1509. The spirit table has a frame or rack standing on it, and extended
from one end to the other; this rack sustains a tenor drum at one
end and a brass drum at the other, attached to it by means of wires;
there are wires also passing in various directions about the rack, and
sustaining some small bells, some images of birds cut out of copper
plate, &c.; there are two fiddles, a guitar, banjo, accordeon, French
harp, tin horn, tea bell, triangle, and tamborine, either hanging up or
on the tables. The room will hold eighteen or twenty persons besides
the mediums, and when filled, as it usually is, there is no room to
pass around or between the people and the table or stove.
1510. Some phosphorus is always placed on the table between wet sheets
of paper, for the exhibition of the hand.
THE MANIFESTATIONS COMMENCE.—THE SPIRITS PLAY ON DRUMS, HARPS, FRENCH
HORNS, ACCORDEONS, AND TAMBORINES.
KOONS’S ROOM, June 19, 1855.
1511. Between eight and nine o’clock, Mr. Koons and his son Nahum went
into the room and closed the doors and shutters, for the purpose, they
said, of inquiring of King, the presiding spirit, whether he would
attend that evening, and what time he would commence; this they always
do, and they were told to get ready in twenty minutes. We went into
the room. Mr. Koons took his seat with his fiddle and tuned it; I took
my seat by his side, and my wife next to me, our chairs setting close
to each other, and the chairs and benches in the room were all filled.
The window-shutters and doors were now closed, and Mr. Koons put out
the light, and immediately there came a startling blow upon the table
that made the room jar, and almost brought me to my feet. “Well,
King,” said Mr. Koons, “you are here,” and commenced playing a lively
tune. As soon as Koons began to play the fiddle, the bass and tenor
drums began to play with such power and energy as to frighten me; the
whole house was on a jar and vibrating in perfect time with the music;
and I know no mortal hands had hold of the drumsticks, and for the
time the thought was irresistible and constant that spirits controlled
them. After two or three tunes on the drums, the tamborine was taken
up and beat with such violence, that I expected every moment it would
be dashed to pieces, at the same time it was making rapid circles in
the room and dashing from one place to another, and occasionally thrust
almost in my face, so that I was afraid it would hit me. Then the
French harp would be played, and then the drums, harp, and accordeon
altogether; then a strange kind of unearthly noise would sing in
concert with the music. Interspersed between the tunes upon the harp
was talking through the horn, the horn frequently passing through the
room, over and around us at the same time.