ALBANY AND TROY. 1850.
EXCURSION TO ALBANY--DELAVAN HOUSE AND VAN VECHTEN HALL--REV. DR.
STAATS AND THE JUDGES--HIGH CLASS OF MINDS INTERESTED--PRESIDENT
ELIPHALET NOTT--PECUNIARY ARRANGEMENTS--EXCURSION TO TROY--TROJAN
LADIES--MOB ATTEMPTS ON LIFE OF MARGARETTA.
EXCURSION TO ALBANY.
We were directed (by the spirits) to "go forth and let the truth be
known." We had already passed through a terrible experience, and feared
to make another such hazardous attempt; but the fiat had gone forth. We
had debated the question a long time before we could consent to subject
ourselves to another public contest. However, there was no alternative.
We were compelled to "do our duty," regardless of consequences, so far
as it was in our power.
It was the first of April, 1850, when the Rev. R. P. Ambler and Mr.
D. F. Coman, of Springfield, Mass., called on us for an evening séance.
They came with an introduction from our friend Apollus Munn. Mr. Ambler
was a Universalist minister, had preached in Albany, and was much
respected there. They were greatly astonished by the evidence they
received during the séance; and it proved to them clearly that their
communications were received from spirits, or from some power entirely
beyond our knowledge. Various circumstances point to the conclusion that
these arrangements had been planned and directed for us by our spirit
friends and guides.
We had been informed by the spirits that we should have a proper person
to lecture for us; and were told that we should first go to Albany,
engage a public hall, and allow the spirit-rapping to be heard by the
audience. We did not, however, dare to attempt such a venture until
we had made another experiment in our own city (Rochester). Only five
months previously we had left Corinthian Hall, triumphantly indeed, but
amid a howling mob. But they had been kept at bay and overpowered by
superior forces, and we tried by the public, and not found guilty.
Once again we engaged a hall, at our own expense, and gave notice to the
public that Mr. Ambler would deliver a lecture, and "the three sisters
would accompany him on the platform." The hall was crowded. The lecturer
was eloquent and the audience pleased. The rappings were profuse. Public
opinion had changed since the first lectures on the subject. _Friends_
rushed to the platform to congratulate us on our triumphant success.
Many good wishes for our happiness and prosperity in our great
enterprise were showered upon us; and we little dreamed that we had
given our last public entertainment to our true and tried friends in
Rochester. We did not even imagine that we were then leaving our dear
old home for a new one in a new city, when the proper time should
arrive. There was much and arduous consultation respecting the mode in
which we should go forth into the world on the travels and toils that
lay before us.
Our father had been interrupted in all his business arrangements, and
could not possibly leave home, and Calvin, who had grown up in our
family (a son and brother by adoption), was the best personal protector
we could have. We left with our father's sympathy and blessing.
We reached Albany the last of April, 1850. We engaged a suite of rooms
in the Delavan House. Mr. Ambler was our lecturer, and Mr. Coman our
business man--mother, Maggie, Katie, and myself, with Calvin as our
escort. We engaged Van Vechten Hall. It had been previously announced
through the papers that "the Fox Family" would appear at the hall, with
Mr. Ambler, who would deliver a course of lectures, preparatory to our
giving séances at the Delavan House.
Our career was now commenced. After all our resolving not to go any more
before the public, we had been forced to let the world know what was
revealed to us, and what was meant not for us alone.
Our rooms were thronged by the _élite_ of Albany and of many other
places adjacent. Our success was great, as the spirits had promised. We
received both public and private parties from all parts of the country.
The spirits had performed their parts admirably for nearly two weeks,
when I received a note from the editor of the _Albany Morning Express_.
(It will be remembered that at one of the Rochester investigations, a
Second Advent minister had deemed it his duty to rise in public and
express his idea that all this was of diabolic origin, and that _we_,
the mediums, ought to be sent to prison. But the good old days of
Cotton Mather and of the hangings at Salem were past, and after the
conscientious but narrow bigot resumed his seat, no further notice was
taken of the good man or of his suggestion. I may remark in passing,
that the spirits who extorted from Mr. MacNaughton the Lord's Prayer,
which he had been taught in childhood to repeat at the knees of his
"puir auld mither," and had converted him to Spiritualism and a belief
in the immortality of the soul, would seem to have been strange
emissaries of Satan.)
