b'-\xe2\x96\xa0 \n\n\n\n: 1>:~ \n\n\n\n\xe2\x96\xa0 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\xe2\x82\xac \n\n\n\n\n\n\nS* \n\n\n\n*? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**}\xe2\x96\xa0\xe2\x80\xa2 \n\nr.-\'- 1 ^- \n\n\n\n\n\n\n:>j.. \n\n\n\niV\xc2\xa3l \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMkt \n\n\n\n- ft M x H^VV \n\n\n\n\n\n\nLIBRARY OF CONGRESS, I \n\n\n\n\'W \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\\rSmk f 4 $\\ \n\n* f \n\n| UNITED STATED OF AMERICA. *| \n\n\n\n|[g < ^>^ < ^^> < %> < ^>^><%><^ ^><^<*,<sfe>\xc2\xabss><% *\xe2\x96\xa0 \n\n\n\n\n\n\ni*N\\A \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\naV.\'.a \n\n\n\nmy \n\n\n\npi \n\n\n\n\'\xe2\x80\xa2"\xe2\x96\xa0 v^\' \n\n\n\n"ikii A \'J\'*l.A\xc2\xabi \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY \n\n\n\nOF \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. \n\n\n\nWITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PHYSICAL \n\nAND PSYCHICAL PHENOMENA WHICH HAVE OCCURRED IN THEIR \n\nPRESENCE; IN AMERICA AND EUROPE. \n\n\n\nBY \n\n\n\nT. L. NICHOLS, M.D. \n\n\n\nAUTHOR OF \'FORTY TEARS OF AMERICAN LIFE ETC. \n\n\n\n\n\nLONDON : \n\nSAUNDEKS, OTLEY, AND CO. \n\nGG BROOK STREET, W. \n\n18 64. \n\n[All rights reserved.\'] \n\n\n\n3>* \n\n\n\n\xc2\xab \n\n\n\nLONDON \n\nPRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO. \n\nNEW-STREET SQUARE \n\n\n\nCONTENTS. \n\n\xe2\x99\xa6 \n\nCHAPTER I. \n\nAN INTRODUCTION. \n\nThe Motive and Method of this Book \xe2\x80\x94 The Possible and \nthe Actual \xe2\x80\x94 Facts and Theories . . . Page 1 \n\nCHAPTER II. \n\nBIRTH AND PARENTAGE. \n\nBorn where, when, and of whom \xe2\x80\x94 Family Characteristics \n\xe2\x80\x94 Monitions and Prevision \xe2\x80\x94 Childhood \xe2\x80\x94 Startling Mani- \nfestations \xe2\x80\x94 Boyish Occupation .... 8 \n\nCHAPTER III. \n\nTHE BEGINNING OF THE MANIFESTATIONS. \n\nThe Rochester Knockings \xe2\x80\x94 First Seance of the Davenport \nFamily \xe2\x80\x94 Great Excitement \xe2\x80\x94 The Pistol-flash and \nSpectre \xe2\x80\x94 Sharpshooting in the Dark \xe2\x80\x94 Floating in the \nAir \xe2\x80\x94 Analogies and Explanat\'cns . . *, 13 \n\n\n\nIV CONTENTS. \n\nCHAPTER IV. \n\nASTOUNDING PHENOMENA. \n\nExcitement and Persecution \xe2\x80\x94 Dance of Breakfast Dishes \xe2\x80\x94 \nA gigantic Apparition \xe2\x80\x94 An invisible Scribe \xe2\x80\x94 An asto- \nnished Furniture Dealer \xe2\x80\x94 A Self- writing Pencil. Page 23 \n\nCHAPTER V. \n\nORGANISATION OF REGULAR STANCES. \n\nAn Apology or Explanation \xe2\x80\x94 Marvellous Manifestations \xe2\x80\x94 \nTests applied\xe2\x80\x94 Boys floating in the Air \xe2\x80\x94 A striking \nTest\xe2\x80\x94 March of the Family Crockery \xe2\x80\x94 Upheld by a \nSpectre \xe2\x80\x94 A Balancing Feat \xe2\x80\x94 \' George Brown \' \xe2\x80\x94 A \nMurdered Man\'s Story \xe2\x80\x94 A Boy carried off by a \nGhost . 31 \n\nCHAPTER VI. \n\n\'we fly by night.\' \n\nHands and Voices \xe2\x80\x94 Advent of \'John King\' \xe2\x80\x94 Required to \nleave Buffalo \xe2\x80\x94 Refusal and the Consequences \xe2\x80\x94 A mys- \nterious Night Trip of sixty Miles \xe2\x80\x94 Manifestations in \nMayville \xe2\x80\x94 Another Ghost and Murder . . 45 \n\nCHAPTER VII. \n\nSTRIKING TESTS AT BUFFALO. \n\nKeeping to the Facts\xe2\x80\x94 S. B. Brittain\'s Experience \xe2\x80\x94 Visit of \nRev. B. F. Barrett\xe2\x80\x94 Statement of Stephen Albro and \nMrs. Taylor\xe2\x80\x94 Most surprising Wonders . . 55 \n\n\n\nCONTENTS. V \n\nCHAPTER VIII. \n\nTELE BKOTHEES DAVENPORT ON THEIE TRAVELS. \n\nBeginning of the Binding Tests\xe2\x80\x94 Judge Paine\'s ingenious \nExperiments \xe2\x80\x94 Thread and Sealing Wax \xe2\x80\x94 Sewed up in \nSacks \xe2\x80\x94 Invincible Incredulity \xe2\x80\x94 Tobacco Test at Cleve- \nland \xe2\x80\x94 Betting and Sailors\' Tests at Toledo \xe2\x80\x94 \\ German \nPhilosopher at Ann Arbor \xe2\x80\x94 Tarred Hope and Waxed \nEnds at Rochester \xe2\x80\x94 A Series of Trials . Page 69 \n\nCHAPTER IX. \n\nTHE CAMBRIDGE PROFESSORS. \n\n\' Old Harvard \' \xe2\x80\x94 Scientific Incredulity \xe2\x80\x94 A University \nCommission \xe2\x80\x94 The Fox Girls \xe2\x80\x94 The Brothers examined \n\xe2\x80\x94 Plenty of Rope \xe2\x80\x94 Prof. Pierce in the Cabinet \xe2\x80\x94 Phos- \nphorus \xe2\x80\x94 What came of it 83 \n\nCHAPTER X. \n\nAMONG THE DOWK-E ASTERS. \n\nLola Montes \xe2\x80\x94 A Row in a Garret \xe2\x80\x94 A Storm of Feathers \n\xe2\x80\x94 A Scene at Portland \xe2\x80\x94 A Mad-house Test \xe2\x80\x94 Boxed up \nat Bangor \xe2\x80\x94 A Discomfited Darling \xe2\x80\x94 Seeing is not always \nBelieving \n\nCHAPTER XI. \n\nMORE WONDERS IN MAINE. \n\nA Riot and a Fight \xe2\x80\x94 \' Capt. Henry Morgan the Buccaneer\' \n\xe2\x80\x94 Mr. Rand\'s Story \xe2\x80\x94 The Escritoire unlocked \xe2\x80\x94 Mrs. \nRand\'s Testimony 109 \n\n\n\nVI \n\n\n\nCONTENTS, \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII, \n\nMORE PHYSICAL IMPOSSIBILITIES. \n\nA Bravo in the Cabinet \xe2\x80\x94 Jugglers and Conjurors \xe2\x80\x94 Domestic \nManifestations \xe2\x80\x94 The necessary Conditions \xe2\x80\x94 Tables set \nby Invisibles \xe2\x80\x94 They eat Food like Mortals \xe2\x80\x94 Remarkable \nTestimony Page 121 \n\nCHAPTER XIII. \n\nTHE IMPRISONMENT IN OSWEGO. \n\nMr. Rand and his Testimonies \xe2\x80\x94 Strong Tests at Oswego \xe2\x80\x94 \nProsecution and Imprisonment \xe2\x80\x94 An astonished Jailer \n\xe2\x80\x94 The Prison Door unlocked without visible Hands \xe2\x80\x94 \nDeclaration and Affidavit 135 \n\n\n\n; \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. \n\nTO THE MISSISSIPPI AND BACK TO THE ATLANTIC. \n\nFastening a Committee \xe2\x80\x94 Sewed in Sacks \xe2\x80\x94 Social Science \nCongress in Michigan \xe2\x80\x94 Beating the Telegraph at \nChicago \xe2\x80\x94 Bombardment of Fort Sumter \xe2\x80\x94 Dark Lan- \nthorns in the Dark Circle \xe2\x80\x94 A Fight with a Spectre \xe2\x80\x94 A \nConfederate discovered \xe2\x80\x94 Washington \xe2\x80\x94 Baltimore \xe2\x80\x94 Riots \nand Prosecutions 15G \n\nCHAPTER XV. \n\nAT THE NEW YORK COOPER INSTITUTE. \n\nImmense Audiences \xe2\x80\x94 Report of the \' New York Herald \' \xe2\x80\x94 \nReport of \'The World\' \xe2\x80\x94 Another Scene from the \'Herald\' \n\xe2\x80\x94A Sporting Circle \xe2\x80\x94 Mayor and Aldermen \xe2\x80\x94 A Seance \nin Brooklyn \xe2\x80\x94 Testimony of Mr. Tice . . .173 \n\n\n\nCONTENTS. Vll \n\nCHAPTER XVI. \n\nVISIT TO ENGLAND. \n\nCharacter of the English \xe2\x80\x94 Past and Present Beliefs \xe2\x80\x94 The \nMission of the Brothers Davenport \xe2\x80\x94 Their Confederates \n\xe2\x80\x94 The first Seance in London \xe2\x80\x94 The Press in a Difficulty, \nand how they got out of it\xe2\x80\x94 Report of the \'Morning \nPost\'\xe2\x80\x94 \'The Times\'\xe2\x80\x94 \' The Herald\' . . Page 205 \n\nCHAPTER XVII. \n\n\' STILL THE WONDER GREW.\' \n\nPrivate Seances \xe2\x80\x94 Report of \'Master of Arts\' in \'Daily \nTelegraph \' \xe2\x80\x94 \' The Morning Star \' \xe2\x80\x94 A London Minister, \n\xe2\x80\x94 The \' Morning Post \' \xe2\x80\x94 Tests that ought to be satis- \nfactory 237 \n\nCHAPTER XVIII. \n\nIMPORTANT SEANCE. \n\nNobility, Savans, and Men of Letters \xe2\x80\x94 Second Seance at \nMr. Boucicault\'s \xe2\x80\x94 An admirable Description \xe2\x80\x94 Needless \nDisclaimers \xe2\x80\x94 The true philosophical Method . 258 \n\nCHAPTER XIX. \n\nAUDI ALTERAM PARTEM. \n\nThe Press in opposition \xe2\x80\x94 Ugly Trash for Bedlam \xe2\x80\x94 Common \nConjuring \xe2\x80\x94 Fantastic Tricks and Farthing Candles \xe2\x80\x94 \nMiserable Trifling \xe2\x80\x94 Grotesquely absurd and stupidly \nmeaningless \xe2\x80\x94 Reverend Dobbs \xe2\x80\x94 Tedious, dull and vulgar \n\xe2\x80\x94 The Secret not worth knowing \xe2\x80\x94 Human Nature and \nan awful Warning * . 275 \n\n\n\nVlll \n\n\n\nCONTENTS. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX. \n\n\n\nA PERSONAL, STATEMENT. \n\n\n\nWhat I think of the Brothers Davenport, and what I saw at \na Seance at the Hanover-square Rooms . Page 287 \n\nCHAPTER XXI. \n\n\' AND THE MAGICIANS DID SO WITH THEIR ENCHANTMENTS.\' \n\nThe \' Professors \' Excited \xe2\x80\x94 Duty to Expose Imposture \xe2\x80\x94 \nProfessor Anderson \xe2\x80\x94 Mr. Tolmaque \xe2\x80\x94 Challenges \nquibbled out of \xe2\x80\x94 The Magicians resort to Tricks \xe2\x80\x94 Rope- \ntying in demand \xe2\x80\x94 A Ten Years\' Contest \xe2\x80\x94 Testimony of \nan Amateur 301 \n\nCHAPTER XXII. \n\nTHE TESTIMONY OF MR. FERGUSON. \n\nSix Months with the Brothers Davenport \xe2\x80\x94 Seance in a \nRailway Tunnel \xe2\x80\x94 Convincing Manifestations \xe2\x80\x94 Personal \nExplanations 317 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII. \n\nMORE FACTS AND EVIDENCE. \n\n\n\n/ \n\n\n\n\n\n\nMr. Coleman\'s Statement \xe2\x80\x94 He talks with \' John King,\' \nand sees Divers Marvels \xe2\x80\x94 Astounding Phenomena- \xe2\x80\x94 Mr. \nHowitt\'s Testimony \xe2\x80\x94 Facts and Tests \xe2\x80\x94 Genius and \nScience nonplussed 338 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIV. \n\nWHO AND WHY. \n\nBy whom are the Manifestations produced, and for what \npurpose \xe2\x80\x94 Examination of Evidence \xe2\x80\x94 Conclusion . 350 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. \n\nAN INTRODUCTION. \n\nThe Motive and Method of this Booh \xe2\x80\x94 The Possible and the \nActual \xe2\x80\x94 Facts and Theories. \n\nIt is my purpose, in the following pages, to \ngive as clear, full, and truthful a narrative \nof the lives of the two young Americans, \nknown to the world as the Brothers \nDavenport, and of the remarkable physical \nand psychical phenomena which have for \neleven years been witnessed, in their pre- \nsence, by multitudes of people, as I am able \n\nB \n\n\n\n2 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nto write. The account is substantially \ntaken from the lips of the two brothers, \nespecially from those of Mr. Ira E. \nDavenport, the eldest brother, whose story \nof the experience of his whole life has, in \nmy judgment, every mark of simple truth- \nfulness. His account is confirmed by the \nreports of American newspapers in sixteen \nStates which they have visited, by several \npamphlets and biographical sketches, and \nby the testimony of various persons, both \nEnglishmen and Americans, who have been \nwitnesses of the extraordinary manifesta- \ntions with which they have been accom- \npanied and some of whose testimonies will \nbe found in the following pages. \n\nIn writing this narrative, I do little more \nthan to set down in order what has been \ntold me by those in whose veracity I place \nentire confidence, and reduce to a moderate \ncompass the testimony of \' a cloud of wit- \nnesses.\' I wish to present the facts con- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHEKS DAVENPORT. 6 \n\nnected with these young men, separated, as \nfar as possible, from any theory held by \nthemselves or others in regard to them. \nThe reader will be left, as he must and \nought to be, to draw his own conclusions. \nI have no interest to deceive any one, or to \ndistort or exaggerate a single fact in the \nnarrative. It will be admitted that these \nfacts are sufficiently wonderful without the \nleast exaggeration. From first to last they \nseem, to those who have only observed the \nordinary occurrences of life, incredible. \nThe word is not strong enough. They are \nwhat most people will consider impossible. \nTo a similar objection to an extraordinary \nfact, some one has replied, \' I did not say it \nwas possible ; I only said it was true.\' \n\nIt is not well, however, to be hasty \nin asserting that anything is impossible. \nMany things, once deemed impossible, are \nnow matters of daily observation. It is \nnot long since millions of people would \n\nB 2 \n\n\n\n4 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nhave considered crossing the ocean by \nsteam, travelling eighty miles an hour on \na railway, and sending messages by elec- \ntricity, physical impossibilities. The first \nphotographs were great marvels. Many \nfacts in geology, natural history, and \nphysiology, are marvellous and inexplicable, \nor unexplained. It is not known how a \nbroken bone is repaired, or blood sent to a \nlimb deprived of the use of its large arteries. \nWe are all accustomed to many things \nwhich, but for their being common, would \nseem marvellous, and be thought impos- \nsible. At the same time, I do not pretend \nfor a moment that the cases I have men- \ntioned are parallel to this of the pheno- \nmena produced in presence of the Brothers \nDavenport. I wish to say only that the \nfirst question in regard to phenomena is \nnot one of probability, or even of what is \ncalled possibility, but always a question of \nfact It is not, is it likely ; but is it true ? \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. \n\nIf, in describing these phenomena, I do \nnot attempt to account for them, and offer \nno theory in regard to them, it would be \na mere affectation for me to ignore the \ntheories held by others. These are two \nin number only. \n\nThe first is, that the Davenports are \nsimply magicians, or prestidigitators, like \nHoudin, Anderson, and many others, who \nby their own skill and the aid of confede- \nrates produce their manifestations ; and that \nthey are impostors and knaves in solemnly \ndenying that they use any such means, or \nany means whatever, to produce them. \n\nThe second theory is, that the manifesta- \ntions are genuine, and effected by the aid \nof some usually invisible intelligences, sup- \nposed by some to be demons, and by others \nthe spirits of human beings who have de- \nparted from this life. \n\nBesides these, there have been vague \nsuggestions of unknown elements, electrical \n\n\n\nb A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\naction, odic forces, and hidden powers ap- \npertaining to the human organism, which \nmay be unconsciously exercised. These are \nvague suggestions, and have not the con- \nsistency of developed theories, and are \nunsupported by any basis of observation \nor experiment. I mention them now only \nthat the reader, in perusing the statement \nof facts, may try, if he wishes to do so, \nto account for them upon any hypothesis \nhe may prefer. I shall revert again to \nthese theories ; but it will be evident to \nevery one that the great question first of \nall to be settled is, whether the manifesta- \ntions are what they are represented to be \xe2\x80\x94 \nthat is, produced by some power other \nthan the Davenports and their associates ; \nor, whether the Davenports are impostors \nwho have for eleven years been deceiving \nvast multitudes, and all this time liable \nto punishment, and worthy of punishment \nand execration, as the meanest, basest \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 7 \n\nthe most audacious and most atrocious, of \ncheats and humbugs. \n\nThe Brothers Davenport, from the ages \nof twelve and fourteen to the present time, \nhave stood before the world charged by \nmultitudes with this imposture. They \nhave been brought to public trial many \nhundreds of times, and in the presence of \nhundreds of thousands of people ; and the \ncharge of collusion, trick, or deception of \nany kind has never been proved against \nthem. \n\nWhat has happened in this long scene \nof trials and triumphs will be found in the \nfollowing chapters, which will be read with \ninterest, I am certain, and I hope also with \ncandour and profit. \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. \n\nBIRTH AND PARENTAGE. \n\nBorn, where, when, and of whom \xe2\x80\x94 Family Characteristics \xe2\x80\x94 \nMonitions and Prevision \xe2\x80\x94 Childhood \xe2\x80\x94 Startling Mani- \nfestations \xe2\x80\x94 Boyish Occupation. \n\nIraErastus Davenport and William Henry \nDavenport, who are known as the Brothers \nDavenport, were born in Buffalo, State of \nNew York, United States of America ; the \nformer September 17, 1839, the latter Feb- \nruary 1, 1841. Their only sister, Elizabeth \nLouisa Davenport, was born December 23, \n1844. \n\nIra Davenport, the father, was born at \nSkeneatales, New York, in 1816. He is \ndescended from early English settlers in \nAmerica. His wife, Virtue Honeysett, was \nborn in the county of Kent, England, in \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. V \n\n1819, and was taken to America in her \nchildhood. \n\nBuffalo, the residence of the Davenports, \nsituated at the outlet of Lake Erie by the \nNiagara River, and twenty miles south of \nthe famous cataract, was, at the period of \nthe birth of the Brothers Davenport, an \nenterprising city of some twenty thousand \ninhabitants, and has since increased to a \npopulation of more than a hundred thou- \nsand. Mr. Davenport, senior, had a place \nunder the city government, in the depart- \nment of police ; and though in moderate \ncircumstances, was widely known, and ap- \npears to have deserved and enjoyed the \nconfidence of his fellow-citizens. His wife\'s \nfather and other relations resided at May- \nville, in Chautauque County, about sixty \nmiles south-west of Buffalo. I mention \nthis circumstance for a reason that will \nappear in the course of the narrative. \nI find nothing in the characters of the \n\n\n\n10 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nprogenitors of the Davenports which would \naccount for the extraordinary phenomena \nwhich have occurred for eleven years past \nin the presence of the subjects of this bio- \ngraphy, by the laws of hereditary descent. \nIt is related, indeed, that in the families of \nboth father and mother had been observed \nmany of those events which are considered \nsupernatural by some persons, and imagina- \ntions and coincidences by others, and which \nare both common and inexplicable. Thus \nMrs. Davenport, while a girl, heard, or \nimagined she heard, one day, a voice direct- \ning her to observe the time as marked upon \na clock standing near her, which proved to \nbe the moment of her mother\'s death at \na distance. The female relations of Mr. \nDavenport are said to have possessed ex- \ntraordinary gifts of healing, similar to \nthose formerly attributed to the sovereigns \nof England, and something of the second- \nsight, or prevision, which many believe to \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 11 \n\nhave formerly been common in Scotland. \nI mention these matters, not as attaching \nweight to them, but because they are among \nthe family traditions. It is proper to say, \nhowever, that Mr. Ira Davenport, senior, \nin early life, had minute and circumstan- \ntial previsions of events, places, persons, \nand many of the circumstances of his future \nlife ; but this is not, I suspect, so uncommon \nan experience as many persons imagine. \n\nDuring the childhood of the Brothers \nDavenport but few events occurred worthy \nof recital. Ira remembers, when very \nyoung, that his mother was alarmed by \nloud knockings in the house, that she called \nin a neighbour, and that they pursued \nfrom room to room, and were followed by \nknockings which they did not know how to \nquestion, and which soon subsided. These \ndisturbances were coincident with a severe, \nand as it seemed dangerous illness of Mr. \nDavenport, then absent on a journey. \n\n\n\n12 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nIn 1846 the family was disturbed by \nwhat they described as c raps, thumps, loud \nnoises, snaps, cracking noises, in the dead \nof the night/ They were startling and \nannoying, but what could they do ? Dis- \nconnected from the subsequent events, they \nwere scarcely worthy of remembrance. \n\nThe two boys, born so near each other, \nhad, and still have, a striking resemblance \nto each other. They are somewhat below the \nmedium size, and have a strongly marked \nand handsome physiognomy, more English, \nperhaps, than American. They received \nthe common school education free to every \nboy in America, and are, I think, in thought \nand conversation rather above the average \nof young men brought up in similar con- \nditions. Their earliest and only employ- \nment, by which they assisted their parents \nin their boyhood, was in the delivery of \nnewspapers from one of the several news- \npaper offices in Buffalo. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 13 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. \n\nTHE BEGINNING OF THE MANIFESTATIONS. \n\nThe Rochester Knockings \xe2\x80\x94 First Seance of the Davenport \nFamily \xe2\x80\x94 Great Excitement \xe2\x80\x94 The Pistol-flash and \nSpectre \xe2\x80\x94 Sharpshooting in the Dark \xe2\x80\x94 Floating in the \nAir \xe2\x80\x94 Analogies and Explanations. \n\nAbout the year 1850 the western part of \nNew York was greatly excited by accounts \nof what were called the Rochester Knock- \nings. Rochester is a city of New York \nsomewhat less in size than Buffalo, and dis- \ntant some ninety miles, on the borders of \nLake Ontario. The knockings occurred in a \nfamily of a mother and three daughters, who \nbecame known as the Fox Girls. Their fur- \nniture was shaken, doors violently opened and \nshut, drawers opened, articles thrown about, \nand finally questions were answered and \nmessages spelled out by raps or detonations, \n\n\n\n14 .A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nwhich appeared to be made on or in the \ntables, floors, doors, and similar objects. \n\nNaturally, these strange occurrences were \nnoised abroad, published in the newspapers, \nand became a subject of general conversa- \ntion. Mr. Davenport was a sturdy un- \nbeliever in the rappings ; but the marvels \nwere talked about in the family, and one \nevening Miss Elizabeth, then ten years old, \ndeclared her belief that if such things hap- \npened to* anybody, they might just as well \nhappen to them. Whether this was childish \nbravado, or the result of some internal con- \nviction, it is needless to enquire. The re- \nsult was that in the evening the father, \nmother, and three children solemnly seated \nthemselves round a table, placed their hands \nupon it, as they had read was done at \nKochester, and waited further developments. \n\nAfter a few moments a movement as of \nswelling or bulging was felt in the table ; \nthen crackling noises, tippings, raps, and \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 15 \n\nfinally very loud and violent noises. At \nfirst Mr. Davenport suspected the children \nwere i having a lark,\' but when the noises \ncame to be quite beyond their power to \nmake, and messages were spelled out beyond \ntheir power to manufacture \xe2\x80\x94 for the oldest \nboy was now only in his fifteenth year \xe2\x80\x94 \nhe was convinced that whatever the agency \nmight be, it was no deception practised by \nany member of his family. It is easy to \nconceive that their first experiences were of \nabsorbing interest. They sat around the \ntable from seven o\'clock in the evening until \ndaylight next morning. \n\nThey had prudently agreed to keep the \nmatter a profound secret, not wishing to \nincur obloquy or ridicule ; but Mr. Daven- \nport\'s mind was too full of the matter, and, \nunder an injunction of secrecy, he told a \nfriend, who told it to another. Of course it \nspread like wildfire. * Knockings at the \nDavenports\' ! \' Hundreds flocked to the \n\n\n\n16 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nhouse. It was not only filled but sur- \nrounded. The yard and even the street were \nfull. The thumpings, knockings, messages, \nand so on, were repeated. On the third even- \ning, editors, lawyers, preachers, bankers, \nmerchants, all classes of people, crowded \nthe house ; and amid the manifestations \nsuch as had been previously given, Master \nIra was taken with a violent propensity to \nwrite, his hand becoming subject to extra- \nordinary gyrations. An eifort was made \nby several strong men to hold his hands, \nbut without success. On being furnished \nwith paper and a pencil, he wrote with \nextraordinary rapidity a series of brief \nmessages, which he distributed to various \npersons in the company. These messages \nwere believed to be quite beyond either his \nmental or physical powers, and contained \nmatters known only to the persons to whom \nthey were addressed, and quite beyond his \npossible knowledge. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 17 \n\nOn the fifth evening there was witnessed \na new and surprising, or perhaps I should \nsay more surprising, manifestation. In \ncompliance with a direction rapped out on \nthe table, by the now familiar method of \ncalling over the alphabet and having each \nletter designated, a pistol was procured, \nand capped, but not loaded. One of the \nboys was then directed to go to a vacant \ncorner of the room and fire it. At the \ninstant that he fired, the pistol was taken \nfrom his hand, and by its flash was plainly \nseen by every person in the room held by a \nhuman figure, looking smilingly at the com- \npany. The light and the form vanished \ntogether, as when we see a landscape in a \nflash of lightning, and the pistol fell upon \nthe floor. It was a very impressive scene, \nand, if so explained, a striking optical illu- \nsion \xe2\x80\x94 if a whole company can be supposed \nto be affected by an illusion ; while, if a \ndeception, it was remarkably well managed, \nc \n\n\n\n18 A BIOGRAPHY OE \n\nand might put the patent for Professor \nPepper\'s ghosts in peril. \n\nAmong the pistol experiments at Buffalo, \nsomewhat later was one which may be of \ninterest to sportsmen and the rifle volun- \nteers. Visitors brought their own loaded \npistols, which were laid upon the table. A \nmark was placed upon the wall at the oppo- \nsite extremity of the room. The light was \nthen blown out, leaving the room in per- \nfect darkness. In this darkness the pistol, \nuntouched by any one present, would be \nfired. Often a spectral figure was seen or \nimagined in the flash of the pistol. But \nthe mark was always hit. Sometimes the \nball cut out the designated spot in a play- \ning card, sometimes it passed through the \ncore of an apple. These tests were so com- \nmon that there must be hundreds of wit- \nnesses to testify to their reality. \n\nOn the next night the manifestations \nwere varied again, the house being as \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 19 \n\ncrowded as ever ; and neither the idea of \nillusion or delusion seems to account satis- \nfactorily for the phenomena witnessed by \ncredible people, who were probably as much \nin their senses as people can be expected to \nbe under such circumstances. A request \nwas made by means of the rappings that \nthe room should be partially darkened. It \nis, perhaps, useless to ask why. In Nature \nand in Art some operations require light, \nand some its absence. Most flowers bloom \nby day \xe2\x80\x94 some open only in the night. But \nI have only to relate what happened on this \nmemorable evening. \n\nThe boy Ira was seated at the table, by \nthe side of his father, and scarcely had the \nlight been dimmed when he was taken from \nhis side by some resistless force, laid upon \nthe table, and floated in the air over the \nheads of all the people, and from one end of \nthe room to the other, at a height of nine \nfeet from the floor, every person in the \nc 2 \n\n\n\n20 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\nroom having the opportunity of feeling him \nas he floated in the air above them. While \nthey were watching this marvel, some one \ncried, l William is flying, too ! \' and the two \nbrothers were found to be alike defying the \nlaws of gravitation, or upborne by some \nforce, the nature of which we need not stop \nto enquire. Stranger still \xe2\x80\x94 if one such fact \ncan be stranger than another, or if one \nmore adds to the marvel \xe2\x80\x94 the little sister \njoined her two brothers in the air, and all \nthree floated about over the heads of the \npeople. \n\nI am aware that natural philosophers may \ngive an explanation of this phenomenon, \nor, what answers often for an explanation, \nan analogy ; if, indeed, it may not be con- \nsidered less troublesome to deny the fact. \nIt may be said that showers of fishes, frogs, \n&c, which must have been for days sus- \ntained in high regions of the atmosphere, \nprove that there are forces in nature which \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 21 \n\novercome or suspend gravitation, and that \nthe three Davenport children may have \nbeen sustained and floated about in the air \nin the same manner. I freely admit the \nforce of the suggestion. The believers in \nanimal magnetism will contend that they \nwere borne up and kept up by the united \nand excited will-power of the assembly. \nThis is also an hypothesis of some plausi- \nbility ; but, as I have said before, my busi- \nness is with the facts rather than with \npossible or impossible reasons. \n\nThe facts which I have narrated became \nknown to all Buffalo, and the region round \nabout. They were witnessed by hundreds \nof as respectable people as live anywhere. \nThere are many persons still living there \n\xe2\x80\x94 for these events occurred scarcely eleven \nyears ago \xe2\x80\x94 who could testify to every fact I \nhave here given. There was very ocular evi- \ndence of the force with which Ira was raised \nup into the air, by a repulsion perhaps as \n\n\n\n22 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nstrong as the usual attraction which brings \nus down, for his head bulged through the \nplaister of the ceiling. At another time, \nand in the full sight of many persons, Ira \nwas carried through the air, not only about \nthe room, but through the hall, across the \nyard, and landed beyond a fence in the \nstreet, a distance, by measurement, of \nseventy feet.* \n\n\n\n* I ought, perhaps, to say that this phenomenon \nof levitation is not peculiar to the Davenports, nor to \nthis age. It has been witnessed in this country, in \nthe case of Mr. Home, and is related of many persons \nin the last eight hundred years. Any industrious \nreader in the library of the British Museum will be \nable to find a multitude of well-authenticated cases, \nsome of which have been judicially examined and \nproven by a host of witnesses. It may be doubted, \nhowever, if they can find, in any of the numerous \ncases, any philosophical explanation of the pheno- \nmenon. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 23 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. \n\nASTOUNDING PHENOMENA. \n\nExcitement and Persecution \xe2\x80\x94 Dance of Breakfast Dishes \xe2\x80\x94 \nA gigantic Apparition \xe2\x80\x94 An Invisible Scribe \xe2\x80\x94 An as- \ntonished Furniture Dealer \xe2\x80\x94 A Self-icriting Pencil. \n\nI am unable to give the particulars of many \nwonderful occurrences of this early period, \nbecause there were so many, and because \nthe memory of many of them has been \nobscured by the events of more than ten \nyears. I give those which, from some pecu- \nliar feature, were recorded at the time or \nhave been best remembered. \n\nIt cannot be supposed that the excite- \nment caused by events of so remarkable a \ncharacter, witnessed by so many persons, \nwas entirely of an agreeable character. \nNeither the probity of the father, the blame- \n\n\n\n24 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nJess character of the mother, nor the inno- \ncence of the children, the oldest of whom \nwas only in his fifteenth year, saved them \nfrom reproach, slanders, hatred, and perse- \ncution. Perhaps the only matter of aston- \nishment is that, in a frontier town, which \nhad at that time a considerable population \nof a wild and lawless character, there was \nnot more of violence and outrage. It needed \nno little firmness on the part of Mr. Daven- \nport to go quietly on the even tenor of his \nway, amid ridicule, charges of fraud and \nimposture, threats of prosecution and im- \nprisonment, mob outrage and Lynch law, \nand attempts at personal violence and clan- \ndestine murder. His natural firmness of \ncharacter, the consciousness of entire honesty \nand good motives, and the sympathy of \nmany of the best men in Buffalo, sustained \nhim. They were as interested in the matter \nas he could be. Furthermore, these marvels \nhad come to him unsought and unexpected. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 25 \n\nHe naturally believed they had some pur- \npose, which he trusted was a good one. He \nand his family seemed set apart for a pecu- \nliar work. It is not strange that he bore \nobloquy with calmness, and met threats \nwith courage. He was in just the condition \nto have become a martyr. \n\nOn one morning, at this early period, the \nfamily was sitting around the breakfast \ntable, when the knives, forks, and dishes \nbegan to dance around, as if suddenly en- \ndued with vitality. In a few moments \nthe table began to move, tipping up side- \nway, balancing itself on one leg ; and, finally, \nrising clear from the floor, floating in the \nair without the least support, and moving \nin such a way that it was wonderful that \nthe dishes upon it did not slide off, and \ncome crashing upon the floor. While the \ntable was displaying these curious antics \xe2\x80\x94 \nWilliam, the younger of the two brothers, \nexclaimed, \' There is the biggest man I ever \n\n\n\n26 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\nsaw ; what a large man !\' As no one else \nsaw any one in the room who did not be- \nlong to the family, we are obliged to take \nthe word of Master William for what he \nsaw, or imagined he saw. The father inter- \nfered in his usual sensible way, saying, \nc William, my son, keep still. Perhaps this \nbig man may have something to say to us. 7 \nHe may have read that it was the correct \nthing to speak to an apparition; it was, \nat least, but common politeness to give him \na chance to speak, if disposed to do so. ]S T o \nvoice came from empty space ; but William \nseemed moved to speak, and said, \' This \nstranger is so tall that he can scarcely \nstand up in this room ; and he is large in \nproportion. He is a real giant.\' \n\n8 Will he tell who he is ; where he came \nfrom ; and what he wants of us ?\' asked the \nfather. \n\nThe answer, still given by the boy, seems \nvery absurd; but I give it as it is reported, \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 27 \n\nnotwithstanding. The boy said, \' He says \nhe is not of this earth ; his name is William \nE. Kichards ; and that he wishes to give us, \nand those who meet with us, important in- \nstructions, on which much will depend in \nthe future. 7 Obviously, all this may have \ncome from the boy\'s excited imagination, \nthough that would not account for the \ndance of the breakfast dishes or the flight \nof the table with the breakfast upon it, \nphenomena witnessed by the whole family; \nand which naturally predisposed them to \nbelieve in other and greater marvels. \n\nAt two o\'clock, p.m., according to the \nrequest of the imaginary or otherwise tall \npersonage, not of this world, but bearing or \nassuming for the time the very sublunary \nname of c Richards,\' the party assembled, \nincluding the Davenport family, and the \nfriends they selected for so interesting and \nimportant a dance. In the room were two \ntables. The company sat around one. On \n\n\n\n28 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthe other had been placed, by direction, \nwriting paper and pencils. \n\nThey sat silently some two minutes, when \nin the broad light of day they all saw a lead \npencil rise from the table, take a nearly per- \npendicular position, as if held by some invi- \nsible being, and commence writing rapidly \nupon the paper, while the paper itself seemed \nto be alive and to move under the pencil. \n\nIt is not in my power to give a copy of \nthe document so curiously written. It con- \nsisted, in part, of directions for preparing a \nroom, and procuring a large table, for the \nbetter accommodation of those who were \ncoming from far and near to see these won- \nders. \' Go/ said the paper, or pencil, or \nthe invisible, supposed by William to be the \ngiant he saw, or imagined he saw, c and I \nwill go with you and assist in making a \nproper selection. When you come to a suit- \nable table I will rap my approval. 7 \n\nThey started immediately for a large \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 29 \n\nfurniture establishment, kept by Mr. Taun- \nton Baldwin, and, after looking at several \ntables, waiting for the promised sign, they \ncame to one, and were all startled, and \nespecially the furniture dealer, by a loud \nand very emphatic detonation. Mr. Bald- \nwin, unaccustomed to that mode of selecting \nfurniture, enquired into the matter, and soon \nbecame satisfied that something made noises \non or in his table. \n\nThe most noticeable phenomenon described \nin the last portion of this chapter, that of \na pencil writing without visible control, is a \nfact which does not rest upon the testimony \nalone of the Davenports, or those who saw \nit at their house in Buffalo. There have \nbeen many similar cases, related upon un- \nimpeachable testimony. One that occurs to \nme was that of Senator Simmons, of Ehode \nIsland. Wishing to see a certain name \nwritten by a pencil while he sat at the table \nand watched the proceeding, he saw the \n\n\n\n30 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\npencil move, rise, and make an ineffective \neffort to write, and then topple over as if \nthe weight were too much for the force. \nHe then took a pair of scissors, and, holding \none of the bows over the paper, placed the \npencil within it, in a perpendicular position. \nThen he distinctly saw the pencil, of itself, \nwrite out the name desired, and then, \nraising itself from the paper, go back and \ndot an i. There were other circumstances \nmore important, perhaps, than the writing; \nbut I have preferred to mention only the \nphysical phenomena. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 31 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. \n\nORGANISATION OF REGULAR SEANCES. \n\nAn Apology or Explanation \xe2\x80\x94 Marvellous Manifestations \xe2\x80\x94 \nTests applied \xe2\x80\x94 Boys floating in the Air \xe2\x80\x94 A striking \nTest \xe2\x80\x94 March of the Family Crockery \xe2\x80\x94 Upheld by a \nSpectre \xe2\x80\x94 A Balancing Feat \xe2\x80\x94 \' George Brown \' \xe2\x80\x94 A \nMurdered Mans Story \xe2\x80\x94 A Boy carried off by a Ghost. \n\nThe purchase of the large table, as narrated \nin the last chapter, was the beginning of a \nnew series of manifestations. The friends \nof Mr. Baldwin, the furniture dealer, were \ncurious to see the wonders he had witnessed, \naud the home of the Davenports was filled, \nday and night, with eager enquirers. It \nwas very repugnant to Mr. Davenport to \nreceive money from those whose curiosity \nwas gratified, and he steadily refused for \nmany months to do so. His time was occu- \n\n\n\n32 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\npied, his business deranged, and his family \nburthened with expenses. It was only \nwhen he left home to take charge of the \nboys in their early journeyings that he con- \nsented to receive some compensation. It \nbecame necessary, moreover, to fix a price, \nif only as a means of excluding an idle and \nperhaps mischievous crowd that would \notherwise have claimed admission. \n\nI do not know that there is any need of \nthis explanation, or for any apology. Au- \nthors, artists, poets, statesmen, and ministers \nof religion, all live and all receive money \nfor their work. Pie that serves the altar \nmust live by the altar. The labourer is \nworthy of his hire. Every labourer \xe2\x80\x94 every \none who renders a service \xe2\x80\x94 every one whose \ntime we occupy, deserves payment, unless \nhe obtains money under false pretences. \nThe fraudulent, of course, have no claim \nwhatever. \n\nNor does the receipt of money afford a \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 33 \n\npresumption of fraud, but rather the con- \ntrary. It is always to be presumed that \nthe man who wants our money wishes to \nrender some equivalent. We are not to \nassume hastily that any man \xe2\x80\x94 much less a \nman of unblemished reputation \xe2\x80\x94 is an im- \npostor and a scoundrel. \n\nAt the seances which now began to be \nheld regularly, the manifestations already \ndescribed were repeated. Loud raps were \nheard ; the table answered questions ; spec- \ntral forms were seen in the flash of a pistol; \nlights appeared in the upper parts of the \nroom ; musical instruments floated in the \nair, while being played upon, above the \nheads of the company. It would be too \nmuch to expect of human nature to suppose \nthat all these things were witnessed with \nsimple faith and open-mouthed credulity. \nThere were enough to say it was a trick, \nand to be determined to detect it. Probably \nnine out of ten, when told of what occurred, \n\nD \n\n\n\n34 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\ndeclared it all a humbug, and that they could \ndetect and expose it. Consequently, a close \nwatch was kept upon the Davenports. Per- \nsons were appointed to hold them. The \nwhole company took hold of hands when \nthe room was darken ed; that each might \nvouch for the two next him. \n\nOn one occasion, four persons selected \nfor the purpose held the two boys; four \nothers securely grappled Mr. and Mrs. \nDavenport ; and even the little Elizabeth \nwas held by two others. Every possible \nprecaution was taken. \n\nWhen all this had been arranged, Ira \nwas lifted bodily into the air, until he rose \nabove the heads of those who held him, \nand floated away close to the ceiling. Then \nboth boys, Ira and William, were laid upon \nthe table, and Mr. Plymptoo, a well-known \nauctioneer of Buffalo, was requested toehold \nthem firmly by the feet. He seized their \nancles, when Ira was raised bodily into the \n\n\n\nTHE BEOTHERS DAVENPORT. 35 \n\nair, followed by William. Not succeeding \nin holding both, he next tried the youngest, \nwho, in spite of his added weight, was \nraised up with such force that his head \nbroke through the ceiling of lath and \nplaster. Mr. Plympton had held to the \nboy with all his strength, but letting go, \nto prevent being himself drawn he knew \nnot where, the boy, suddenly freed, went \nup \xe2\x80\x94 by lunar attraction, let us say, or \nterrene repulsion \xe2\x80\x94 with the result to his \nskull and the plastering already stated. \nThe people who heard the crash thought \nthe boy was killed, and called for a light ; \nbut he was found to be quite unhurt. \nThere was no mistake, however, about the \nhole in the ceiling. \n\nAnother manifestation, to use a conve- \nnient word in describing what we have \nperhaps no proper name for, was on this \nwise : The company was seated around \ntwo tables, and the room quite darkened, \n\nD 2 \n\n\n\n36 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nWhy darkened? it will be asked. Why \nnot darkened ? might be asked as readily. \nIt is a mystery, no doubt ; but the whole \nmatter is equally mysterious. W T hile every \nperson in the room was sitting by the \ntables, in the darkness, the door of a pantry \nwas flung violently open, and the entire \nstock of family crockery and glassware \ntaken from the shelves and piled upon the \ntables. I say * taken \' and \' piled.\' As I \ndo not know how it was done, or who did \nit, it is better, perhaps, to say merely that \nthe whole stock was found to be heaped \nupon the tables, which had been placed \ntogether. Then the boys were raised up \nand placed upon the dishes, and all the \nchairs heaped upon the whole, without the \nagency of any mortal hand that could be \ndiscovered. All this was done without the \nfracture of a single article, and in total \ndarkness. Lights were struck, and with \ngreat care the boys and chairs were taken \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 37 \n\ndown. The lights were again extinguished, \nand every article was restored to its proper \nplace in the pantry, without the slightest \nmishap or accident. \n\nI am \' free to confess \' that if I were \ninventing facts, or manifestations, or phe- \nnomena, I should choose something more \ndignified than the displacement and place- \nment of delf, china, and glass ; but a scene \nwhich was witnessed the next day, at a two \no\'clock matinee, may perhaps be more satis- \nfactory. The room was not darkened, only \nobscured to a pleasant twilight. After \nseveral of the usual phenomena were exhi- \nbited, the two boys were raised from their \nchairs, carried across the room, and held \nup with their heads downward before a \nwindow. \' We distinctly saw/ says an eye- \nwitness, - two gigantic hands, attached to \nabout three-fifths of a monstrous arm ; \nand those hands grasped the ancles of the \ntwo boys, and thus held the lads, heels up \n\n\n\n38 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nand heads downward, before the window : \nnow raising, now lowering them, till their \nheads bade fair to make acquaintance with \nthe carpet on the floor.