMBLER.
Springfield, March 20, 1852."
The book is a very sophisticated work from a philosophical and literary standpoint. A claim often made by skeptics about the wonders of the nineteenth century and claimed communications from the Great Beyond (or claimed paranormal communications) is something like this: "Nothing ever arises from such supposed communication except low-quality material." Such a generalization simply isn't true. "The Spiritual Teacher" is actually a work of very high literary and philosophical sophistication, the type of work we might expect from a philosophy professor with very good writing skills. Similarly, the literary works of Patience Worth (arising from an ouija board) are works of superb quality, with the best poems of Patience Worth equaling in quality the best poems of Shelley and Keats.
In the 1854 book "The Spiritual Telegraph" compiled by S. B. Brittan from writings in the periodical "The Spiritual Telegraph," we have this account of events in the year 1852 (the reference to being magnetized refers to falling into a trance):
"Mrs. Harriet Porter was magnetized by Spirits, at Bridgeport, Conn., on the 27th day of July, 1852 — the day before the steamer Henry Clay was destroyed — when the following singular manifestation occurred. The medium being entranced, was suddenly impelled to leave the table and go to a closet, where she took a newspaper from among a number that were lying on a shelf. As she came out of the closet the index finger of her right hand commenced moving over the paper with the greatest rapidity. After a moment the finger was suddenly fastened to the paper, and on examination it was found to be resting on the name Henry Clay. It was thereupon conjectured that the circumstance was either purely accidental or else that some Spirit, for some purpose as yet unexplained, desired to refer to the great statesman. But this finger moved again, rapidly as before, and gain it was as suddenly arrested. On lifting the medium's finger from the paper, it was found that the word steamboat was directly under it. Once more the finger moved spasmodically over the printed sheet, and when at length it stopped abruptly, it was discovered that it pointed to the word burnt. It will be perceived that this is the sum of the communication from the invisible powers : ' Henry Clay, STEAMBOAT, BURNT.' Such an announcement was not, of course, anticipated by any one. The eyes of the medium were closed during this performance, and she certainly could not have known, by any mode of external observation, what the words were, much less what the whole really implied. No one in the circle had any knowledge of the existence of such a steamer. One after another the members of the circle departed, and we know not that any special importance was attached to what had occurred.
The next day, at about three o'clock, p.m., Mrs. Porter was again and unexpectedly entranced in presence of several persons, and proceeded to describe the terrible catastrophe which was then, as she affirmed, being enacted before her. She declared that a steamboat was burning on the Hudson River, that the name, Henry Clay, was distinctly visible, and then proceeded to describe the village of Yonkers. The medium appeared to be greatly terrified by the scene, and expressed the deepest anguish on account of the loss of so many lives. It is needless to add that the public journals on the following morning contained the details of the mournful tragedy, so mysteriously foreshadowed and so graphically portrayed at the very hour of the fatal occurrence."
The steamboat Henry Clay caught on fire on July 28, 1852, with nearly 50 of its 500 passengers dying. If true, this account would be a very powerful case of evidence of precognition. The only shortcoming of this account is that it was written more than a year after the alleged events occurred. An account closer to July, 1852 would be better evidence. In another post I will discuss a rather similar account that is like this, but meets higher standards of evidence.
In an 1853 book we have this account by S. B. Brittan of 1852 events (one in which the name Home is misspelled as Hume):
"On the evening of April 15th, 1852, I was at the house of Rufus Elmer, Esq., in Springfield, Mass., when David A. Wells, Professor of Electricity and Chemistry at Cambridge, was present with other intelligent gentlemen for the purpose of witnessing the mysterious phenomena. Remarkable manifestations occurred on that occasion through Daniel D. Hume. Prof. Wells and several other gentlemen, all of whom had been previously skeptical, made a written statement of what transpired in their presence, which was subsequently published in the Eastern papers. I have only space for the following extract :
' While no visible power was employed to raise the table, or otherwise move it from its position — it was seen to rise clear of the floor, and to float in the atmosphere for several seconds as if sustained by some denser medium than air. Mr. Wells seated himself on the table, which was rocked to and fro with great violence, and at length it poised itself on two legs, and remained in this position for some thirty seconds, when no other person was in contact with the table.'
' Occasionally we were made conscious of the occurrence of a powerful shock which produced a vibratory movement of the floor of the apartment. It seemed like the motion occasioned by distant thunder or the firing of ordnance far away — causing the tables, chairs, and other inanimate objects, and all of us to tremble in such a manner that the effect was both seen and felt. In the whole exhibition we were constrained to admit that there was an almost constant manifestation of some intelligence which seemed to be independent of the circle.'
