The Missing Link In Modern Spiritualism Part 21

Chauncy Burr. I presume Dr. Wright has advised you ere this. Burr is much troubled, but do not let anyone influence you to settle, on any conditions.

"D. A. E."

EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS.

"We learn by a telegraphic despatch from Cleveland, that Mrs. Fish, the celebrated 'medium,' will be here in a few days, when she will give our citizens an opportunity to hear the 'rappings' to their entire satisfaction. It is a singular fact, that notwithstanding the slanders heaped upon this lady by those accomplished mountebanks, the Burrs, she follows them up with a sharp stick, and meets them face to face. It is not very manly or very dignified to slander a lady when she is not present.

"The Burrs are still giving their exhibitions of toe-ology to very small audiences in this city. Those who have heretofore believed that the rappings were all humbug, are now entirely convinced that they are not half so great a humbug as these itinerant, catch-penny lecturers."--_Pittsburg Post_.

"_A Literary Man in 'Trouble.'_--The Rev. C. Chauncy Burr, the man who makes 'literature his profession,' has been prosecuted in Cleveland, O., for slander, by Mrs. Fish (of the Fox family), who has laid her damages at $10,000. He will now have the opportunity to prove his charge, which he always contended could be easily proved. It will be an exciting suit."--_Providence Mirror._

"_The Burr Burst._--The Burrs have lowered their colors, taken down all sail, and left Pittsburg, under a good, stiff, spanking breeze. Mr.

Courtney, O. S. Fowler (the phrenologist), Miss Sarah W. Taylor, S.

Parker, J. P. Gla.s.s, Milo A. Townsend, Rev. Mr. Williams, Dr. Ewing, and several of the most respectable citizens of Pittsburg (so says _The Post_) are after them with three columns of cards and sharp sticks, published in the Pittsburg papers. 'What a terrible thing it is to be a terrible critter,' as Mrs. Partington would say."--_Cincinnati Nonpareil._

"Mrs. Fish and her sister have returned from a short excursion into the country, and will be found at 'The Dunham,' for a few days more. They have invitations from almost every city in the Union to visit them, but they are very contented in the Forest City."--_Cleveland Herald._

"_The Spirits._--Miss Catharine Fox, the spirit medium, accompanied by a married sister and a female friend, will remain a few days at the Walnut Street House, where they will be pleased to meet those who feel interested in these manifestations, and who desire to investigate the subject with candor. We were present last night, with a number of friends, at an interview with the ladies, when some of the manifestations were produced by the customary rappings, which, to say the least, did not appear to be produced by any physical effort of the medium. Miss Catharine is a very interesting girl, and looks very far from being capable of carrying out any humbug whatever. We can do no less than request our readers to examine for themselves."--_Cincinnati Nonpareil._

"_Personal._--Miss Catharine Fox, one of the original mediums of the Rochester rappings, has arrived in Cincinnati, and is stopping at the Walnut Street House. The public will have an opportunity for a few days to judge for themselves in regard to things which have 'turned the world upside down.' As she professes to 'call Spirits from the vasty deep,'

and Mr. Burr is here to knock them in the head as fast as they come, exciting times may be expected."--_Cincinnati Nonpareil._

"EDITOR OF THE PLAINDEALER:

"SIR--Cannot Mrs. Fish and the Misses Fox be prevailed on to make us a visit? The fact is, Gray, we Michiganders are wofully benighted upon Spiritual subjects. Everything pertaining to 'the world, the flesh, and the devil' we understand perfectly; but when it comes to getting communications from the other world direct, and seeing with our eyes, we 'knock under.' Our press, too, is anything but free upon these subjects, giving only one side, and concluding with the small bill of _The Herald_, that there are _no more_ things in Heaven and earth than are dreamed of in their philosophy."--_Detroit Correspondent._

FROM THE CINCINNATI NONPAREIL.

"_A Fair Challenge by Mrs. Fish._--It appears that the most sceptical in Cincinnati, even the editor of _The Daily Times_, have to concede that toe and knee joints have nothing to do with Spirit rappings. It has become a settled fact that Burr's and the Buffalo doctors' theories are the silliest humbug theories of the day. But the editor of _The Times_, in a spirit of malicious infidelity, accuses Mrs. Fish and her young sisters, Margaretta and Cathy, with having concealed about their persons some sort of intelligent machinery, which makes the raps and answers questions, whether mentally or orally put. The editor deserves a leather medal for so sage a conclusion, and should have one, had not the great demand for them among Burr's followers and the Buffalo b.o.o.bies exhausted the stock of those ornaments and cleaned the market of supply.

"To silence this pretension, Mrs. Fish published the following challenge in the Cincinnati papers:

"'A CARD TO THE PUBLIC.