\' This curious, but \nassuredly not dignified, exhibition was \nseveral times repeated, and was plainly seen \nby every person present. Among these \npersons was an eminent physician, Dr. \nBlanchard, then of Buffalo, now of Chicago, \nIllinois, who was sitting in a chair by the \nside of Elizabeth Davenport; and all pre- \nsent saw an immense arm, attached to no \napparent body \xe2\x80\x94 growing, as it were, out of \nspace \xe2\x80\x94 glide along near the floor, till it \nreached around Dr. Blanchard\'s chair, when \nthe hand grasped the lower back round of \nElizabeth\'s chair, raised it from the floor, \nwith the child upon it, balanced it, and \nthen raised it to the ceiling. The chair \nand child remained in the air, without con- \ntact with any person or thing, for a space \nof time estimated to be a minute, and then \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 39 \n\ndescended gradually to the place it first \noccupied. \n\nIn the midst of a series of similar mani- \nfestations, too numerous and too much alike \nin their general characteristics to be re- \ncorded, there came one of a novel and start- \nling character, which was destined to sena- \nrate the family, and start the two brothers \nupon that extraordinary tour around the \nworld, which in ten years has brought them \nto the confines of Europe and the centre \nof one of its\' most powerful kingdoms. \n\nOne day, at a private seance to which Mr. \nDavenport had invited several of his friends \nand persons well known to him, the table, by \ntippings and rappings, spelled out a message, \nwhich purported to come from one \' George \nBrown/ who described himself as a Canadian \nfarmer, who had resided at Waterloo, W. C, \nwhere his family still lived, and who had \nbeen robbed and murdered, in a place which \nhe described, by members of a notorious \n\n\n\n40 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\ngang of robbers, on both sides of the bor- \nder known as the Townsend gang. These \nparticulars were given by one of the boys, \nspeaking in a sort of cataleptic or trance \nstate, in which he became, apparently, the \nproxy of \' George Brown.\' He named the \nsum of money \xe2\x80\x94 fifty-two dollars, the price \nof a yoke of oxen he had intended to pur- \nchase. He, that is the boy, his spokesman, \nwas cross-examined by a lawyer who was \npresent, but he adhered to his story ; gave \nthe name and residence of his wife, the num- \nber of his children, and other particulars. \n\nMr. Davenport was much impressed with \nthe story, and went with a friend across \nthe Niagara River to Waterloo next day, \nwhere, after due enquiry, he found that no \nsuch man as the \' George Brown \' had ever \nlived there. There was a rascal named \nTownsend, and a gang called by his name, \nbut he could find no clue to the robbed \nand murdered farmer. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 4l \n\nEeturning home chapfallen, it may be \npresumed, they met the sheriff of the county, \nand asked him if he had ever heard of a \nGeorge Brown, of Waterloo. \n\n\' Yes,\' said the officer, \' but not this Wa- \nterloo ; a George Brown used to live at the \nother Waterloo, sixty miles away. I used \nto know him well, but he disappeared some \ntime ago, and was supposed to have been \nrobbed and murdered by some of the \nTownsend gang. I know his wife and fa- \nmily well.\' \n\nThe circumstances related by the sheriff \nagreed perfectly with the account the boy \nin the trance had given. \n\nOn the return of the delegates to Canada, \nand before they could report proceedings, \nyoung Ira fell into the \' state,\' took up the \nghostly role of George Brown, the murdered \nman, and related everything that had hap- \npened to them, including the conversation \nwith the sheriff. \n\n\n\n42 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nGreat as was the impression made upon \nMr. Davenport, he could not overcome his \nnatural scepticism and fear of ridicule \nenough to go to the Waterloo, to find the \nwidow of poor Brown, and make further \ninvestigations, though several persons offered \nto subscribe the money for his expenses; \nHe shirked the responsibility. \n\n\' George Brown,\' still enacted by Ira, or \nfinding representations and spokesmen in \ntables, or otherwise, did not appear to be \npleased with the little faith given to his \nstory, and the manner in which his wishes \nwere neglected, and announced that he in- \ntended to take Ira to the scene of his mur- \nder. iSTot much attention was paid to what \nwas considered an absurd threat ; but the \nboy, a few evenings after, while engaged \nin his daily task of delivering evening \npapers, first felt \' queer,\' then lost his con- \nsciousness, and found himself standing in \nthe snow, with no tracks around him to \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 43 \n\nshow how he had come there, in a solitary \nplace, a mile and a half from home, on the \nright bank of the Niagara river. \' George \nBrown,\' at his next visit, declared that he \nhad carried him across the river, which is \nhalf-a-mile wide, and brought him back \nagain, just as an experiment ; but as the boy- \nwas unconscious all the time, until he found \nhimself on the bank, while his family were \nsett-ins: alarmed at his absence, and as \nnobody saw him carried across the river, \nwe have only i George Brown\'s \' testimony \non the subject, which we are not obliged to \nbelieve without a sufficient corroboration. \n\nOf course, we cannot prove a negative. \nIf the boy could be carried across the room \nand out into the street, why not across \nNiagara river ? \xe2\x80\x94 a feat beyond Blondin\'s, it \nmust be confessed. If seventy feet, why \nnot as many miles ? If people lose their \ngravity, or are hurried away by their emo- \ntions, or other sufficiently powerful in- \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n44 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nfluences, who shall say how far they may be \ncarried ? I believe simply that Master Ira, \nas he then said and still says, in a manner \nthat carries conviction with it, found him- \nself standing in the snow on the bank of \nthe Niagara, without knowing how he came \nthere. As \' we must draw the line some- \nwhere/ I propose to draw it there. c George \nBrown \' may have wished to stretch it. Or \nhe wished, it may be, to see his murderers \nstretching lines of a different description. \n\nIn any case, I think Mr. Davenport, sen., \nought to have gone to Waterloo, and he \nwas soon very sorry that he did not. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. \n\n\'we fly by night.\' \n\nHands and Voices \xe2\x80\x94 Advent of \' John King \' \xe2\x80\x94 Required to \nleave Buffalo \xe2\x80\x94 Refusal and the consequences \xe2\x80\x94 A ?nys- \nterious Night Trip of sixty Miles \xe2\x80\x94 Manifestations in \nMayvitte \xe2\x80\x94 Another Ghost and Murder. \n\nWhatever opinion may be formed by the \ncalm -judging reader of this matter of the \nmurder of l George Brown/ of Waterloo, \nCanada West, it soon became evident \nenough that the Davenports had incurred \nthe animosity of somebody. There came \nto them dark threats of vengeance. The \nboys were warned to be on their guard. \nThey were too brave to mind much about \nobscure hints of assassination, and, like \nnine American boys out of ten, Ira armed \nhimself with a loaded pistol for their de- \nfence. One ni^ht the two bovs found \n\n\n\n46 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthemselves waylaid, and were fired at. Ira \nvalorously fired in return, and then both \ntook to their heels. The boys escaped \nwithout injury, except to their clothing ; \nthere was a rumour that Ira\'s bullet had \nbeen better sped. Not long after, some \nfriends came with the story that the house \nwas to be attacked at night and the children \nmurdered, and several persons volunteered \nto watch over and defend them. The boys \nwere required to forego their paper-carry- \ning expeditions, which were their business, \nplay, and exercise. \n\nAt the morning and evening parties \nof curious investigators into these strange \nphenomena, there were now not only heard \nthe ringing of bells, thrumming of musical \ninstruments, movements of various objects \nwithout apparent cause, including the three \nDavenport children, but hands, seemingly \nhuman, were both felt and seen. A hand \nand part of an arm would rise above the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 47 \n\ntable, plainly visible, and allow itself to be \nfelt for a moment, when it would dissolve, \nmelt into air in the very grasp and under \nthe eyes of the spectator. Then a voice, \ncoming out of space, at first inarticulate, \nbut later condensed as it would seem in a \nlarge horn or trumpet provided for the \npurpose, spoke distinctly to them, conversed \nwith them, answered their questions, and \nadvised or directed their proceedings. I \ndo not know that this voice was a greater \nmarvel than many others that I have re- \nlated. The first thing that occurs to every \none is that it was the result of so common \nan art as ventriloquism. A ventriloquist \nhas no difficulty in making a voice appear \nto come from up a chimney, or out of a \nbox, or from the cellar. Other illusions \ncan be managed by tubes and reflectors, as \nin the \'mysterious lady\' exhibited some \nyears ago, and the Anthropoglossos or \n4 singing head 7 more recently. With a \n\n\n\n48 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\ncommon speaking tube, a person a hundred \nfeet distant, and in another part of a large \nbuilding, seems to be speaking close to your \near. But Mr. Davenport and his family \nknew that they were not ventriloquists, and \nall who came to see them could easily \nsatisfy themselves that there was no ma- \nchinery. Besides, the voice was only one \nof so many \' signs and wonders \' that it was \nhardly worth trying to account for that, \nunless the others could be explained as \neasily. \n\nThe voice was asked, among other things, \nwhat was its name. Tt replied that names \nwere of no consequence \xe2\x80\x94 one would do as \nwell as another, and they might call it \n1 John King,\' which they do to this day, \nor familiarly 4 John.\' This c John,\' the \nname of a voice, said to the father of the \nDavenports that he must take his two sons \naway from Buffalo, that it was dangerous \nfor them to stay, and that they were needed \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 49 \n\nelsewhere. Mr. Davenport would not con- \nsent either to leave his family with them \nor allow them to go. He thought they \nwere very well as they were. lie had \ncome to have some faith in the voice, and \nthe things he saw and heard, but saw no \nsufficient reason why he should go about \nthe world to give other people a chance of \nwitnessing the same phenomena. If people \nwished to see them, let them come to the \nboys. Decidedly the boys should not go to \nthem. The reply was, that if they were \nnot allowed to go, they could and would be \ntaken. \n\nThe strange event which took place as \nthe result, apparently, of this conversation, \nis variously vouched for ; but I have pre- \nferred to take the facts from the lips of \nMr. Ira Davenport, the elder of the two \nbrothers. He says that he was walking \none evening, at about nine o\'clock, in the \nstreets of Buffalo with his brother William, \n\nE \n\n\n\n50 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthis being the winter of 1853-4, and the \nboys in their twelfth and fourteenth years. \nHere Ira\'s recollection ceases. The next \nthing he knew was that he found himself \nand his brother in a snow-bank, in a field, \nwith no tracks near him, near his grand- \nfather\'s house, at Mayville, Chautauque \nCounty, New York, sixty miles from \nBuffalo. On waking up William, who had \nnot returned to consciousness, they made \ntheir way to their grandfather\'s house, \nwhere they were received with surprise, \nand their story heard with astonishment. \nTheir father was immediately informed by \ntelegraph of their safety and whereabouts, \nand he, good obstinate man, set himself to \nfind out how they got to Mayville. On \nenquiry, he found that no railway train \ncould have taken them, after the hour they . \nleft home, more than a portion of the \ndistance, and the conductors on the road \nknew the boys, and had not seen them. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 51 \n\nc John \' declared, through the trumpet, \nafter their return home, that he had trans- \nported them, or caused them to be trans- \nported, simply to show Mr. Davenport that \nthey could be taken to any distance as \neasily as they could be carried about the \nroom, and to show him that it was useless \nfor him to try to keep them in Buffalo. \nThe boys, so far as I can judge from the \nmanner in which the story was related to \nme by Ira, undoubtingly believe that they \nwere taken by no ordinary means of con- \nveyance, and that the difficulties of the \njourney were overcome for them in some \nunexplained and inexplicable manner by the \nsame power, whatever that may be, which \nhas for eleven years worked in their pre- \nsence so manv marvels, not less difficult of \nexplanation than their little trip from \nBuffalo to Mayville. They do not say that \nthey were carried all the way, or part of \nthe way. They think they must have \n\nE 2 \n\n\n\n52 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nwalked a long distance, for their feet were \nblistered. They were there, and knew not \nhow. \n\nDuring this visit to the residence of their \ngrandfather, a circumstance occurred which \nmade a strong impression upon the whole \nfamily, and especially upon the father of \nthe young Davenports, who had come to \nbring them home. One night the whole \nhouse was alarmed by cries, slamming of \ndoors, thumpings,rappings, and other noises. \nThe grandfather, a religious man, came from \nhis room with his Bible, which failed to \nbring quiet. When the first consternation \nwas over, a voice was heard trying to speak \nto them. It could not at first be under- \nstood ; but a tin horn having been pro- \ncured, the voice issued from it with suffi- \ncient distinctness to tell its story. It (the \nvoice, let us say) declared itself to be \n4 John Hicks,\' a brother-in-law of Mr. \nDavenport, who had some years ago lost \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 53 \n\nhis first wife, married another, and died \nsuddenly some time after. The voice, \ncoming out of the trumpet which had suc- \nceeded the racket, told a sad and startling \nstory. It said \'John Hicks \' (whose voice \nit professed to be) had been poisoned by his \nwife ; but it exacted a promise from Mr. \nDavenport that he would let his body and \nthe whole matter rest, and not seek for \njustice or vengeance against his murderess. \nThis, to a man full of the discipline and \nhabits of the police department, was a hard \npromise to keep. Mr. Davenport related \nthe matter to his friends, and their curiosity \nstimulated his sense of duty, and he pro- \nceeded to have the corpse of his brother- \nin-law disinterred and subjected to a post- \nmortem examination. The Dr. Blanchard \nalready mentioned was one of the phy- \nsicians. The details of the examination \nhave not been submitted to the writer \nhereof \xe2\x80\x94 only the fact that the stomach and \n\n\n\n54 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\ncontents were found entire, with appear- \nances to justify, to say the least, strong \nsuspicion of foul play ; but the evidence \nwas not sufficient to convict the supposed \noffender. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 55 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. \n\nSTRIKING TESTS AT BUFFALO. \n\nKeeping to the Facts \xe2\x80\x94 S. B. Brittairfs Experience \xe2\x80\x94 Visit of \nRev. B. F. Barrett \xe2\x80\x94 Statement of Stephen Albro and \nMrs. Tayloi \xe2\x80\x94 Most surprising Wonders. \n\nThere remains little more that need be \nsaid of the lives and adventures of the \nBrothers Davenport in their native city. \nThe father was at length brought to the \nbelief that they had a wider mission, and \nconsented, for a time, to accompany them. \nI may, however, mention a few of the more \nstriking and peculiar displays of the mys- \nterious force and intelligence, or intelligence \ncontrolling force, which claimed to have \nproduced the phenomena already described. \nIt will be observed that I have ventured \nno opinion, and offered no theory, respecting \n\n\n\n56 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthe nature of this intelligent force. It called \nitself, in the first instance, \'Kichards ;\' then \nit adopted the name of l John,\' or l John \nKing.\' It, or something, professed to be \n\' George Brown, of Waterloo/ who had \nbeen murdered for his money ; and it, or \nsomething else, declared itself to be \' John \nHicks,\' poisoned by his wife, like \' Hamlet\'s \nfather.\' It may be hard to believe that the \nvoices w r ere produced or the manifestations \nmade by any of these persons ; but it is \nalso rather difficult to prove the contrary. \nLet us, then, like true Baconian philo- \nsophers, cling to our facts. \n\n4 How can we reason, but from what we \nknow V Let us have the facts first, and in- \nferences afterwards. We may not be able \nto impeach our only witness, \xe2\x80\x94 a tipping \ntable, a pencil writing without a hand, or a \nvoice making itself audible or articulate by \nmeans of a tin trumpet ; but I do not see \nthat we are bound, on the other hand, to \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 57 \n\nput implicit faith in their unsupported tes- \ntimony. \n\nMany persons went from New York to \nBuffalo, three hundred miles, to witness the \nmanifestations. During a visit of J. B. \nBrittain, Esq., a well-known writer and pub- \nlic speaker, a number of photographic por- \ntraits were placed in his hands, which he \nknew to have been half-a-mile away when \nthe seance commenced, while no one had \nentered the house to bring them. On this \noccasion the forms produced, as from space, \nseen and felt by all present, were those of \nyoung children, of two years old ; and as \nthere were no such children in the house, \nthere was no thought of imposture. More- \nover, the three young Davenports were heard \nand felt floating in the air over the heads of \nthe company, each holding some musical \ninstrument, and producing sounds which \nmarked their progress. Mr. Brittain stood \nup and felt them in the air above him. \n\n\n\n58 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nAnother of these visitors was the Rev. \nMr. Barrett, Swedenborgian clergyman at \nBrooklyn, near the city of New York. As \na Swedenborgian he believed, of course, in \ncommon with all Christians, in the existence \nof beings separated from the common forms \nof material existence ; but he did not believe \nthat they had power to act upon matter, and \nof this, if true, he wished to be convinced. \nAs a test he brought with him a glass bottle \nof immense strength, which he proposed \nshould be broken by an invisible force. As \na security against deception, he locked him- \nself into a room with the two boys. He ex- \namined every part of it, for trap-doors or \nmeans of concealment. He laid the bottle \non a table and sat down, placing his hands \nand feet on both the boys, so as to feel the \nleast motion they could make. Then he \nblew out the candle. \n\nThe first thing that occurred was suffi- \nciently ludicrous. The just extinguished \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 59 \n\ncandle was rubbed all over his face. A \nvoice, plainly heard by all three, for no \nothers were present, informed him that it \nwas a preparation to enable him to swallow \nthe truth, of which he was to receive evi- \ndence. Then came a blow, an explosion \nor concussion, that sounded like the stroke \nof a sledge-hammer, and the bottle flew \nacross the room, broke the plastering on \na brick wall, but was itself unbroken. It \nwas replaced upon the table. A louder \nand heavier blow came with a similar re- \nsult. This process was repeated seven \ntimes, each time with greater force, and \nthe last time the bottle was shattered into \na hundred pieces, flying all over the room, \na piece grazing the face of Mr. Barrett. \nHis hat, which he had placed upon the \nfloor at one end of the room, was then \nplunged into a tub of water which hap- \npened to be standing at the other end, and \nin that state placed upon his head. \n\n\n\n60 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nWhen the candle was lighted Mr. Barrett \nbegan to gather up the pieces of the bottle. \nIra asked him what he could want of them. \n\n\'When my friends, to whom I tell the \nstory, say that I was " psychologized," or \nhallucinated/ said he, * I wish to show \nthem these pieces of glass, and ask them \nif they are also hallucinated when they \nbelieve thev see and handle them ? ! \n\nBlowing out the candle again, Mr. Bar- \nrett was raised in his chair from the floor, \nand received other tests of an equally con- \nvincing character. \n\nSceptics, then as now, often resorted to \nprivate tests, but never without being \nexposed, and sometimes in a ludicrous \nmanner, worthy of the \' tricksy spirits \' \nof our great dramatist. One day a gentle- \nman blacked the mouth of the trumpet \nthrough which the voice was heard to \nissue, supposing he could b} 7 that means \ndetect whoever should use it. In the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 61 \n\ncourse of the conversation with the voice \nhe asked that he might be touched. In- \nstantly he felt a finger moving around his \nlips. On a candle being lighted, he went \neagerly to examine the mouths of the boys \nand others present, to see if they were \nblacked ; but every one burst into a laugh \nat seeing a black circle, as if made with \nthe mouth of the trumpet, around his own. \n\nOf another seance given at this period, \nI find a circumstantial account published \nin a Buffalo . weekly newspaper, l The Age \nof Progress,\' describing a visit of the editor \nto the Davenports, dated October 13, 1855, \nand signed by the editor\'s name \xe2\x80\x94 Stephen \nAlbro. \n\nMr. Albro had been requested to procure \na seance for a lady, whom he accompanied \nto the room at 10 o\'clock, a.m. on the day \nappointed. He says : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\' Mr. Davenport and his elder son were \npresent, and we four locked ourselves in, \n\n\n\n62 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\nthat we might be entirely secluded and free \nfrom interruption. I then took particular \nnote of everything in the room \xe2\x80\x94 saw that \nthe only two ways of ingress were secured, \nand that there was no possibility for any- \none besides ourselves to be in the room, or \nto get in without our knowledge. Then \none of the two inside window-shutters was \nclosed, and the other was partially closed, \nleaving an opening of about two inches in \nwidth, and consequently apertures above \nand below, through all which a sufficiency \nof light was admitted to make a twilight in \nthe room, by which I could plainly see \nevery one around the table ; see both ave- \nnues of ingress, and detect every motion of \neverv hand in the room. When accustomed \nto the light, I read an advertisement which \nhung up against the wall, ten feet from \nme. Ira sat next me on my left, the lady \non my right, and Mr. Davenport on the \nopposite side of the table.\' \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 6 \n\n\n\nAfter several manifestations, William \ncame and knocked at the door, and was \nadmitted, when the manifestations became \nmore powerful, xlfter mentioning several \nincidents similar to those already described, \nMr. Albro continues : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n4 The next manifestation was the appear- \nance of human fingers, from under the \ntable [where bells had been rung, musical \ninstruments played, &c, while the editor \nhad carefully guarded against deception], \nreaching over the edge of the table and \nleaping upon it. Then whole hands ap- \npeared in the same manner. These fingers \nand hands were from the size of a large \nman\'s hand to that of a small child. [No \nchildren were present.] The largest ones \nwere black, and all the others were white. \n[Observe, that there were but five persons, \nincluding the Davenports, in the room, \nwhich was light enough for everything to \nbe distinctly seen.] During the time of \n\n\n\n64 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthese exhibitions I put my hand under the \ntable. In a minute after, I felt the pressure \nof cold fingers on my thumb. Then it \nwas grasped by a whole hand. I asked \nwho it was that grasped my thumb, and \nwas told that it was the spirit of my \nfather, the truth of which was soon made \nevident by my own vision. I then re- \nquested my father to grasp my whole \nhand, which he did with such power \nthat it reminded me of the almost giant \ngrip which he occasionally made me feel in \nurchinhood. He had a large and very \npowerful hand ; and the one which grasped \nmine was like it, both in size and power. \nBy the raps an umbrella was called for, \nwhich was standing in a corner of the room. \nOne of the boys brought it and put it under \nthe table, closed. In a few moments it \nmade its appearance from under the table, \nopened to its full extent. It came out at \nthe end of the table, at the left hand of the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 65 \n\nelder of the two boys, and was raised up \nand held over his head, the lower end of \nthe staff remaining below the table, and \nbetween the boy\'s knees. It was moved up \nand down, and twirled round one way and \nthe other, as it was held over his head. It \nimmediately moved from him to me, the \nstaff passing along against the edge of the \ntable. My head being higher than that \nof the boy, it was necessary to elevate it, \nto get it over my head. In doing this, a \nfemale hand and arm, of the most exquisite \nmodel, appeared from under the table \xe2\x80\x94 the \nbeautiful hand graspiug the staff of the \numbrella, and moving it up and down, and \nturning it, as above related. To this narra- \ntive of facts, to which I append my signa- \nture, I am ready at any time to append my \naffidavit : and further, I am ready to testify, \nunder oath, that none of these things which \nI have related were done by any of the five \npersons in the room, and that no other per- \n\nF \n\n\n\n66 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nson belonging to this mundane sphere was \nin the room during their enactment. \n\n(Signed) \' Stephen Albro.\' \n\n\n\nThe above statement is slightly condensed \nfrom the original, but not altered in any \nessential particular. Mr. Albro, I am as- \nsured, was widely known in Buffalo and all \nthat region as a man of high respectability \nand intelligence, \xe2\x80\x94 one not likely to be de- \nceived, and certainly not likely to deceive \nothers. \n\nThe lady who accompanied Mr. Albro \nalso furnished the following statement : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\n\n\xe2\x96\xa0& \n\n\n\n\' To the Pieaders of the "Age of Progress." \n\n1 Mr. Albro having shown me the fore- \ngoing report in manuscript, and I being the \nlady referred to as accompanying him to \nMr. Davenport\'s room, and witnessing the \nmanifestations which he narrates, I hereby \ncertify that this report is true in every par- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 67 \n\nticular \xe2\x80\x94 not including what he felt with his \nhands under the table. And I further cer- \ntify that his account, instead of exceeding \nthe truth, falls much short of the reality of \nwhat I witnessed. \n\n(Signed) < Mary M. Taylor.\' \n\nJf it were considered worth while to do \nso, I could fill twenty volumes like this \nwith similar statements, made under the \nsolemnities of an oath if required, testify- \ning to similar phenomena, and given by \nhonest and intelligent witnesses, whose \nevidence would be taken by any court in \nChristendom in any case whatever. \n\nMr. Albro appears to have been con- \nvinced that the hand which grasped his \nwas that of his father, long since dead. \nWhat he appears to have known as a fact, \nwas that it was not the hand of Mr. Daven- \nport, or of the lady or the two boys, the \nonly persons present. So of the hands that \n\nF 2 \n\n\n\n68 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nappeared at the end of the table, and the \nbeautiful feminine hand and arm that held \nthe umbrella. If the facts narrated by Mr. \nAlbro stood alone, or if he and those with \nhim were the only witnesses, we might throw \nthem aside as a cheat or hallucination ; but \nwhen there are hundreds of such facts and \nthousands of such witnesses, it becomes \nmore difficult. Still, a man of strong will \ncan refuse to believe alm9St anything. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 69 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. \n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT ON THEIR \nTRAVELS. \n\nBeginning of the Binding Tests \xe2\x80\x94 Judge Paine\'s ingenious \nExperiments \xe2\x80\x94 Thread and Sealing Wax \xe2\x80\x94 Sewed up \nin Sacks \xe2\x80\x94 Invincible Incredulity \xe2\x80\x94 Tobacco Test at \nCleveland \xe2\x80\x94 Betting and Sailors\' Tests at Toledo \xe2\x80\x94 \nA German Philosopher at Ann Arbor \xe2\x80\x94 Tarred Rope \nand Waxed Ends at Rochester \xe2\x80\x94 A Series of Trials. \n\nWhen time enough had elapsed for the good \npeople of Buffalo to be satisfied of the verity \nof the facts heretofore related, and when \nMr. Davenport had seen and felt signs and \nwonders enough to satisfy him that he could \nno longer oppose the desire of the mys- \nterious intelligence to give the people of \nother regions similar opportunities, the two \nBrothers Davenport, accompanied first by \ntheir father, and afterwards by other per- \n\n\n\n70 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nsons who acted as their friends or agents, \ncommenced the journeyings which have \nnow continued nearly ten years, in which \nthey have visited most of the important \ntowns on one Continent, and have begun a \nsimilar mission in another hemisphere. \n\nIt is impossible, in my brief limits, to \nfully describe the incidents of their long \njourneyings. The experience of one town \nor city was generally repeated in another, \nthough the manifestations were varied, and \nnew and more severe tests were proposed \nas old ones failed to detect what people \nthought must be imposture. The best I can \ndo in this case, is to keep as nearly as pos- \nsible the order of .time, and select from the \ngreat mass of ever-occurring incidents those \nwhich seem most interesting in themselves, \nand those which will give the reader the \nbest idea of the nature of the phenomena \nevolved, and the best means of judging, if \nsuch a judgment can be formed, of the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 71 \n\ncause and purpose of what was done, by \nwhom, and why. My own work in the mat- \nter, as far as I can now see, is pretty much \nconfined to the what, or the first part of the \nsubject. The rest may, I hope, be safely \nconfided to the judgment of an enlightened \npublic. \n\nIt was not long after the Davenport Bro- \nthers commenced to visit places where they \nwere unknown, and where the wonders ex- \nhibited in their presence, and to which their \npresence seems to be in some way a neces- \nsary condition, created an intense and wild \nexcitement, breaking out at times into blind \nand violent opposition and persecution, be- \nfore tests began to be required to satisfy \npeople more or less that they were not im- \nposed upon by artful jugglers. The}^ were \nfirst held by persons selected from the \naudience, two or more being appointed to \nhold each of the brothers while the mani- \nfestations were being accomplished. This \n\n\n\n72 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nprocess was found to be exhausting to the \nboys, perhaps from some adverse or antago- \nnistic magnetism, and unsatisfactory to the \npublic, who looked upon those selected to \nhold them as confederates. It was then \nproposed to bind them with ropes. When the \nropes, though knotted in the most careful \nmanner by the most skilful persons, were \nfound to be untied in a few moments, the \ncrowd asked, naturally enough, c Why don\'t \nyou have handcuffs V The handcuffs were \nprocured ; but they were no more satisfac- \ntory than the ropes, for the intelligent audi- \nence said, \' You have got handcuffs made \non purpose :\' but, as they seldom brought \nany themselves, it was difficult to satisfy \ntheir requirements. \n\nAt Painesville, a small town in Ohio, on \nLake Erie, Judge Paine, who had given his \nname to the township, contrived, with seve- \nral of his friends, a series of tests which \nshowed no little ingenuity. These were men \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 73 \n\nof the class who may be called invincibly \nincredulous. Neither seeing, hearing, nor \nfeeling, with them was believing. They \nwould have delighted a recent writer in \nthe \' Cornhill Magazine,\' who has declared \nthat no one ought to believe anything un- \nusual on any amount of evidence, that of \nhis own senses included. \n\nAfter the brothers had been bound as se- \ncurely as the Lake Erie sailors and riggers \ncould tie them, and the manifestations had \nbeen made while they were thus bound, \nspectral hands shown, instruments played \nupon and thrown about, or they unbound \nby what appeared invisible agency, or the \ngenii of Eastern story, the Judge proposed \na test which, he said, would satisfy him and \neverybody. This of course ; nothing is \nmore common than for a man to imagine \nthat what satisfies him of the truth of some- \nthing hard to believe must satisfy everybody \nelse. The result is, that each person who is \n\n\n\n74 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nsatisfied is instantly denounced as a fool or \na knave by all the remaining unbelievers. \nThe learned Judge said, if the boys were \nbound, not with rope, but with linen thread, \nand this sealed with sealing-wax, and then \nthe trumpet blacked with printers\' ink, so \nas to blacken any hand that touched it, he \nwould be satisfied, and everybody else, of \ncourse. The test was accepted : the mani- \nfestations occurred as usual \xe2\x80\x94 the seals were \nunbroken. Was Judge Paine satisfied ? \xe2\x80\x94 \nNot in the least. The next day he was \nready with a new test. This time, the boys \nwere first tied with cords, then enclosed in \nsacks, and the sacks tacked to the floor. All \nthe instruments were blacked, and every \npossible precaution taken. The hall and \nthe streets were crowded with people. The \nhands were formed, the instruments whirled \nabout in the air and beaten, and abundant \nevidence given that somebody or something \nwas wide awake and active ; but when lights \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 75 \n\nwere brought, the brothers were very safe \nin their sacks. When the Judge saw them \nsecure, he said to his friends, \' We\'ve got to \ngive in on this!\' But next day he had \na new theory : the boys had untied them- \nselves, ripped open the bags, made the mani- \nfestations, and then got back again all safely \nsewed up and tied. Truly, there is no cre- \ndulity like incredulity. \n\nAt Cleveland, a beautiful city on Lake \nErie, a very obstinate sceptic, watching nar- \nrowly to detect some jugglery or imposture, \nwas very suddenly and drolly converted to \na belief in the genuineness of the manifesta- \ntions. He was sitting in the midst of the \naudience, when the voice which sometimes \naccompanies the manifestations was heard \nto say with emphasis, i No, I don\'t want any \nof that ;\' at which the sceptic burst into \nlaughter, which he afterwards explained. \nTaking a chew of tobacco, in a sort of bra- \nvado he held out the paper, mentally offer- \n\n\n\n76 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\ning some to the voice or its owner \xe2\x80\x94 to \nc John.\' The words heard bv the audience \nwere the instantaneous answer. \n\nToledo is a port on Lake Erie, at the ex- \ntremity opposite to Buffalo, a town of con- \nsiderable traffic, but having a population, it \nmust be confessed, of a somewhat lawless \ncharacter. The traveller who stops at a \nhotel at Toledo is likely enough to run \nagainst a Faro table, and will readily find \nmen to bet on anything, from a trotting \nhorse to a presidential election. Of course, \na crowd assembled to see the now famous \nBrothers Davenport; and equally, of course, \nthey began to lay heavy wagers on the suc- \ncess or non-success of the performance. A \ncommittee was selected to give the sporting \nmen the fairest possible chance. It con- \nsisted of two sailors, two riggers, and two \ncaptains of vessels to direct operations. \nThey brought their own rope, a sufficient \nquantity, and marlinspikes, to work with. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 77 \n\nThey not only tied the ropes about their \nheads, feet, arms, and bodies, in all the in- \ngenious knots known to the craft, but \nspliced the ropes as well as tied them, and \nthen wetted the knots, to make the rope swell. \nAfter three-quarters of an hour of hard \nwork, the two captains declared themselves \nsatisfied. It is doubtful if, without using \ntheir knives, they could have freed the boys \nin the time which had been taken to tie \nthem. While thus bound, the usual mani- \nfestations, of which I need not repeat the \ndescription, were given, and the boys found \nbound as strongly as ever. Then the lights \nwere turned down, and they were found \nwith every knot untied, completely liberated, \nin the space of five minutes. The losing \nsportsmen paid their bets, and the audience \nwent home astonished if not satisfied. \n\nNot the least of the many difficulties and \nannoyances attendant upon the giving of \nsuch manifestations and tests as have been \n\n\n\n78 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\ndescribed, was the conduct of the committees \nwho stood between the brothers and the \nlarge assemblages who everywhere gathered \nto see them. Sometimes it was difficult to \nget persons willing to serve ; at others they \nwere prejudiced and unfair, or what theo- \nlogians call \'invincibly ignorant.\' For \nexample, at Ann Arbor, in Michigan, a \nGerman, whose conceit and bad English \nmade him a sort of favourite with the \npublic, was selected to sit in the cabinet in \nwhich the two brothers were bound. He \nsat between them, so as to be able to tell at \nevery moment whether they continued to \nbe bound \xe2\x80\x94 whether they even stirred in the \nplaces to which they were firmly secured, \nand, above all, whether a concealed con- \nfederate exhibited phantom hands, played \nupon the instruments, or threw them out \nupon the platform. The German was shut \nin the cabinet. The instruments climbed \nup his body, rested on his head, and were \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 79 \n\nplayed upon as usual. Hands and arms \nappeared at the openings of the closet. He \nwas between the two brothers, where he \ncould hear every breath and feel every \nmotion. The doors were thrown open, and \nthey were seen to be securely bound. Then \nthe German gentleman gave his testimony. \n\' Were they fastened all the time ? \' was \nasked. \n\n\' Yaas ; dey vas fastened every minute. 7 \n1 Did they make any movement ? \' \n1 No ; dey never sdirred at all.\' \n1 Was there anybody else there but you \nthree?\' \n\ni No ; nobody else vas dere. How coult \ndey be ? You could see dat yourselves/ \n\n1 Well, then, whose were the hands, and \nwho made the noises ? \' \n1 Oh, dey vas de poysV \n\' How do you know? You just said \nthey were bound fast all the time, and \ndidn\'t move.\' \n\n\n\n80 A BTOGEAPHY OF \n\n\' Yaas, dey vas fast enough ; but it most \nhave been dem, because de-re vas nobody else \nto do it ! \' \n\nThe logic is perfect, of course, but not \nentirely satisfactory. \n\nAt Rochester, in New York, new methods \nof binding were tried, When fortifications \nwere to be made for the defence of a town, \nand the council discussed the choice of the \nmaterials to be used, a man who owned a \nquarry was in favour of stone ; the pro- \nprietor of a brick-yard contended for the \nsuperiority of well-burnt bricks, and the \ntanner declared that \' there was nothing like \nleather.\' Rochester, besides its millers and \nmerchants, has a large population of canal \nboatmen and shoemakers. The canallers \ninsisted on tarred ropes, while the shoe- \nmakers stuck to waxed-ends, as the best \nmeans of tying the brothers securely. As a \ncompromise, they used both, and the young \nmen were first bound as fast as a sailor on \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 81 \n\n\' the raging Erie Canal \' could devise, and \nthen finished off with the tyings of waxed \nthread by the shoemaker. It was of no use ; \nrather, it was of just the same use as any \nother thorough and satisfactory test. All \nthe manifestations were given, which the \naudience satisfied themselves there was no- \nbody to give, and then the boys in a few \nmoments were freed from their adhesive \nentanglements. Those who could be satis- \nfied of the verity of what they saw were \nsatisfied. Those who could not, were con- \ntent to call it a humbug and imposture, the \nnature and agencies of which, however, they \nwere farther than ever from being able to \nexplain. \n\nWhile on a visit to London, a large flou- \nrishing town in Canada West, in 1857, a \nseance was attended by his Worship the \nMayor, and several members of the corpo- \nration. The mayor himself actively assisted \nin fastening the brothers with tarred ropes, \n\nG \n\n\n\n82 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nand as a private test, which it is believed \nhe communicated to no one, he blacked \nsome of the knots which were not in sight, \nbut which were afterwards found untied. \nWhen the doors of the cabinet had been \nclosed a voice from the trumpet said \xe2\x80\x94 \' Mr. \nMayor, why did you black the knots ? \' \nThe result was that no visible hands were \nblackened. \n\nIn every such case, it is to be observed, \nthese two boys are put on trial of honesty \nand veracity. They declare that certain \nmanifestations of physical and intellectual \npower \xe2\x80\x94 force directed by intelligence \xe2\x80\x94 take \nplace in their presence, which neither they \nnor any other living person actively or \nconsciously produce, Every seance is a trial \nmore or less perfectly conducted of this first \nquestion at issue. The first fact established, \nother questions may be in order. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 83 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. \n\nTHE CAMBRIDGE PROFESSORS. \n\n\' Old Harvard \' \xe2\x80\x94 Scientific Incredidity \xe2\x80\x94 A University Com- \nmission \xe2\x80\x94 The Fox Girls \xe2\x80\x94 The Brothers examined \xe2\x80\x94 \nPlenty of Rope\xe2\x80\x94 Prof. Pierce in the Cabinet \xe2\x80\x94 \nPhosphorus \xe2\x80\x94 What came of it. , \n\nIt was at about this period that certain \nProfessors of Harvard University undertook \nto investigate, explain, and abolish every- \n1 thing of a preter- or super-natural character. \nOld Harvard is the Oxford of the New \nWorld \xe2\x80\x94 the oldest university, and one which \nholds the highest rank. Its seat is Cam- \nbridge, a suburb of Boston, which claims \nto be the Athens of America and the \' hub \nof the universe \' beside. Thus ; Boston is \nthe most intelligent and scientific city in \nAmerica, and America is the most intelli- \n\nG 2 \n\n\n\n84 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\ngent country in the world ; ergo, Boston in \na literary and scientific way is the hub, \nfocus, or pivotal centre \xe2\x80\x94 of the universe. \nQ.E.D. \n\nThe parties arrayed in this contest were \nprincipally Dr. Gardner of Boston, who \nasserted that phenomena were exhibited \nabove or beyond the ordinary operations of \nnature, and which could not be accounted \nfor by physical laws as recognised by \nmodern science ; and Professors Agassiz, \nPierce, and others, of Harvard, who denied \nthe possibility as well as the fact of such \nmanifestations. As a rule, men who have \nmade a reputation in any science drive \ndown a stake there \xe2\x80\x94 erect a barricade which \nno one must pass, and are ready to de- \nnounce all discoveries which go beyond \ntheir own. They deny every alleged fact \nwhich does not square with their theories. \nShowers of fish may fall upon a marching \nregiment in India, and be fried and eaten \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 85 \n\nby the soldiers ; toads may be seen coming \nalive from solid rocks blasted with gunpow- \nder twenty feet below the surface in quar- \nries or railway cuttings, and the toads, and \nthe rocks where they had lain ever since the \nrocks were formed, with the holes in which \nthey reposed split across by the explosion, \npreserved and seen by all who care to see \nthem, and yet no Professor of Xatural His- \ntory will admit the fact until he has got a \ntheory to fit it. It is a humbug, an impos- \nture, and a delusion. 