' During these occurrences the room was well lighted, the lamp was frequently placed on and under the table, and every possible opportunity was afforded us for the closest inspection, and we submit this one emphatic declaration : We know that we were not imposed upon nor deceived.'
The statement from which the above is extracted, was signed by David A. Wells and others."
The statement above matches a statement in the autobiography of Daniel Dunglas Home, in which he lists the signers of the statement as Wm. Bryant, B. K Bliss, Wm. Edwards and David A. Wells. I may note that television or movie depictions of the seances of the nineteenth century almost always fail to depict any of the more dramatic phenomena that were reported. We may see some depiction of people with their hands on a table, and the table moving a little bit, or some bell shaking. Chances are 99% that you will see a depiction failing to depict any of the more dramatic phenomena that were reported, such as tables levitating, people levitating, musical instruments playing by themselves, mysterious spirit hands appearing and objects levitated to the tops of tables. An example of the kind of the depictions we get is in Episode 3 of the Netflix series "Bodies." Similarly, 95% or more of this century's mainstream accounts of the spooky events around this time will fail to list any of the more dramatic phenomena reported.
Around Christmas of 1851 in Ohio a young orphan medium by the name of Abby Warner was charged with the crime of disturbing a church service. It seems that a service at a church was disturbed by mysterious raps one day that Abby attended. Putting Abby on trial, the state of Ohio tried to prove that Abby had caused the rapping sound, violating a law against disturbing church services. But a judge ruled that the state had failed to prove that Abby had caused the sounds. The official ruling by a judge states this:
"After three days patient investigation the guilty party is undiscovered, and thus far that investigation seems fruitless, for which the court can only express its sincere regret. Being unable, in the light of the proof to find the defendant guilty, she is discharged."
An investigation committee was organized in early 1852 to further investigate the matter of Abby Warner and the mysterious raps. Members of the committee claimed that raps occurred corresponding to their silent thoughts, an effect widely reported by others. We read that this occurred on January 5, 1852 at the office of F. M. Keith:
"Mental questions were then asked, one by each person at the table, except Dr. Underhill and medium, which questions and answers were as follows:
By R. Partridge. Rap five times?
Answer. Five raps.
By O. Dresel. Rap four times on the back of my chair.
Answer. Four raps on the table.
By C. K. Skinner. Will the spirit rap six times ?
Answer. Six raps.
By A. Pease. Shall I remain with the committee during their subsequent sittings; if so give me four distinct raps?
Answer. Four raps.
By F. M. Keith. Shall we continue our examination three sittings more; if so rap seven times, slow and distinct ?
Answer. Seven raps."
A statement asserting the above was signed by these persons: F. M. KEITH, R. PARTRIDGE, A. PEASE, C. K. SKINNER. These four people are all mentioned in the quote above. Only O. Dresel failed to sign the attestation. As evidence, this meets a very high standard. We have an attestation published the same year as the reported events, quoting signed testimony apparently made on the same day as the events witnessed, with multiple named witnesses. The effect is one of five consecutive people mentally thinking of a number between about 1 and 10, with each thought-of number being followed by the same number of raps. You could explain the results by coincidence, but by a coincidence that would have a total improbability of about 1 in 10 to fifth power, about 1 in 100,000. Meeting at the same place on the next day, the same four witnesses and an additional witness attested the following:
"The committee are constrained to say, from the facts they have witnessed, that the table was caused to move by some power as yet unknown to them. That they are satisfied that neither the medium, nor any other person in the room moved it."
I have quite a few additional installments of this "Spookiest Years" series, and they will appear at intermittent intervals at various times over the next months. I may note that I am very interested in studying first-hand accounts of anomalous or hard-to-explain phenomena, particularly when they are written dated accounts by a named witness describing something very astounding he or she saw soon after he or she saw it. I am also also very interested in getting the earliest published accounts of hard-to-explain phenomena that end up being widely discussed. If you know of any cases of such accounts that you think may be of interest to me, please email me with a link to such accounts.
Be very wary of articles about the paranormal appearing in mainstream publications, which tend to peak in the days leading up to Halloween (October 31). Remember that the vast majority of such articles are written by people who are not serious scholars of the paranormal. A typical late October article about the paranormal will be written by some dilletante who has merely waded his feet in the topic of reports of the paranormal, a topic of oceanic depth.
No comments:
Post a Comment