"'With my sisters, Margaretta and Cathy Fox, I will remain at the Walnut Street House a few days, where we shall be happy to wait upon all those who wish to satisfy themselves as to the truth or falsity of Spirit rappings. The editor of _The Times_ generously acquits us of all joint snapping, and I think we can very easily dispose of his explanation. If there be even a shadow of suspicion still lurking in any mind that the sounds are made by mechanical contrivances of any character, we are willing at any moment to meet a committee of ladies, to whom we will give all fair opportunity of satisfaction. We only ask that the committee shall consist of ladies whose testimony will have weight with the public.

"'ANN L. FISH.'

"This same question was raised in New York when the mediums were there, and by a coterie of ladies and gentlemen of the very first families. One of the wealthiest merchants went so far as to pledge a large sum of money, that 'take the mediums unawares' (_i.e._, not dressed for the occasion), 'and they could not induce the raps.' Others, equally uncharitable and unbelieving, coincided with him, and they demanded a committee of investigation forthwith. They took the mediums into a room, bolted the door, and erected a platform of tables, on which they were compelled to stand. Here, piece by piece, they were disrobed by the committee, and every article of wearing apparel examined and laid aside.

Not a rap had been heard during the whole time, and the girls, to use their own language, 'feared the Spirits, as well as their friends on earth, had deserted them.' After everything was completed and order restored in the room, Mrs. Fish, in a trembling but determined voice said, 'Spirits, if ever you manifest yourselves to us again, do it now!'

"The raps came, instanter, like hail-stones, on every part of the stage.

The mediums were overcome with joy, and every eye in the room glistened with tears of sympathy for the sisters. There was, without, a large number of gentlemen and others waiting to hear the report of the committee; and when these facts were made known to them by their wives and others on the committee, and in tears, too, they with one accord repented of their unbelief and cruelty. These facts were published by the said committee in the New York papers, and created a profound sensation. But it seems the Cincinnati editor has forgotten this and a thousand other degrading tests, inst.i.tuted by a wilful ignorance, which these ladies have since submitted to rather than lose what is of infinite value to them, their own good name.

"Will this valiant man dare accept this challenge from a woman, and his wife be one of the committee to report to him that 'he is a fool'? We shall see."

Committees of citizens, from various places in Ohio, were constantly coming to us; and every day brought requests to visit them. But we could only attend to a few of the larger places.

To show how widely Spiritualism has spread, and how anxious people were to have the proof of it, I give a few of the many letters of this kind we have preserved.

COLUMBUS COMMITTEE.

"COLUMBUS, O., May 22, 1851.

"MRS. ANN L. FISH:

"MADAM--The undersigned, residents of this city, in common with many others of their fellow-citizens, feeling a deep and abiding interest in the great subject of Spiritual and immortal existence, anxiously desire to witness, and investigate for themselves, the Spiritual manifestations said to have been recently made in various parts of the country, and especially the phenomena connected with yourself and your two sisters, respectfully and cordially invite you, if consistent with your other duties and engagements, to visit our city at your earliest convenience.

"LEONARD HUMPHREY, F. GALE, WILLIAM BURDELL, PHILIP REED, J. H. WADE, JOHN FOWLER, N. UPTON, JOHN J. JANNEY, J. H. COULTER, JESSE MORRIS, T. S. b.u.t.tOLPH."

"CLEVELAND, O., August 27, 1851.

"DEAR MRS. FISH:

"I s.n.a.t.c.h a moment in the hurry to say we are all well, including the baby. She has got over her cough entirely, and is more interesting, if possible, than ever.

"Spiritual manifestations are gaining rapidly.

"I was in Buffalo last week: saw Messrs. C. C. Bristol, Dudley, Albro, and Hayes. They are all writing mediums, and the things they write are truly astonis.h.i.+ng. Their hands are moved without any effort, and the evidence of its being the work of Spirits is beyond the least flickering of doubt. They all inquired (very interestedly) after you, regretting they could not have seen you on your return. Will you be likely to come this way again this fall? We sincerely hope you will find it possible to do so. Do drop us a line. How have you found things on arrival at home?

Mrs. E. joins me in love to you. We remain truly your friends.

"D. A. EDDY."

M. L. WRIGHT.

"CLEVELAND, September 8, 1851.

"MY DEAR FRIEND:

"We received yours of the 11th, and were thankful for it. You doubtless know what is going on here, as Mr. Gray tells me he sends you the _Plaindealer_. Spirits told us the truth about the Clark family, etc.

You will see my article signed 'A Friend of Truth,' which heads him off entirely and puts a stop to any further designs against Spiritual matters. I have another article ready; if necessary, I shall publish it.

Burr is in hot water; one of his attorneys called on me a few days since, and tried to settle the matter and get it out of court, but your friends here turn a deaf ear to all his propositions. He called on me again yesterday, and asked me on what conditions I thought you would settle with him. (He not knowing that you had nothing to do with the prosecution.) I told him it could not be accomplished short of his acknowledging in every paper of the Union that he was a liar, a blackguard and a villain, paying the costs of the court, and giving you money enough to purchase a place in this city; and I did not know as _that_ would do it. He is badly frightened. Everything has been properly attended to, and we have no fears of the result. Bail has been given for costs and everything is right.