4 So much the worse \nfor the facts.\' \n\nOur Harvard Professors made or accepted \nthe challenge to examine some of the nre- \nternatural phenomena \xe2\x80\x94 not that thpy had \nthe least idea of finding and accepting truth, \nor advancing the cause or increasing the \ndomain of science, but that they might ex- \npose and authoritatively denounce what they \nbelieved to be a great imposture or a great \ndelusion. It was a verv srood thing to do, \n\n\n\n86 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nprovided they had been as willing to accept \nan established fact as they were to denounce \nan established humbug. \n\nAmong the persons summoned to be \ntried before the Harvard Professors on the \ncharge of falsely pretending that very un- \nusual, or what may properly be called \nsuper- or preter-natural phenomena oc- \ncurred in, and seemingly by means of, their \npresence, were the Misses Fox, and the \nBrothers Davenport. The manifestations \nin the presence of the Fox girls were \nchiefly confined to loud explosive rappings \nor thumpings on tables, doors, or other \nvibratory substances, which raps manifested \nan intelligent source by answering ques- \ntions, written or mental, and spelling out \nmessages. Phenomena, force, intelligence. \nThis is what the Harvard Professors had \nfirst to investigate, before going further. \nThe raps or thumps were plain and loud \nenough. They seemed to come from the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 87 \n\ncentre of doors or tables \xe2\x80\x94 the professors\' \ndoors or tables, which could not be sus- \npected of jugglery. \n\nThe girls, who have been described to me \nas honest and simple-hearted, were sub- \njected by the learned professors to a very \nsevere ordeal. First, they were carefully \nexamined for concealed machinery. Then \nit was a question whether they could not \nmake loud thumpings, as with a mallet, \nseeming to come out of the centre of a \nmahogany table, with their knee joints or \ntoes. So their limbs were confined, and \ntheir feet placed upon pillows. It was of \nno use. The sounds continued all the \nsame, and the professors made no other \ndiscovery but that there were unaccount- \nable noises. \n\nThe Brothers Davenport were reserved \ntill the last. At the beginning, they were \nsubmitted to a cross-examination. The \nprofessors exercised their ingenuity in pro- \n\n\n\n88 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nposing tests. c Would they submit to be \nhandcuffed ? \' 4 Yes/ < Would they allow \nmen to hold them ?\' \'Yes.\' A dozen pro- \npositions were made, accepted, and then \nrejected by those who made them. If any \ntest was accepted by the brothers, that was \nreason enough for not trying it. They \nwere supposed to be prepared for that, so \nsome other must be found. It was of no \nuse to put them to any test to which they \nwere ready, and apparently eager, to sub- \nmit. At last the ingenious professors fell \nback upon rope \xe2\x80\x94 their own rope, and plenty \nof it. They brought five hundred feet of \nnew rope, selected for the purpose. They \nbored the cabinet, set up in one of their \nown rooms, and to which they had free \naccess, full of holes. They tied the two \nbovs in the most thorough and the most \nbrutal manner. They have, as any one \nmay see, or feel, small wrists, and hands \nlarge in proportion \xe2\x80\x94 good, solid hands \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 89 \n\nwhich cannot be slipped through a ligature \nwhich fits even loosely on the wrists. \nWhen they were tied hand and foot, arms, \nlegs, and in every way, and with every \nkind of complicated knotting, the ropes \nwere drawn through the holes bored in the \ncabinet, and firmly knotted outside, so as \nto make a network over the boys. After \nall, the knots were tied with linen thread. \nProfessor Pierce then took his place in the \ncabinet between the two brothers, who \ncould scarcely breathe, so tightly were they \nsecured. As he entered, Professor Agassiz \nwas seen to put something in his hand. \nThe side doors were closed and fastened. \nThe centre door was no sooner shut than \nthe bolt was shot on them inside, and Pro- \nfessor Pierce stretched out both hands to \nsee which of the two firmly-bound boys \nhad done it. The phantom hand was \nshown ; the instruments were rattled ; the \nprofessor felt them about his head and face ; \n\n\n\n90 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nand at every movement kept pawing on \neach side with his hands, to find the boys \nboth bound as firm as ever. Then the \nmysterious present of Professor Agassiz \nbecame apparent. The professor ignited \nsome phosphorus by rubbing it between his \nhands, and half suffocated himself and the \nboys with its fumes, in trying to see the \ntrick or the confederate. At last, both \nboys were untied from all the complicated \nfastenings without and within the cabinet, \nand the ropes were found twisted around \nthe neck of the watchful Professor Pierce ! \nWell, and what came of it all ? Did the \nprofessors of Harvard tell what they had \nseen ? Not in the least. To this day they \nhave made no report whatever of the re- \nsult of their investigation, and are pro- \nbably, to this day, denouncing it all as \nhumbug, imposture, delusion, et cetera. \nWhat can a man of science do with a fact \nhe cannot account for, except deny it ? \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 91 \n\nIt is the simplest way of overcoming a \ndifficulty, and avoiding the confession that \nthere is something in the world which he \ndoes not understand. Of all men in the \nworld, men of science, and especially \nscientific professors, are the last to acknow- \nledge that c there are more things in heaven \nand earth, than are dreamt of in their \nphilosophy. \' \n\n\n\n92 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. \n\nAMONG THE DOWN-EASTERS. \n\nLola Monies \xe2\x80\x94 A Row in a Garret \xe2\x80\x94 A Storm of Feathers \xe2\x80\x94 \nA Scene at Portland \xe2\x80\x94 A Mad-house Test \xe2\x80\x94 Boxed up at \nBangor \xe2\x80\x94 A Discomfited Darling \xe2\x80\x94 Seeing is not \nalways Believing. \n\nHaving got through with the Professors of \nOld Harvard, and passed through college, \nbut without receiving the diploma to which \nthey were entitled, the Brothers Davenport \nreposed at the Fountain House, in Boston, \nwhere they made the acquaintance of many \ndistinguished personages in the literary \nemporium, of whom they pleasantly re- \nmember the pretty, eccentric, and kind- \nhearted Lola Montes, Countess of Lands- \nfeldt, who received what she believed to be \ncommunications from several of her de- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 93 \n\nparted friends, and notably from her last \nhusband who had drowned himself on their \nvoyage from Australia to California. There \nwas, of course, no inquest, for the body was \nnever found, but a jury could not have \nhesitated to return a charitable verdict. If \nnot a case of mental alienation, they could \nnot have made it worse thsmfelo de se, with \nextenuating circumstances. The beauteous \nLola mourned for him sincerely, and was \nvery generous to his family. Here, also, \nthey became acquainted with Mr. F. \nWoodward, who, in the absence of their \nfather, who returned to Buffalo, became for \na time their agent. \n\nWoodward entered upon this trust with \nvery little, if any, faith in the reality of the \nmanifestations. He presumed there was \nsome trick about them ; but as he could not \ndiscover it, he thought others would not, \nand so he consented to aid in what he \nthought must be a paying speculation. \n\n\n\n94 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nOn arriving at Newburyport, a beautiful \nseaport town of Massachusetts, north-east of \nBoston, the hotel at which they proposed to \nstop was so full that the only place they \ncould get was a large attic, in which were \na dozen or more double and single beds, ar- \nranged as in a ward in a hospital, a common \nenough thing in America, where the ball \nroom of a tavern is filled with cot-beds, in \ncrowded seasons. \n\nIn this large room, where there were al- \nready two lodgers, Mr. Woodward took one \nbed, and the two brothers another. Wood- \nward, being purse-bearer, put the wallet \ncontaining his money under his pillow. \nWhen the light had been extinguished a \nlittle while, the bed on which the brothers \nreposed began to rock about like a boat on \nthe waves, or jolted with the motion of a \nhard trotting horse. Woodward called out \nto know what was up. On being told, his \ncuriosity was greatly excited, and he begged \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 95 \n\nto be allowed to come to them, that he might \nfeel, at least, what was being done. \n\nHe came, forgetting his wallet, but had \nno sooner laid down on the eccentric and \ndemonstrative bed, than he heard his money \njingling. He sprang to get it, but it was \ngone, and could nowhere be found. Then \ncommenced a wild uproar in the room. \nCords were broken, beds fell upon the floor, \nsheets and coverlids were torn in pieces, \nand the two strangers rose in a fright, \ndressed hastily, paid their bills, and went \nto find more quiet lodgings. The noise \nincreased. Woodward felt strange hands \nseizing him. His wallet was restored as \nmysteriously as it had been taken. At last \nthe landlord came up with a light, when \neverything became instantaneously as quiet \nas it had been tumultuous a moment before. \nHe inquired the cause of the uproar. The \nyoung men could only protest that they had \nnot made it. \' Well, then,\' said the reason- \n\n\n\n96 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nable man, 1 1 should like to know who did \nif you didn\'t. There is nobody else here, \nand this room is in a nice condition, 1 \ndon\'t think.\' \n\n\' All we can say is, that we have been \nperfectly quiet, and have not made the least \nnoise or done any mischief.\' \n\nAs the two Davenports and Mr. Wood- \nward gave the same assurance, the landlord \nwas a little staggered, but returning com- \nmon sense made him look about the room \nat his demolished furniture, and remark \nthat they were, as far as he could see, the \nonly persons who could have caused the \ndamage he was already reckoning up to put \nin the bill, with serious doubts as to its \nspeedy liquidation. \n\n1 We have told you all we know about the \nmatter,\' said Ira, \' but if you will blow out \nthe candle, you may probably have a chance \nof judging for yourself.\' \n\nStanding by the bed with the two boys, \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 97 \n\nand making sure of the presence of the \nequally astonished Woodward, the landlord \nblew out the light. The instant it was ex- \ntinguished the contents of a feather bed \nwere emptied over his head, and the hul- \nlaballoo began again worse than ever\xe2\x80\x94 \nropes cracking, sheets tearing, and bedsteads \ncrashing, until he felt his way to the door, \nescaped from the room, and rushed down \n\nstairs \' as if the was after him.\' \n\n"When he had gone, things became peace- \nful, and the three companions were left to \ntheir repose. In the morning the great \ngarret room was as fine a spectacle of a \nwreck as one could wish to see. The land- \nlord\'s first impulse was to get his bill for \ndamages paid, and then to get rid of his \ntroublesome and alarming guests. Mr. \nWoodward paid the rather heavy bill \xe2\x80\x94 some \nsixty pounds for a night\'s lodging \xe2\x80\x94 and, \nat the urgent request of the landlord, they \ntook their luggage to another hotel. But \n\nH \n\n\n\nit 1 \n\n. IT:- \n\n\n\nill \n\n98 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthe news spread, and the garret was visited \nthat day by three or four hundred people. \n\nTravelling eastward from Newbury port \nthey came to Portland, the finest seaport in \nMaine, and one of the best on the Atlantic \ncoast ; a beautiful town, moreover, of 26,000 \ninhabitants, and the residence of John Neal, \nnovelist and poet. Here the excitement \nand the interest to see them was very great, \nbut they were not the less subjected to tests \nof an extraordinary character. To make \nsure that the phantom hands \xe2\x80\x94 I say phan- \ntom, though they are palpable as well as \nplainly visible \xe2\x80\x94 were not the hands, of the \nDavenports (and it was made very certain \nthat they could not be those of any other \nperson) they were bound hand and foot, and \nto their seats, by two sea captains and two \nriggers, selected from the audience, who \nsecured them with all the ingenuity and \nappliances of their craft. These adepts con? \nsumed not minutes merely but hours, at \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 99 \n\nleast hard upon two hours, in tying them. \nTheir character was at stake, and they made \nvery thorough work. \n\nIn spite of all this the manifestations pro- \nceeded as usual. While the two brothers \nwere thus bound at each end of the cabinet \nas fast as human skill could bind, and the \ncabinet in which they were seated was \nwatched on every side, above and beneath, \nby an eager crowd and a hard-headed com- \nmittee, the doors were fastened on the inside, \nnot by a spring bolt, but by one that re- \nquires to be pushed by some force, and then \nbegan the ringing of bells, drumming on tam- \nbourine, tuning of violin and guitar, the \nappearance of hands and even of arms, and \nfinally such a concert as could not have \nbeen played by less than three pairs of \nhands ; at the end, or as a finale to which, \nthe doors were suddenly thrown open, the \ninstruments rolled and tumbled out upon \nthe floor almost before the noises had ceased, \n\nH 2 \n\n\n\n100 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nand the committee and whole audience saw \nand felt that not a knot had been stirred, and \nthat not one of the four hands of the two \nboys inside could by any possibility have \nbeen free for a moment, or have done any \nof the things that had been seen and heard. \nIn the audience was an officer of the \nState Lunatic Asylum, and when they were \nnext to be secured, he proposed to do it, \nnot by ropes, but by an apparatus he had \nbrought with him for that purpose, and \nwhich was one for binding dangerous luna- \ntics. This apparatus consisted in part of \nleather handcuffs, made so as to be as se- \ncure as those of steel, without being pain- \nful. As an additional security, the gentle- \nman was allowed to be seated inside the \ncabinet between the boys, so that he could \nbe sure, whatever was done, they had no \nhand in it. The doors closed \xe2\x80\x94 the centre- \nbolt shot of its own accord, and the instru- \nments inside began their astonishing gyra- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 101 \n\ntions. I am not aware of what was done \nby the gentleman who was keeping watch \nand ward, but for some reason, or without \na reason, he got a severe blow upon the \nnose, and came out very thoroughly con- \nvinced that neither of the boys had given \nit, and requiring no more striking proofs \nthat there were forces, and perhaps beings \nin the universe, with which or whom he \nhad not been previously acquainted. \n\nProceeding slowly through the state of \nMaine, in which they spent two years, visit- \ning nearly every town of any importance, \nthey came to Bangor, the great lumber- \nmart and manufactory on the falls of the \nPenobscot river, at the head of navigation r \na thriving, busy town, and full of the very \ncutest and smartest of down-east Yankees. \n\nOne of these, Mr. Darling, a prosperous \nmaster-carpenter, man of science, ingenious \nmechanic, who had made notable inventions, \nwho was an energetic and leading man, and \n\n\n\n102 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\nwho, as a Swedenborgian, was well c posted \' \nin the matters not only of this world and \nits inhabitants, but of the i heavens, and \nhells, and earths of the universe,\' wrote a \npiece in a newspaper, denouncing the Da- \nvenport manifestations as utterly unworthy \nof any angels, demons, or spirits with whom \nhe was acquainted, \xe2\x80\x94 and as a receiver of the \nfaith and works of Swedenborg, he thought \nhimself authorised to speak for them, \xe2\x80\x94 but \nan impudent and bungling piece of jug- \nglery, which he engaged to expose, if \nthey would submit to a test he would pro- \nvide, without knowing it beforehand, so as \nto be able to circumvent it, under a penalty \nof three hundred dollars. \n\nThis challenge was at once accepted, and \nthe town, of course, thrown into a fever of \nexcitement. The newspapers took up the \nmatter, as they must every matter which \ngreatly interests the public, according to \nthe great law of supply and demand. The \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 103 \n\ntown thought and talked of little else than \nthe great match between the Swedenborgian \nmaster- carpenter and the Brothers Daven- \nport. It may be doubted if even a presiden- \ntial election would have made a greater \nexcitement. There are usually two parties \nto an excitement, but I believe a majority \nof the people of Bangor expected to see the \nDavenports thoroughly exposed and put to \nopen shame, and there was somewhat of the \ncombined sensation of a trial and execution \nat the same time \xe2\x80\x94 as if the judge, after a \nconviction for murder, instead of drawing \non the black cap and passing sentence, \nshould call in the executioner and have the \nconvict hanged, after the manner of Judge \nLynch and drum-head courts-martial. \n\nThe night appointed came, and the hall was \nmore than crowded \xe2\x80\x94 it was jammed. The \nbrothers had no notion of the nature of the \ntrial, and were, perhaps, as much astonished \nand as much amused as anybody, when Mr. \n\n\n\n104 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nDarling and his six confederates marched \nsolemnly upon the stage, with a load of what \nseemed boxes, and ropes, which turned \nout, upon examination, to be really a very \ningenious apparatus. The audience cheered \nas if the victory had been already w r on, and \nthe few who believed in the manifestations \nwere gloomy and perplexed. If they did \nnot doubt, they feared. \n\nMr. Darling proceeded to adjust his \napparatus. It consisted of long wooden \ntubes, two for the arms of each brother, \nfitting closely, and projecting three inches \nbeyond the ends of their fingers. There \nwere similar tubes for the legs. Holes had \nbeen bored in them, so that they could be \nfastened to the arms and legs, or otherwise \nsecured. While Mr. Darling and his assist- \nants were securing them, the Davenports \naided them with suggestions, advising them \nto fasten the knots away from their teeth, \nand from experience instructing them how \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 105 \n\ntheir limbs could be placed in more secure \npositions. This cool and quiet confidence \ngreatly troubled Mr. Darling. He trembled \nwith excitement. The perspiration rolled \nfrom his face. At last the operation was \ndeclared completed. Persons from the au- \ndience were invited to examine the fixtures. \nThey were decided to be \' in a tight place,\' \nand the announcement was received with im- \nmense applause. Editors, preachers, and other \nsceptics, were in a state of ecstatic beatitude. \n\n1 Now, ladies and gentlemen,\' said the \nagitated Mr. Darling, l they are secure.\' \nThe house was hushed to silence. The two \nside-doors were closed and fastened, shutting \nin two-thirds of the cabinet, then the centre \ndoor was shut, and instantly bolted on the \ninside \xe2\x80\x94 by whom ? \n\nMr. Darling heard the sound with a con- \nsternation he could not conceal, but began \nto seal up the doors with sealing-wax, as \nif anyone could open them unobserved, \n\n\n\n106 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nunder his eyes and the eyes of the whole \nassembly. Directly the instruments in \nthe cabinet began to be played, hands and \narms were displayed at an opening near \nthe top of the centre door, the trumpet was \nthrown out of the cabinet, and then the \ndoors suddenly opened, and the boys found \nas firmly secured as ever. The doors were \nclosed again, A great rattling and whisking \nof ropes was heard for a few moments ; the \ndoors were opened, and the brothers stood \nup as free as when they had walked into the \ncabinet. \n\nNow the applause came from _ the other \nside, with mocking cries of \' Darling, Dar- \nling ! \' Mr. Darling gave it up like a man. \nHe had done his best. If anybody could \ndo better, he was welcome to try. \n\nTheir success in Bangor was of course \ntriumphant, as it was generally through- \nout the State, and wherever the people gave \nthe phenomena a fair, or even unfair exami- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 107 \n\nnation. An affidavit was drawn up, sub- \nscribed and sworn to by a number of lead- \ning and respectable citizens, who imagined \nthat everybody would believe what they \nswore to, and of course they had the mor- \ntification of finding that their testimony had \nnot the slightest weight with those who were \ndetermined that they would not believe, or \nwhose minds were so constituted that they \ncould not. It is said that belief is involun- \ntary. It is certain that unbelief, or appa- \nrent unbelief, with strong and persistent \ndenial, appears to be accompanied at times \nwith great wilfulness. \n\nMr. Darling, of Bangor, may have been \nconverted, or have remained sceptical ; but \nif he went away a believer, and expected \nany person who had not seen what he did, \nto believe it on his testimony, he was pro- \nbably disappointed. The wife of his bosom \nmay not improbably have said to him, c My \nDarling, you are either a knave or a fool, or \n\n\n\n108 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nboth together, to come and tell me such \nrubbish. 7 And she would have been con- \nsidered a sensible woman, though indulging \ntoo much in her candour at the expense of \nher politeness. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 109 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XL \n\nMORE WONDERS IN MAINE. \n\nA Riot and a Fight\xe2\x80\x94 1 Capt. Henry Morgan the Buccaneer\'\' \n\xe2\x80\x94 Mr. Rand\'s Story \xe2\x80\x94 The Escritoire unlocked \xe2\x80\x94 Mrs, \nRands testimony. \n\nThese manifestations, as I may have men- \ntioned, however triumphantly given, in spite \nof all the various tests to which they \xc2\xabwere \nsubmitted, were met everywhere with a \nmore or less violent opposition. In large \nand orderly towns, the brothers were only \ndenounced as charlatans, jugglers, and hum- \nbugs generally; in the smaller ones, and \namong ruder communities, they were some- \ntimes assailed with open violence. Thus, \nwhile holding a seance in the town hall of \nthe small seaport town of Orland, in Maine, \nIra became conscious of an impending row, \n\n\n\n\n\n\n110 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nnot as coming from the audience, but from \n4 outsiders ; \' and before they had far ad- \nvanced in their operations, the doors were \nbroken open by a rabble of drunken sailors \nand fishermen, who, it was afterwards said, \nhad been hired by a zealous Methodist, with \na hundred dollars, to drive them out of \ntown. - ! \n\nThe town-hall immediately became the \nscene of a desperate fight. Benches were \ntorn up, windows smashed, women screamed \nor fainted, and all hands went in for a rough \nand tumble i scrimmage,\' in which the boys, \nof course, took part, and the assembly \nsucceeded, at the expense of many broken \nheads, black eyes, and bloody noses, in beat- \ning off their assailants ; but for that day, \nthe manifestations were, of course, prevented, \nunless some took place during the melee. \nThe assaulting party was beaten off, but \nit might gather reinforcements and return ; \nso they barricaded, armed themselves as \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. Ill \n\nwell as they could, and waited. There was \nno second attack, and the assembly went to \ntheir homes. \n\nc Well/ I said to Mr. Ira Davenport, when \nhe had got so far in the narrative of this \naffair, as I have substantially given it, \' what \nhappened them ? Did you go away and \ntry some less belligerent neighbourhood !\' \n\n4 No ; we stayed there. "Morgan" told \nus to go on.\' \n\nL But a while ago it was " John," or \n"John King," who seemed to have the \ndirection of your affairs.\' \n\n4 Yes, but at this time it was Henry \nMorgan, the buccaneer. We had some more \nseances, and from that time everything was \nperfectly quiet and satisfactory.\' \n\nI am not sufficiently familiar with the life \nand character of Captain Henry Morgan to \nbe able to say whether he was a likely \nperson to manage such manifestations as \nwere given in presence of the Brothers \n\n\n\n112 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nDavenport, but a bold buccaneer ought to \nbe \'some* in a fight. The things done \nrequire somebody, or something to do them, \nand that somebody or thing may call him- \nor it-self Henry Morgan, and we have no \nmeans of establishing an alibi, or in any \nway proving the contrary. This being the \ncase, we will stick to the facts, and reserve \nthe mooted point of identity for more mature \nconsideration. \n\nThis visit or mission to the State of \nMaine was made in 1857. Among the \npersons with whom they became acquainted \nin this State was Mr. Luke P. Rand, who \naccompanied them on their return to Buffalo, \nand in their visits to various places. At \nOswego, New York, in 1859, he published \na pamphlet of sixty pages, containing his \nown observations and experience, connected \nwith the manifestations. It is entitled c A \nSketch of the History of the Davenport \nBoys,\' &c. He seems to have been \xe2\x80\x94 for I \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 113 \n\nunderstand that he died some time ago \xe2\x80\x94 an \nhonest, simple-hearted, zealous, religious \nman, and he quotes whole pages of Scripture \nto prove that whereas there were signs and \nwonders and marvels formerly, say from \nthe creation down to a few centuries ago, \nthere is a possibility of their occurring at \nthe present day ; though he would hardly go \nso far, I presume, as to claim that the beat- \ning on a tambourine by invisible hands, or \nby visible hands apparently not connected \nwith living human bodies, was to be com- \npared with a Scripture miracle. I think \nMr. Rand would have done better to have \nkept to his facts, of which he seems to have \nwitnessed an abundance, and to have left \nalone both theories and Scripture. I am \nsatisfied by internal and external evidence \nthat he has made an honest statement of \nfacts, and some of these I purpose to give, \nwith the testimony of his wife, and others \npublished in his pamphlet. \n\n\n\n114 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nMr. Rand, writing with great earnest- \nness, and as far as I can judge with entire \nsincerity, says that * scores and hundreds \nwere permitted to feel the kindly and intelli- \ngent clasp \' of a large and strong hand, \ngrowing out of space, . or coming out of \ndarkness, which he believed to be the hand \nof i Henry Morgan,\' and of other hands \nsimilarly produced, as in the case of Mr. \nAlbro, already cited. Mr. Rand says, 4 I \nhave often felt, not only the clasp but the \ngrasp of that hand, handling me as if I were \na child, holding the grasp until the indenta- \ntions of the pressure were clearly seen by \nthe audience, when my hand was released \nfrom the spirit-hand, in full view, in the \nclear bright light. Often, within three \nseconds from the time we have seen the \nboys pinioned to their seats, beyond the \npossibility of release by themselves, has that \nhand, at a distance beyond their possible \nreach, clasped my own with a firm grasp, \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 115 \n\nand thus been thrust forth into the full gaze \nof the audience. And many scores of others \nhave felt the same grasp and had the same \nexperience. . . The facts are so astonishing \nthat we often find persons who are not \nonly incapable of receiving the testimony of \nothers, but unable also to rely upon the \nevidences of their own senses. \n\n1 In the town of Milford, Maine, in the \npresence of twenty-five persons, a ; \' secre- \ntary " (escritoire) was unlocked by invisible \nhands, and numerous articles taken out and \ndistributed among the audience. In this \ncase the key had been in the lock. The \nowner then placed the articles back, locked \nthe " secretary/\' and placed the key in the \nhands of a gentleman present, selected for \nthe trust. All persons in the room joined \nhands, so that each one was held by two \nothers. The light was extinguished by one \nwho was held, and we instantly heard the \nbolt of the lock slide, and the contents of \n\n\n\n116 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthe " secretary " were again distributed \namong our company, in perfect stillness. \nA large spy glass was drawn out to its \nutmost extent, and brought far across the \nroom over the heads of several persons, and \nplaced, partly upon my head, and partly \nupon the head of a gentleman of Bangor, \nwho sat next to me. The gentleman to \nwhom the key was entrusted, held it in his \nhand all the time, and no person could have \nmoved about the room, had there been such \nperson, without being detected. This com- \npany was a selection of intelligent and can- \ndid persons, assembled there for the express \npurpose of testing these manifestations.\' \n\nIn the testimony of Mrs. Rand, as com- \nmunicated to a newspaper of Oswego, New \nYork, and afterwards published in this \npamphlet, she says : \' As one who has a \nright to speak of things she knows, will \nI make my solemn declaration. On or \nnear the first of January 1858, I was \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 117 \n\ncalled to attend a seance of these boys \n(Brothers Davenport) held in Bradley, \nMaine. A company of ladies and gentle- \nmen were assembled, forming a double cir- \ncle, the ladies being in the centre, and the \ngentlemen in the rear ; we all joined hands. \nMr. Woodward invited us to sing and we \ndid so.* Next a committee was chosen to \ntie the boys. When they were securely tied, \nthe lights were extinguished, and sounds \nfrom the instruments in the box in which \nthe boys were seated and tied, were heard. \nTunes were played, in which could be dis- \ntinguished the sounds of five different in- \nstruments \xe2\x80\x94 a guitar, tambourine, drum, \nviolin, and bell. The bell was repeatedly \nrung outside the box, and touched some of \nthe party on the shoulders and head, and \nthen fell upon the floor. A hand was visibly \n\n* This exercise of singing is sometimes resorted \nto for the purpose, it is said, of harmonizing the \ncircle. \n\n\n\n118 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nprotruded from a hole in the upper part \nof the box. The sounds were made to the \nlast moment before the doors were opened, \nand the committee examined the boys, and \nreported that every knot in the rope was \nas they left it. It had taken the committee \nfifteen minutes to tie therm\' \n\n1 At Milford,\' continues Mrs. Eand \xe2\x80\x94 and \nhere we come to some very curious ex- \nperiences, \' I was invited by the presiding \nspirit, or what purported to be so,\' \xe2\x80\x94 observe \nthat the lady means to be very careful in \nher statement \xe2\x80\x94 \' to sit with the boys in the \nbox. I accepted this invitation, only wishing \nto be assured of gentle usage. I was \nfastened to a seat between the boys by a \nrope around my wrists, and passing through \nan aperture in the seat that I might not be \nable to assist in the legerdemain. I saw \nthe boys when I took my seat by them, and \nknow they were fastened as securely as \nropes and the strength of man could fasten \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 119 \n\nthem ; as only lions would need to be \nfastened for man to feel secure in their \npresence. Darkness ! and as quick as that \nword can be spoken came a hand, large and \nstrong, upon my head. Where did that \nhand come from ? It was larger than the \nhands of either of the boys, and came \nquicker than they could have possibly been \nfreed, had they ever so great dexterity. \nThe audience were all seated with joined \nhands. Next, a large bell was drawn across \nmy face. A guitar was placed in my lap, \nwithdrawn, and replaced. A drum and \nother things were piled against me, and \nagain the hand moved over my head, rested \na moment on the back of my neck, when I \ndistinctly felt the form of a wrist. Some- \nthing was close to my hair, and a moment \nafter, when the doors were thrown open, and \nthe whole audience rushed to see what had \nbeen done, the ropes were all tied as \nstrong as ever, but my comb was found \n\n\n\n120 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\ntwisted into Ira\'s hair. The doors were \nagain closed, my comb was put back into \nmy own hair, and the instruments were \nthrown around us. 7 \n\nMrs. Rand then quotes several passages \nof Scripture to show that miracles have \nbeen, and closes her testimony. \n\nMr. Eand accompanied the Brothers to \nBuffalo, and with them visited many places \nin New York, where he had some very ex- \ntraordinary experiences, which I shall notice \nmore particularly in their proper place. \n\nI may also observe that here as elsewhere \nI have somewhat condensed the testimony \nof the witnesses, by throwing out super- \nfluous expressions, but have in no way \nchanged the purport of their language. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 121 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. \n\nMORE PHYSICAL IMPOSSIBILITIES. \n\nA Bravo in the Cabinet \xe2\x80\x94 Jugglers and Conjurors \xe2\x80\x94 Domestic \nManifestations \xe2\x80\x94 The necessary Conditions \xe2\x80\x94 Tables set \nby Invisibles \xe2\x80\x94 They eat Food like Mortals \xe2\x80\x94 Remarkable \nTestimony. \n\nOn their return from Maine towards \nBuffalo, the Brothers, accompanied by their \nfriend Mr. Rand, arrived at Lowell, a manu- \nfacturing town in Massachusetts, often, from \nthe number of its cotton mills, called the \nManchester of America. Here they remained \nfor four weeks, giving public and private \nseances, and creating, as everywhere, a \n1 great sensation.\' During this period a \nseance was arranged for twenty-five persons, \nand the boys were warned by their invisible \nconfederates, this time by means of raps on \n\n\n\n122 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\na table, that there was a conspiracy to ex- \npose them. A man had been selected to \nenter the cabinet with them who had been \na gambler and a bravo in San Francisco, \nwhere he had killed two men, and been half \nhanged himself under Judge Lynch, from \nwhom he had been barely rescued. This \'dare \ndevil \' was determined to fathom the mys- \ntery, and his friends stood by to assist him. \nOn being tied, not too securely, between \nthe two boys, who were thoroughly fastened, \nhe managed, by the aid of a dirk knife in \nhis sleeve, to cut the rope and free his \nhands. At the instant he received a blow \nover the forehead, with a trumpet, which \ncut a deep gash, from which the blood \nspirted freely. He seized Ira, and found \nhim tied securely as ever. He turned and \ngrasped William, who was also closely \nbound. He called \' light,\' and a dark lan- \ntern was thrust through the hole in the \ndoor, and by its light he saw that no one \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 123 \n\nwas in the cabinet but the two Brothers and \nhimself, and that their fastenings had not \nbeen changed in the slightest degree. He \nopened the doors, and his friends seeing him \nwounded and covered with blood, supposed \nhe had been attacked and rushed forward to \nrevenge him. \n\nThe bold, bad man was not a mean one. \n\' Stand back ! \' he shouted, \' these boys did \nnot strike me \xe2\x80\x94 they did not touch me. \nLook for yourselves. There they are, bound \nexactly as you left them. Gentlemen, you \ncan do as you like, but I have had enough \nof it.\' \n\nAnother of the party, still unsatisfied, \ntook his place in the box, to try the same \ngame, but found himself so instantaneously \nseized by hands which he knew did not ap- \npertain to visible bodies that he became \nfrightened and begged to be let out. \n\nGoing from Lowell to Boston, the Bro- \nthers Davenport found a man by the name \n\n\n\n124 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nof Bly pretending to expose them or their \njugglery by cutting ropes and the aid of \nconfederates. The brothers confronted him, \nclaimed to be tested in the most thorough \nway by the persons who had seen the Bly \nperformance and knew its methods, and \nwere entirely successful. In eleven years, in \nAmerica, where people are not wanting, at \nleast, in shrewdness and inventive powers \n\xe2\x80\x94 in trickery, or the power of seeing into \ntrickery \xe2\x80\x94 net only has no one ever ad- \nvanced a plausible explanation on the \nhypothesis of fraud, sleight-of-hand, col- \nlusion, &c, but the most adroit conjurors \n\xe2\x80\x94 Mr. Herman, of New York, for example \n\xe2\x80\x94 have fully acknowledged that their art \nafforded no explanation. Indeed, they are \nas different as possible. Four persons out \nof five know how almost every trick of the \njugglers is performed. They can be studied \nin books ; their apparatus can be bought of \nthe manufacturers, who instruct purchasers \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENFORT. 125 \n\nin the various tricks and illusions ; they \nare advertised in the \' Times \' newspaper. \nSome jugglers, after doing certain tricks, \nexplain the modus operandi. Juggling is \na parlour amusement. But the things \ndaily and nightly done in the presence of \nthese young men, and in which it is made \nevident to every one who has eyes and \nhands, and chooses to use them, that they \nhave and can have no active agency, have \nnever been explained on the hypothesis \nof legerdemain, illusion, or collusion, and it \nis quite certain that they never can be. \n\nAfter leaving Boston, the Brothers \nvisited Worcester, and Springfield, Massa- \nchusetts, Troy,Waterford, Saratoga Springs, \nUtica, and Rochester, in New York, and \nwere joyfully welcomed home by their \nfamily and friends after their long absence. \nAnd here I may, as well as anywhere, give \nsome account of the very peculiar mani- \nfestations, of what we may call a domestic \n\n\n\n126 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\ncharacter, which occurred at various times \nwhen they were at home, in the presence \nof their family and of familiar friends, \nwhen all the conditions may be supposed \nto have been favourable to their manifesta- \ntions. \n\nThe first of these conditions appears to \nbe darkness. Why darkness should favour \nthese operations, or why light should hinder \nthem, it may be difficult to explain : we \nmay be content with the fact. Total \ndarkness, it has been seen, is not always \nnecessary; but the greater part seem to \nrequire at least a partial obscurity. For \nsome reason, the belief that supernatural \nmanifestations are more proper to night \nand darkness than to the open light of day, \nhas existed always and everywhere. \n\nQuiet, harmony, and the isolation of the \npersons who seem in some way necessary \nto the operation of the generally invisible \nforces, are readily obtained in a home circle. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 127 \n\nIn these family parties, when it was \ndesired to give their friends an opportunity \nto see other than the usual manifestations, \nand when every precaution had been taken \nto secure the necessary conditions, and also \nto exclude the shadow of suspicion, or even \nof doubt, from the mind of any ; when \neverything had been arranged, and the \nlights were extinguished, a curious perform- \nance would commence. The table would \nbe drawn out into the centre of the room, \nthe table-cloth spread, the dishes brought \nfrom the pantry, fifteen feet distant, the \ntable set, tea made, bread cut, and the \nslices buttered, and then tea poured out for \nthe party. While this was doing, there \nwere heard noises like the rustling of \nwomen\'s garments. Once, when Mr. \nDavenport, Senior, was sitting tilted back \non the hind legs of his chair in an Ame- \nrican fashion, he was suddenly thrown over \nbackward.* Afterwards, a communication \n\n\n\n128 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nwas rapped out by the alphabetic telegraph, \nin which a lady begged to apologise for the \naccident, caused, as she said, by the hoops \nof her l crinoline \' having accidentally caught \nunder the raised leg of the chair in \npassing. \n\nIf one thing were more strange, or inex- \nplicable, or incredible than another in all \nthis history, I confess that I might hesitate \nat giving the following narration, which I \nhave received from the lips of the Brothers \nDavenport, and which I find confirmed in \nthe pamphlet of Mr. Eand. It is proper to \nsay, also, that I have had from as credible \npeople as I am acquainted with, scores of \nsimilar narratives. Such may be found \nabundantly in a recent work by the cele- \nbrated William Howitt, and also in a meri- \ntorious book by Thomas Brevior, which is \nquite a compendium of preternatural mani- \nfestations and experiences. \n\nMr. Eand also testifies to something \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 129 \n\nwhich may be harder to swallow than the \nfact of tables and dishes setting themselves, \nand supper getting itself ready, or being \ngot ready by invisible hands. It is, that \nthese mysterious intelligences eat \xe2\x80\x94 eat like \ncommon mortals, and appear to relish their \nfood, and have good appetites, and, it is to \nbe hoped, good digestions. At all events, \nif we believe the testimony, the food disap- \npears; and, hard as this may be to believe, \nit is not more difficult than what I have \nwitnessed in London, and what has been \nwitnessed by hundreds, as will be recorded \nin its proper place. \n\nMr. Rand, writing at Oswego, New \nYork, in 1859, where he was with the \nBrothers Davenport, says: \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\' Within the last few weeks a new order \nof manifestations has been introduced. \nSpirits [this is the name which Mr. Rand \nchooses to give to invisible intelligences, or \nmysterious intelligent forces, and it may be \n\nK \n\n\n\n130 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nas good as another] have spoken with \naudible voices, in the light, without a \ntrumpet, as we have rode or walked by the \nway, and exhibited hands, placing them \nupon our persons, and handling us freely. \n[If Mr. Eand, by the plural pronouns, \nsimply meant himself, this testimony would \nnot be of much worth ; as what only one \nperson sees, hears, or feels may be readily \nreferred to imaginary or other illusions ; but \nI do not understand him as claiming to \nhave seen or heard any such thing when \nnot in the presence of the Brothers Daven- \nport.] Spirits have also eaten food in our \npresence ; cake, fish, boiled corn [maize], \npineapple, and other fruits. We [here he \nclearly speaks of more persons than one] \nhave usually placed the food upon the table, \ndarkened the room, provided against any \ndeception ; then taking our seats around \nthe table \xe2\x80\x94 near it or distant from it, as \nthe case might be \xe2\x80\x94 the spirits have freely \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 131 \n\neaten, and talked to us the while. Six or \neight ears of corn [green maize, boiled] \nhave often been eaten in this way at one \ntime, and in some instances much more, \ntogether with fruits and other food. Of \nthis we have had proof, as the spirits have \noften brought the corn to us, and requested \nus to partake with them. \n\n1 On one occasion,\' continues Mr. Eand, \n\' a party of gentlemen came to witness this, \nand brought thread to tie the Brothers \nDavenport. They were first secured firmly \nby ropes, then the thread was added ; after \nwhich the boys\' mouths were muzzled. \nBandages were also put upon the mouths \nof all persons in the room. The pine-apple \nwas then sliced and placed upon a stool \nentirely removed from the boys, when it \nwas eaten by unseen visitors, who were \nheard in their merry repast, and the rinds \nof the pine-apple were found dropped at \ntheir pleasure [sic] at the close. There are \n\n\n\n132 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nplenty of witnesses to these facts, whose \nnames can be given to those who apply to \nRufus Briggs, of this city (Oswego, New \nYork). For the satisfaction of any who \nmay wish for evidence on this matter, we \ngive the names of a portion of the persons \npresent when the Davenports were tied \nwith ropes, and further secured with thread \nand muzzled, and yet food was eaten [dis- \nappeared ?] in their presence/ \nThe names given are \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n4 Philander Rathbun, \nJohn Knapp, \nSamuel Reynolds, \nDavid Fairchild, \nKufus Briggs.\' \n\nIt might be worth while for some person \nto write a letter to Oswego, directed to \neither of these gentlemen, enquiring if these \nthings happened as here related. \n\nMr. Rand is satisfied that what he calls \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHEKS DAVENPORT. 133 \n\n1 spirits\' do really eat food like common \nmortals, and he makes the following state- \nment in proof. \n\n1 An Indian spirit has often brought from \nthe table to me an ear of corn (maize or \nIndian corn), inviting me to eat of the \nsame with him, which I have often done. \nHe has taken my hand, placed my fingers \nbetween his teeth, and given me sensible \nevidence of their reality. He has placed \nmy hand upon his head, so that I could \nfeel its form, and his long straight hair, \nmost sensibly. And others have had this \nsame experience, and the world will know \nthat these are facts.\' \n\nI have no question of the perfect sincerity \nof this statement, but it will be doubted by \nmany whether all necessary precautions \nwere taken against deception. On the other \nhand, it does not appear that there was any \ndisposition or motive to deceive. The \npamphlet does not seem to have been written \n\n\n\n134 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\nin the interest of the Davenports, or for any \npurpose but to enable Mr. Rand to give to \nthe world what he seems to have believed \nwere important truths. \n\nAs to the disappearance of material \nobjects, as in this case, those who know \nmost of matter will have least difficulty. \nDestroy certain forces, or suspend their \noperation, and all material forms become as \nnothing. Loose the attraction which holds \nin their places the atoms of a globe of steel, \nor the great globe itself, and they would \nbecome invisible gases. In truth, we know \nso little of matter, and it is so difficult to \nprove that matter exists, that the most \nadvanced physicists of the present day are \ndisposed to consider all material forms as \nnothing more -than modifications of force. \nAbolish matter, and we have nothing left \nbut force and its governing intelligence. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHEES DAVENPORT. 135 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. \n\nTHE IMPRISONMENT IN OSWEGO. \n\nMr. Band and his Testimonies \xe2\x80\x94 Strong tests at Oswego \xe2\x80\x94 Pro- \nsecution and Imprisonment \xe2\x80\x94 An Astonished Jailer \xe2\x80\x94 \nThe Prison door unlocked ivithout visible hands- \nDeclaration and Affidavit. \n\nI now proceed to give some account of \nthe adventures of the Brothers Davenport \nin Oswego, New York, and its vicinity, as \ncontained in the pamphlet of Mr. Rand, \ntheir \' guide, philosopher, and friend,\' from \nwhich I have made some extracts in the \npreceding chapter, including a small perse- \ncution, and a rather remarkable martyrdom. \nMr. Rand had made the acquaintance of \nthe Brothers Davenport during their visit \nto Maine, and appears to have become very \nfamiliar with the mysterious forces, powers, \n\n\n\n136 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nintelligences, or whatever they maybe, who, \nor which, according to their own testimony, \nare engaged in the production of the asto- \nnishing phenomena which will be found \nimperfectly described in these pages. Mr. \nEand chooses to call these powers, forces, \nor intelligences, * spirits \' \xe2\x80\x94 I do not know \nupon what authority, and have some doubt \nof the strict propriety of the term, as applied \nto beings that have hands which grasp, \nteeth which bite, and who eat hearty sup- \npers of boiled Indian corn and pine -apples. \nThis, however, is a mere verbal criticism. \nWords and names are not of much conse- \nquence, if we understand what is meant by \nthem ; and Mr. Eand has a right to use his \nown designations so long as he states the \nfacts correctly and honestly to the best of \nhis knowledge and belief, and that he does \nthis I see no reason to question. He says : \nc The boys came into our vicinity, and we \nwere invited to attend their circles, and \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 137 \n\nbecame deeply interested in the manifesta- \ntions. The circles at which we made our \nfirst acquaintance with them were held in \nOrono (our residence), Old Town, and \nBradley. I mention these places because \nthe Davenports spent nearly a year at \nthis locality, making it their home for the \ntime \xe2\x80\x94 holding many circles, both in public \nand private, during their stay here, in the \nmidst of a large circle of their friends, who \nhad every opportunity of becoming ac- \nquainted with the boys, and the manifesta- \ntions given through them. We also made \nthe acquaintance of the spirits ; they seemed \nlike familiar friends \xe2\x80\x94 they talked much with \nus and to us \xe2\x80\x94 they came to our homes, and \ntalked familiarly with us and our children, \noften shaking us by the hand, often passing \ntheir hands upon our brows and upon our \npersons, handling and freely playing upon \nmusical instruments, five and more, even, \nat the same instant of time, and giving the \n\n\n\n138 A BIOGEAPHY OE \n\nmost unmistakeable and absolute positive \ndemonstration of their presence and power \nin a great variety of other ways and modes \nof communication.\' \n\nI will give the remainder of the testimony \nof Mr. Rand, as to what he witnessed at \npublic and private seances in the city of \nOswego, and then condense from his very \nremarkable pamphlet the account of their \npersecution, arrest, trial, and imprisonment \nin Oswego, with the release of Mr. Rand \nfrom prison by supernatural, or if the \nword is preferred, preternatural agency, with \nthe sworn affidavit of all the witnesses to \nthis very striking manifestation, which is \njust as incredible, impossible, and true, as \nall the other phenomena described in this \nvolume. \n\nc At a large and stormy audience in the \ncity of Oswego,\' says Mr. Rand, c a com- \nmittee, selected from that audience, tied \nand worked upon these Devonport boys \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 139 \n\nmore than one hour, putting on all the rope \nwe then had, about ninety feet, though we \nhave often carried one hundred and fifty \nfeet", and twenty-seven feet of strong cord \nfurnished by the audience. To this we \nsubmitted, to satisfy the audience ; and then \nthe younger boy\'s knots were firmly wound \nand secured by new and strong copper wire, \nbent and twisted on with forceps. This we \nalso allowed for the test ; and then the \ndoors of the box were sealed with wax and \nprivate seals, and every avenue by which \nanyone could approach the box was guarded \nby sentinels. Then were the lights extin- \nguished, and the older boy was untied in \neleven minutes \xe2\x80\x94 every knot. He was taken \nout and held by the committee, and the \nyounger boy examined, and the knots and \nfastenings found all secure. The box was \nagain closed, and the younger boy left alone. \nHe was released from his bonds of ropes, \nknots, and twisted wires in eight minutes.\' \n\n\n\n140 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nTo suppose the possibility of a slight \nyouth of nineteen, with no instruments, and \nfirmly bound with ropes and wires, hand \nand foot, on his seat and to his seat, shut \nup in darkness, and unaided, freeing him- \nself, by first untwisting copper wires twisted \non with forceps, and then untying more \nthan a hundred feet of rope and cord, when \nit was not in his power to make the least \nmovement toward\' such an operation, is, to \nspeak very mildly, exquisitely absurd. \n\nThe next test, as described by Mr. Rand, \nought also to be considered satisfactory \xe2\x80\x94 if \npeople, in such a case, could be satisfied. \nHe says : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\' At a private circle of about forty per- \nsons, in the city of Oswego, the Davenport \nboys, with Wm. M. Fay, who took a seat \nwith them, were all fastened at the extremes \nof a very long and large table, with strong \nfine cotton thread, wound closely round \ntheir wrists, and tied in many knots, each \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 141 \n\nwrist of each boy being wound many times, \nand closely tied in many knots each time, \nand then the threads on either side of each \nlad carried out a few inches, tied in a knot \nat the end, and tacked down to the table by \na common tack, and that knot and tack \nsealed with wax. This was faithfully done \nby a committee. All had an opportunity \nto look upon the knots and seals, and all \nknew it was utterly impossible for either \nboy to move his hand without breaking the \nthreads. The instruments were then laid \nin the middle of the table, far beyond the \npossible reach of the boys. The audience \nwere then all tied together by ropes and \ncords, so that no one could move without \nthe knowledge of others, and then, on ex- \ntinguishing the light, those instruments \nwere taken up and borne about the room \nand over our heads, and thrummed and \nplayed by some intelligent hands other than \nour own. This was certain, as instantly on \n\n\n\n142 \n\n\n\nA BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\n\nlighting the gas we found the boys, in \nevery instance, firmly tied and immovably \n\n\n\nsecur \n\n\n\nThe William M. Fay here mentioned is a \nyoung man of about the same age as the \nBrothers Davenport, and appears to be en- \ndowed with, or attended by, similar powers. \nHe was born in Buffalo, of German parents, \nand one of the first evidences he gave of \nbeing attended by extraordinary manifes- \ntations was, when playing with other boys, \nbeing raised bodily from the ground, and \nlodged in a neighbouring tree, in sight of \nhis companions. He joined the Brothers \nDavenport during their visit to OsAvego ; \nand his name will often appear in the future \npages of this narrative. \n\nWhile on this celebrated visit to Oswego, \nan important town near the eastern extre- \nmity of Lake Ontario, with water-power, \nmills, commerce, and a population of \n17,000 inhabitants, the Brothers Daven- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 143 \n\nport accepted an earnest invitation to visit \na small village, named Phoenix, twenty miles \nfrom Oswego. At this place, while giving \na private seance, they were arrested, at the \ninstigation of some persons whom Mr. \nRand describes as \' legal bigots and perse- \ncutors,\' who, c with fiendish exultation,\' \nconducted them before the village magis- \ntrate, where they were charged with vio- \nlating a municipal law which provides that \npersons exhibiting shows, circuses, mena- \ngeries, &c, should procure a license. The \nBrothers had never thought of complying \nwith this formality, licenses not being re- \nquired for concerts, lectures, and similar \nentertainments. Their seance was a concert, \nso far as the playing on musical instruments \nby invisible, or very slightly visible, per- \nformers, was concerned ; a lecture, as to the \nexplanations of Mr. Rand ; and as to the \ntying and untying of knots, moving of pon- \nderable bodies by invisible forces, &c, it \n\n\n\n144 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nmay have been considered as philosophical \nexperiments. Only on the hypothesis that \nthey were jugglers, or sleight-of-hand per- \nformers, could they be fined for neglecting \nto procure a license. \n\nMr. Kand undertook to defend his own \ncase, and I do not see that his efforts dis- \nproved the proverb so dear to the learned \nprofession of the law, which says that \' a \nman who pleads his own cause has a fool \nfor a client.\' He made a speech filled \nwith scriptural quotations, and resting upon \nthe facts of the case. He should have pro- \nposed a seance then and there, with the \nmagistrate to superintend the tests and \noperations. They were fined thirteen dollars \nand thirty-nine cents. \xe2\x80\x94 say, two pounds \nfifteen shillings \xe2\x80\x94 or in default, to suffer \none month\'s imprisonment at the county \njail in Oswego. \n\nAs this fine was considered by Mr. Rand \nand the Brothers Davenport \xe2\x80\x94 and, what was \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 145 \n\nconsiderably more important to them, the \nintelligences who directed their movements, \nand who told them not to pay a farthing \xe2\x80\x94 \na sort of religions persecution, they became, \nin a mild way, martyrs to the truth, and, \nrefusing to pay the fine, were taken to \nprison. Of course, their friends were \naroused ; those who believed in them were \nindignant, and the general public was \ngreatly excited. \n\nOn arriving at the jail at Oswego they \nwere met by their friends, and the first \nthing done after entering the prison was to \ngive a seance, for the benefit of the jailer, \nwho was as curious as the rest of the world \nto witness the manifestations. His mode of \nprocedure also, in choosing satisfactory tests, \nwas highly original and effective ; and here \nlet me copy from the pamphlet of Mr. \nEand, which was published on the spot, \nwhich appeals to a whole community of \nwitnesses, and which has never, to my \n\nL \n\n\n\n146 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nknowledge, been invalidated. The account \nsays : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\' The jailer, having expressed his willing- \nness [to witness some manifestations], ad- \njusted iron handcuffs to the boys\' wrists, and \nmade them fast to the iron bars in the door \nof the cell ; a trumpet, furnished for the occa- \nsion, was then placed back into the cell, \nbeyond the possible reach of the Brothers \nDavenport, their hands being fastened in an \nelevated position by the handcuffs to the iron \nbars of the cell doors, the boys standing in \nthe cell. The cell was then made dark, by a* \ncloth being put up at the bars of the door. \nThen the trumpet was taken from the hack part \nof the cell, where it had just been placed, \nand brought to the bars of the door, and \nbeat upon them ; and a voice spoke through \nthe trumpet familiarly, holding an intelligent \nconversation with us who stood without the \ndoor of the cell, in relation to the circum- \nstances under which we had come to the \n\n\n\nJ \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 147 \n\njail \xe2\x80\x94 stating to E. Briggs [the Bufus Briggs \nheretofore mentioned], who was present, \nthat he [the voice] would not have their \nfriends outside get excited, as if we were to \nbe let out of the jail immediately : that there \nwas a purpose to be executed in relation to \nour coming to prison, and that we were to \nremain there.\' \n\nWas the jailer convinced by this mani- \nfestation ? It appears not. He did not \nunderstand it, and, taking refuge in his \nignorance, said : \' It was a matter for scien- \ntific investigation!\' Not bad for a jailer; \nbut Mr. Band was indignant at such an \nanswer, and that any man could doubt that \nthe power which brought the trumpet to \nthe cell door and then spoke through it was \nany other than an intelligent being. There \nwas no question about the phenomena. The \ntwo young men were alone in the cell, fast \nhandcuffed to the bars of the door ; and the \ntrumpet came itself, or was brought, and \n\nL \'2 \n\n\n\n148 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nwords were spoken. As to the words there \nmay have been some chance for doubt ; but \nI agree with the jailer that the trumpet, \nat least, required scientific investigation ; \nthough of what nature may be a question. \nPerhaps judicial investigation would be \nbetter. \n\nWhile confined in this jail, at first in cells, \nand later in a larger and more comfortable \nroom, they had a great number of visitors, \nand gave many seances, which there was no \ndisposition to hinder, as they were not \nimprisoned for any crime, but merely for \nrefusing to pay a fine, wrongly inflicted, as \nthey believed, for a supposed disregard of a \nmunicipal regulation. About five or seven \ndays before the expiration of their term \nthey were directed to settle their affairs \nand hold themselves in readiness. This \ndirection came from whatever intelligence \nheld communication with them, and some \nof their friends were told that they might \n\n\n\n\\ \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 149 \n\nbe expected to be set free in an unusual \nmanner. The jailer became interested, and \nenquired why the mysterious forces, so \nworthy of \' scientific investigation/ did not \nunlock their prison doors. Mr. Eand says \nthat, from what he \xe2\x80\x94 the jailer \xe2\x80\x94 had seen, \nhe seemed to believe that they could do it. \nHowever, he put a new lock on the door, \ndetermined to do his duty in every emer- \ngency. \n\nThe last night came. They were all to- \ngether in the room, Mr. Rand and the two \nBrothers Davenport, and he took the boys \nby the hand and talked like a father to \nthem. The jailer came to the door of the \nroom at the usual locking-up time, and \nasked if they were all there. \' We answered \npromptly to the call that we were.\' He put \non a new lock which they had never seen. \n4 Then/ says Mr. Rand, \' immediately, sooner \nthan we expected, a voice spake in the room, \nand said that I was to go out that night. \n\n\n\n150 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nI was told to put on my coat and bat and \nbe ready. It was oppressively warm in our \nsmall room, witb tbe window and door both \nclosed, and I asked if I could be allowed to \nsit with my coat off, as I did not expect we \nshould be released for more than an hour; \nbut the answer was : " Put on thy coat and \nhat \xe2\x80\x94 be ready." Immediately, not more \nthan twenty minutes from the time we were \nlocked up, the door was thrown open, and \na voice said, " Now, go quickly. Take with \nyou the rope ( one which had been in the \nroom), go to yonder garret window, and \nlet thyself down and flee from this place ; \nwe will take care of the boys. There are \nmany angels present, though but one speaks." \nThe boys came out with me into the hall, \ntook up the lock which lay upon the floor, \nand for the first time examined it, and spoke \nof its being warm. They were told [by the \nvoice] to return to the room, and the door \nwas closed and locked again. \' \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 151 \n\nMr* Eand, having made his way out of \nthe jail, expected the boys to follow him. \nHe told a friend whom he met that they \nwere coming, and wrote the same to his \nwife, who was then in Massachusetts. It \nnever occurred to him that the door was \nrelocked. He says solemnly : 4 It matters \nnot to me what force these statements may \nhave in the minds of others ; I make them \nbecause they are true. Before God and \nman I make them, and shall make them \nwhile I exist; and, thanks be to God on \nhigh, I am not alone in -this testimony. \' \n\nThe boys, Mr. Kand came to think, were \nnot allowed to go out, because people would \nnot believe ; and they might have been \nagain imprisoned for making their escape. \n\xe2\x96\xa0 There are those,\' he mournfully says, \' who \ncannot believe, who cannot entertain facts \nfrom human testimony. It is with them, \nas when, in a strange locality, the sun rises \nin the wrong place. They cannot make it \nseem right.\' \n\n\n\n152 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nEven the jailer was cruel enough to \ncharge Mr. Rand, when he went back to \nthe jail, with having deceived him, and not \nbeing in the room when he came, with a \nnew lock and extra care, to lock them in \nfor the night. This was a rather lame \nexcuse for the jailer, for it was his most \nspecial business to have known that these \nprisoners, at least, were locked up safely. \nIf the jailer, whose business it was to know, \nand with all his experience of the trumpet \nmanifestation, and others, when he had \nhimself manacled the boys to the cell door, \ncould not believe that his strong lock had \nbeen unfastened and fastened again by that \npower which Mr. Rand believed l was \nnothing else than the strong spirit-hand of \nHenry Morgan,\' what credence could be ex- \npected of \' outsiders\' who had had no such \nexperience ? The more wonders \xe2\x80\x94 and the \ngreater the wonders \xe2\x80\x94 proclaimed of these \nBrothers, the louder, of course, would rage \nthe storm of abuse, and the stronger would \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 153 \n\nbe the accusations of jugglery and impos- \nture. After all, there was no proof of the \nunlocking and relocking of the door, and \nthe preternatural escape of Mr. Eand, but \nhis own declaration and that of the only \ntwo witnesses, corroborated by the fact that \nthe jailer ought to have known, and believed \nhe did know, that he had locked them all \nthree into the room with more than usual \ncare. These declarations they made in the \nmost solemn form possible, and under the \nsanction of an oath, taken before two magis- \ntrates, as follows : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n1 Declaration and Affidavit. \n\n\' Be it known to all people, that in the \nseventh month a.d. 1859, we, the under- \nsigned, were imprisoned in the common jail, \nin the city of Oswego, N.Y., on account of \npropagating our religious principles, and \nthat after twenty-nine days of our confine- \nment, at evening, when we were all in our \nprison-room together, as we had just been \n\n\n\n154 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nlocked in by the jailer, we having truly \nanswered to his call, a voice spoke and said : \n44 Band, you are to go out of this place this \nnight. Put on your coat and hat \xe2\x80\x94 be ready." \nImmediately the door was thrown open, and \nthe voice again spake and said : " Now walk \nquickly out and on to the attic window yonder, \nand let thyself down by a rope, and flee from \nthis place. We will take care of the boys. \nThere are many angels present, though but \none speaks. 1 \'\' The angelic command was \nstrictly obeyed. \n\n4 That this, and all this, did absolutely \noccur in our presence, we do most solemnly \nand positively affirm before God and angels \nand men. \n\n6 Subscribed and sworn before me, this \n1st day of August, 1859. \n(Signed) \n\n4 James Barnes, \ni Justice of the Peace. \n\n4 Ira Erastus Davenport. \n4 Luke P. Band. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 155 \n\n1 Subscribed and sworn before me by \nWilliam Davenport, this 5th day of August, \n1859. \n\n< W. B. Bent, \n\' Justice of the Peace. \n\n\' William Davenport.\' \nAre we to believe that these three men \nhave added to imposture lying, and to lying \nperjury ? \n\nOr were they themselves the victims of \nsome delusion ? \n\n\n\n156 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. \n\n\n\nTO THE MISSISSIPPI AND BACK TO THE \nATLANTIC. \n\nFastening a Committee \xe2\x80\x94 Sewed in Sacks \xe2\x80\x94 Social Science \nCongress in Michigan \xe2\x80\x94 Beating the Telegraph at \n\'Chicago \xe2\x80\x94 Bombardment of Fort Sumter \xe2\x80\x94 Dark Lan- \nthorns in the Bark Circle \xe2\x80\x94 A Fight with a Spectre \xe2\x80\x94 A \nConfederate discovered \xe2\x80\x94 Washington \xe2\x80\x94 Baltimore \xe2\x80\x94 \nRiots and Prosecutions. \n\nAfter a brief stay at their home in Buf- \nfalo, to which they returned after the events \nnarrated in the last chapter, the Brothers \nDavenport commenced a tour westward by \nthe southern shore of Lake Erie. At the \nbeautiful town of Cleveland, Ohio, where \ntheir weird exhibitions were attended by \nlarge assemblages, an unusually hard-headed \ncommittee, in spite of the usual tests, per- \nsisted in the theory of legerdemain, and \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 157 \n\nproposed on the next evening to bring tests \nwhich should satisfy everybody. \n\nThis being agreed to, a greater crowd \nthan ever came to assist at the trial. The \nBrothers were bound with cords to their \nseats in the cabinet. Then their wrists \nwere tied together with shoemaker\'s waxed \nthread. Next, silk tapes were fastened \naround their wrists and fingers and sealed \nwith sealing-wax. The musical instru- \nments were then lashed to the middle seat \nof the cabinet quite beyond their reach. \n\nWhen all was completed the Brothers, \naccustomed to the shifts and subterfuges of \ncommittees, insisted upon a public acknow- \nledgment that they were satisfied with the \ntests. It was made. \'Is there any loop- \nhole, any way to back out ? \' they asked, \n\' None whatever/ was the answer. The \ndoors were closed and instantly the music \nbegan to play, the bell to ring, hands \nwere protruded, and manifestations made of \n\n\n\n158 \n\n\n\nA BIOGEAPHY OF \n\n\n\nan unusually startling character : the doors \nwere opened, and seals, tapes, and strings \nwere unbroken. The committee, if not \nsatisfied, was confounded. \n\nAt Akron, Ohio, the test demanded, as \nperfectly satisfactory, was that after being \nbound as securely as the ingenuity of the \ncommittee could effect it, the Brothers \nshould be carefully and strongly sewed up \nin sacks ; and this they also submitted to \nwith the usual result. \n\nSimilar scenes, perpetually varied, but \nwith the same general results, attended the \nvisits to Columbus, the State Capital, Xenia, \nDayton, &c. \n\nAt Lyons, Michigan, where they were \ninvited to attend a convention of people in- \nterested in psychological phenomena \xe2\x80\x94 a sort \nof Social Science Congress, differing some- \nwhat from that presided over by Lord \nBrougham \xe2\x80\x94 after gratifying large assemblies \nfor three nights they were again prosecuted \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPOET. 159 \n\nfor giving performances without a license. \nThe justice before whom they were taken \nproved to be a man of sense, and dismissed \nthe charge, saying that the law did not \napply to them, and if what they averred was \ntrue they should not be persecuted, while, \nif it was an imposture, persecution would \nonly spread it the faster. \n\nAt the great lake city of Chicago, Illinois, \nthey gave for some time seances limited as \nto numbers, alternating with large assemblies, \nwith bindings by ship -riggers, flour tests, \n&c, such as have been described elsewhere. \n\nThis was in April 186.1, and in the midst \nof a seance, a voice speaking through the \ntrumpet announced the beginning of the \nbombardment of Fort Sumter, nearly a \nthousand miles distant. An hour or so \nlater the same news came in due course by \ntelegraph. Had the manifestation ended \nhere it might be considered a lucky guess \nor a remarkable coincidence, but the news \n\n\n\nICO \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nof the events of this famous siege came hour \nby hour, and clay by day, and always in \nadvance of the telegraph, owing to the time \ntaken by the latter in repeating messages. \nThere were two excited crowds in Chicago \nfilling the streets, greedy for news, one at \nthe telegraph station, another at the rooms \nof the Brothers Davenport ; and the news \nby the Davenport telegraph not only came \nsooner but w r as more accurate. This was \nnotably shown when the electric telegraph \nannounced that the Confederate floating \nbattery had been knocked in pieces by the \nguns of Fort Sumter. The trumpet voice \ndenied that any such thing had happened. \nBets were made on the result, and when \nlater news came the Davenports were found \nright, as usual. \n\nAt one of the smaller towns in Illinois \none of the visitors, determined to know w r ho \nreally performed the wonders done in the \ndark circle, brought under his clothes a \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 161 \n\ndark lanthorn, intending to open it when \nthe instruments were flying about. The \nlight was extinguished, but instead of the \nusual sounds raps were heard upon the \ntable calling for the alphabet, and the fact \nof the presence of the dark lanthorn made \nknown. Upon its being found and ejected \nthe expected manifestations commenced. \n\nThe next night three dark lanthorns were \nbrought by as many persons, with the idea \nthat if one were suspected and detected the \nothers, or certainly one of them, might re- \nmain. Light out, and, as before, raps for \nalphabet. Lanthorn! One was \nfound and put out. Darkness again. Raps \nagain. Lanthorn! A second one \nwas found. The same process was repeated, \nand the last lanthorn put out, but not before \nit had burnt the clothes of the man who had \nso dishonourably tried to conceal it. Then \neverything went on as usual. \n\nThe result, of striking a match or show- \nM \n\n\n\n162 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\niug a light suddenly, while the musical \ninstruments are circling rapidly in the air, \nI ought to say here, perhaps, is their instant \nrelease from the controlling power. They \nfly with more or less velocity in the direc- \ntion in which the propelling force was \nacting at the moment. In this way the \ninstruments are sometimes broken, and \npersons who may be in the way of their \nflight are seriously injured. This happens \nat times, but in a less degree, when the \npersons holding hands let go in the midst \nof a manifestation. A match was struck at \nNewcastle-on-Tyne, with such results as I \nhave mentioned ; but as a test, though dan- \ngerous, it was perfect, for while the instru- \nments were seen to fall to the floor in \ndifferent directions, no one was seen who \ncould have directed their motions. \n\nAt Iowa City, west of the Mississippi, \nhandcuffs were proposed instead of ropes, \nand accepted ; but handcuffs are more \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 163 \n\nliable to suspicion than ropes, and less \nsatisfactory. A clever mechanician could \nmake handcuffs which could be opened \nwithout the key, while ropes, knots, and \nseals everyone can more easily judge of. \n\nAt Davenport, Iowa, \'Lanthorn\' was \nspelt out again, and as the person who had \nit would not avow himself, his name was \nspelt out by raps on the table. Of course \nthis might have been contrived for effect, \nbut it very certainly was not. It was here \nthat a man brought a test of his own in- \nvention \xe2\x80\x94 plates of tinned iron, with holes \nfor the thumb and fingers, which were tied \nin their places by twine ; but, as often hap- \npens, when his test had been accepted, and \nhad failed to detect the imposition he \nexpected to defeat, he was still unsa- \ntisfied. \n\nAt Keokuk, Iowa, the mayor compelled \nthem to pay a licence-fee of twenty dollars \n\nM 2 \n\n\n\n164 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\na night. \' If you were a party of negro \nminstrels \' said he, c I would give you a \nlicence for two dollars. I would ask you \niifty if I could. I would rather have given \na hundred than you should have come here; \nand I will give you a hundred out of my \nown pocket if you will go away.\' Why ? \n\nOne night at St. Louis, Missouri, in the \nmidst of the dark seance, a violent scuffle, \naccompanied by heavy blows, was heard in \nthe open space in the middle of the circle, \nwhile the musical instruments were career- \ning through the air. A light was struck ; \nand on the floor lay a young man, almost \nsenseless, with his head covered with bruises, \nand by his side lay a knife and battered \ntrumpet. The Brothers Davenport were \nbound to their chairs, the circle was un- \nbroken, except by the absence of this young \nman, who, according to his own story, being \ndetermined to solve the mystery, had rushed \nforward when he heard the sounds, armed \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 165 \n\nwith his knife. A strange contest ensued in \nwhich he was beaten by some antagonist \nwhom he could not clutch, while every cut \nand stab he gave with his knife was at the \nempty air, and he was finally knocked down \nto all appearance with the trumpet that lay \nbeside him. \n\nAt Louisville, Kentucky, on the Ohio \nEiver, an old steamboat captain tied the \nBrothers with tarred rope so brutally that \nthe audience hissed him, and then put on \niron handcuffs, but was no nearer the solu- \ntion of the mystery. \n\nVoyaging eastward to the Atlantic sea- \nboard, the Brothers Davenport visited Phi- \nladelphia, in Pennsylvania, the second city \nin the United States. Here they met with \nviolent opposition from several quarters \xe2\x80\x94 \nfrom the philosophers, the religious bigots, \nthe spiritualists, and the rabble who cared for \nnothing but to make a row. It required \nfifty policemen to keep order. In spite of \n\n\n\n166 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthis the most extraordinary manifestations \nwere given, and many curious tests resorted \nto. One night a famous sceptic, in whose \nsagacity the people seemed to have great \nconfidence, was chosen with remarkable \nunanimity as one of a committee to examine \nand report upon the manifestations. He had \ncome fully prepared. He tied them with \nthe greatest care, and then, to make his \nknots secure, wound them with annealed \nwire, which he made fast by twisting with \na pair of forceps. \n\n\' Are you satisfied ? \xe2\x80\xa2 asked Ira. \n\nc Yes, perfectly satisfied.\' \n\nc Will you be satisfied if the manifestations \ntake place as usual ? \' \n\n\' yes, certainly ..\' \n\n1 No, you will not ; or if you are your \nfriends will not, and before you leave this \nroom somebody will charge you with being \nour confederate.\' \n\nThe man was indignant at such a sup- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 167 \n\nposition. He knew his popularity, and \nbelieved that if he could be satisfied every- \nbody who knew him would be also. He \nwas not long in finding the contrary. When \nthe audience was passing out Mr. Ira \nheard him having hi^h words and almost \ncoming to blows with a man who accused \nhim of having aided in what he believed to \nbe an imposture. \n\nAt Washington, the Federal capital, the \nBrothers Davenport gave a series of seances \nat Willard\'s Hall, which were attended by \nmost of the distinguished men connected with \nCongress and the Government. One night \na flourishing personage got elected on the \ncommittee, who began by making a speech \nto the audience, telling them he had long \nwished for an opportunity to expose this \ngross imposture, by which so many even \nintelligent people had been deceived. At \nlast he had the opportunity, and they \nwould soon see one more humbug exploded. \n\n\n\n168 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nThen he tied the young men until he was \nsatisfied. The doors were closed. He was \nwatching eagerly very near them. A hand \ncame through the aperture, seized him by \nthe hair, and pulled his head this way and \nthat with more violence than was comfort- \nable. The doors were thrown open, and \nit was evident that the only visible occu- \npants of the cabinet were bound fast as \never. \n\nThe ambitious committee-man was not \nsatisfied. He came next night with some \nhundreds of feet of tarred rope, and \ncovered them from head to foot with a \ncomplete network. When it was fastened \nhe took out twenty dollars in greenbacks, \nwhich he promised to give to the Sanitary \nCommission, if unsuccessful. The result \nwas the same as before, and the com- \nmission twenty dollars richer by the ope- \nration. \n\nIn Baltimore, Maryland, the Brothers \n\n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 169 \n\nhad large and orderly assemblies ; they sub- \nmitted to the most convincing tests, and \nthe manifestations were more perfect, \nvarious, and powerful than in almost any \nother American city. This fact may, I \nbelieve, be scientifically accounted for. \n\nIn one of the towns of New Jersey a \ncommittee-man secretly daubed some of the \nknots in the ropes with printer\'s-ink. When \nthe \'phantom hands \' were pushed through \nthe opening, one of them was seen playing \nfor a moment round his face. The excited \ncommittee-man turned to the audience to \nexplain the circumstance, when he was \nastonished by * a most unoriental roar of \nlaughter.\' His face was completely smeared \nwith the ink. The hands of the Davenports \nwere not in the least blackened. \n\nIn visiting some of the wild and lawless \nwestern villages, ignorance and fanaticism, \nunrestrained by a police, sometimes caused \ndisorders, and even riots of a threatening \n\n\n\n170 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\ncharacter, as well as more legalised forms \nof persecution. In Kichmond, Indiana, for \ninstance \xe2\x80\x94 where, from there being a large \nQuaker population, the Davenports expected \nto have a quiet time \xe2\x80\x94 there was a most \nviolent opposition. When novel tests had \nfailed \xe2\x80\x94 when creosote secretly rubbed upon \nthe instruments could not be smelt upon \nthe hands of any, and only violence was \nleft to those who opposed the manifestations \nwhich they could not disprove, the lights \nwere put out, benches smashed, women \nfrightened, revolvers drawn, and, finally, \npreparations made to administer to the \nBrothers the favourite American remedy for \nany kind of heterodoxy ever since the \nEevolution of 1776 \xe2\x80\x94 tarring and feathering. \nThe boys, their father, and Mr. Lacy (who \nthen accompanied them as lecturer) were \nrescued from the mob separately by some \ncourageous women, who, under the obscurity \nof night, took them away, making them pass \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 171 \n\nfor their protectors ; and they all met, \nstrangely enough, at the same house, some \ndistance in the country, while a raging \nmob was searching for them, with yells \nand threats, until three o\'clock in the \nmorning. \n\nAs late as November 1860 they were \nthreatened with violence, at the Armoury \nHall, at Coldwater, Michigan. With a \nsword snatched from the wall in one hand, \nand a knife in the other, the elder brother \nkept the mob at bay, until they took refuge \nin the hotel, and when threatened there by \na larger mob defended the staircase with a \nrevolver, fortunately without the necessity \nof bloodshed. A vexatious prosecution for \nusing arms in self-defence, and for giving \nan entertainment within two miles of a re- \nligious meeting, ended in nothing. \n\nThese prosecutions, some of which have \nbeen alluded to, notably the one attended by \nimprisonment and the release of Mr. Rand \n\n\n\n172 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nat Oswego, were troublesome, costly, and \nvexatious. There were eleven in all, a few \nof which resulted in small fines, and when \nthese were resisted, in imprisonment. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 173 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV. \n\nAT THE NEW YORK COOPER INSTITUTE. \n\nImmense Audiences \xe2\x80\x94 Report of the \' New York Herald\'\' \xe2\x80\x94 Re- \nport of \'\'The World\' \xe2\x80\x94 Another Scene from the \' Herald" 1 \xe2\x80\x94 \nA Sporting Circle. \xe2\x80\x94 Mayor and Aldermen. \xe2\x80\x94 A Seance \nin Brooklyn. \xe2\x80\x94 Testimony of Mr. Tice. \n\nThe seances given by the Brothers Daven- \nport at the Cooper Institute, New York, in \nMay 1864, were the culmination and crown- \ning triumphs of their ten years\' American \nexperience. The Cooper Institute \xe2\x80\x94 the gift \nof Mr. Peter Cooper, a wealthy merchant of \nNew York, to the city \xe2\x80\x94 contains a very large \nfree reading-room, library, picture-gallery, \nand school of art. The lecture-room is one \nof the largest in America, and, being cen- \ntrally situated, is used for the largest public \nmeetings. \n\n\n\n174 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nThis immense room, seating more than \nthree thousand persons, was densely crowded, \nnight after night, to witness the manifesta- \ntions. Full reports were given in the New \nYork papers, from which I select, with some \ncondensation, an editorial notice, and a full \nand evidently very fair report from the \' New \nYork Herald, \' and a fuller report, written \nin a humouristic and sensational style, but \npretty correct in its details of facts, from \nthe leading Democratic organ, the \' New \nYork World \' \n\nFrom a leader in the \' New York Herald,\' \nMay 4, 1864:\xe2\x80\x94 \n\nA NEW ERA IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT THE \n\nDAVENPORT BROTHERS. \n\nAs the world grows older it grows wiser. \nHuman development has made greater ad- \nvances in every direction within the past \nfifty years than during the live thousand \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 175 \n\nyears before. Old things are now passing \naway ; everything is becoming new. Sys- \ntems of science, religion, philosophy, go- \nvernment \xe2\x80\x94 all are being revolutionized. We \nare in a transition state from darkness to \nlight, and every day brings us nearer to the \ngrand new era of the future. \n\nHere, for example, are the Davenport \nBrothers. They do the most wonderful \nthings in public and private. Perhaps their \nperformances are more astonishing in a \nprivate parlour, where deception appears \nimpossible, than in a public hall, where \nthere may be room for a suspicion of \ntrickery. These brothers make musical in- \nstruments float about the room. They cause \nspectral arms and hands to become visible \nand tangible. They raise chairs and tables \nfrom the floor to the ceiling. They illumi- \nnate the room with balls of blazing fire. \nWhile these phenomena are occurring the \nBrothers remain seated, their hands and feet \n\n\n\n176 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nfirmly tied and incapable of motion, even if \nany sleight-of-hand or sleight-of-foot could \nsuffice to perform such modern miracles. \nYet the Davenport Brothers do not attri- \nbute these wonders to spiritualism. They \nsay that the power to produce such mani- \nfestations has been bestowed upon them; \nand it is perhaps the same occult power, \ndifferently developed, as that shown in the \ntelegraph and the steam-engine. It may be \na physical power, or a mental power, or a \nmoral power, or a combination of them all, \nbut certainly it is as yet inexplicable. \n\nFrom a report in the c New York Herald/ \nMay 1864 :\xe2\x80\x94 \n\nTHE DAVENPORT BROTHERS \xe2\x80\x94MORE WONDER- \nFUL MANIFESTATIONS THE WHEAT-FLOUR \n\nTEST, &C \n\nThe performances of the Davenport Bro- \nthers at the Cooper Institute continue to \n\n\n\nTHE BEOTHEES DAVENPOET. 177 \n\nattract general attention and large audiences, \nLast evening there was a very full and fa- \nshionable house, and the manifestations were \nunusually satisfactory. This was undoubt- \nedly the result in a great measure of the \ngood order maintained by the spectators, \nalmost all of whom were too intelligent to \ninterfere with their own enjoyment by un- \nnecessary vociferation. Those who made \nthe most noise were those whose opinions \nare of the least consequence. \n\nAt the suggestion of Mr. Lacy, who said \nthat there had been some talk about wires \nand electricity, glass tumblers were placed \nunder the feet of the stools upon which \nstands the magic cabinet or closet. The \ncloset was carefully examined inside and \nout, and was found to contain nothing and \nto have no visible connection with any ap- \nparatus. The Davenport Brothers \xe2\x80\x94 two \nvery intelligent and gentlemanly persons \xe2\x80\x94 \nthen came forward, and were warmly \nN \n\n\n\n178 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nwelcomed. These gentlemen were securely- \ntied, hand and foot, by the committee, and \nfastened to the seats in the closet. The \ncommittee reported themselves perfectly \nsatisfied thus far, and certainly we have \nnever seen better tying than that accom- \nplished by the Fire Marshal. The lights \nwere turned down. Half-a-dozen musical \ninstruments \xe2\x80\x94 a guitar, banjo, tambourine, \nviolin, trumpet, and bell \xe2\x80\x94 were placed in \nthe closet by the committee. The two side \ndoors of the cabinet were closed and locked, \nalso by the Messrs. Baker. Then the centre \ndoor was pushed to, and in less than a \nsecond it was bolted upon the inside and \nthe trumpet thrown violently out of the \nhole in the door. The committee rushed to \nthe closet, the lights were turned up, and \nthere sat the Davenports bound as before. \nThe astonishment of the audience may be \nimagined. Those who were sceptics a mo- \nment ago now began to doubt their own \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 179 \n\nconclusions and joined in the general ap- \nplause. \n\nThe manifestations then followed in the \nregular order, the audience remaining very \nquiet and watching everything critically and \nintelligently. The committee seemed to be \nextremely impartial, and briefly reported \nthe results of their examinations. A full \nchorus of instruments playing a jig was \nheard inside the closet : the doors w r ere \nhastily opened, and the Davenports had not \nmoved. Spectral hands and arms appeared \nat the closet window: the doors were \nopened, and the Davenports were still \nbound. While the doors were partly open \nthe instruments were flung out and a hand \nwas seen to strike Fire-marshal Baker. \nStill the Davenports were tied. Then, the \ndoors being closed for three minutes, the \nBrothers were discovered perfectly un- \nbound. In four minutes more they were \nbound again, better than the committee \n\n\n\n180 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\ncould have bound them, as these gentlemen \ncandidly acknowledged. Then Judge Baker \nentered the closet and sat between the \nDavenports. The doors were shut ; the \nmanifestations continued ; and when the \nlights were again turned up, the Judge was \nrevealed with a tambourine on his head, \nand reported that the Davenports had not \n\xe2\x80\xa2moved a muscle. The Fire Marshal then \ntried the same experiment and made the \nsame report. All of the manifestations \nwere repeated several times, to satisfy the \nmost distrustful. It Avas especially noted \nthat in every case the inside bolt of the \ncentre door was heard to shoot into its \nsocket in less than a second after the door \nwas closed. This destroyed the theory that \nthe Davenports untie themselves. \n\nBy way of finale, Mr. Lacy suggested \nthat wheat-flour should be placed in the \nhands of the Messrs. Davenport while they \nwere still tightly tied. This was accord- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 181 \n\ningly done by the committee, and any of \nthe flour that had fallen within the box \nduring the operation was neatly brushed \naway. The doors were then closed for the \nlast time, and still the manifestations con- \ntinued. Noises were heard, an open hand \nwas shown at the window, and the trumpet \nwas thrown out. The doors were opened, \nand there stood the Davenport Brothers, \nunbound and holding the wheat-flour in \ntheir hands. The committee failed to find \nany of the flour about the closet or upon \nthe clothes of the Davenports ; and yet they \ncould not have avoided spilling some of it \nhad they unclosed their hands ever so little. \nFor such wonders, and for those performed \nby Mr. Fay in the room above, the hypo- \nthesis of legerdemain or jugglery does not \nseem a reasonable explanation. No modern \njuggler has ever performed such decep- \ntions, if they are deceptions ; and during \nthe many years that the Davenports have \n\n\n\n182 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nappeared in public no one \xe2\x80\x94 not even the \nprofessors of Harvard College \xe2\x80\x94 has detected \nthem in their \' impositions/ as some people \ncall the manifestations. \n\nThe following description of another of \ntheir famous seances, from the i New York \nWorld/ is in some respects more graphic and \nparticular, and records occurrences more \nremarkable, if possible, than the one from \nthe \' Herald.\' It is also a good illustration \nof the American style of reporting, which \nis in newspapers somewhat like pre-Raphaeli- \ntism in Art. \n\nFrom the \' New York World \' : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nTHE NEW SENSATION THE DAVENPORT BRO- \nTHERS AT THE COOPER INSTITUTE. \n\nThe Davenport Brothers, known through- \nout the country, appeared last evening at the \nCooper Institute; and it was announced by \nadvertisement that startling wonders, mys- \nterious displays, and unaccountable mani- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 183 \n\nfestations v^ould take place in their pre- \nsence. The fame of their feats of diablerie \nhad preceded them, and the large hall was \ncrowded. \n\nThe Wonderful Closet \n\nUpon the centre of the platform a plain \ncloset, with three doors opening in front, \nfrom six to eight feet broad and eight to \nten feet high and two or three feet through, \nwas placed upon three stools with four legs \neach. The closet was entirely disconnected \nfrom either the platform below or the \ncolumn behind, which it did not touch. \n\nA Preliminary Explanation. \n\nAt eight o\'clock the musicians retired, and \nMr. Lacy, the agent, appeared on the plat- \nform. He made a few remarks, in which he \nsaid that they did not come here to force \nany religion or philosophy on the audience, \nbut simply to show them a series of startling, \n\n\n\n184 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nmysterious, and wonderful manifestations, \nfor which they could account as they \nthought proper. One of the conditions \nnecessary to this was darkness, and there- \nfore this closet was used ; so that the young \nmen might be in the dark, and yet the \nmanifestations might be witnessed by the \naudience. \n\nChoosing the Committee. \n\nHe desired that a committee of two \nshould be chosen by the audience, to ex- \namine all the manifestations and see if there \nwas any deception. By vote of the audience, \nColonel Olcott and Rev. G. T. Flanders were \nselected as a committee. Colonel Olcott is \na candid and intelligent gentleman, well \nknown to many citizens. Rev. Mr. Flanders \nis the present pastor of the Second Univer- \nsalist Church, which meets in the hall of \nthe Historical Society building, and is well \nknown to the public as an eloquent preacher, \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 185 \n\nand is respected in the community as a can- \ndid, educated, and unimpeachable gentle- \nman. He came to the platform with much \nreluctance, and after many calls. \n\nThese gentlemen then examined the \ncloset in every part. The doors being \nthrown open, two seats were discovered, one \non either side. The doors being shut, an \nopening of less than a foot square, in the \nshape of a diamond, remained near the top. \nThe closet was pronounced simply a plain \naffair, with no springs, traps, or machinery \nin any part, and the seats were securely \nfastened. The carefulness of the gentle- \nmen in looking under and over and inside \nand around the article excited considerable \nlaughter but gave satisfaction. \n\nThe Davenport Brothers now appeared \non the platform. They looked remarkably \nlike each other in almost every particular, \nboth quite handsome and between twenty \nand twenty-five years old, with rather long \n\n\n\nlOb A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\ncurly black hair, broad but not high fore- \nheads, dark keen eyes, heavy eyebrows, \nmoustache, and \' goatee/ firm-set lips, mus- \ncular though well-proportioned frame. \nThey were dressed in black with dress-coats, \none wearing a watch-chain. \n\nThey are Tied. \n\n. The committee examine them, they in \nthe closet, one on each side ; and the com- \nmittee are a considerable time in tying them \nin every possible way with small ropes. \nTheir hands are bound behind them, their \nfeet bound together around the ankles, \nbelow and above the knee ; they are tied to \nthe sides of the closet so that they cannot \nstand up, and Colonel Olcott also ties his \nman about the waist. \n\nMr. Flanders stated, for himself and his \ncolleague, that these gentlemen were tied in \nthe most complicated manner possible. \n"With respect to those he had tied he would \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 187 \n\ni \n\ndefy any man with both his hands to untie \nthe snarl and complication of knots in half \nan hour. He would state that he had never \nwitnessed performances of this character \nbefore, and had no opinion in regard to them. \nHe was not accustomed to make up his \nmind either for or against anything he \nknew nothing about. He had never seen \nthese two gentlemen (the Davenports) that \nhe was aware of, and had only heard of them \nby rumours through the newspapers. \n\nA Tyer of Knots Pronounces his Decision. \n\nA gentleman in the audience said a \nfriend of his, acquainted with tying knots, \nwould like to see if the men were tied \nsecurely. The tyer of knots examined the \nmen carefully. \n\nA Voice \xe2\x80\x94 \' What does the professor say ?\' \n\nTyer of Knots \xe2\x80\x94 c The knots seem to be \nsufficiently complicated at any rate.\' \n\nWhether they are professionally as well \n\n\n\n188 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\ndone as an expert might do them deponent \nsayeth not. \n\nLook Out! \n\nThe gas was partially shut off \xe2\x80\x94 not, \nhowever, bat that everything was plainly \nvisible. A bell, trumpet, guitar, hddie, and \nbanjo were placed between the Brothers, out \nof reach of each, in centre. The committee \nclosed the two side doors, and as Mr. Olcott \nwas closing the middle one he was \n\nStruck in the Face ! \n\nby what appeared to be a man\'s hand, and \nmany of the audience saw the hand. How \nwas that ? The doors were opened, and \nthere sat the two men quietly tied. They \nwere examined and were secure. Rev. Mr. \nFlanders then proceeded to shut the doors, \nand was quietly adjusting the bolt of the \nmiddle door, when he suddenly withdrew it, \nand turned about with a start. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 189 \n\nMr. Flanders \xe2\x80\x94 \' I will state to the au- \ndience that, on reaching to adjust the bolt, \nmy fingers were severely grasped.\' \n\nHardly were the words out of his mouth, \nwhen, rap ! thump ! out of the opening the \nheavy trumpet right against and over Mr. \nFlanders\' head on to the platform. (Little \nscreams from the audience.) Mr. Lacy, the \nagent, opened the doors and turned on the \ngas as quickly as possible, and the two \nmen were sitting, each on his side, calm \nand fast. \n\nColonel Olcott \xe2\x80\x94 C I will state that this \ntrumpet was thrown out with such force \nthat the mouth is bent.\' \n\nKev. Mr. Flanders (with his hand to \nhis forehead) \xe2\x80\x94 \' Fin afraid it was bent on \nmy skull.\' (Laughter.) \n\nWhile the doors were being shut again \na hand passed quickly out twice before the \nmiddle door, and the audience saw it. Then \na bell was thrown out of the opening, and \n\n\n\n190 A BIOGRAPHY OE \n\nthe doors being suddenly opened the two \nmen were sitting still and secure. \n\nWhispers \xe2\x80\x94 \' There\'s no humbug about \nthat ! \' \' Oh ! oh ! did you see the hand ? \' \n\nThe doors were shut, and a hand ap- \npeared plain and palpable at the opening, \nshaking its fingers. \n\nThe agent looked into the middle door, \nand a hand caught him by the beard. It \nhad a man\'s wristband and coat-sleeve. \n\nMirabile Dictu ! \n\nThe doors were closed and the committee \ntook seats. Tremendous knocks were heard \nat the back, side, front, and top of the closet. \nTwo hands \xe2\x80\x94 not ghostly and shadowy, but \nplainly flesh and blood \xe2\x80\x94 appeared out of the \nopening and shook the fingers. The guitar \nand the violin were heard, as though being \ntuned. Mr. Flanders stood on one side, and \nMr. Olcott on the other, so that there was \nno part of the closet but what was visible as \n\n\n\nTHE BKOTHEES DAVENPORT. 191 \n\ndisconnected from the platform or column. \nSuddenly a band of musicians seemed to be \nplaying inside the closet ; there was the \nviolin, the guitar, and sometimes the banjo \nor bell. A very quick jig was struck up \nand continued a little time, and while it was \nplaying a hand came at the opening. Finally \nthe spirits were disgusted with the music, \nand pitched the banjo violently out of the \nopening, so that it passed beyond the plat- \nform against a gentleman\'s head. The \nspirits were evidently excessively disorderly \n\xe2\x80\x94 they were mad, and there was no method \nin their madness. First they slammed the \nsides of the closet as though they would \nknock it sky-high, so to speak, then they \nplayed spasmodically on the instruments, \nand, wildest of all, they must dash a banjo \nagainst a quiet gentleman\'s head with a force \ngreater than Dan Bryant exerts in his most \nhilarious efforts. The doors were opened \nquickly, and the young men were discovered \n\n\n\n192 \n\n\n\nA BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\n\nsitting, apparently in meditative mood, tied \nfast. It was noticed, however, that they \nwere in perspiration, but the closet was \nclose. \n\nThe Severest Test. \n\nMr. Flanders then sat in the closet \nbetween the two young men, one hand tied \nto each man, so that any motion of body or \nlimb would be felt by him. \n\nThe doors were shut and dead silence \nreigned. There was heard the sound of \nvoices in the closet ; then came a great\' \nracket \xe2\x80\x94 it seemed to be a wreck of matter \nand a crash of worlds ; the instruments \nwere tuned. \n\nThe doors being opened, there sat the \nyoung man and Mr. Flanders smiling, with \na banjo on his head. He was untied, and \ncoming out took a bell out of his bosom. \n\nRelating Jus Experience. \nHe said, while in the closet, what had \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 193 \n\noccurred had been so incredible, that he was \njustified in a degree of hesitation in making \nthe statement. He felt hands over his face, \nupon his breast, back, shoulders ; his nose \nwas held tightly, his ears pulled ; he was \nstruck with instruments, and all the while \nhe had his hands on the young men\'s legs, \nand his fingers stretched so as to touch their \nbodies, and they were immovable. Of \ncourse there was no deception here, and, \nas he should not like to be suspected of col- \nlusion, he should be glad if some other \nperson would take the same place. \n\nThe Spirits Tie and Untie Knots. \n\nWhen the doors were opened again the \nropes were lying in a pile between the young \nmen, and they walked out free. They were \nshut up again, and in four minutes the doors \nwere opened and they were securely tied, \nbut not as they were at first. The ropes \no \n\n\n\n194 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nfirst used were recognised as the same now \non the young men. \n\nAgain the young men were shut up, and \nthere was knocking and music, and appear- \nance of hands and arms : some swore that \nit was often the hand of a lady. \n\nA Voice \xe2\x80\x94 c Show us their faces.\' \n\nThe Agent \xe2\x80\x94 \' Faces not unfrequently \nappear.\' \n\nVoice \xe2\x80\x94 c Let\'s see one then.\' \n\nThe Agent (philosophically) \xe2\x80\x94 \' They are \nnot mine to show.\' \n\nVoice \xe2\x80\x94 \' Can\'t you catch that hand ? \' \n\nActing on the suggestion, both of the \ncommittee grasped the hands as they ap- \npeared. \n\nVoice \xe2\x80\x94 \' Were the hands cold ? \' \n\nMr. Olcott \xe2\x80\x94 \' No ; they were warm and \nmoist.\' \n\nMr. Flanders said he had tried to hold \nit, but though his grip was very strong he \ncould not do it. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 195 \n\nOnce, while the middle door was open, \nthe trumpet, in full sight of the audience, \nshot into the air in the direction of Mr. \nOlcott\'s head. \n\nThe l World \' also gives a report of a \nprivate seance, or dark circle, with Mr. \nIra Davenport and Mr. William M. Fay, \naccompanied by the same kind of manifesta- \ntions as those which have so much \nastonished the savans, the literati, and the \nhighest circles of English society. \n\nThe following extract from a report in \nthe \' New York Herald,\' giving an account \nof the closing scenes of another seance at \nthe Cooper Institute, is not, I am assured, \nan exaggeration : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n6 The brothers now re-enter the cabinet, \nand in a few minutes, apparently without \nearthly assistance, the doors are opened, \nand the youths appear more firmly tied \nthan ever. Mr. Bradbury so reports. Mr. \nConklin says, vaguely, " I can\'t see how \no 2 \n\n\n\n196 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nthat\'s done." A gentleman proposes, that \nas the Brothers might slip their hands out \nof the ropes and in again, that thread, \ninstead of cord, be used to tie them. There \nwas at this time indescribable confusion \namong the audience. Mr. Conklin is urged \nto get into the box with the Brothers and \nfind out the deception, if he can. " Get \nmto the box, Conklin." \xe2\x80\xa2 " That\'s it ; go in, \nConk." "Go in, Conk." Mr. Conklin \nlooks imploringly at the audience; he is \nevidently terribly confused. A lull in the \ncries and noises enables him to be heard. \n" Gentlemen," he cries, " be men and \nladies." This speech was hailed with \nanother general outburst of merriment, in \nthe midst of which Mr. Conklin enters the \nmiraculous cabinet, and is last seen before \nthe doors close sitting between the Bro- \nthers, with a hand on the shoulder of each. \nAs the doors closed the uproar among \nthe audience was redoubled. u Goodbye, \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 197 \n\nConklin," cries a stentorian voice at the \nback part of the hall ; " I smell brim- \nstone," cries another ; " How \xe2\x80\x94 are \xe2\x80\x94 you \n\xe2\x80\x94 Conklin ? " ejaculates still another voice. \nAnd now the audience are hushed in silence, \nas strange voices inside the cabinet are \nheard. There is a drumming on the guitar, \nand the bell is rung. In a few moments \nthe doors are opened, and Conklin comes \nforth like a ghost from a sepulchre. \nThe Brothers are seen still tied fast, and \napparently unchanged in their position in \nthe slightest degree. The audience are \nclamorous for a report of Conklin\'s ex- \nperience while with the goblins. He says, \nu I had a hand on the shoulder of each. \nThey did not move a muscle, or I should \nhave felt it ; and, by the Eternal ! I don\'t \nbelieve they did move. But I got a crack \non my head from the violin \xe2\x80\x94 that I know." \n(Boisterous laughter.) Once more are the \ndoors shut, and in the shadowy darkness a \n\n\n\n198 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nlong white spectral human arm is seen \nslowly moving through the aperture. The \naudience is hushed. A sensation is created. \nThere is something supernatural in the \nappearance of this ghostly-white arm. But \nthe inevitable Conklin is dauntless \xe2\x80\x94 he is \nnot scared. He rushes to seize the arm, \nand a sturdy red hand at the end of it \nseizes his own hand and drags the un- \nfortunate man\'s arm clear into the aperture \nwith a grip that made him wince with pain. \nConklin acknowledged that that was a \nhand, " and a mighty powerful one, too." \nAnd now a terrible racket is heard in the \ncabinet : the spirits seem to have broken \nloose, and are raising a miniature pandemo- \nnium. Thundering, rapping, tumultuous \nshaking of the doors and sides of the \ncabinet, loud bellringing, the clanging of \nmusical instruments, and other noises of \nalmost every sort create a disturbance last- \ning some minutes. Ever and anon the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 199 \n\nspectral arm appears. The audience be- \ncome infected with the tempest of dis- \ncordant sounds, and help along the infernal \ndin by all kinds of cries. Once when the \nmysterious arm appeared, a masculine voice \ncried, " Stick your knife in that arm, Conk- \nlin." (Sensation.) Conklin was no such \nbrute. There were vociferous cries of \n" Open the door," u Open the door," " Oh ! \nlet \'em rip," " Order," "Order," "Order! " \nMr. Lacy appeals to the audience to be \nquiet. The ghostly hand spasmodically \nrings the bell at the aperture. " Look out \nfor your head, Conklin." A regular shindy \nis struck up ; the violin is played vividly, \nthe tambourine is banged savagely, the bell \nis rung vociferously, and every few mo- \nments that strange white arm is thrust out \nand in the aperture, like the arm of a \ncorpse through a new-made grave amid \ngleams of moonlight. " Oh, humbug ! " \nejaculates a hardened sceptic near us. \n\n\n\n200 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n" You\'re a philosopher/\' deprecatingly \nobserves a careful and deeply-interested \nwatcher of the entire phenomena. The \ncries to " Open the door ! " now became \nunanimous and boisterous all over the \nhouse. Mr. Lacy finally opened the doors, \nand out came, pellmell, the guitar, \ntrumpet, tambourine, and we don\'t know \nwhat else ; while the Brothers were seen \nstill tied as tight and fast as ever, and \nsitting as composedly as if nothing had \nhappened. Conklin, perfectly dumb- \nfounded, exclaimed, " Gentlemen, this is \nbeyond my comprehension ! " \' \n\nDuring their triumphant season at New \nYork, so fully and vividly reported by the \nleading journals of that city, they were in- \nvited ohp Jay to visit Mr. John Morrissey, a \nwell-known sporting man and prizefighter \n\xe2\x80\x94 perhaps the most successful and popular \nmember of what used to be called the \nf Fancy \' in America. He fought Heenan ; he \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 201 \n\nbacked other champions : he has his horses \non the racecourse ; he used to keep a faro \nbank ; he speculates in stocks and gold in \nWall Street. \n\nThe Brothers Davenport were naturally \ncurious to see so distinguished a character, \nand they aver that many clergymen have \ntreated them with less politeness and kind- \nness than was shown to them by Mr. M. and \nhis friends, and on other occasions by pub- \nlicans and sinners. The object of the visit \nwas to arrange for a private seance for Mr. \nMorrissey and his friends. It was readily \nagreed to. A sailor was brought by one \nparty, who spent an hour and a half in tying \nthe Brothers with tarred rope, until they \nwere covered as with a net, and heavy bets \nwere made that they would or would not be \nuntied. This was the only manifestation \nthey cared for. Everything was conducted \nwith as much scrutiny as the pending in- \nterests demanded, but also with a fairness \n\n\n\n202 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthat would have shamed more pretentious \npeople. When the lights were put out a \nvariety of manifestations were given. Then \nthe knots were all untied in fifteen minutes, \nto the satisfaction of winners and losers. \n\nA private seance was also given to the \nMayor and Common Council of the City of \nNew York, who will, I trust, pardon me \nfor having given precedence to the more \npiquant if less dignified one attended by \nMr. John Morrissey and his respectable \nconfreres. \n\nI close this long but I believe interesting \nchapter with the following statement, pub- \nlished in the New York papers : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nThe Brothers 1 Hands Blacked. \n\nWe have had furnished us a statement \nmade by Mr. Thomas S. Tice, an unbeliever, \nrespecting certain tests applied by him \nwhile the Brothers were exhibiting in \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHEES DAVENPORT. 203 \n\nBrooklyn. Mr. Tice acted as one of the \ncommittee on the occasion referred to. \n\n\' Mr. Tice\'s Statement. \n\n1 1 took a piece of chamois skin well filled \nwith lampblack, previously prepared for the \npurpose, and, unknown to the Brothers, \nwhile examining the cords that tied their \nhands, I smeared them over as well as I \ncould, even rubbing the black upon the \nwrists, so that if it were their hands that \nappeared at the aperture it would show the \nsmearing I gave them. I was at the side \nof the cabinet when a hand appeared at the \nopening which I did not see ; but I imme- \ndiately enquired if there was any black upon \nit, when it was stated that the hand was a \nbeautiful clean white hand and without \nany trace of black upon it, and there were \nat least a dozen people in the front row \nwatching to see if they could detect any \nblack upon the hand whatever. \n\n\n\n204 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\' Again, after both of us that were on the \ncommittee had been inclosed with them, a \nhand appeared at the opening \xe2\x80\x94 as clean and \nperfect a hand as could be. In fact the \nhand looked quite fleshy, and as if it be- \nlonged to some young lady, and not like \nthe Brothers\' hands, with veins and sinews \nshowing very plainly ; and, in conclusion, I \nwill only add that I cannot account for the \nmysteries that appear in connection with \nthe Brothers and their wonderful cabin et.\' \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 205 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI. \n\nVISIT TO ENGLAND. \n\nCharacter of the English \xe2\x80\x94 Past and Present Beliefs \xe2\x80\x94 The \nMission of the Brothers Davenport \xe2\x80\x94 Their Confederates \n\xe2\x80\x94 The first Seance in London \xe2\x80\x94 The Press in a Diffi- \nculty, and How they Got out of it \xe2\x80\x94 Report of the \' Morn- \ning Post\'\xe2\x80\x94 1 The Times\'\xe2\x80\x94\' The Herald. \' \n\nAeter the ten years of strange and won- \nderful experiences in America, here truth- \nfully but briefly and imperfectly recorded, \nand while a sanguinary war is raging over \ntheir native land, the Brothers Davenport, \nafter a visit to the British- American Pro- \nvinces, elsewhere spoken of, received and \nobeyed the direction given them to cross the \nAtlantic to their ancient fatherland, the \nbirthplace of their mother, and in which the \ndust of their ancestry reposes, to continue \nin Britain and in Europe a mission in whose \n\n\n\n206 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nbeneficent purposes they have an undoubt- \ning faith, and which may carry them around \nthe world. \n\nEngland, the country in which they would \nnaturally first continue the work so long and \nfaithfully pursued in America, is probably \none of the most incredulous, materialistic, \npractical, and impracticable countries in the \nWorld. Hard, scientific, unimpressible, and \nunimaginative, devoted to precedent and re- \nspecting authority, the English people, as a \nrule, have long since adopted, and are now \nfirmly settled in, the belief that there is and \ncan be nothing beyond the range of ordinary \nexperience. Two centuries ago they be- \nlieved in witchcraft, and burned or hanged \nwizards and witches in abundance. Three \ncenturies ago they believed in miracles \xe2\x80\x94 \nthat is, they believed that miracles might be, \nand often were, worked in the later as well \nas in the earlier Christian centuries. That \nfaith still exists over a large part of Europe ; \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 207 \n\nbut in England it died out after the Refor- \nmation, and has not been revived. To an \nEnglishman at this day a miracle, such as \nhis ancestors three or four hundred years ago \nbelieved in with an earnest and lively faith, \nand such as the people of three-fourths of \nEurope still believe in, seems an utter ab- \nsurdity. It is opposed to his science, and \nit shocks his common-sense. It is stuff and \nnonsense. In the days of Shakspeare, the \nghost of the Royal Dane in Hamlet, the \ndread spectre of the murdered Banquo in \nMacbeth, and the terrible vision that froze \nthe blood of Richard III., were very real \nthings ; now they are matters of ridicule, \nand at the most appeal only to some chil- \ndish remnant of traditional superstition. \nThe Englishman has long since made up his \nmind that what he calls the laws of nature \nare, in this steam-engine-driven and gas-en- \nlightened age, never violated: the Society \nfor the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge and \n\n\n\n208 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthe \' Penny Cyclopaedia \' settled all that \nlong ago. \n\nIf the Brothers Davenport have really any \nmission \xe2\x80\x94 any proper and worthy business \xe2\x80\x94 \nin England, it is to meet on its own low \nground, and conquer by appropriate means, \nthe hard materialism and scepticism of \nEngland. The first step to knowledge is \n-to be convinced of ignorance : small things \noften lead to great results. \n\nThe fall of an apple or the swing pf a \npendulum may suggest an investigation \ninto the most profound laws of the physical \nworld. If the manifestations given by the \naid of the Brothers Davenport shall prove \nto the intellectual and scientific classes in \nEngland that there are forces \xe2\x80\x94 and intelli- \ngent forces, or powerful intelligences \xe2\x80\x94 ber \nyond the range of their philosophies, and that \nwhat they consider physical impossibilities \nare readily accomplished by invisible and \nto them unknown intelligences, a new uni- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 209 \n\nverse will be opened to human thought and \ninvestigation. \n\nI say, if they have any real mission ; for \nto come here as mere jugglers, doing tricks \nby sleight-of-hand and aid of confederates, \ndenying that they are so done, would be \nnot only a mercenary, base imposture, but, \nin their case, the most infamous of false- \nhoods, and the most horrible of perjuries. \nIf they say falsely, they and those who are \nwith them, that they have no voluntary \nagency in the production of the phenomena \ndescribed in these pages ; if they are try- \ning to palm off as preternatural or super- \nnatural, the results of mere trick and col- \nlusion, they are the most base and infa- \nmous wretches in the world, compared with \nwhom a common forger, an ordinary felon, \nis a man of honour and a gentleman. I \ncannot put this case more strongly than I \nwish to put it, or than it ought to be put. \nPenal servitude for life at Norfolk Island \np \n\n\n\n210 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nwould be a mild punishment for so detest- \nable an outrage. \n\nIn good faith, as I believe with no shadow \nof doubt, the Brothers Davenport embarked \nfrom the city of New York on the 27th of \nAugust, 1864, bringing with them, in con- \nsequence of a nervous debility in Mr. Wil- \nliam Davenport, a reinforcement in Mr. \nWilliam M. Fay, who is not to be con- \nfounded with one H. Melville Fay \xe2\x80\x94 said, \nupon I know not what kind of authority, \nto have been detected in attempting to pro- \nduce similar manifestations, or what might \npass for them, in Canada. They were \naccompanied by Mr. Palmer, widely known \nas an impressario or business manager in \nthe operatic and dramatic world, to whom, \nas an experienced agent, was confided the \nbusiness and pecuniary portion of their \nundertaking \xe2\x80\x94 a matter of such obvious \nnecessity that it needs neither apology nor \nexplanation. To these were added Mr. J. \n\n\n\nTHE BKOTHEES DAVENPORT. 211 \n\nB. Ferguson, a gentleman of education and \nposition, formerly a clergyman of Nash- \nville, the capital of Tennessee, where he was \nhighly respected and esteemed. Mr. Fer- \nguson was born in the valley of Virginia, \nbut emigrated early in life west of the \nAlleghanies. He is now forty-seven years \nold, and is greatly esteemed by those who \nknow him best as a man of integrity and \nhonour, of high religious principle, purity \nof character, deep thought, and eloquent \nexpression. Distinctively American, of the \nsouthern and western type, with striking \nAmerican peculiarities, he has yet, I believe, \nmade a very favourable impression upon \nEnglishmen. In the war that has con- \nvulsed his native country, and desolated \nthe State in which he was born and in \nwhich he resided, he has taken the part of \na peacemaker, and in that capacity has \nvisited Richmond, and once before crossed \nthe Atlantic. \n\np 2 \n\n\n\n212 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nIt is very unlikely that such a man, \nholding such a character, standing in such \na position, so gifted, honoured and beloved, \nwould lend himself to a mean and mise- \nrable imposture. In another chapter, Mr. \nFerguson has given his own statement of \nthe motives which have induced him to \naccompany the Davenport Brothers, to \nwatch over them, and be the intellectual \nmanager of the seances, in which powers \nand forces unknown to and unrecognised \nby science are demonstrated by incontro- \nvertible facts. \n\nThis party arrived safely at Glasgow, \nSept. 9th, and on the 11th reached the \ngreat metropolis. Their first private seance \nwas given at the residence of Mr. Dion \nBoucicault, the well-known dramatic author \nand actor \xe2\x80\x94 author of * London Assurance/ \n\' the Young Actress/ \' Colleen Bawn,\' \n1 Streets of London,\' and a score of enter- \ntaining and delightful comedies and dramas, \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 213 \n\nin which it is hard to say whether his \nmerits as dramatist or actor were more \nconspicuous. I speak in this special man- \nner of Mr. Boucicault as a matter of \njustice, because he has shown a moral \ncourage equal to his ability, and because I \nshall be indebted to his hand for one of \nthe clearest descriptive statements of the \nnature of these manifestations that has \never been written. \n\nThis first and very important seance, \ngiven Sept. 28, 1864, was attended by \nseveral gentlemen connected with the lead- \ning daily newspapers of London, and other \ndistinguished men of science and letters. \nIt would have been difficult to select a \ncompany better able to examine the phe- \nnomena presented, or better qualified to \nmake a proper report to the public. In the \ncase of the production of a new farce, the \nopening of a donkey-show, or a prize-fight \nfor the belt of the champion of England, \n\n\n\n214 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthe reports of these gentlemen, who stand \nhigh upon the staffs of their respective \njournals, would have been published in the \nusual form ; but in this case, where occult \npowers and hidden forces of the universe \nwere in question, every daily paper except- \ning the \' Morning Post \' published the ac- \ncounts which were given as anonymous \ncommunications. This is not at all to be \nwondered at. Considering the obstinate \nincredulity of the public mind, it is won- \nderful that the editors of these leading \norgans of public opinion published them at \nall. It may be supposed that they thought \nthe facts reported to them too marvellous \nto be vouched for, but also too striking to \nbe passed over in silence. \n\nI propose to copy from these reports so \nmuch as may be pertinent to the case and \ninteresting to the reader, taking the liberty \nto condense, by omitting superfluous por- \ntions, unnecessary repetitions ; and first the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 215 \n\narticle from the \' Morning Post,\' which ap- \npears to have been written by one of its \nstaff editorial. \n\nFrom the London \' Morning Post/ Sept. \n29, 1864 :\xe2\x80\x94 \n\n6 Extraordinary Manifestations. \n\nc Yesterday evening, in the front drawing- \nroom of a house in the immediate neigh- \nbourhood of Portland-place, a select number \nof persons were invited to witness some \nstrange manifestations which took place in \nthe presence, if not by the agency, of three \ngentlemen lately arrived from America. \nThe party consists of two brothers named \nDavenport, twenty-four and twenty-five \nyears of age, and a Mr. Fay, a gentleman \nborn in the States, but we believe of German \norigin. They are accompanied by Mr. H. \nD. Palmer, a gentleman long and favour- \nably known in New York in connection with \noperatic matters, and by a Dr. Ferguson, \n\n\n\n216 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nwho explains the nature of the manifesta- \ntions about to be presented, but who does \nnot venture to give any explanation of them. \nIt should be stated at the outset that the \ntrio, who appear to be gifted in so extraor- \ndinary a manner, do not lay claim to any \nparticular physical, psychological, or moral \npower. All they assert is that in their pre- \nsence certain physical manifestations take \nplace. The spectator is, of course, at liberty \nto draw any inference he pleases. They \ninvite the most critical examination (com- \npatible with certain conditions to be ob- \nserved), and those who witness the manifes- \ntations are at liberty to take all needful \nprecautions against fraud or deception. \n\n4 The party invited to witness the mani- \nfestations last night consisted of some twelve \nor fourteen individuals, all of whom are ad- \nmitted to be of considerable distinction in \nthe various professions with which they are \nconnected. The majority had never pre- \n\n\n\nTHE BKOTHERS DAVENPORT. 217 \n\nviously witnessed anything of the kind. All, \nhowever, were determined to detect, and, if \npossible, expose any attempt at deception. \nThe Brothers Davenport are slightly-built, \ngentleman-like in appearance, and about the \nlast persons in the world from whom any \ngreat muscular performances might be ex- \npected. Mr. Fay is apparently a few years \nolder, and of more robust constitution. 7 \n\nThe writer proceeds to describe the cabi- \nnet, and says the bolt of \' the middle door \nwas shut by some invisible agency from the \ninside.\' The Brothers are securely tied. \n1 Instantly on the centre door being closed \nthe bolt was secured inside, and hands were \nclearly observed through the opening. A \ngentleman present was invited to pass his \nhand through the opening, and it was \ntouched by the hands several times.\' Music \nwas heard ; the doors flew open ; the Bro- \nthers are seen to be firmly secured ; the \ndoors are * closed by persons who, when \n\n\n\n218 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\ndoing so, were touched by invisible hands, \nand the noise of undoing the cords was dis- \ntinctly heard.\' \' After an interval of two \nminutes, the Brothers were found securely \nbound with the same cords, the ends of the \nrope being some distance from their hands.\' \nA gentleman sits in the cabinet with his \nhands tied to the knees of the two Daven- \nports, whose hands were bound behind their \nbacks, and to the bench, and their feet \nsecurely fastened. The gentleman stated \nthat \' the instant the door was closed, hands \nwere passed over his face and head, his hair \nwas gently pulled, and the whole of the \nmusical instruments played upon, the bells \nviolently rung close to his face, and the \ntambourine beat time on his head. Even- \ntually the instruments were thrown behind \nhim and rested between his shoulders and \nthe back of the cabinet.\' A gas-burner and \ntwo candles were burning. \n\nHere are the facts\xe2\x80\x94 two Davenports and \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 219 \n\na witness in a box scarcely larger than \nneeded to contain them, and all securely \nbound \xe2\x80\x94 yet observe what happened : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nA dark circle was then formed, the \nBrothers bound to chairs, and the whole \ncompany, including Mr. Ferguson and Mr. \nFay, taking hold of hands. ; The instant \nthe lights were extinguished the musical \ninstruments appeared to be carried all about \nthe room. The currents of air which they \noccasioned in their rapid transit were felt \nupon the faces of all present. The bells \nwere loudly rung; the trumpet made knocks \non the floor, and the tambourine seemed to \nbe running round the room jingling with all \nits might. At the same time tiny sparks \nwere observed as if passing from south to \nwest.\' Several persons were lightly, and one \n(the representative of the \'Times,\') severely \nstruck with the passing instruments. Lights \nwere struck from time to time, and the \nBrothers always found securely bound. \n\n\n\n220 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nMr. Fay was now bound to one of the \nchairs, with his hands firmly tied behind \nhim. As soon as the light was extinguished, \na whizzing noise was heard. \' It\'s off/ said \nMr. Fay, meaning his coat, and on striking a \nlight, his coat was no longer on, but lying \non the floor, and his hands were still \ntied together behind him ! 4 Astonishing \nthough this appeared to be, what followed \nwas more extraordinary still. Dr. Fergu- \nson requested a gentleman present to take \noff his coat and place it on the table. This \nwas done, the light was extinguished, a re- \npetition of the whizzing noise was heard, \nand the strange coat was found upon Mr. \nFay, whose hands and feet were still \nsecurely bound, and his body tied almost \nimmoveably to the chair.\' Several other \nmanifestations were made, and some while \nthe Davenport Brothers and Mr. Fay, in- \nstead of being bound, were held by those \npresent, and all with similar results. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 221 \n\nThis manifestation of the taking off a \nman\'s coat, and putting on another man\'s, \nboth garments being intact, with the wrists \ncloselv bound together behind the back, and \nthe person securely tied to a chair, is un- \ndoubtedly one of the most astounding ever \ngiven. It is simply what is called a physical \nimpossibility. It is as if two links of a \nchain should be separated without a frac- \nture and then restored to their places. That \nit was done on this occasion, and has been \ndone scores, perhaps hundreds of times, \nthere is no doubt whatever. \n\nAll this was done, it will also be observed, \nnot in the presence of ignorant and credulous \npersons, but in a select company, which \nincluded some of the sharpest minds in \nEngland ; not in a prepared theatre, but in \na gentleman\'s drawing-room, where there \ncould have been no deception had it been in \nany case possible. \n\nAfter giving the details, which I have \n\n\n\n222 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\ncondensed, because they will be still more \nminutely given in other statements which are \nto follow, the writer in the i Morning Post \' \nmakes the following observations : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\' The seance lasted more than two hours, \nduring which time the cabinet was minutely \ninspected, the coats examined to ascertain \nwhether they were fashioned so as to favour \na trick, and every possible precaution taken \nto bind the hands and feet of the persons \nwhose presence appeared to be essential to \nthe development of the manifestations. \n\n\' It may be asserted that all the illustra- \ntions above enumerated can be traced to \nclever conjuring. Possibly they may t or it \nis possible that some new physical force can \nbe engendered at will to account for what \nappears on the face of it absolutely unac- \ncountable. All that can be asserted is, that \nthe displays to which we have referred took \nplace on the present occasion under condi- \ntions and circumstances that preclude the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 223 \n\npresumption of fraud. It is true that dark- \nness is in some cases an essential condition, \nbut darkness does not necessarily imply \ndeception. But, putting aside the cabinet \nmanifestations, there is abundance left to \nexcite curiosity and challenge the attention \nof the scientific. Learning, we know, is \nnot a limited quantity; it is inexhaustible \nfor all mankind, and here is a field for the \ninvestigation of the scientific world. In the \npresent state of knowledge upon the subject of \noccult forces, dependent more or less upon the \nwill, all that can be said is, that the mani- \nfestations of Messrs. Davenport and Mr. Fay \nappear to be altogether inexplicable. \n\n1 In a little time we believe it is their \nintention to give seances at the Egyptian \nHall or some other suitable place, when the \npublic will be afforded an opportunity of \nwitnessing some of the astonishing feats of \nwhich we have given an outline. For the \npresent it is sufficient to say that they \n\n\n\n224 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\ninvite the strictest scrutiny on the part of \nmen of science, and that, whatever be the \ntheory involved, they repudiate any active \nagency in the production of the extraordi- \nnary manifestations which take place in \ntheir presence. It is perhaps well for them \nthat they were not in the flesh a century \nand a half ago, as, in the then state of \nhuman knowledge and social enlightenment, \nthey would unquestionably have been con- \nducted to Smithfield, and burnt as necro- \nmancers of the most dangerous type/ \n\nThe writer of this article, in the most \nfashionable and aristocratic journal in Eng- \nland, no doubt conferred with the gentle- \nmen of the press and other cool and careful \nobservers then present, and has given their \nideas and observations as well as his own. \nIt has every appearance of being a fair, \ncandid, and intelligent statement, and the \neditor of the \' Morning Post\' did not shrink \nfrom the responsibility of giving it a suit- \nable place in his journal. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 225 \n\nThe e Times\' \xe2\x80\x94 the leading journal of Eng- \nland, Europe, and the world, \' The Thun- \nderer,\' the paper that more than any other \ncan make and unmake fortunes and reputa- \ntions, which wields so great a power, that \nit may be hoped its conductors never forget \nthat great power involves a corresponding \nresponsibility \xe2\x80\x94 the { Times \' is said to have \nbeen represented on this occasion by one \nof its ablest writers, but its account of the \nseance is c From a Correspondent.\' It may \nseem strange that the \' Times \' did not pub- \nlish a report of the personal observations of \none of the most trusted and matter-of-fact \nwriters on its staff, but it is well to be \nwary of impossibilities. \n\nThe \' Correspondent \' of the \\ Times,\' \nSeptember 30th, says : \xe2\x80\x94 \' I was present at a \nseance, at the house of Mr. Dion Bouci- \ncault, whose party comprised several persons \nknown in the literary and artistic world. \nHaving arrived rather late, I missed some \nQ \n\n\n\n226 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nof the earlier " experiments," which seem to \nhave been extremely curious. \n\n1 When I entered the room devoted to \nthe " manifestations " I found it occupied by \na number of persons who attentively listened \nto a strange discordant concert held within \na wardrobe placed at the end furthest from \nthe door. When the sounds had ceased the \nwardrobe was opened, and three compart- \nments were discovered, two of which were \noccupied by the Brothers Davenport, bound \nhand and foot with strong cords, like the \nmost dangerous malefactors. The centre \ncompartment held the musical instruments, \nand on each side of this sat the corded \nbrothers. The ostensible theory is that \nthe Davenports, bound as they were, pro- \nduced a combination of noises, compared \nto which the performance of the most ob- \ntrusive German band that ever awakened \nthe wrath of a Babbage is the harmony of \nthe spheres. The cords are examined, the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 227 \n\nwardrobe is closed, the instruments are re- \nplaced, and presently, through an aperture \nin the centre door, a trumpet is hurled with \nviolence. The wardrobe is reopened and \nthere are the Brothers Davenport corded as \nbefore. \n\n\' A change takes place in the manner of \nthe performance. Hitherto the brothers \nhave remained incarcerated in this box, \nwhile the audience are at liberty. They \nnow leave the wardrobe and take their place \nin the middle of the room, where they are \nfirmly bound to their chairs. The gentle- \nman who officiates as their lecturer or \nspokesman even offers to drop sealing-wax \non the knots, and requests any one of the \ncompany to impress it with his own seal. \nOn the evening of my visit this offer was \nnot accepted, but the fault, if any, lay with \nthe investigators. When the lights had \nbeen extinguished, and as we were all seated \nround the room with hands joined, at the \n\nQ2 \n\n\n\n228 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nrequest of the lecturer, a most extraordi- \nnary " manifestation " took place. . The air \nwas filled with the sound of instruments \nwhich we had seen laid upon a table, but \nwhich now seemed to be flying about the \nroom, playing as they went, without the \nsmallest respect to the heads of the visitors. \nNow a bell jingled close to your ear, now \na guitar was struck immediately over your \nhead, while every now and then a cold wind \npassed across the faces of the whole party. \nSometimes a smart blow was administered, \nsometimes the knee was patted by a myste- \nrious hand ; divers shrieks from the mem- \nbers of the company indicating the side on \nwhich the more tangible " manifestations " \nhad taken place. A candle having been \nlighted, the brothers were seen still bound \nto their chairs, while some of the instru- \nments had dropped into the laps of the vi- \nsitors. I myself had received a blow on the \n\n\n\nTHE BEOTHERS DAVENPORT. 229 \n\nface from a floating guitar which drew \nenough blood to necessitate the employment \nof towel and sponge. \n\n\' A new experiment was now made. Dark- \nness having regained its supremacy, one of \nthe brothers expressed a desire to be relieved \nof his coat. Eeturning light showed him \nin his shirt-sleeves, though his hands were \nstill firmly bound behind his chair. It was \nnow stated that he was prepared to put on \nthe coat of any one of the company willing \nto " loan " that article of attire, and an as- \nsenting gentleman having been found, the \ncoat, after a short interval of darkness, was \nworn in proper fashion by a person for \nwhom it had not been designed by the tailor. \nFinally, the brothers desired a release, and \none of the company, certainly not an accom- \nplice, requested that the rope might fall \ninto his lap. During the interval of dark- \nness a rushing sound as of swiftly drawn \n\n\n\n230 \n\n\n\nA BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\n\ncords was audible, and the ropes reached the \nrequired knees, after striking the face of the \nperson in the next chair. \n\n\' Such are the chief phenomena. To sum \nup the essential characteristics of the exhi- \nbition, it is sufficient to state that the bro- \nthers, when not shut up in the wardrobe, \nare bound while the candles are alight, per- \nform their miracles in the dark, and on the \nreturn of light are found to be bound as \nbefore. The investigators into the means \nof operation have to ascertain whether the \nbrothers are able to release themselves and \nresume their straitened condition during the \nintervals of darkness, and whether, even if \nthis is practicable, they can, without assist- \nance, produce the effects described. 1 \xe2\x80\x94 Times, \nSept. 13. \n\nA clear, brief, evidently honest statement \nby a man who would have exposed the \nslightest indication of imposture had there \nbeen any to expose. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 231 \n\nThe \' Morning Herald \' and \' Standard \' \nwere represented at the party of Mr. Bou- \ncicault, it is stated, by one of the able \nwriters of their regular staff, but the report, \nfollowing the prudent example of the lead- \ning journal, is given in a communication \n4 to the Editor,\' over the signature of \' In- \ncredulous Odi.\' \n\nHaving given a careful statement of the \nfacts, it will be sufficient to copy a few of \nthis clever writer\'s observations, and his \nc views of a puzzle which, whether it be \nphysical or metaphysical, is likely to cause \nmuch and various speculation ere it be \nfinally, if ever, solved.\' \n\nMr. \' Incredulous Odi \' was there at the \nbeginning. He c examined the cabinet and \nfound it too simple in construction to \nadmit of any concealed machinery. One \nof the gentlemen engaged in tying the \nBrothers Davenport was a nautical gentle- \nman, and \'profound in the matter of knots. \n\n\n\n232 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nHe had no doubt of the perfect rigidity of \nhis fastenings, nor had the other gentle- \nman, or any of the company who examined \nthe complicated ligatures, which, passing \nthrough holes perforated in the bench, and \nconnecting the ancles with the wrists of \nthe patients, served to render all free mo- \ntion, at any rate of arms or feet, an \nimpossibility. \n\nc Dr. Ferguson told us that he would \nadvance no theory or explanation of what \nwas about to happen, and begged us not to \ndiscuss the causes of what we saw or heard, \nbut content ourselves with the attitude of \nsimple and candid observers. Now, let me \nsay what did happen, so far as my own \nobservation is concerned. As the doctor \nhad told us, the bolt of the middle door \nwas heard to be drawn from inside ; hands \nthen appeared at the lozenge- shaped aper- \nture, one from each side of the cabinet, as \nit appeared, and jigged flittingly in front \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 233 \n\nof the curtain, which was thrust slightly \nback. The hands were in a semi-obscurity, \nthe gas by which the room was lighted \nhaving been slightly lowered, and the arms \nbelonging to them not being visible from \nthe smallness of the aperture, they looked \nghostly enough to elicit a set of little awe- \nstruck ejaculations from the ladies present/ \nBut this \\ Incredulous Odi \' is not con- \ntent with stating the facts. He thinks it \nnecessary to offer a theory by way of ac- \ncounting for them. He thinks that if the \nbrothers, bound in the cabinet and watched \nby a third person sitting between them, \ncould have got only partially loose, with- \nout the use of their hands, thev might \nhave shown the hands, played on three or \nfour instruments, &c. ! He suspects that \nMr. Fay may have moved and played \nupon the guitar while in close contact with \nhimself and the \xe2\x96\xa0 Times \' correspondent. \nHe says : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\n\n234 \n\n\n\nA BIOGEAPHY OF \n\n\n\n\' Granting that Mr. Fay and his com- \npanion could move at all, bound as they \nwere \xe2\x80\x94 and since the chairs to which they were \nbound were not fastened to the ground, this \nseems an easier supposition than in the \ncase of the cabinet \xe2\x80\x94 there is no reason \nwhy they should not by the act of their \nown bodies do all that was done \xe2\x80\x94 \nviz., chuck about handbells, whisk guitars \nrapidly enough round to cut people\'s noses, \ntrundle tambourines along the ground, take \noff and put on coats, remove watches out of \nhands holding them out, and place rings on \nthe wrong man\'s finger (the new science is \nfallible even in its native darkness), espe- \ncially to a quiet observer like myself it was \nclear there was time enough allowed to do all \nthis naturally and be found in one\'s seat \nagain when the signal was again given for \nlight. I am not going to adventure an \nexact explanation of how this is to be done, \nas the modus operandi is at present an im- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 235 \n\nmature conception in my brain, but I have a \nshrewd guess at it. I will only say that Mr. \nFay is a very strong-built man, and could \ncarry Mr. Davenport, a very light weight, \nin any conceivable position ; adding, that I \nshould like to be entrusted, during this \nperformance, with the candle and lucifer \nborne by Dr. Ferguson, unrestricted by the \npromise not to re-illume the former till I was \nrequested.\' \n\nTo any one who has seen how these \nyoung men are bound in their chairs, with \ntheir wrists firmly knotted behind their \nbacks ; who has heard the guitars ringing \nand whirling through the air like a flight \nof swallows, arid seen the candle lighted \ninstantly, and examined the ropes with \nwhich they were tied, this kind of theorizing \nis more wonderful than the phenomena it \ntries to explain. \n\nIt is needless to give further extracts \nfrom the notices of this famous seance, \n\n\n\n236 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\nwhich spread the news of the arrival of the \nBrothers Davenport and accounts of the \nwonders wrought in their presence over the \nworld. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 237 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIL \n\n{ ST1LL THE WONDER GREW.\' \n\nPrivate Seances \xe2\x80\x94 Report of \' Master of Arts \' in Daily Tele- \ngraph \xe2\x80\x94 The Morning Star \xe2\x80\x94 A London Minister \xe2\x80\x94 The \nMorning Post \xe2\x80\x94 Tests that ought to be satisfactory. \n\nTo the remarkable opening seance described \nin the last chapter succeeded others at \nprivate houses, and at one of the smaller \nsalons of the Queen\'s Concert Rooms, Han- \nover Square ; but all were private in the \nsense that they were attended by persons of \nscientific, literary, or social distinction, who \nwere specially invited. \n\nOne of them, at the residence of Mr. S. \nC. Hall, well known in the world of litera- \nture and art, where the cabinet was not used \n(which is the c apparatus\' referred to be- \nlow), was attended by, among many others, \n\n\n\n238 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\na well-known man of letters, whose very- \nclear and excellent account of what he heard \nand saw was in due time published by the \n\' Daily Telegraph,\' as a communication \nfrom a \'Master of Arts/ following the \nprudent example of other leading journals. \nThis account of the seance is so frank and \nso vivid as to deserve to be given entire, \nand whether written by editor or corre- \nspondent, is evidently a clear and truthful \nstatement. \n\n\' The Brothers Davenport. \n1 (To the Editor of the " Daily Telegraph") \n\nc Sir, \xe2\x80\x94 I was a witness, on Friday even- \ning of last week, to some of the \' manifes- \ntations \' which were exhibited by, or rather \noccur in the presence of, the young Ameri- \ncans who have recently come over here. It \nis well known that they intend to give \npublic seances among us, and the more \nordinary of these manifestations will soon \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 239 \n\ntherefore become familiar. There are, never- \ntheless, circumstances about a private sitting \nwhich make it especially useful for previous \ncriticism, since it takes place in a locality \nand amid a society where deception must \nbe more difficult, while inspection is natur- \nally closer and freer than at a public hall. \nIn the circle, for instance, to which I was \ninvited, the guests were mutually known, \nand bent upon the sharpest investigation. \nThe host was a man of letters, of a character \nfor truth and gravity which it would be \nimpertinence to eulogise ; the scene was an \napartment crowded to profusion with deli- \ncate works of art, and therefore most awk- \nward for any rough conjuring resources ; \nand finally, the apparatus employed, 1 under- \nstand, elsewhere, was by the nature of the \nplace excluded here. These are conditions \nwhich cannot be repeated in public ; I there- \nfore offer you, Sir, as a contribution to the \ndecision which such strange phenomena \n\n\n\n240 \n\n\n\nA BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\n\nawait, my own observations, stripped of \nbias, theory, or opinion, and made as I \nshould make them in the witness-box of a \ncourt of justice. \n\n\' Custodem quis custodiet ? however \xe2\x80\x94 who \nwill testify to the witness ? He may be in \nturn an impostor \xe2\x80\x94 may be incapable of calm \nobservation \xe2\x80\x94 may be a headlong generaliser \n\xe2\x80\x94 and those with him may have been seve- \nrally and collectively, like himself, fools or \nknaves. True, that is possible ; but what is \nnot possible is to find evidence not open to \nthese astute objections. I pass them by, \ntherefore, as the inevitable fate of anony- \nmous testimony. My name will weigh, how- \never, with you, I think, for sincerity and ordi- \nnary intelligence] and with regard to an \nacquaintance with the resources of legerde- \nmain, a long hnoidedge of jugglers and snake- \ncharmers, with their budget of tricks, has at \nleast blunted the edge of my wonder upon \nthat score. For my fellow-guests, they too \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 241 \n\nwere not people upon whom deception could \nbe easily played. Officers of the army and \nnavy, a colonial baronet, a well-known sculp- \ntor, a public writer, and others habituated \nto keep their wits about them,, made up, \nwith ladies, the circle of twelve or fifteen \npresent. \n\nt The party was completed by the two \nBrothers Davenport, a Mr t Fay, and a Mr. \nFerguson. There is nothing very marked \nabout the first two gentlemen; the Daven- \nports are quiet young men, of mild and \nagreeable address; so also is their com- \npanion, Mr. Fay, though he is more English \nor German in appearance. The spokesman \nof the party, indeed, Mr. Ferguson, seems \na decidedly " remarkable man," as those who \nencounter him in metaphysical discussion \nwill probably acknowledge. I pass, how- \never, from metaphysics to what I saw, \nheard, and felt. We sate in a half-circle \nround the side of the drawing room \xe2\x80\x94 Mr. \nR \n\n\n\n242 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nFerguson being at one end, and one of the \nDavenports at the other ; in the middle the \nsecond brother and Mr. Fay placed them- \nselves upon two ordinary chairs, with a \nsmall table between them, on which were \nlaid a guitar, bell, tambourine, and trumpet ; \nwhile about twelve yards of clothes-line, in \ntwo pieces, lay at hand. It was then re- \nquested that some of our party should \nsecure each of the sitters hand and foot to \nthe chairs with the cord. Mr. Davenport \nwas operated upon by a captain of one of \nHer Majesty\'s vessels of war, a distinguished \nArctic navigator (Captain Inglefield). As \na yachtsman, I must here plunge so far into \ntechnicalities as to say that each ankle of \nMr. Davenport was roundly seized, up by \nthis gentleman with a " clove-hitch," as \nalso each wrist \xe2\x80\x94 the wrists being fastened \nto the bar of the chair behind, and the legs \nmade secure by passing the line round and \nround the foot-bars, and up to meet the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT, 243 \n\nwrist- rope, when both were joined with a \n"bread-bag knot." Sailors well know that \na " bread-bag knot " can only be imitated \nby those who comprehend exactly the trick \nof turning a " reef-knot " into it ; in fact, \nit is the old boatswain\'s trap to catch a \nthief at his biscuit-store. Mr. Fay was \nmade fast less scientifically, but very suffi- \nciently, and the circle was formed in front \nof the captives. We were specially warned \nto keep our hands joined while darkness \nlasted, and the gentlemen at each extremity \nof the semicircle were duly grasped and \nheld by their neighbours. The lights were \nthen extinguished, and in an instant there \ncommenced a medley of noises from tam- \nbourine, guitar, and bell. These sounded \nin all parts of the apartment, now high, \nnow low, now here, now there \xe2\x80\x94 simultane- \nously be it observed \xe2\x80\x94 and the passage of \nthem through the air could be heard and \nfelt, immensely rapid, and accompanied by \n\nB 2 \n\n\n\n244 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nno foot-fall on the floor. The knees, fore- \nhead, and feet of those in the circle were \nevery now and then rapped by the instru- \nments in a manner boisterous but harmless, \nand exclamations of amusement or surprise \non our part mingled with the curious Babel. \nThe guitar especially passed and repassed \nwith what was more like flight than ordi- \nnary motion, at times violently strummed, \nat others as gently thrilled as an iEolian \nharp. At the end of all this a signal for \nlight was given by taps, and, the apartment \nbeing instantly illuminated, the prisoners \nwere discovered exactly as they had been \nlast seen, the instruments lying about, or \nupon the knees of those present. The \ncaptain\'s sailor-like fastenings were pre- \ncisely as he had left them, and were de- \nclared to have been untouched after our \nclosest examination. The same was the \ncase with Mr. Fay. Hands were then \njoined, and the lights were once more ex- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 245 \n\ntinguished; whereupon the same curious \nand vivacious sounds, motions, and play- \nful rappings re-occurred ; and hands, or \nwhat appeared such\xe2\x80\x94 soft, warm, and \nwell-defined \xe2\x80\x94 grasped the joined hands of \nsome, or touched the knees and heads \nof others. This interval was very brief \nindeed, and then a sound was suddenly \nheard of rope being swiftly whisked apart. \nThe light was struck again, and Mr. \nDavenport was found perfectly free, with \nhis rope festooned about the neck of one \nof the guests. The whole space of this \ninterval did not appear at all sufficient for \nthe task of thus disentangling the captive in \ntoils. \n\n* After discussing this marvel or trick, \nthe circle was re-formed, the rope placed on \nthe floor, and the lights re-extinguished. \nTo the same discordant music, and with \nthe same rustling noise, the rope was now \nheard to be taken up, and in a very short \n\n\n\n246 A BIOGRAPHY OE \n\ntime Mr. Davenport was shown to us more \ntightly bound than before, in the old posi- \ntion, with a perfect roll of hitches on wrists \nand ankles and the chair-bars. Again dark- \nness was made, and it was desired that the \ndress- coat worn by the prisoner should be \nremoved. Certainly \xe2\x80\x94 no sooner said than \ndone ; for with a u swish " something was \nheard to fly towards the circle, and Mr. \nDavenport appeared bound exactly as be- \nfore, but in his shirt-sleeves, the coat lying \nbetween two of those looking on. We had \nbeen requested previously to assure our- \nselves of the integrity of the second set of \nknots by sealing them ; this was not done, \nbut an india-rubber band was twisted in a \nvery peculiar way over the principal knot, \nand band and knot, so far as the sharpest \nof us could judge, were absolutely intact \nafter the experiment. We had either wit- \nnessed^ therefore, a feat which laughs at the \nlavj of " the continuity of matter" resembling \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 247 \n\nthat of turning the skin of an orange inside \nout without breaking it, or we have been \nduped. You, sir, must take your choice, as \nwe did, of the alternatives. This was per- \nformed with Mr. Davenport\'s coat, which \nmay give "Wizards of the North and \nSouth" the right to smile at what they \ncould certainly, with some important pre- \nparation beforehand, counterfeit. But after- \nwards the coat of one of the gentlemen \npresent was taken oiF and laid on the table, \nand, with. the same u swish " in the dark, it \nwas instantly and accurately adjusted to the \nback and arms of Mr. Davenport ; his wrists \nbeing still bound together and still fastened \nbehind him to the chair-back ; the knots \nalso being again ascertained to be, so far as \ncould be judged by the closest inspection, \nunviolated. Again, Mr. Editor, I must pre- \nsent you with the dilemma, upon the horns \nof which we were tossed ; either we had \nwitnessed an annihilation of what are called \n\n\n\n248 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n"material laws" or we were the dupes of \nextremely clever conjuring. \n\n\' The last is the explanation, I have per- \nceived,, of some professional prestidigitators, \nnaturally alarmed for their trade ; but, \nthough the " coat-ehanging trick " is com- \nmon enough among the " Houdiiis " and \n" Andersons " of Europe and Asia, it re- \nmains to be- seen if they can accept the \nconditions of it which I have attempted to \ndescribe. If they can, it is doubtless pres- \ntidigitation which we witnessed, and the \ndarkness is a shield of tricksters, not an \natmospheric condition absolutely demanded \nby the subtle laws of some new and unex- \nplained force. As a candid reporter of the \nproceedings, I must confess that the verdict \nof "conjuring" was not that which was \npronounced by my .companions. But then \nalmost every one was in the habit of seeing \nand hearing "manifestations," at home, or \nin private residences, of a kind daily familiar \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 249 \n\nnow to them, whatever, and whencesoever \nthey may be \xe2\x80\x94 familiar, indeed, I under- \nstand, to thousands of persons, but very \nlittle spoken of except among the initiated. \nThese would make, however, a bead-roll \nmost surprising to the exoteric,, comprising, \nit is whispered, distinguished statesmen, \nauthors, scientific men and clergymen, who \nform together a curious and quiet, society \n\xe2\x80\x94 either the embodiment of a mutual and \ncolossal self-deceit, or the silent heralds of a \nsocial revolution which must shake the world. \n1 I shall neither report to you the astound- \ning accounts which were sriven to us of \nwhat " had occurred " in the same way, nor \nthe explanations attempted in the conver- \nsations that followed. My wish has been \nsimply to present here what was seen, heard, \nand felt to happen in a private drawing- \nroom, and among intelligent and careful \nobservers, with serious reasons for detecting \na trick, if trick could be detected. It only \n\n\n\n250 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nremains to add that the cords upon Mr. \nFay\'s hands and feet had been all this while \nso tightly tied, that the tension was painful, \nand another minute\'s gloom was therefore \nresorted to to free him, upon which the \ncords were instantly thrown loose and fas- \ntened about Captain Inglefield\'s neck, in a \nknot which sailors call the " hangman\'s" \xe2\x80\x94 \nan intricate slip-knot, which gives upwards, \nbut not downwards. A voice then called \nthrough the speaking trumpet " Good \nnight ; " and the puzzling " manifesta- \ntions" of which I offer you a perfectly \nsincere, and I think an exact account, were \nconcluded. The problem is very simple. \nThe " wizards" have only to perform ex- \nactly the same things, and whatever more \ncan be done, under the conditions which the \nBrothers Davenport dictate and accept, and \nthe public will agree with their view of \nwhat at present is not easily explained. \n\'I am, Sir, yours, &c, \n\n\'Master or Arts.\' \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 251 \n\nTo this testimony, which speaks for itself, \nI shall add a few brief extracts from that of \nother competent observers, without tasking \nthe patience of the reader by copying entire \narticles. \n\nIn a communication to the \' Morning \nStar,\' written, it is said, by Mr. W. E. Hick- \nson, for eleven years editor and proprietor \nof the \' Westminster Quarterly Review,\' \noccur the following observations : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\' The moment Mr. Ferguson took away his \nhand the middle door was pulled to and fast- \nened from within , and at the next instant \nthe distinct form of a large human hand \nappeared at a diamond- shaped aperture of \nthe door; sounds were heard among the \nmusical instruments ; the doors flew open, \nand the trumpet and bells were thrown out \non the floor. By whom ? Not certainly by \nthe two bound prisoners, for, if free, there \nhad hardly been time for them to rise from \ntheir seats. Was it possible that the pro- \n\n\n\n252 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\njecting forces required had been obtained \nby electric and chemical agency ? This ex- \nperiment was repeated several times with \nsimilar but not quite the same results. Once \nthe two bells appeared outside the aperture \nringing violently without any hand to hold \nthem, and sometimes different hands ap- \npeared \xe2\x80\x94 two, in one instance, together. \nAnd what were these hands ? Mr. Fergu- \nson was asked might they be touched. Per- \nmission being accorded, two gentlemen ap- \nproaching the aperture were patted by the \nhands, and I succeeded in just touching one \nof them, or something palpable, before it \nreceded backwards, vanishing or melting in \nthe darkness. The brevity of the interval \nof their appearance, too short for serious \nexamination, was the unsatisfactory part of \nthis experiment. \n\n\' Who carried the guitar ? Not Mr. Fer- \nguson, for his hands were joined to ours ; \nnot Messrs. Davenport and Fay, for they \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 253 \n\nremained tied to the chairs, and the position \nof their feet, which we had marked with \npencil, showed they had not stirred. If a \na confederate in list slippers, no footfall \ncould be detected, and no chance was given \nus, with our legs stretched out, of tripping \nhim up as he passed. \n\n1 The coat test, however, and indeed all \nthe manifestations, have yet to be better \ntested than, under the circumstances, they \ncould be by me, or anyone witnessing them \nonly for the first time. I will say of them \nonly that the general result of what was \nseen, heard, and felt by all, was, in spite of \nthe ludicrous mixed up with it, more start- \nling and perplexing than I had conceived, \ncalculated . to produce certainly a profound \nimpression on many minds, and that, if jug- \nglery be at the bottom of it, those by whom \nit can be exposed cannot too early explain \nthe deception in the interests of the public/ \n\nAnother correspondent of the \\ Morning \n\n\n\n254 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OE \n\n\n\nStar/ the Rev. Jabez Burns, after describing \nthe preparations of binding, &c, and stating \nthat the knots were covered with sealing- \nwax, and sealed with the crest of a gentle- \nman present, says : \n\n\' The guitar was now touched with \nphosphorus, and when the lights were ex- \ntinguished we saw the luminous spots on it, \non the table. Shortly it rose and moved \naround and above, us, and we could dis- \ntinctly trace it by the phosphorescent light \nit emitted. In passing close to me it struck \nthe foot of a young gentleman whose hand \nwas linked with mine, and left the phos- \nphorus light on the leg of his trousers. In \nthe course of the experiments the coat of \none of the Davenports was removed, and \nafterwards they were uncorded, and the \nrope of one thrown into the lap of a person \nwho sat near me. \n\n* Now such are the actual occurrences, \nwithout rhetorical garniture, and literally \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 255 \n\nas they were seen by myself and all \npresent. \n\n\' I had expected that Dr. Ferguson would \nbe in connection with the closet, but he \nnever went near it during the experiment, \none of the gentlemen being invariably be- \ntween him and the closet. I cannot conceive \nof any exhibition being more open and straight- \nforward, and if there should be a conjuror \nable to repeat these tricks, as they are called, \nI shall be glad to be one of a committee to \nrecord it J \n\nThe \' Morning Post\' of October 6, 1864, \ncontains an article, not published as a com- \nmunication, which says : \n\n4 The theory of the Americans [Brothers \nDavenport] is that, by whatever agency \nthey are untied, they themselves are passive \nagents in the matter, and that their own \nhands in no way contribute to their release. \nAn ingenious test was applied, a few evenings \nsince, at a seance which took place at the \n\n\n\n256 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nQueen\'s Concert Rooms, Hanover Square, \nto prove the value of the assertion. To \nshow that the uncording was not effected \nby the hands of the Americans, some flour \xe2\x96\xa0 \nwas procured, and after the process of \npinioning had been completed to the satis- \nfaction of all present, the fingers of the \nbrothers were covered with the substance, \nand they were required to hold a quantity \nof it firmly in their hands, clasped and locked \nfirmly one in the other. They were at the \ntime dressed in ordinary evening costume, \n\xe2\x96\xa0 and it would have been impossible for them \nto have untied the ropes, and subsequently \ntied them again, without being covered with \nthe flour. The result was, however, as the \nAmericans predicted it would be. When \nthe doors of the cabinet were thrown open, \nthey were found with their limbs untied, \nand in precisely the same positions in which \nthey had been left, but with no portion of \nthe flour on their clothes. The doors of \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 257 \n\nthe cabinet were subsequently closed, and \nafter an interval of two or three minutes \nwere thrown open, when the brothers were \nfound tightly pinioned hand and foot, and \nclutching the flour as before.\' \n\nThe reader, in the earlier chapters of this \nbiography, may have had a faint suspicion \nthat the writer had what the phrenologists \nused to call \' the organ of credenciveness \' \nlargely developed. Will the testimony of \nso many of the most accurate observers, and \nable writers of the leading journals of Lon- \ndon, convince him that every statement con- \ntained in this volume is not only made in good \nfaith, but is supported by good evidence ? \n\nIf what some of the ablest writers in \nEngland assert is to be believed, then all \nhere stated may be believed ; for when we \npass the limit of ordinary possibilities, we \nhave no guide but the observation of facts. \nIt is no longer a question of what is pro- \nbable or possible, but of what is true. \ns \n\n\n\n258 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII. \n\n\n\nIMPORTANT SEANCE. \n\n\n\nNobility, Savans, and Men of Letters \xe2\x80\x94 Second Seance at Mr. \nBoucicaults \xe2\x80\x94 An admirable Description \xe2\x80\x94 Needless \nDisclaimers \xe2\x80\x94 The true Philosophical Method. \n\nI come now to the most important, clear, \nand authoritative statement yet made in \nthis volume : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nOn the night of October 11th, 1864, a \nvery distinguished company assembled at \nthe residence of Mr. Dion Boucicault, to \nwitness the manifestations which are given \nin the presence of the Brothers Davenport. \nIt consisted of Yiscount Bury, M.P., Sir \nCharles Wyke, G.C.B., Sir Charles Nichol- \nson, Ambassador to Mexico, the Chancellor \nof the University of Sydney, the Speaker of \nthe House of Representatives of Queensland, \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. \n\n\n\n25 9 \n\n\n\nMr. Robert Bell, Mr. Robert Chambers, \nLL.D., Mr. Charles Reade, D.C.L., Capt. \nInglefield, the Arctic navigator, two phy- \nsicians, and several writers of the daily \npress, whose names will be found in the fol- \nlowing luminous and admirable report of \nthe proceedings by Mr. Boucicault. \n\n1 The Davenport Brothers. \n< To the Editor of the " Daily News." \ni Sir, \xe2\x80\x94 A seance by the Brothers Daven- \nport and Mr. W. Fay took place in my \nhouse yesterday in the presence of \n\nMr. J. W. Kaye, \n\xe2\x80\x9e J. A. Bostock, \n\n\xe2\x80\x9e H. J. RlDEOUT, \n\n\n\nLord Burt, \n\nSir Charles Nicholson, \nShi John Gardiner, \nSlr C. Lennox Wyke, \nRev. E. H. Newenham, \nRev. W. Ellis, \nCapt. E. A. Inglefield, \nMr. Charles Reade, \n\xe2\x80\x9e James Matthews, \n\xe2\x80\x9e Algernon Borth- \n\nwick, \n\xe2\x80\x9e I. Wdlles, \n\xe2\x80\x9e H. E. Ormerod, \n\n\n\nRobert Bell, \nJ. N. Mangles, \nH, M. Dunphy, \nW.Tyler Smith, m.d. \nE. Tyler Smith, \nT. L. Coward, \nJohn Brown, m.d. \nRobert Chambers, \n\nand \nDion Boucical-lt. \n\n\n\n260 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\n\' The room in which the meeting was \nheld is a large drawing-room, from which \nall the furniture had been previously re- \nmoved, excepting the carpet, a chandelier, \na small table, a sofa, a pedestal, and twenty- \nsix cane-bottomed chairs. \n\n\' At two o\'clock six of the above party \narrived, and the room was subjected to care- \nful scrutiny. It was suggested that a cabi- \nnet to be used by the Brothers Davenport, \nbut then erected in an adjacent room, should \nbe removed into the front room, and placed \nin a spot selected by ourselves. This was \ndone by our party, but in the process we \ndisplaced a portion of this piece of furni- \nture, thus enabling us to examine its mate- \nrial and structure before we mended it. At \nthree o\'clock our party was fully assembled, \nand continued the scrutiny. We sent to a \nneighbouring music-seller for six guitars \nand two tambourines, so that the imple- \nments to be used should not be those with \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 261 \n\nwhich the operators were familiar. At half- \npast three the Brothers Davenport and Mr. \nFay arrived, and found that we had altered \ntheir arrangements, by changing the room \nwhich they had previously selected for their \nmanifestations. The seance then began by \nan examination of the dress and persons of \nthe Brothers Davenport, and it was certified \nthat no apparatus or other contrivance was \nconcealed on or about their persons. They \nentered the cabinet, and sat facing each \nother. Captain Inglefield then, with a new \nrope provided by ourselves, tied Mr. W- \nDavenport hand and foot, with his hands \nbehind his back, and then bound him firmly \nto the seat where he sat. Lord Bury, in \nlike manner, secured Mr. I. Davenport. \nThe knots on these ligatures were then \nfastened with sealing-wax, and a seal was \naffixed. A guitar, violin, tambourine, two \nbells, and a brass trumpet were placed on \nthe floor of the cabinet. The doors were \n\n\n\n262 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nthen closed, and a sufficient light was per- \nmitted in the room to enable us to see what \nfollowed. I shall omit any detailed account \nof the Babel of sounds which arose in the \ncabinet, and the violence with which the \ndoors were repeatedly burst open and the \ninstruments expelled ; trie hands appearing, \nas usual, at a lozenge-shaped orifice in the \ncentre door of the cabinet. The following \nincidents seem to us particularly worthy of \nnote : \xe2\x80\x94 While Lord Bury was stooping \ninside the cabinet, the door being open, and \nthe two operators seen to be sealed and \nbound, a detached hand was clearly ob- \nserved to descend upon him, and he started \nback, remarking that a hand had struck \nhim. Again, in the full light of the gas \nchandelier, and during an interval in the \nseance, the doors of the cabinet being open, \nand while the ligatures of the Brothers \nDavenport were being examined, a very \nwhite, thin, female hand and wrist qui- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 263 \n\nvered for several seconds in the air above. \nThis appearance drew a general exclama- \ntion from all the party. Sir Charles Wyke \nnow entered the cabinet, and sat between \nthe two young men \xe2\x80\x94 his hands being right \nand left on each, and secured to them. The \ndoors were then closed, and the Babel of \nsounds recommenced. Several hands ap- \npeared at the orince \xe2\x80\x94 among them the \nhand of a child. After a space, Sir Charles \nreturned amongst us, and stated that \nwhile he held the two brothers several \nhands touched his face and pulled his hair ; \nthe instruments at his feet crept up, played \nround his body and over his head \xe2\x80\x94 one of \nthem lodging eventually on his shoulders. \nDuring the foregoing incidents the hands \nwhich appeared were touched and grasped by \nCaptain Inglefield and he stated that to the \ntouch they were apparently human hands, \nthough they passed away from his grasp. \nI omit mentioning other phenomena, an \n\n\n\n264 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\naccount of which has already been rendered \nelsewhere. \n\nThe next part of the seance was per- \nformed in the dark. One of the Messrs. \nDavenport and Mr. Fay seated themselves \namongst us. Two ropes were thrown at \ntheir feet, and in two minutes and a half \nthey were tied hand and foot, their hands \nbehind their backs bound tightly to their \nchairs, and their chairs bound to an adjacent \ntable. While this process was going on, \nthe guitar rose from the table, and swung \nor floated round the room and over the \nheads of the party, and slightly touching \nsome. Now a phosphoric light shot from \nside to side over our heads; the laps and \nhands, and shoulders of several were \nsimultaneously touched, struck, or pawed \nby hands, the guitar meanwhile sailing \nround the room, now near the ceiling, and \nthen scuffling on the head and shoulders of \nsome luckless wight. The bells whisked \n\n\n\nTHE EROTHERS DAVENPORT. 265 \n\nhere and there, and a light thrumming was \nmaintained on the violin. The two tam- \nbourines seemed to roll hither and thither \non the floor, now shaking it violently, and \nnow visiting the knees and hands of our \ncircle \xe2\x80\x94 all these foregoing actions, audible \nor tangible, being simultaneous. Mr. \nKideout, holding a tambourine, requested \nit might be plucked from his hand; it was \nalmost instantaneously taken from him. At \nthe same time Lord Bury made a similar \nrequest, and a forcible attempt to pluck a \ntambourine from his grasp was made, \nwhich he resisted. Mr. Fay then asked \nthat his coat should be removed. We \nheard instantlv a violent twitch ; and here \noccurred the most remarkable fact. A light \nwas struck before the coat had quite left \nMr. Fay\'s person, and it was seen quitting \nhim, plucked off him upwards. It flew up \nto the chandelier, where it hun^ for a \nmoment, and then fell to the ground. Mr. \n\n\n\n266 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nFay was seen meanwhile bound hand and \nfoot as before. One of our party now \ndivested himself of his coat, and it was \nplaced on the table. The light was ex- \ntinguished, and this coat was rushed on to \nMr. Fay\'s back with equal rapidity. Dur- \ning the above occurrences in the dark, we \nplaced a sheet of paper under the feet of \nthese two operators, and drew with a pencil \nan outline around them, to the end that if \nthey moved, it might be detected. They of \ntheir own accord offered to have their hands \nfilled with flour, or any other similar sub- \nstance, to prove they made no use of them, \nbut this precaution was deemed unneces- \nsary ; we required them, however, to count \nfrom one to twelve repeatedly, that their \nvoices constantly heard might certify to \nus that they were in the places where they \nwere tied. Each of our own party held his \nneighbour firmly, so that no one could move \nwithout two adjacent neighbours being \naware of it. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 267 \n\n6 At the termination of this seance, a \ngeneral conversation took place on the \nsubject of what we had heard and wit- \nnessed. Lord Bury suggested that the \ngeneral opinion seemed to be that we \nshould assure the Brothers Davenport and \nMr. W. Fay, that after a very stringent \ntrial and strict scrutiny of their proceed- \nings, the gentlemen present could arrive at \nno other conclusion than that there was no \ntrace of trickery in any form, and cer- \ntainly there were neither confederates nor \nmachinery, and that all those who had \nwitnessed the results would freely state in \nthe society in which they moved, that so \nfar as their investigations enabled them to \nform an opinion, the phenomena which had \ntaken place in their presence were not the \nproduct of legerdemain. This suggestion \nwas promptly acceded to by all present. \n\n\' Before leaving this question, in which \nmy name has accidentally become mixed \n\n\n\n2-38 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nup, I may be permitted to observe that I \nhave no belief in what is called Spiritualism, \nand nothing I have seen inclines me to \nbelieve in it \xe2\x80\x94 indeed, the puerility of some \nof the demonstrations would sufficiently \nalienate such a theory ; but I do believe \nthat we have not quite explored the realms \nof natural philosophy \xe2\x80\x94 that this enterprise \nof thought has of late years been confined \nto useful inventions, and we are content at \nleast to think that the laws of nature are \nfinite, ascertained, and limited to the scope \nof our knowledge. A very great number \nof worthy persons seeing such phenomena \nas I have detailed ascribe them to super- \nnatural agency ; others wander around the \nsubject in doubt; but as it engages seriously \nthe feeling and earnest thought of so large \na number in Europe and America, is it a \nsubject which scientific men are justified in \ntreating with the neglect of contempt ? \n\' Some persons think that the require- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 269 \n\nment of darkness seems to infer trickery. \nIs not a dark chamber essential in the \nprocess of photography ? And what would \nwe reply to him who should say, " I believe \nphotography to be a humbug ; do it all in \nthe light, and I will believe otherwise, and \nnot till then?" It is true that we know \nwhy darkness is necessary to the production \nof the sun picture ; and if scientific men \nwill subject these phenomena to analysis, \nwe shall find out why darkness is essential \nto such manifestations. \n\n1 1 am, &c., \n\n\'Dion Boucicault.\' \n\n326 Regent Street, Oct. 12, 1864. \n\nI have given this clear and authorised \nstatement of facts entire, as it appeared in \nmany of the London journals, because I \ndid not wish to take the liberty of con- \ndensing in the slightest degree so remark- \nable a document. Otherwise I should have \n\n\n\n270 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\ntaken the liberty to omit \xe2\x80\x94 and, had I been \nconsulted in the matter, should have ad- \nvised Mr. Boucicault to omit \xe2\x80\x94 the first few \nlines in the last paragraph but one. He \nhad given the facts as they were witnessed \nby himself and the distinguished party of \ngentlemen he had invited. They were all \nsatisfied that there had been, and could \nhave been, no deception, no collusion, no \nimposture whatever in the manifestations. \nWhat are called physical impossibilities \xe2\x80\x94 \nwhat are usually denominated miracles \xe2\x80\x94 \noccurred at every stage of the procedings. \nThey could not distrust themselves or each \nother, and they took the most thorough \nmeans of preventing the possibility of their \nbeing imposed upon by the Brothers Da- \nvenport, Mr. Fay, and Mr. Ferguson. \nWhere, then, was the necessity of a per- \nsonal disclaimer as to a matter, theory, or \nbelief, of which there was, so far as ap- \npears, no question whatever ? Or why did \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 271 \n\nnot Mr. Boucicault go further, and assert \nthat he was not a Methodist, or Mormon, \nEoman Catholic or Buddhist, nor a believer \nin Fetishism or Mumbo Jumbo ? \n\nThe report is complete, and every one \nmust agree that it is admirably written, \nso far as it is a report, down to the two \nconcluding paragraphs. Mr. Boucicault \nfails only, where many men of genius \nhave failed, when he comes to personalities \nwhich had better be left out of the case \naltogether. \n\nIt is also to be regretted that Lord Bury \nbecame so nettled by the chaffing of l Times\' \ncorrespondents as to consider it necessary \nto make a petulant answer, which had, how- \never, the merit of being also a witty one. \nHe says : \' One of your correspondents, \nwho informs us with superfluous candour \nthat he is "no conjuror," proposes, for the \nsake of fair play, to bind me and Captain \nInglefield hand and foot, and throw us \n\n\n\n272 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\ninto the Serpentine. I should like to say \na few words first.\' Lord Bury proceeds to \nsay that he refused to sign a paper which \nreferred the manifestations to some mys- \nterious agency, and said that 4 all the Bro- \nthers Davenport could reasonably expect \nfrom us was, that we should state in society \nthe simple truth \xe2\x80\x94 viz. that we had failed to \ndetect any evidence of trickery or collusion.\' \nOf course this was all that could be asked \nof any committee whatever. Lord Bury \nand the gentlemen present at this seance \nare not asked to tell us how these things \nare done. Of course they know no more \nabout it than the rest of us. What we \nrequire of them is very clearly indicated \xe2\x80\x94 \nit was to tell us what was done, and that \nit was not done, so far as twenty-four gen- \ntlemen, as well qualified for the purpose as \nany other two dozen in the United King- \ndom, could judge, by trick or collusion, \nfraud or jugglery. Further these depo- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 273 \n\nnents say not, and further no one can \nreasonably expect them to say. \n\nIn the case of the toads enclosed in solid \nlimestone, what could they do more ? They \nwould first examine the stone as it lay in \nthe quarry; they would see it split open. \nThe toad, waking from his sleep of ages, \ndrags himself out of his hole in the rock, \nand the cavity which contained him is \nexamined. If Lord Bury were on a sci- \nentific committee, should we expect him to \ntell us how the toad came to be enclosed in \nthe solid rock, or how it had managed to \nsurvive its incarceration of thousands of \nyears ? Not at all. We might take his \ntheory for what it was worth : but what \nwe should want first of all would be assu- \nrance of the facts, and that there was, as \nfar as he and the committee could judge, \n4 no trick or collusion. \' \n\nStill I must say that the lovers of truth, \nwithout regard to theories, are indebted \n\nT \n\n\n\n274 \n\n\n\nA BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\n\nto Lord Bury and all the gentlemen who \nattended this seance, and more than all, \nperhaps, to Mr. Boucicault, for an exhi- \nbition of so much candour, moral courage, \nand genuine philosophy, which I cannot \nbut think more in character for English \ngentlemen than the sneers, ridicule, and \nflagrant abuse of a portion of the press of \nthis metropolis. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 275 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX. \n\nAUDI ALTERAM PARTEM. \n\nThe Press in Opposition \xe2\x80\x94 Ugly Trash for Bedlam \xe2\x80\x94 Com- \nmon Conjuring \xe2\x80\x94 Fantastic Tricks and Farthing Candles \n\xe2\x80\x94 Miserable Trifling \xe2\x80\x94 Grotesquely absurd and stupidly \nmeaningless \xe2\x80\x94 Reverend Dobbs \xe2\x80\x94 Tedious, dull, and vulgar \n\xe2\x80\x94 The Secret not worth knowing \xe2\x80\x94 Human Nature and \nan Awful Warning. \n\nHaving given so much of the testimony of \nthe London newspaper press and its corre- \nspondents respecting the earlier seances of \nthe Brothers Davenport in England, it \nmay be considered but fair, and it will \ncertainly be amusing, to \' hear the other \nside/ \n\nThe \'Standard\' of October 1, 1864, in \nits leading leader, begs c to suggest that it \nwas all, from beginning to end, a piece of \nflagrant jugglery.\' It thinks \' it is asto- \n\nT 2 \n\n\n\n276 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nnishing to find respectable journals defacing \ntheir columns with this ugly trash.\' It gives \nall the particulars, notwithstanding, in its \nlargest type and most conspicuous column, \nand then says: \xe2\x80\x94 i When a "floating guitar" \nhas drawn blood, while the Brothers re- \nmain bound to their chairs, the remedies \nwhich irresistibly suggest themselves are \nthose of Bethlehem Hospital. \' \' To what \nare we coming, or rather to what are we \ngoing?\' \' But what, after all. is the social \nuse of these enchanters ? They do nothing \nfor us. They cannot trace a pickpocket, or \nfind a lost watch, or reclaim a missing \nrelative. . . . We discard Magus, and we \nhad hoped not to hear of him again, dupli- \ncated by the Brothers Davenport, with \ntheir changing of coats, their miraculous \nappearance in shirt- sleeves, and their ap- \nparatus of ropes, which we trust will be \nsome day more efficaciously employed. . . . \nReally, an intellectual poison and in toxica- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 277 \n\ntion have come into fashion on these be- \nwildering subjects, and the public have \nbeen dosed so often and so powerfully that \nwe wish this experimental physician who \nprescribes such mysterious drugs would \ncut short his visit.\' \n\nIt is pretty evident that this writer tries \nto think the manifestations are vulgar \njugglery, but he finds it hard to keep to \nthat opinion. He suspects they are real, \nand is a little afraid of them. \n\nThe \' Spectator \' thinks it looks like i a \ncommon case of conjuring managed by a \nsecret entrance into the apartment behind \nthe cabinet.\' But as the room is alight, and \nthe committee passed behind the cabinet or \nsurrounded it, such an explanation will not \nanswer. When persons sit in the cabinet \nbetween the brothers, no such aid would be \npossible. \n\nThe \' Herald,\' October 4, says : c An \nattempt is being made to palm off these \n\n\n\n278 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nBrothers Davenport as phenomena. They \nthemselves accept their ludicrous reputa- \ntion, though as yet we have heard nothing \nof their doings more extraordinary or dig- \nnified than the tricks of a common juggler \nin the street, of a Chinese theatre, or of a \nstrolling company of Japan. . . . We trust \nthat public curiosity will not encourage the \nsham. It means, if anything, that spirits \xe2\x80\x94 \npowers hovering between earth and heaven \n\xe2\x80\x94 help a man off with his coat, tinkle a \nmuffin-bell, play upon banjoes, touch people\'s \nknees, rap them on the knuckles, and play \na hundred fantastic tricks, which cease im- \nmediately upon the lighting of a farthing \ncandle. It is too much !\' \n\nIt is also 4 too much \' to be begging the \nwhole question in this fashion. The first \nthing to be decided is, are these things \ndone, and not by the Davenports or other \nhuman agency ? Who or what does them, \nand why they are done, will then be the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 279 \n\nquestions next in order. It is not philo- \nsophical to say of any phenomenon, \' If this \noccurred, it must have been from such a \ncause, which is absurd \xe2\x80\x94 therefore it never \nhappened.\' So many improbable things \nhappen that we have the proverb, \' Truth is \nstranger than fiction.\' \n\nWhile some of the journals are content \nto be flippant and sarcastic, the c Daily \nNews,\' of October 8, is tremendously indig- \nnant. In\' its solemn view of the subject, \n1 it is both surprising and deplorable that \npersons of education and standing should \nnot only countenance but welcome and \napplaud such efforts, and that influential \norgans of opinion should be found ready \nto give them indirect encouragement, if not \npositive support.\' The \' Daily Xews \' asserts \nthat their tricks are vulgar jugglery, such \nas are commonly performed on both sides of \nthe Atlantic. Then it scolds educated and \nrespectable people for encouraging such im- \n\n\n\n280 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\npostures. Then it is a reaction from scep- \nticism. Finally, c such miserable trifling \nwith noble emotions is not only utterly \nunworthy of any serious and manly mind, \nbut must, in the nature of the case, lead to \nmost injurious results. To divorce any \nemotion from its true objects and ends is to \nabuse and degrade it, and to do thus with \nregard to emotions that lead us beyond the \nworld of sense tends directly to dry up the \nmost sacred springs of belief and action.\' \n\nAnd all this outburst of eloquence and \nmorality about a party of common jugglers, \nwho are doing tricks with which everybody \nis familiar ! It reminds one of the thunder- \nclap that astonished poor Moses when he \nhad stolen into a dark corner of a chop- \nhouse to eat his bit of bacon. \n\nThe \' Saturday Keview \' would be ex- \npected of course to have something very \nspicy or very savage on so exciting a sub- \nject. It could not keep its various nick- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHEES DAVENPORT. 231 \n\nnames of ; Saturday Reviler,\' &c. other- \nwise. It says : c As to the phenomena \nthemselves, anything so grotesquely absurd \nand stupidly meaningless has not yet been \nproduced, even in the dreary annals of \nspiritualism.\' And then, losing its usual \npointed vivacity, it goes off, like the l Daily \nNews/ into a solemn sermon about \'the \nworld of spirits/ \xe2\x80\x94 as if that had anything \nto do with the case whatever ! \n\nThe \' John Bull \' has heard a story of a \n\' Reverend Dobbs,\' in Canada, who tied \nand untied knots, and declared himself \nready to do whatever the Davenports did \nif they would only lend him their apparatus \n\xe2\x80\x94 the apparatus consisting of a walnut-box, \nsome half-inch ropes, and a few not very \ncostly musical instruments ! \n\nThe \' London Review \' suggests \' that \nuntil the Brothers can be seen bound \nwhile the manifestations are occurring, \npeople will believe they have something \n\n\n\n282 \n\n\n\nA BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\n\nto do with them ; \' but as thousands of \npeople have seen the manifestations, and \nthe Brothers fast bound without so much \nas a second intervening, this goes for very \nlittle. \n\nThe * Morning Star \' says : \' We give an \nopinion which we know is not shared by \nsome highly intelligent and candid men who \nwere present at last night\'s performance \n(the Press seance), when we say that it ap- \npeared to us tedious, dull, and vulgar. If \nthe exhibition were an avowed display of \nconjuring cleverness it would be but a \npoor and vapid entertainment. Only those \nwho believe it to be performed by some super- \nnatural or extra-natural power can feel any \ngenuine interest in it.\' \n\nThis is to a certain extent true. If the \nmanifestations were deceptions, by leger- \ndemain, machinery, and the aid of confede- \nrates, they would be very poor and worthless, \nand the whole London press would have \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 283 \n\nmade itself very contemptible by taking so \nmuch notice of them. \n\nThe \' Globe \' is rather of this opinion, and \ntalks in a superior manner of \' two baker* s \ndozens of accomplished gentlemen engaged \nin a dark room in trying to find out how \nconjurors perform their tricks ! What a \nsatire on this enlightened age ! . . . We say, \nlet the brother conjurors make their money ; \nbut if they are to be put to the test, let the \ntest be applied, not by men of science, but \nby a board of conjurors under a competent \nchairman. We should then soon know the \nsecret \xe2\x80\x94 a secret not worth knowing.\' \n\nIt has been stated in some of the London \npapers that the Brothers Davenport were \nwatched closely for a week by Mr. Hermann, \none of the cleverest prestidigitateurs and \nconjurors in America, without being able to \nget any clue to the secret, and that he became \nperfectly convinced that no kind of jugglery \nhad anything to do with it. The suggestion, \n\n\n\n284 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nhowever, is not a bad one. There are no \ndoubt respectable manufacturers of conjur- \ning apparatus and performers in London, who, \nassociated with two or three men of science \nand a couple of sharp detectives, might find \nout the \' secret not worth knowing.\' \n\nIt is useless to continue quotations which \nare to the same purport, and when we have \nno guarantee of the wisdom or even of the \nsincerity of the writers. If the leading \nwriters of the leading papers of London, \nstating simply matters of their own obser- \nvation \xe2\x80\x94 what they saw and heard \xe2\x80\x94 felt \nobliged to assume the mask of contributors, \nas if not sufficiently shielded by being anony- \nmous, or if the editors of these leading and \npowerful organs of public opinion thought \nit necessary thus to disown the members of \ntheir respective staffs, what could be ex- \npected of periodicals in a less independent \nposition ? \n\nOn the whole, \' human nature 7 enters about \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 285 \n\nas largely into the composition of the gen- \ntlemen of the press as elsewhere. The press \nis \' free \' to do what is for its interests, and \nit is c independent \' of whatever will not \naffect its circulation and influence. No- \nwhere probably is the press less purchasable, \nor less capable of being directly influenced \nby base and mercenary considerations ; but \nthere is the great public of readers, whose \ntastes and prejudices must be consulted. \nThe case of a celebrated monthly magazine \nhas been an \' awful warning \' to the whole \nEnglish press. Some years ago it published \na perfectly fair statement of facts, as ob- \nserved by one of its favourite contributors. \nThe result is said to have been the loss of \nthree thousand copies of its circulation, to \nsay nothing of unmeasured ridicule and \nabuse. Even in free England it is not \nalways profitable to tell the truth. This \nmagazine has repented and recanted. A \nfew months ago it laid down the rule that \n\n\n\n286 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\na man ought not to believe what he con- \nsidered improbable on any amount of testi- \nmony, that of his own senses included \xe2\x80\x94 a \nsafe rule for magazine editors, no doubt, if \nnot a wise one for the general public. First \nmake up your mind what you will believe \nand what you will refuse to believe, and \nthen * so much the worse for the facts/ \nwhen they happen to be against you. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 287 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX. \n\nA PERSONAL STATEMENT. \n\nWhat I think of the Brothers Davenport, and what I saw at \na Seance at the Hanover-square Rooms. \n\nThis may be as good a place as another to \ngive my individual testimony respecting the \nBrothers Davenport, and the phenomena \nwhich occur in their presence. \n\nThe young men, with whom I have had \nbut a brief personal acquaintance, and whom \nI never saw until their arrival in London, \nappear to me to be, in intellect and charac- \nter, above the average of their young coun- \ntrymen. They are not remarkable for \ncleverness, though of fair abilities, and Ira \nhas some artistic talent. The manifesta- \ntions seem to have been quite as extraordinary \nten years ago, when they were boys of four- \n\n\n\n\n\n\n288 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nteen and fifteen years, as at the present \ntime. The young men seem entirely honest, \nand singularly disinterested and unmerce- \nnary \xe2\x80\x94 far more anxious to have people \nsatisfied of their integrity and the reality of \ntheir manifestations than to make money. \nThey have an ambition, without doubt, \nwhich is gratified in their having been \nselected as the instruments of what they \nbelieve will be some great good to mankind, \nand they are not free from the personal \ntastes and vanities common to their age, \nand from which only a few of the very \nwisest of us are entirely exempted. \n\nI have elsewhere given my estimate of Mr. \nFerguson, the gentleman who exercises a \nfriendly and almost parental care over them, \nand who attends them to state the conditions \nof the manifestations. Of the purely busi- \nness relations of Mr. Palmer I need not \nagain speak. \n\nThe seance I am about to describe took \nplace at the Queen\'s Concert Kooms, Hano- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 289 \n\nver Square, on Friday evening, October 28, \n1864. The company consisted of fifty- two \npersons, the larger portion of whom had \nsecured admission by payment. The rest \xe2\x80\x94 \nmembers of the Press, and some who had \nattended previous seances \xe2\x80\x94 were invited. \nIt was desired that Captain Inglefield \nshould be one of the tying and trying com- \nmittee, but he declined, on the ground that \nhe had done his best on two or three former \noccasions, but his knots were all untied, and \nhe was naturally discouraged. \n\nTwo intelligent and sufficiently sceptical \ngentlemen were chosen, and proceeded to \ntie the two brothers in and to the slight \ncabinet, which could be seen over, under, \nand on each side, and by the committee \nbehind. It was at no time possible that \nany person could approach it in any way, or \nfor any purpose, unseen by the audience: \nconcealed machinery was equally out of the \nquestion. \n\nu \n\n\n\n290 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nAfter the binding twenty persons, per- \nhaps, examined the ropes and knots. The \nside doors were then shut and fastened. The \nmiddle door was then pushed close, and the \nbolt inside was instantly heard to shoot into \nits fastening ; the trumpet was thrown out \nof a small opening near the top of the door, \nand the middle door thrown open from the \ninside. In two seconds \xe2\x80\x94 as quickly as pos- \nsible \xe2\x80\x94 the other doors were opened, and the \nBrothers seen to be firmly bound, precisely \nas they had been. Who threw out the \ntrumpet ? Hands were shown at the open- \ning, and the bell held out and rung, and \nthen dropped on the floor. Instantly the \nopen doors stowed the Brothers bound. \nThere was not a moment\'s delay \xe2\x80\x94 not time \nto untie or tie one of twenty knots. Whose \nwere the hands, and who rang the bell ? \nMost certainly neither of the Davenports, \nand as certainly no other person. \n\nOne of the three doors was closed, and \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 291 \n\nfrom behind it hands and portions of arms \nappeared. The closed door was flung open \ninstantly, and the young men were seen \nbound as before. Once a feminine hand \nand two-thirds of a bare arm was reached \nthrough the hole in the middle door, and \nthe whole interior was exposed in a moment, \nwith the same result as before. \n\n"What hands and arms were those ? Cer- \ntainly not those of the Davenports, and as \ncertainly there was no other person in the \ncabinet, or near it. \n\nThe doors were again closed, and a rattling \nand drawing of ropes was heard for nearly \nfour minutes (three minutes forty- eight \nseconds), with the ringing of the bell and \nother noises. The doors were opened, and \nthe young men stood up free, while the \nthirty or forty feet of small rope with which \nthey had been bound lay coiled between \nthem. \n\nHad they unbound themselves? Their \n\nu 2 \n\n\n\n292 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\nwrists were firmly knotted together ; their \nhands cannot pass through a rope-ring con- \nsiderably larger than their wrists, and they \ncould in no way reach the ends of the ropes. \nOn other occasions they have held their \nhands full of flour, had the knots sealed, \nand submitted to similar tests innumerable. \n\nThe doors were closed again, and after a \nnoise of rattling and whishing of ropes, \nlasting about two minutes, they were found \nto be bound more thoroughly and securely \nthan before. A large portion of the audience \nwent upon the platform to inspect this new \nbinding. Who did it ? The hands were \nfirmly knotted together, and fixed in their \nposition ; the feet were immovably fast- \nned. They were bound to their seats, \nand the ends of the rope were entirely beyond \ntheir reach. It is certain that they did not \ntie themselves, and it is equally certain \nthat no other visible person was in the box. \n\nSeveral musical instruments were now \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 293 \n\nplaced in the cabinet between the Brothers, \nbut not within their reach. The doors were \nscarcely closed before we heard the tuning \nof the violin, the keys turning while the \nstrings were snapped. That takes two hands. \nTVhose ? Then a rude concert commenced \xe2\x80\x94 \nthe violin being played with the bow ; the \ntambourine rumbled, the guitar thrummed, \nand the bell joined in the accompaniment. \nThe music was not of a high order, but \nthree common rustic tunes were played in \ngood time and tune, lasting in all some ten \nor fifteen minutes. Then, while the instru- \nments were still sounding, the middle door \nsuddenly flew open, the instruments came \ntumbling out, the side doors were instantly \nopened, and everyone saw the Brothers \nDavenport bound hand and foot, with no \nindication that they had made the slightest \nmovement. The committee reported the \nknots perfect. People got upon the platform \nto look for themselves. \n\n\n\n294 \n\n\n\nA BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\n\nNow, who made the music ? Certainly \nnot the Davenports. Provided they could \nhave got out of their fastenings, which I be- \nlieve impossible, they had not two seconds \nfrom the time we heard the instruments all \nplaying, before we saw them securely and \nelaborately bound, so that the committee \ncould not see even the slightest change. \nWell, who made the concert ? It required \nfour pairs of hands ; but here were but two, \nand they securely fastened ! \n\nIt was stated by one of the committee that \nMr. William Davenport\'s pulse was raised \nto 130, while Mr. Ira Davenport\'s was not \naffected. The fact of Ira\'s pulse not being \naffected perceptibly, shut in the close box, \nproves that he did not unbind and bind him- \nself, or take part in the rapid and violent \nconcert. The different state of William\'s \npulse, under the same conditions, would \nindicate some difference of temperament, \nor constitutional susceptibility. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 295 \n\nThe assembly was next seated in a semi- \ncircle of two rows, one close behind the \nother. In the centre, some ten feet removed \nfrom the nearest persons, was an \' oblong \ntable and two chairs, one on each side of the \ntable. Mr. Ira Davenport was firmly bound \nto one chair, by a gentleman selected from \nthe company, and Mr. Win. M. Fay to the \nother. Their feet were made fast, and their \nhands very firmly tied behind them. Sheets \nof white paper were placed under their feet, \nand marked round with a pencil. Every- \nbody took hold of hands, so that each person \nwas held by two others. Wm. Davenport \nwas held by a gentleman at one end of the \nsemicircle, and Mr. Ferguson, who held the \ncandle and matches for relighting, was held \nby Captain Inglefield at the other. \n\nThe instant the light was extinguished, \nand before the quickest-footed person could \nhave entered the room, the bell and musical \ninstruments on the table were in com mo- \n\n\n\n296 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\ntion. A guitar flew around in the air above \nour heads like a bat or swallow, twanging \nas it went, its course and motion being easily \ndistinguished by the sound. It went much \nhigher than a man could reach, and it was \nnot thrown in right lines, but flew in curves \nor circles, ringing as it went, and plainly \nfanning the air upon our faces with its rapid \nmotion. The sound was not so sharp as \nthat made by the fingers or thumb, but loud \nand full. After a few moments the instru- \nment rested on the floor, a match was struck, \nand everyone was satisfied that neither Mr. \nDavenport nor Mr. Fay had moved. Their \nhands were tied behind them, their feet had \nnot stirred from the pencil-marks. \n\nNow, who made the flying music ? Not \nthe Davenports, nor any person in the com- \npany, for they were all secured too firmly, \nhad they been able to do it. By some \npower the twanging ringing instrument \nwas made to fly round the room over our \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 297 \n\nheads more like the flight of a swallow \nthan anything to which I can compare it. \nAgain and again after these sounds the \ncandle was lighted, and each time the fas- \ntenings found secure. \n\nThen Mr. Fay was unbound by some in- \nvisible power, while Mr. Davenport remained \nbound ; next Mr. Davenport was unbound, \nwhile Mr. Fay was bound ; then both were \nfound again more securely bound, if possible, \nthan at the beginning. \n\nAnd now came the crowning marvel \xe2\x80\x94 a \nthing so utterly astounding that I should \nnot hope to be believed had I been its only \nwitness. While both were firmly bound \nto their chairs, several feet apart, and the \ncompany secured by each other, a slight \nrushing or whishing sound was heard, and \nthe light called for. Mr. Fay\'s coat, which \nhe had on the moment before, was lying on \nthe table, and he sitting in his shirtsleeves, \nwith his hands still firmly tied together at \n\n\n\n298 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OE \n\n\n\nthe wrists behind him, and also to the chair. \nThe coat was examined, and no rip or rent \ndiscovered. \n\nHow can a man take off his coat, or how \ncan it be taken off, with his hands tied to- \ngether behind him ? I only know, as some \nhundreds of persons in London know, that \nit was done! \n\nIt was asked if some gentleman would \nlend his coat for a few moments. A stout \nbeaver-cloth coat was proffered and laid \nupon the table. The candle was blown out, \nand in a few moments relighted. The bor- \nrowed coat was found completely and pro- \nperly put on Mr. Davenport, over his own, \nwhile his hands were seen to be firmly and \nvery tightly tied behind him, and bound to \nthe back of the chair. I felt and examined \nthe knots, as did many others : there was \nno mistake, or possibility of a mistake. \n\nHow was this done ? To say that in those \nfew moments Ira Davenport was unbound, \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 299 \n\nput on the coat, and was again tied, is absurd. \nIt was the same when the knots were sealed \nwith sealing-wax or his hands fastened \nwith sticking-plaister. There was not time \neven to untie him had there been confede- \nrates to do it. He could not have untied \nhimself. It is perfectly evident that these \ncoats went on and off, in direct violation of \nwhat we know as physical laws, by the same \npower that had done all the things which \nmay seem less wonderful or less impossible, \nbut of which we can give no better expla- \nnation ; and they show that this power has \na control over material substances of which \nwe are unable to form the least conception. \n\nI am sensible that my account does not \ndiffer essentially from several others, but \nthere were particular points which I wished \nto press upon the notice of the reader. \n\nThere is one more. If what I have \nwritten be true, and every cool observer \npresent will confirm every word, the whole \n\n\n\n300 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nmatter deserves the most earnest investiga- \ntion of men of science, It is more interest- \ning than the gorilla : it is of more impor- \ntance than a new gas, a new metal, or a \nnewly-discovered planet. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 301 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXL \n\n\' AND THE MAGICIANS DID SO WITH THEIR \nENCHANTMENTS.\' \n\nThe \'\xe2\x96\xa0Professors\'\' Excited \xe2\x80\x94 Duty to Expose Imposture- \nProfessor Anderson \xe2\x80\x94 Mr. Tolmaque \xe2\x80\x94 Challenges \nQuibbled out of\xe2\x80\x94 The Magicians resort to Tricks\xe2\x80\x94 \nHope-tying in Demand \xe2\x80\x94 A Ten Years\' Contest \xe2\x80\x94 Testi- \nmony of an Amateur. \n\nIn the l Dark Ages \' the marvels done in \npresence of the Brothers Davenport would \nhave been referred by a large majority of \nthe people to necromancy or witchcraft. \nIn these enlightened days ail those who do \nnot care to examine ascribe them at once to \nlegerdemain, and the mechanical deceptions \nof professional jugglers or so-called conju- \nrors. Of course at this daj 7 , and in this \ncountry, no one out of the nursery believes \nin magic as it was anciently believed in \n\n\n\n302 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\neverywhere, and still is over the Eastern \nWorld. \n\nMost people have been amused and, per- \nhaps, astonished at the tricks of our modern \nmagicians, who fry pancakes in hats, make \ncards or money dance, pour all kinds of \nliquors out of a single bottle, shoot gold \nwatches into the centre of uncut oranges, \nand so on. These tricks are amusing and, \nuntil we know the modus operandi, they are \nsurprising. It is not strange that those \nwho cannot account for the Davenport ma- \nnifestations, and who also know but little \nabout them, should class them with such \nperformances. \n\nIt is not strange, either, that as soon as \nthe various * professors \' of these magical \narts found the phenomena attending the \nBrothers Davenport noticed in the leading \npapers of England as their amusing but \nnot especially wonderful performances were \nnot likely to be, they should endeavour to \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 303 \n\ntake advantage of this kind of publicity, and \nof the excitement these wonders had pro- \nduced. And if the \'professors\' believed \nthat the Davenports were mere jugglers \nlike themselves, they had also a right to be \nindignant, as would everyone, that they \nwere gaining notoriety, and perhaps money, \nunder false pretences. I cheerfully admit \nthat it would be the right, and perhaps the \nduty, of every magician in England to ex- \npose such a base and infamous deception, \nand they could not do it too speedily. \n\nThe Brothers Davenport had scarcely ap- \npeared in London before Professor Ander- \nson, then performing at St. James\'s Hall, \ndeclared that they were \' very clever young \nartistes, who have been performing the rope- \ntying trick, bell-ringing, trumpet-flying, and \nchanging-coat experiments, all of which my \nson is exhibiting at the present time in \nAmerica, by natural agency only.\' Then \ncame \' M. Tolmaque, Presticligitateur,\' de- \n\n\n\n304 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\ndaring that \' he could do the same things \nas the Davenports in the same manner,\' and \noffering to show a committee how they were \ndone if the Davenports would do the same. \nAn i Officer of the Army \' offered to take \noff his jacket without removing his coat ; \nbut when he was required to have his hands \ntied together, like the Davenports, he re- \nspectfully declined. \n\nThe Brothers Davenport met the state- \nment of Professor Anderson fairly and \nsquarely, as follows : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\n\n30S Regent Street, Oct. 6, 1864. \n\n1 Sir, \xe2\x80\x94 Having read your letter in the \n" Morning Post " of Saturday last, we beg \nto accept the challenge made or implied in \nthat communication. We are ready to ap- \npear before a party of twelve or more gen- \ntlemen, specially chosen as capable of \nfairly investigating the phenomena we pre- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 305 \n\nsent. You shall be present, and shall have \nevery facility given yon to examine the \nempty room and the instruments we use. \nYou shall then explain, to the satisfaction \nof the gentlemen present, the legerdemain \nyou have stated we employ, or produce, if \nyou can, in your own person the same re- \nsults. Should you succeed, by legerdemain, \nin performing or imitating those results, or \nbe able to detect and expose imposture, we \nshall then be ready to acknowledge that \nyour accusations are justly founded. But if \nyou fail \xe2\x80\x94 as we are well assured you will \ndo \xe2\x80\x94 we shall require you to retract publicly \nthe accusations you have publicly made \nagainst us. \n\n\' We are, &c, \n\n1 Brothers Davenport. \n\n\' To Professor Anderson, \n< St. James\'s Hall.\' \n\n\n\n306 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nThe Professor denied that he had given \nany challenge ! It would be impossible for \neven a professor of legerdemain to back more \ncoolly out of a difficulty. \n\nA similar letter was sent to \' M. Tol- \nmaque, Prestidigitateur,\' and he also de- \nclined the encouuter in the same manner. \n\nThese two magicians did not so with their \nenchantments. \n\nFinally, to cover the whole ground, the \nfollowing letter was written, and, like the \nothers, published in the \'Morning Post\' \n(Oct. 8, 1864) :\xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\n\nLondon, Oct. 4, 1864. \n\n< Sir,\xe2\x80\x94 The seance which took place in \nyour house, and in the presence of yourself \nand friends, last Wednesday evening, has \ngiven, rise to much discussion, in which we \nhave been pronounced by some not only \njugglers but impostors [say jugglers, and \ntherefore impostors]. Two professed con- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 307 \n\njurors have publicly announced that they \ncan produce, by legerdemain, all the phe- \nnomena we have exhibited. We accept the \nchallenge, and shall feel obliged if a com- \nmittee of gentlemen of character and posi- \ntion can be found, selected from such as are \nquite free from any prejudice in the matter, \nA seance shall then take place in a room \nwhich may be examined beforehand, and \nwith instruments to be furnished by the \ncommittee. We are prepared to produce \nthere certain phenomena in the presence of \nthese gentlemen, and in the presence of the \ntwo conjurors ; and when we have done, \nthe conjurors shall be required to attempt \nto produce the same, under the same condi- \ntions, or shall expose, to the satisfaction of \nthe committee, the fraudulent means we are \nstated to have employed: but this they \nshall do by the exercise and exhibition of \nlegerdemain (or, if they please, by ma- \nchinery), and not by any occult power of \n\nx 2 \n\n\n\n308 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nthe nature of that we possess, and which \nthey might use in secret and then repudiate, \nfor we do not pretend that we have the \nexclusive possession of the power we \nemploy. \n\n\' We trust, sir, in fairness to us and to \nthose who believe in our honesty, that the \ntest will be fairly and strictly applied, and \nthe result, whatever it may be, made \npublic. \n\n\' We make this offer in all sincerity and \ngood faith, and we hope it will be met and \ndealt with in the same spirit. \n\n\' W T e are, yours truly, \n\n\' Ira Erastus Davenport, \n\' William H. Davenport, \n\'William M. Fay. \n\n\' To Dion Boucicault, Esq.\' \n\nThis fair and open challenge, which has \nsimple good faith written in every sentence, \nand which, in the latter portion, shows the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 309 \n\nextent of it in a very curious manner, met \nwith no response from the magicians. \n\nA correspondent of the \' Morning Post \' \nasks of M. Tolmaque, who gave an exhibi- \ntion of tying and untying himself, very \nclever, no doubt, but not at all to the pur- \npose, \xe2\x80\x94 \' Can he, dressed in black, and \nholding powdered chalk or flour in his \nhands, effect both the phenomena of tying \nand untying the ropes, as exhibited by the \nBrothers Davenport, and in the same space \nof time, without dropping any of the flour \nfrom his hands ? Can he produce visible \nand palpable hands, distinctly and unequivo- \ncally human to outward sight and touch, \nending at the wrist, without wires or rods \nor human arms connected with them V \nThe writer offers to pay any sum he may \nname to any prestidigitateur who can do \nthese things, on condition that, failing, he \nwill give a quarter of the sum to some \ncharity. \n\n\n\n310 \n\n\n\nA BIOGEAPHY OF \n\n\n\nProfessor Anderson, instead of accepting \nany of these offers, challenged the Brothers \nto do their 6 tricks \' in his theatre, in full \nlight, instead of darkness ; knowing per- \nfectly well that total darkness in some cases, \nand partial obscurity in others, was usually \nan indispensable condition and, so far as \ncan be known, one of the laws of the phe- \nnomena\xe2\x80\x94as much so, perhaps, as in the \ncamera obscura. If the things done in the \nabsence of light could be done in its \npresence, the cabinet and ropes, sealing- \nwax, flour, straps of diachylon, and all other \ntests might be dispensed with, though it \nmay be doubted if people would more \nreadily believe. \n\nM. Tolmaque declined the challenge, on \nthe ground that he would have nothing to \ndo with works of darkness. \n\nMr. Palmer was not quite satisfied with \nthe \' backing out \' of the prestidigitateurs. \nHe was nettled, perhaps, that a portion of \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 311 \n\nthe press persisted in declaring that the \nmagicians had solved the problem and ex- \nposed the cheat, when they had refused the \nfairest opportunities to do so, with all the \nglory that would have attended such an \nachievement. Mr. Palmer therefore, on \nthe 22nd of October, published the follow- \ning : \xe2\x80\x94 \' If M. Tolmaque or any other per- \nson will, by legerdemain, produce precisely \nthe same phenomena as those to which the \nBrothers Davenport give rise, under pre- \ncisely the same conditions, to the satisfaction \nof a majority of the noblemen and gentlemen \nwho were present at the seance held last \nFriday evening at the Hanover-square \nRooms, I will pay \xc2\xa3100 to any of the \ndramatic funds that may be selected ; the \nparty of course attempting, should he fail, \nto pay a like sum to the same institu- \ntion/ \n\nThe dramatic funds are vainly watching \nand waiting for that hundred pou ds ; but \n\n\n\n312 \n\n\n\nA BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\n\nthe response of M. Tolmaque is a curiosity. \nHe writes (< Morning Star/ Oct. 24) :\xe2\x80\x94 \n\nc I, M. Tolmaque, prestidigitateur, hereby \ninform Mr. Palmer, that as long as he sails \nunder false colours I will not answer him, \nor any of his friends, on the subject of the \nBrothers Davenport. \n\n\' M. Tolmaque.\' \n\nAnd this, I believe, ended the pretences \nof the magicians, who, not being able to do \nso with their enchantments, gave curious \nexperiments of their own, and untied knots \nat the music-halls. \n\nThis feat of untying knots is old and \nfamiliar enough, and is just what the Bro- \nthers Davenport do not do. To prove this \nthey allow the ropes to be sealed : to prove \nit they hold both their hands filled with \nflour or other white powder : to prove it \nthey have been sewn up in bags, enclosed \nin wooden tubes, and subjected to all the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 313 \n\ntests mentioned in these pages, and a hun- \ndred beside. What they wish to show is \nthat they neither untie nor tie themselves, \nand that they do none of the remarkable \nthings done in their presence. \n\nThe same power or powers that show the \nhands without arms, or hands and arms \nwhere no bodies are visible ; which play on \nthe instruments; which hurl the guitar \nsounding through the air ; which remove a \ncoat from, or put one upon, a man whose \nhands are bound securely together \xe2\x80\x94 the \nsame power ties and unties the Brothers \nDavenport, when they are placed beyond \nthe aid of confederates, and equally pre- \nvented \xe2\x80\x94 by the flour test, for example \xe2\x80\x94 from \ndoing it themselves. \n\nMr. Palmer might very safely have offered \nthe magicians themselves a thousand, or \nten thousand, pounds to do one of these \nthings by jugglery, under the same con- \nditions. \n\n\n\n314 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nThe tyings and untyings at the theatres \nand music-halls may be ingenious tricks \nenough ; but it is very absurd to compare \nthem with what is seen at the seances of the \nBrothers Davenport. \n\nIt should be observed that this conflict \nwith the conjurors is not a new thing with \nthe Brothers. It began ten years ago, \nwhen they were but children, and when the \nphenomena were quite as extraordinary as \nthey are to-day. They have been watched \nby the cleverest jugglers, who failed to \ndiscover the semblance of trickery. They \nhave everywhere challenged every kind of \ntest, and the most searching examinations. \nNo magician has ever ventured to accept \ntheir standing challenge to exhibit the same \nphenomena under the same conditions. \n\nObserve, also, that the so-called magicians \nnever interfere with each other \xe2\x80\x94 never \nchallenge each other. Each does as well as \nhe can, and no one ever attempts to expose \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 315 \n\nanother\'s tricks. They do all they can, \nhowever, to throw discredit on the Daven- \nports, not because they can but because \nthey cannot do the same or even similar \nthings. The London press, while giving \ncredit to the skill of Professor Anderson, \nhas very frankly declared that his pretended \nimitation or exposure of the Davenports is \nsimply absurd. There is not the least \nresemblance. When Professor Anderson\'s \ncoat is taken off his back while his hands are \nsecurely fastened behind him with cord, or \ntape and sealing-wax, or copper wire, or dia- \nchylon plaister, or by wires passing through \nholes in his thumb and finger-nails, or by \nseveral of these means in combination, under \nthe inspection of a competent and impartial \ncommittee, he may talk about \' an exhibition \nafter the manner of the Brothers Davenport.\' \nOn this matter the following extract from \na communication in the Newcastle Chronicle \n(Nov. 7, 1864) is to the purpose. The writer, \n\n\n\n316 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nafter describing the favourable impressions \nmade upon him by the Brothers and their com- \npanions, so different from what certain of \nthe London papers had led him to expect, \nsays : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nC I have only this remark to make. I \nhave seen nearly all the greatest conjurors \nof the present day. I have been behind the \nscenes, and assisted in making the necessary \npreparations for a wizard\'s entertainment. \nI have seen both M. Tolmaque and Mr. Red- \nmond do their rope- trick, and I know how it \nis done. I can honestly declare that what the \nDavenports do as far surpasses Anderson, \nTolmaque, and Redmond, as these gentle- \nmen can surpass such a clumsy amateur as \nI am. I am totally at a loss to account for \nthe Davenports\' feats by any known principle \nof legerdemain. If what they do is con- \njuring, all I can say about it is, that it is \nthe cleverest conjuring I ever saw or heard \nof.\' \n\n\n\n\'THE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 317 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII. \n\nTHE TESTIMONY OF MR. FERGUSON. \n\nSix Months with the Brothers Davenport \xe2\x80\x94 Seance in a Rail- \nway Tunnel \xe2\x80\x94 Convincing Manifestations \xe2\x80\x94 Personal \nExplanations. \n\nThe Rev. J. B. Ferguson, late of Xash- \nville, Tennessee, who has already been \nmentioned as having accompanied the \nBrothers Davenport to England, and who \nhas been engaged as director and lecturer, \nso far as explanations are required, at the \nseances given in this country, has, at the \nrequest of the present writer, given an \naccount of his experiences with them in the \nfollowing \n\nStatement. \n4 On the night of the 26th April 1864, in \n\n\n\n318 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\ncompany with a friend, I attended the \nexhibition of the Brothers Davenport at \nthe Cooper Institute, New York. On the \nnight succeeding, in company with five of \nmy friends from the Southern States, I \nattended another exhibition at the same \nplace. I had been for years familiar \nwith phenomena and experiences of a similar \ncharacter to those represented as attending \nthe Brothers ; and from the knowledge of \nthis fact, my Southern friends were anxious \nthat I should accompany them. \n\n\'Of the Davenports themselves personally, \nor as representatives of the \' wonders \' asso- \nciated with their names, I knew nothing. \nOf course I had often seen their names in \npublic prints, but my attention to what was \nsaid either in their favour or to their dis- \nparagement had never been sufficiently at- \ntracted to secure any conviction respecting \nthem. Accordingly, on my way to their pro- \nposed entertainment, in reply to a question \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 319 \n\nof iny friends, I remember to have stated that, \nif the Davenports were not jugglers or de- \nceivers, and were really instruments through \nwhich man\'s allied nature to the invisible \nor spiritual world was reflected, we should \nreceive evidence such as no candid man \ncould refuse to accept. I also expressed a \nhope that one of my friends, who was a \nsceptic in the saddest sense, would receive \nthe tangible proof of what he had heard me \nassert and defend for fifteen years. \n\n\' When we came to the place of meeting \xe2\x80\x94 \nthe large lecture-room of the Cooper Insti- \ntute, the largest in New York city \xe2\x80\x94 we \nfound some thousands assembled. The \nentertainment \xe2\x80\x94 for such it may properly \nbe called \xe2\x80\x94 opened, and a committee was \nchosen to secure the young men in the \ncabinet and report to the audience what \noccurred. I need not describe the manifesta- \ntions, or their effect on the audience, as the \nNew York papers gave graphic reports at \n\n\n\n320 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nthe time, and have indulged in tiresome \nrepetitions since. It is enough to say that \nI was convinced that the Davenports were \nno jugglers, and that the displays of power \nthrough them admitted of no explanation \naccording to any known estimate of natural \nlaws. I called upon the Davenports in \nprivate, and attended their public enter- \ntainments for eleven days and nights. My \nsceptical friend, after the closest scrutiny, \nadmitted that there was no clandestine \nmechanism or arrangement of machinery, \nand no sleight-of-hand in what he had so \ndoubtingly and thoroughly examined. He \nis a man of the first eminence at home and \nabroad in discovery, and in the application \nof discovery in the most intricate and diffi- \ncult mechanics, and in mechanical skill has \nfew equals. \n\n4 When the Davenports appeared at Brook? \nlyn, near New York, it happened that their \nrepresentative before the public was absent ; \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 321 \n\nand they, through their friends, invited me \nto introduce them to the public of the city \nof Brooklyn. In that city, at the time, I \nwas solicited to meet the representatives of \na highly respectable religious society, with \na view to becoming their pastor. I, how- \never, consented to introduce the Davenports \nin " the City of Churches." I did this in a \nspirit of candid enquiry and experiment \nrespecting a subject which I hoped might \nprove of interest. I did so knowing that, \nhowever desirable it might be that I should \nbecome the pastor of the church above men- \ntioned, my action in this matter would put \nan end to all hope of such pastoral charge \nbeing entrusted to me. I did so because I was \nfully convinced that the phenomena which \noccurred in the presence of the Brothers \nwas a part of the supramundane evidence \ngiven to this age \xe2\x80\x94 evidence not to be mea- \nsured by the conventional restrictions of \n\nY \n\n\n\n322 \n\n\n\nA BIOGEAPHY OF \n\n\n\ntime and men, however respectable the \ntime or however religious the men. \n\n\' When I saw and knew, for myself and \nnot by another, that the evidences given \nthrough the Davenports were true, I ac- \ncepted a proposition to accompany them to \nEngland and Europe \xe2\x80\x94 if, after three or four \nmonths\' experience with them before the \npublic, I should find the work such as I \ncould perform without detriment to them \nor to myself. Accordingly, I spent three \nmonths in the interior towns and cities of \nNew York State and New England, and a \nmonth in the chief cities of Canada. Dur- \ning this time they were brought before \nevery class of the communities they visited ; \nevery conceivable form of fastening and \nother methods of l test \' and trial were sub- \nmitted to \xe2\x80\x94 such as being held by the hands \nand feet while the manifestations of force \nwere witnessed, the use of sealing-wax, and \nmany other devices \xe2\x80\x94 and always with com- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 323 \n\nplete and undeniable success. Indeed, it \nwere impossible for me by any use of lan- \nguage too strongly to state this fact. \n\n1 During this time I resided with them at \nthe same hotels, and we often occupied the \nsame suite of apartments. I travelled with \nthem, in the unavoidable intimacy of tra- \nvelling companionship, over thousands of \nmiles of the widespread territory referred \nto, and consequently must have had every \nopportunity of detecting fraud, if fraud \nthere were to be detected. But it becomes \nme to say that I never detected any, nor \nthe appearance of any. When they were, \nto all appearance, sound asleep, some of the \nmost marked of the manifestations have \noccurred. In travelling by rail, when \nentering a dark tunnel, I have, to a mental \nwish, received them in tangible and unmis- \ntakable forms; and this experience has \nbeen repeated in England. For example, \nupon our arrival at Liverpool, when we had \n\n\n\n324 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\ntaken our seats for London, immediately \nupon leaving the former city, amid expres- \nsions indicative of the natural anxiety of \nyoung Americans in their first observations \nand experiences as strangers in a strange \nland, on entering the tunnel near Liverpool, \none of our party, I think Mr. Fay, said, " I \nwonder if John came with us over the sea ? " \nThe question was instantly answered thus : \n\xe2\x80\x94 I was grasped by a strong hand, and so \nwas each one of the company. At the same \ntime that I was thus grasped, my face and \nhands were gently felt by seemingly human \nhands. I confess the evidence was so \npalpable and satisfactory as to distinctness \nof touch, responding to my wishes, that I \nfeared some one of our party was the \noperator. I pleasantly charged them with \nit, when each solemnly protested he was the \nrecipient of similar evidences, and had not \nmoved, nor even desired to do so. I then \ndesired mentally that I should be met by an \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 325 \n\nevidence of such a character that it would \nadmit of neither doubt nor denial. As we \nentered another tunnel I changed my posi- \ntion in the railroad carriage, so that no one \nof my party could touch me without my \nknowledge. In response to a mental wish I \nwas touched, my face manipulated, and my \nperson distinctly handled, when I knew \npositively that no one visible was near me. \nOf the satisfaction given by such an evi- \ndence I need not speak : no words can do \nit justice. I state the fact, and leave it to \nthe appreciation of all who have the desire \nfor similar evidences. I could give many \nother instances of force guided by invisible \nintelligence. On extinguishing the light in \nmy room, I have had my chair instantly \nlifted and placed upon my head, with the \nlegs upward, and the cushion resting on the \ntop of my head. A voice \xe2\x80\x94 not mine, not \nthat of anyone present \xe2\x80\x94 has directed me to \nfeel the position of those present. I did so, \n\n\n\n326 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nwhile the chair held itself, or was held, \nfirmly where it was placed. In distinct \nvocal tones I was invited to be seated, the \nchair being at the same time taken from my \nhead and placed properly, that I might \ncomply with the invitation. \n\n\' I might record a volume of such and \nsimilar manifestations. But with respect to \nall these evidences, expressions, or demon- \nstrations from the invisible world, I have one \nremark to make ; I wish it to sink deep into \nthe minds of my readers. These are not given \nin response to mere curiosity, idle wish, or \nselfish desire. They have come when and \nwhere they were needed, and where there was \na degree of good faith in the individual to \nuse the evidence for universal good. The \nrule with me is, that whenever and wherever \nthe mind is ready for an ascent in actual \nprogress, evidences are given that transcend \nall our existing standards of truth and good. \n\' For six months I have travelled with the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 327 \n\nDavenports, and in various conditions, \nadvantageous and disadvantageous, I have \nwitnessed the evidences of the power \nthat attends them. I have seen them \nsubjected to every form of scrutiny that \nscepticism could devise. I have seen their \nprofessed friends, with anxiety, caused by a \nbigoted and sensuous denial, return to the \nDavenports with fresh doubts, to be met and \nreassured by evidences that admitted of no \ndenial. I can truthfully say that no time, \nplace, or condition of the most diverse and \npromiscuous audiences, or the most select \ncompanies, has ever prevented the manifes- \ntations, though they have been rendered less \nsatisfactory in various ways. The anxiety \ncaused the Brothers by aimless discussion, \ncaptious criticism, and obstinate denial is a \nvery unfavourable condition. I have seen \nthem associated with persons who only \nwished to make gain of their gifts, and \nwhose methods of presenting them to the \n\n\n\n328 \n\n\n\nA BIOGEAPHY OF \n\n\n\npublic were calculated only to produce dis- \ntrust, and to place the evidences of the \npower attending them on a level with or- \ndinary jugglery. I have seen these persons \nconfounded, most unexpectedly to them- \nselves, by the evidences of truth, wisdom, \nand power attending the manifestations: \nThrough the most painstaking ordeals, the \nseverest scrutiny, the most searching ana- \nlysis these evidences have passed. They \nhave ever come forth more clear, more \nsatisfactory and convincing to all honest \nenquiry. Many of my own friends, utterly \nunconvinced, and looking upon me with \nprofound astonishment that I should be so \nduped as to become insensible to the charms \nof respectability and, I may add, to the \nattraction and use of the 4 almighty dollar/ \nhave witnessed these evidences, and have \neither become silent, or have acknowledged \nthat no duty could be more sacred than the \none I have assumed. In the presence of \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 329 \n\ndoubt, distrust, and odium, ray own arm \nhas at times become weak and my heart \nfaint. \n\n\' This state in me has been met by proofs \nof a superior recognition and protection be- \nyond the power of mortals to order or deny. \nHence I can say, in presence of men and of \nthe Great Unseen though not Unknown \nPower who governs all human action, that \nthese evidences are all and much more than \nis claimed for them by those through whose \nagency they are brought before the mind. \nThese evidences are entirely above and be- \nyond the capacity of those through whom or \nby whom they are given, physically, intellec- \ntually, and morally. True, the mental \ncapacity of the Messrs. Davenport is fully \nequal to, if not above, the average of their \ncountrymen, or men\' of their age and op- \nportunities. Physically, they are sound, \nhealthy, active men. Morally, I know them \nto be honest candid men, with manly, \n\n\n\n330 \n\n\n\nA BIOGEAPHY OF \n\n\n\nmoral courage, decision of character, per- \nseverance, and self-reliance under difficulties \nand dangers that would have appalled many \nwho have presumed to disparage them with- \nout knowledge of their character, or from \ninability to account for these wondrous \nmanifestations. I feel it a duty I owe to \ntruth to say, that I know these men as well \nas men usually know each other. I know \nalso that it is thought that persons who \nare made the instruments of such or kindred \nmanifestations are liable, more than others, \nto disease of both body and mind, and it is \noften more than hinted that their morality \nis far beneath the common standard. This \nis not true of the Davenports. And when \nit is considered that for three years they \ngave free exhibitions, and for over seven \nyears they have made these exhibitions the \nbusiness of their lives, and are to-day men \nof clear heads and sound healthy bodies, \nwe are forced to the conclusion that the \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 331 \n\nmanifestations through them are perfectly \nconsistent with the laws or conditions of \nmind, physical organization, or true moral \nresponsibility. Indeed, in a somewhat \nvaried field of observation upon men and \nmanners, I know of no men of like age and \nopportunities who are their equals, certainly \nnone their superiors, in all that tends to \nsound judgment, perseverance in the path \nof duty, or capacity to meet the diverse \nfortune or serious responsibilities of life. \n\n\' Such manifestations are not confined to \nthese persons ; I meet them in degrees \neverywhere. I have had similar experi- \nences and demonstrations in my own per- \nson for years. I have met them in others \nin the most calm and serious periods of my \nsomewhat eventful life. I am sure that no \nman can give to them an honest and un- \nbiassed attention without being satisfied \nthat they transcend our existing estimates \n\n\n\n332 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nalike of benevolent purposes and of material \nlaw. \n\n\'I have no reason to doubt that persons \nthrough whom supramundane manifesta- \ntions have been given have mingled trickery \nand fraud with what was really above them. \nHuman nature is frail. Curiosity on the \npart of the public, and an eager desire for \nnotoriety on the part of those who are for \nthe time being ministers to this exacting \ncuriosity, have been too powerful tempta- \ntions to the weak and foolish. It has of \ncourse been said that the Davenports have \ndescended to tricks. I can only speak for \nthe time I have known them. Since my \nconnection with them I know that they have \nnot so descended, nor needed to descend. \nIt is to the fact of entire sincerity that I \nattribute their untarnished success in the \nNew World and in London and England. \nThey are mortal, and subject to temptation, \nlike all of us ; but as regards these evidences \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 333 \n\nthey can have no inducement to fraud any \nmore than a man with a million of pounds \nhas occasion to steal. They need not to \ninvent tricks when genuine phenomena con- \nstantly attend them. Whenever they have \nsat for the manifestations they have been \npresented in such form as to be convincing. \nThere is only one exception to this state- \nment in England, and that occurred at the \nmeeting of the representatives of the press, \n(October 25, 1864), in London. Even \nthen evidence was given in one form though \nwithheld in another. There were dictation \nand interruption on that occasion which \nproved sufficient to derange the conditions \nof manifestation partially. But on that \nvery evening I witnessed manifestations, in \nthe presence of the Davenports and Mr. \nFay, after the Press seance, and elsewhere, \ntranscending all I had seen during my con \xe2\x80\xa2 \nnection with the Brothers. Lessons of \nwisdom on all that had transpired were \n\n\n\n334 \n\n\n\nA BIOGEAPHY OF \n\n\n\ngiven in an audible voice, and much was an- \nticipated, for them and for myself, that no \nmortal vision could then descry. \n\nThe evidences of intelligence, of wisdom, \nof prophetic information and warning, of \ninsight as to events that are as yet to occur, \nand which always do occur when thus fore- \ntold \xe2\x80\x94 the protection and guidance and care \nunfailing attending the mission of these \nmen and all who are connected intimately \nwith it are to me equally powerful and \nconvincing evidences as the manifestations \nof force or power. 1 do not undervalue \nthose evidences of power that shock the ma- \nterialist into belief. I know what immor- \ntality is worth as a motive to man in pro- \nducing a living hope, and I know that these \nevidences are evidences of hope to all \xe2\x80\x94 yes, \none mighty all \xe2\x80\x94 despite all the denials, vain \nefforts at explanation, and seeming misap- \nplication that a diversified appreciation and \nculture mav make of them. I know they \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 335 \n\nare true, and will outlive all our standards \nof adaptation and application. I know they \nreveal the Godlike in man. I know they \nare the culmination of the movements of all \nthe nations, tribes, and peoples of a common \nhumanity. I know they reveal a unity in \nall human diversity. They will go on in in- \ncreasing power, as our age and time shall \nunfold to receive them. They will stay the \ndesolating hand of selfish and sectarian ani- \nmosity. They will lay low the vain con- \nceptions of those who seek not beyond the \ngratification of personal desire and self-ag- \ngrandizement. They will assure us that God \nlives in all : and as spirit is above form, \nright above wrong, so will they rise above the \nmurky mire and the clodded earth, which \ntoo often weigh us down beneath all that \nwould adorn and beautify man as one and \nundivided in the Spirit that gives him life \nand destiny. However faint the scintilla- \ntions, they come as the sparkling gems of \n\n\n\n336 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nthought divine to illumine the midnight of \nhuman erring: and they make us know \nthat there is no hour so auspicious with \nhope, no day so bright, no achievement so \ngood but that its equal will come to each, \nand bring the conscious reflection that \nthrough the deepest penury and want, and \nthe most trying scenes of human care and \nresponsibility, we are ever ascending, under \nthe mighty hand of progress, that spans all \ntime, to a good no language can either \nexpress or measure, under the benign re- \nflection of the evidences of a hope to man \nuniversal, which are so signally marking \nour age or time. I present, dear Sir, to \nyou this my honest and unwavering testi- \nmony to the nature and character of the \nmanifestations that ever attend these de- \nservedly-celebrated young Americans. \n\n\' J. B. Ferguson, \n\' Of Nashville, Tennessee.\' \n\n\n\nTHE BEOTHEES DAVENPOET. 661 \n\nThe peculiar relation of the writer of the \nabove statement to the Brothers Davenport \ngives him a right to speak warmly in their \nbehalf, and the zeal and enthusiasm with \nwhich he engages in their work, and his \nideas of its importance and consequences, \nare evident. Those ideas are his own, and \nfor them he is alone responsible, \n\n\n\n338 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII. \n\n\n\nMORE FACTS AND EVIDENCE. \n\nMr. Coleman\'s Statement \xe2\x80\x94 He talks with l John King? and \nsees Divers Marvels \xe2\x80\x94 Astounding Phenomena \xe2\x80\x94 Mr. \nHowitfs Testimony \xe2\x80\x94 Facts and Tests \xe2\x80\x94 Genius and \nScience nonplussed. \n\nMr. Benjamin Coleman, of No. 51 Pem- \nbridge Villas, Bayswater, a gentleman well \nknown upon the London Stock Exchange, \nand who has been a careful observer of \nextra-natural phenomena in both hemis- \npheres, has prepared an account of his \nobservations at several public and private \nseances of the Brothers Davenport, from \nwhich I have been permitted to select the \nfollowing facts, not contained in the previous \nchapters, or more circumstantially related. \nOf the Brothers Davenport, Mr. Coleman \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 339 \n\nsays : c Under ordinary circumstances, it \nwould have been a sufficient guarantee of \nthe respectability of the Davenports, that \nthey were associated with a gentleman of \nthe high character and intellectual acquire- \nments of Mr. J. B. Ferguson, whose past \nhistory and great sacrifices for the cause of \ntruth is well known to me.\' \n\nWhile in America, Mr. Coleman was \nassured by Professor Mapes, an eminent \nchemist and engineer, that \' John King \' had \nconversed with him in an audible voice for \nhalf an hour, and had given his hand a most \npowerful grasp. \' I am now enabled,\' says \nMr. Coleman, \' to corroborate this extraor- \ndinary fact, for I, too, have conversed with \n" John King." \' It was at a private seance, \nat which were present only the Brothers \nDavenport, Mr. Ferguson, and Mr. Coleman. \nHe says : \' The lights being extinguished \nwe sat a short time in silence, when a start- \nling bang was made upon the tambourine, \n\ni \n\n% 2 \n\n\n\n340 \n\n\n\nA BIOGEAPHY OF \n\n\n\nwhich instrument, with the guitar, were \ninstantly placed upon my knees. A hand \ngently caressed me on the head, and a stream \nof phosphoric light passed across the spacious \nroom, which was succeeded by another rising \nfrom the floor to the ceiling. A voice then \nspoke to me through a trumpet which was \nbrought within a few inches of my face ; and \nin a clear, distinct and sonorous voice, I was \nthus addressed : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nc " How are you, Coleman ? " \n.\' "Oh ! " exclaimed both of the Davenports, \n" that\'s i John\' \xe2\x80\x94 that\'s \' John/ \xe2\x80\x94 we have not \nheard him speak for a long time. Keep him \nin conversation, Mr. Coleman." \n\n4 I then said, " You appear to know me, \nJohn." \n\n4 " Yes ; I knov/ you in spirit." \n4 " Have you ever seen me before ? " \n4 " Yes ; I saw you in America." \n\'" Do you think, John, that you will be able \nto convince the sceptics in this country ? " \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 341 \n\n4 " Yes ; we have power enough to make \nthem surrender. There is a lady standing \nby your side." \n\n1 " What is her name ? " \n\n< " Kate." \n\n* At this moment one of the Davenports \nsaid, " I hope you will be with us to-morrow \nnight, John (the night of the press seance)." \n\n1 " Certainly, certainly ! " \xe2\x80\x94 then turning \nin an opposite direction, as I could easily \ndetect by the sound, the voice said, " How \nare you, Ferguson ? " \' \n\nAfter a few words more, the voice turned \nagain to Mr. Coleman, a hand passed over \nhis head, and patted him kindly on the \nshoulder, and the voice said, \' I must go \nnow ; good night.\' \n\n\' Sceptics may save themselves the trouble,\' \nsays Mr. Coleman, \' of suggesting illusion, \nventriloquism, &c. I know it was a reality. \nI am sure that a voice addressed me, and \nthat it was not the voice of a mortal.\' \n\n\n\n342 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\' At a stance at the house of a friend, the \ncoat of Mr. Fay was removed from his back \nin an instant, and my friend\'s coat put upon \nhim in the same space of time, Mr. Fay\'s \nhands being firmly tied together behind \nhim, and the knots of the cord sealed. On \nthe same occasion, the still more bewildering \nfact occurred of Mr. Ira Davenport\'s waist- \ncoat being removed while his coat remained, \nhis hands being bound behind his back. \nThe waistcoat lay at our feet, with his \nwatch in the pocket and the chain hooked \nin the button-hole, just as he had worn it a \nmoment previously, the waistcoat remaining \nbuttoned.\' \n\nMr. Coleman confesses himself staggered \nby this phenomenon. It must be a trick. \nBut how could it be done in an instant, and \nwith the hands tied and the seals unbroken ? \nHe says : \n\n4 On a subsequent occasion I saw the \nsame phenomenon when the wrists were \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHEKS DAVENPORT. 343 \n\nsecured with soft copper wire, in addition to \nthe rope, which made it impossible to slip \nthe hands, and for more perfect security, at \nother times, when the natural hands would \nhave been required to play on musical in- \nstruments, &c., sticking-plaister was put \naround the hands, which were also filled \nwith flour. \n\n\' I saw at another seance Mr. Fay tied to \nhis chair, with his hands fastened behind \nhis back, and after several coils with inter- \nmediate knots around his person, Captain \nDray son of the Royal Observatory at Wool- \nwich fastened the final knot beneath the seat \nof the chair, and placed a legible seal in wax \non this final knot, which of course embraced \nthe two cords of the rope. After the usual \nmanifestations, Mr. Fay requested the in- \nvisible operators to untie him and leave, if \nthey could, the seal unbroken, We heard \nthe untying of the rope, and in a minute or \ntwo Mr. Fay was set at liberty, when, to \n\n\n\n344 \n\n\n\nA BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\n\nour amazement, the first knot remained with \nthe seal intact) every intermediate knot was \ntaken out, leaving a plain knotless rope with \na loop at the end. This remarkable fact \nwas made evident to all present, numbering \nsome thirty or forty persons, who eagerly \nexamined the rope and were obliged to ac- \ncept the palpable fact, inexplicable as it \nappears to be. \n\ni On another evening, the lights being \nextinguished, Sir Henry de Hoghton asked \nthat Mr. Fay\'s coat should be taken off. He \nhad scarcely uttered the words when Mr. \nFerguson struck a brilliant light, and / saw \nthe coat leaving the body of Mr. Fay, and all \ncould see it in its flight in the air, until it \nreached and rested on the knees of Sir Henry, \nwho was sitting in the centre of a large semi- \ncircle some ten or fifteen feet from either Mr. \nFay or Mr. Ira Davenport, who were both tied \nhands and feet to their chairs. Sir Henry \nde Hoghton then took off his own coat, and \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 345 \n\nplacing it on his knee asked that it should \nbe put upon Mr. Fay. We instantly heard \na rushing sound, and in less time than it \ntakes me to say it \xe2\x80\x94 in fact not more than a \nsecond or two \xe2\x80\x94 Sir Henry\'s coat was found \nnot on Mr. Fay, but on Mr. Davenport, over \nhis own coat, which had not been removed. \n\' Let the incredulous smile and the savans \nshake their heads; these astounding facts \nremain and are unimpeachable. \n\n\' Benja. Coleman. \n\n\' London, 51 Pembridge Villas, \n1 Bayswater.\' \n\nA very remarkable statement, which, \nstanding alone, would go far to send a man \nto a lunatic asylum, but which is supported \nby such abundant testimony, and is suscept- \nible of such easy proof, that a less solid and \nreputable man might make it with safety. \n\nBut let the reader consider a moment one \nor two of these facts. Can he conceive of a \n\n\n\n346 A BIOGEAPHY OF \n\nman\'s waistcoat being taken all buttoned \nfrom his body, without removing his coat, \nand while his hands are bound together \nbehind him ? Can he conceive of a dozen \nwell-tied knots in a doubled rope being \nuntied, while the last knot that secured all \nthe others remains intact with its seal \nunbroken ? \n\nMr. William Howitt, the well-known and \ndelightful author of so many thoroughly \nEnglish books, has published a statement \nrespecting the Brothers Davenport, from \nwhich I am able to make only brief extracts. \nMr. Howitt says: \xe2\x80\x94 \n\ni Having been familiar with the career of \nthe Davenports in America for the last ten \nyears, in fact, ever since they were boys \xe2\x80\x94 \nhaving read the testimonies of the most re- \nspectable American journals, and knowing \nthat thousands of the acutest and most \nhonest of the distinguished men of America \nhad satisfied themselves of the bona fide \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 347 \n\nnature of their manifestations, I did not \neven require to see them myself to be quite \ncertain that they were genuine. I knew \nthat every ingenuity, every test which a \nmost wide-awake and ingenious people \ncould apply, had been applied in their case. \nI knew that they had gone, through all these \nyears, over the length and breadth of the \nNorth American continent, through all \nthat rowdyism, vulgarism, learned igno- \nrance, journalistic conceit, lying, menace \nand browbeating violence could do and \nshow.\' \n\nMr. Howitt says that he saw these mani- \nfestations at the Hanover Square Kooms, \nand was satisfied of their genuineness, and, \nwith his usual frankness and independence, \nhe did not hesitate to declare his convic- \ntions. \n\nTo give a full account of all the remark- \nable phenomena that have occurred in this \nmetropolis alone, during the brief stay of \n\n\n\n348 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nthe Brothers Davenport, would require a \nvolume. At one seance in a private mansion, \none of the instruments, whirling through \nthe air, knocked a large and costly vase \nfrom the mantel-piece. It was heard to fall \nupon the fender with a crash and shiver, as \nif it had been dashed into fragments. No \none doubted that such was the case until a \nlight was struck, and it was found standing \nupon the hearth, whole and uninjured. \n\nThe tests which have been applied have \nbeen almost as remarkable as the phenomena \nproduced. At a seance at the residence of \na distinguished man of letters, a clergyman \ntwice broke the circle and rushed into the \ncentre of the room, expecting to find either \nthe Davenports untied or to detect their \nconfederates. In each case he found them \nboth firmly bound in their chairs, and no \nother person. \n\nThese facts are very well known to almost \nall the writers of the London press. They \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 349 \n\nwould be confirmed personally by nine out \nof ten of the writers for the most respectable \njournals. The time will probably come \nwhen they will be willing to publish to the \nworld their genuine convictions. It is re- \nmarkable that even those who have honestly \nand frankly stated the facts have offered no \ntheory to explain them. No mechanician, \nno adept in legerdemain, no man of science, \nhas attempted to show how one of these \nmarvels has been accomplished. A score or \ntwo of the very cleverest men of England, \nsome of whose names have been given, have \nhad the best possible opportunities to in- \nvestigate the whole matter. Had there been \nfraud, deception, or delusion of any kind, \nthey could not have failed to detect it. \n\n\n\n350 A BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIV. \n\nWHO, AND WHY ? \n\nBy whom are the Manifestations Produced, and for What \nPurpose ? Examination of Evidence \xe2\x80\x94 Conclusion. \n\nWhen any person has become convinced by- \ntestimony which he cannot doubt, or, if that \nbe not sufficient, by the evidence of his own \nsenses, that the phenomena described in \nthese pages are real, actual, unquestionable \nfacts, the next thing in order is to ask \nhow, or rather by whom, are they produced ? \nIf the Brothers Davenport, as they solemnly \naver, have no direct and voluntary agency \nin producing the manifestations, and there \nis no collusion, no deception, no jugglery or \nfraud about them, by what or by whom are \nthey accomplished ? \n\nAre they the result of some subtle ele- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 351 \n\nmerit, like magnetism and electricity ? Most \ncertainly not. These natural forces act \naccording to certain laws, and do not pos- \nsess intelligence. Electricity may rend \ntrees and rocks, produce light and heat, \npropel machinery or convey messages, but \nfor these last operations it requires to be \nguided by some intelligence out of itself. \nElectricity or galvanism will not tie or \nuntie ropes, nor play on musical instru- \nments, nor take off or put on the coats of \npersons whose hands are securely tied to- \ngether, much less hold conversations and \ncommunicate information. \n\nWhat we see exhibited at every stage of \nthis history, and in all the phenomena, is \nforce, governed by intelligence. We cannot \nconceive of an active intelligence, or an \nintelligent force or power, except as an \nindividualised being, in some respects like \nourselves. In all tljese manifestations there \nare evidences of the actions, and conse- \n\n\n\n352 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\nquently of the existence, of intelligent \nbeings, having some faculties similar to our \nown, usually invisible, but with the power \nof taking on, under certain conditions, a \npartial visibility. Hands and arms are \noften seen \xe2\x80\x94 perhaps oftener felt unseen, \nand not seldom both seen and felt. Some- \ntimes, but rarely, larger portions of forms, \nvery human in their appearance, are visible. \n\' These hands, arms, portions of bodies, seem \nto be formed in space out of no visible ma- \nterial; but visibility, it must be remem- \nbered, is only an accident of matter, not an \nessential property. They also melt away, \nsometimes to the sight, often to the feeling, \ninto invisibility and intangibility. \n\nMen have at different times and in diffe- \nrent countries believed in the existence of \nmany kinds of beings having these pro- \nperties of intelligence, force, and of being \nvisible or invisible at will, or according \nto varying conditions. The belief in the \n\n\n\n: \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 353 \n\ngods and demi-gods of the old mytho- \nlogies of India, Egypt, Greece, and Scan- \ndinavia, was once common, if not uni- \nversal. So has been the belief in fairies, \nbrownies, the \' good people,\' spirits, gob- \nlins ; also in angels and demons ; good and \nbad spirits of a high order of intelligence; \nand it has been only in very recent times \nthat many persons have doubted of the con- \ntinued existence of human beings, and that \nthey sometimes appeared, after being sepa- \nrated from the body, or in some way made \ntheir presence known to the living. \n\nNow, it must be admitted by those who \nhave attended the seances of the Brothers \nDavenport, that very wonderful and very \nastounding manifestations do take place. \n\nIt must be admitted that the Brothers \nDavenport do not produce them ; and also \nthat no living men, by trick or skill, can or \ndo produce them. \n\nWe cannot conceive of any blind force in \n\nA A \n\n\n\n354 \n\n\n\nA BIOGKAPHY OF \n\n\n\nnature producing manifestations of intelli- \ngence, or speaking, playing on musical in- \nstruments, and exercising mechanical inge- \nnuity \xe2\x80\x94 in some cases in defiance of the com- \nmon laws of nature. \n\nWe are forced to the conviction that \nthese things are the work of intelligent \nbeings ; and it is also certain that they are \nusually intangible, invisible, and not subject \nto material laws, and that they can exercise \npowers over matter, of which we can form \nno distinct conception. \n\nThe next question is \xe2\x80\x94 who, or of what \nnature, are these beings ? \n\nThe character of the manifestations is not \nsuch as to indicate that they are the work \nof a high or superior order of intelligences. \nWe cannot suppose, for example, that an- \ngels would be engaged in producing such \nphenomena. \n\nWe cannot reasonably attribute them to \na high order of wicked spirits. There are \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 355 \n\nno evidences of transcendent intelligence \njoined to transcendent malice. They are \nsometimes called diablerie ; but I see no \nevidence, so far as the Davenports are con- \ncerned, of such demoniac complicity. \n\nThe only real clue or positive testimony \nwe have, as to the beings who produce the \nphenomena described, is the declarations of \nthe beings themselves. They are the only \nwitnesses we can examine : theirs is the only \ntestimony we can take. \n\nTheir testimony is that they are human \nbeings like ourselves. They do not say that \nthey are better than we are, or wiser. They \nsay that, by the fact of no longer having \nbodies composed of the grosser forms of \nmatter, they have certain advantages over \nus in respect to sight, locomotion, &c. In \nmany cases they declare their identity with \npersons who have lived upon the earth, and \nthey convince many persons of this identity. \n\nThe Brothers Davenport, from the be- \n\nA A 2 \n\n\n\n356 A BIOGKAPHY OF \n\nginning\'of their remarkable experience, have \nhad, by various means, communications from \nthe intelligences which produce the mani- \nfestations. They are as familiar with an \naudible voice which speaks to them as with \nthe phenomena commonly witnessed. They \nhave a familiar acquaintance with two or \nthree of these intelligences, who profess to \nbe human beings in a different stage of \nexistence. These voices, and these verbal \ncommunications, have been heard by many \npersons besides themselves, and by some in \nthis country. \n\nI give these facts, as they have been sub- \nstantially given elsewhere in the course of \nthe narrative, that all the important facts \nmay be placed before the reader. \n\nThis being the testimony of the very \npowers or forces which claim to produce the \nphenomena, we are to decide whether they, \nspeaking of themselves, are worthy of belief. \nSo far as I know, their testimony is unim- \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 357 \n\npeached. There is no witness to the contrary. \nThere is no other hypothesis even which will \nbear examination. If the operations per- \nformed are those of intelligent beings, and \nthose beings are not what they declare \nthemselves to be, what are they ? \n\nI am. not putting forward a hypothesis, \nbut simply recording the testimony or \nexplanation given by the manifesting power, \nas one of the facts of the manifestations. \nIt is no theory of the Brothers Davenport. \nThey do not advance any. But they afford \nin some way, not clearly known to physiolo- \ngists and psychologists, the means \xe2\x80\x94 some \naromal element, perhaps, or nerve aura of a \npeculiar character \xe2\x80\x94 by which the manifesta- \ntions are made ; and one of those manifesta- \ntions is the declaration, true or false, that \nthey are made by human beings in another \nstate of existence. \n\nTo this statement it is objected by certain \ntheologians, that men, when they leave the \n\n\n\n358 \n\n\n\nA BIOGRAPHY OF \n\n\n\nbody, go at once either to a place they would \nnot leave for such a purpose, or to a place \nthey could not. To this, it may be replied, \nthat other theologians recognise the existence \nof intermediate conditions, and of future \nstates, as various as men\'s characters and \nactions. \n\nAnother objection is, that the manifesta- \ntions are trifling, coarse, vulgar, and not in \naccordance with our views of the nature \nand conditions of men in another state of \nbeing. To this, it may be replied, that we \nknow very little of that state, and that as \nmen differ very greatly in culture and tastes \nin this world, we do not know that they \nsuddenly change their natures, or become \nwise, dignified, and good, by getting rid of \ntheir bodies. Reasoning of the other life \nfrom this, we should expect changes to be \ngradual, and not rapid. Growth and pro- \ngression appear to be the law of the universe, \nas regard both matter and mind. \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. 359 \n\nAs to the manifestations, they are cer- \ntainly very human, or they would not \nattract so wide and deep a human interest ; \nand, a priori, one would say they were more \nlikely to be produced by human beings \nthan by any others we know of; and if it \ncan be shown that they are not produced \nby human beings in the body, it is not a \nvery unreasonable supposition that they \nmay be produced by the same sort of beings \nout of the body. \n\nWhen we come to this point, and possibly \nbefore, we are met with that wonderful \nquestion, Cui bono ? It looks very wise in \nLatin, and is pertinent enough in English. \nWhat is the object, and what can be the \nbenefit of these manifestations ? \n\nIf they were only facts in physical \nscience, and had no other significance, they \nwould be of greater interest than any facts \nof recent observation. \n\n\n\n360 \n\n\n\nTHE BROTHERS DAVENPORT. \n\n\n\nIf they are ever so coarse manifestations \nof the existence of intelligences, ordinarily \nhidden from our senses, their use in over- \nthrowing a coarser materialism is evident : \nif they give us palpable evidence of the \nexistence of a universe of which we were in \ndoubt, and of a life in the future, in which \nmillions have no faith whatever, they are \nnot useless. \n\nThese and similar manifestations seem to \nme to be rude and elementary lessons, \nadapted to ignorance and false science \nworse than ignorance; the first steps to \nthe recognition of a higher life. \n\n\n\nTHE END. \n\n\n\nI/OITDOK- \n\nPKINTED BI SPOTTISWOODE AND CO. \n\nNEYT-STBEET SQUAEE \n\n\n\n\n\n\nmiw \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\'Mewuw$& \n\n\n\nmwmni \n\n\n\n\xc2\xbb,a&ftSfcfti \n\n\n\naM^^^%^, \n\n\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2.\'V\' *\\r - - n ^ * * - a i \n\n\n\nj^amm \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLIBRARY OF CONGRESS \n\n: 022 007 302 6 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 \xe2\x96\xa0\xe2\x80\xa2\xe2\x96\xa0\'*\xe2\x80\xa2 \n\n\n\nOi \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3W^f \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n^W \n\n\n\n\xc2\xa3*\xe2\x80\xa2 \n\n\n\n\xe2\x96\xa0y \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\xc2\xaba \n\n\n\nA >#: ; v \n\n\n\n\' # \n\n\n\nJilt < \ngafigg* \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n'