At Albany we met a somewhat similar experience, both in the attempt made
against us and in its results. A certain respectable minister, I do not
know of what denomination, named Dr. Staats, was so far exercised in
his mind by the reports of our meetings at the Delavan House, that he
applied to the courts for a warrant for our arrest. I had the surprise
of receiving the following note from the highly respected editor of the
_Morning Express_:
"ALBANY MORNING EXPRESS,
"May 13, 1850.
"MRS. FISH: I have just this moment been called upon by the judges of
the court before whom Rev. Dr. Staats would have brought you, had he
been able so to do, who say they would be pleased to call on you this
afternoon, at four o'clock, as they will then be at leisure. Can you
accommodate them? I think it will be a grand move to have them witness
the demonstrations. I would call, but am so busy this morning that
even ---- is out of my mind.
"In great haste,
"Yours respectfully,
"JACOB C. CUYLER."
At precisely the appointed time the expected party of judges and lawyers
arrived, numbering seventeen, all men of distinction. They were just and
honest men, with open, judicial minds, seeking only the truth, and not
the gratification of hostile prejudices. The proprietor of the house,
Mr. Rozelle, was ill in bed; but he rose, dressed himself, and went down
to meet the judicial party before they left his house. They said to him,
when they left, "It will take wiser judges than we are to pronounce
against them."
The judges came frequently to see us afterward; and thus, through
the Rev. Dr. Staats's efforts to injure us, and have us arrested for
"blasphemy against the holy scriptures," a strong army was raised up
for our protection. And this result we found was invariably the case
through all our subsequent public career.
Wherever and whenever an attempt was made to show to the world that
it was not true, however hostile and powerful the men engaged against
us, we always--without a single exception--were brought through our
difficulties in triumph, although, at times, we could not see how we
were to escape the entanglements often thrown around us. We placed
ourselves wholly under the directions of our spirit friends, and
invariably came out with safety and honor, as they told us we should, if
we but acted our parts faithfully.
Before the time arrived for us to leave Albany, we had been deluged with
letters, by reputable parties, from all parts of the country, urging us
to come and afford them an opportunity for themselves to investigate. Of
course we could not comply with all these requests, as we could at the
time only give attention to the principal cities.
During our stay in Albany our rooms were thronged with anxious
investigators from all the neighboring towns and cities. We usually
met the higher order of intelligences; as the conceited nabob and the
equally conceited representative of the (morally) lower classes, were
seldom attracted to subjects beyond their comprehension and above their
sympathies.
My books of registration plainly show the class of minds which became
interested in Spiritualism at that early day. I shall preserve them.
They should be placed in some historical library, so that generations
yet to come may realize the fact that Spiritualism was first sought
after by the most enlightened and progressive minds of the nineteenth
century.
I will not here record the names of my attached friends and constant
visitors (with but two exceptions) of that most interesting period--two
remarkable for their advanced years as well as for their high personal
distinction, the Rev. Dr. Eliphalet Nott, President of Union College,
Schenectady, and Mr. Edward C. Delavan, the owner (though not the
proprietor) of the house at which we resided. The latter was nearly,
if not quite, an octogenarian, and certainly cut a somewhat remarkable
figure by the side of his young wife and their baby of ten months. On
one occasion he was so delighted with some communication, addressed to
him by his pet name of childhood, from his long-departed mother, that he
was overflowing in his expressions of gratitude, and he forced into my
hand a twenty-dollar gold piece. The not less venerable Dr. Nott once
laid his hand on my head and said, "My child, I am not far from the time
when I shall go to the world of spirits, of which you reveal and prove
so much; and you must, naturally, long survive me in the present life;
but if it shall be in my power I will strive to be one of your guardian
spirits."
This is the proper place to state the pecuniary arrangement dictated to
us by our spirit friends for the support and prosecution of this mission
to the world, which they had imposed upon us. Our public meetings were
held in Van Vechten Hall, then the principal one in Albany. Our suite of
rooms in the Delavan was the best in the house. Of course our expenses
were very heavy; often amounting to $150 a week. Our regular charge was
$1 each person, and, for a private séance of an hour, $5 for two or more
persons. These figures had been prescribed to us. We never heard of any
complaints of dissatisfaction, on the part of our visitors, with the
evidences which they used to receive; and no language would suffice to
tell of the hundreds of assurances of delight and gratitude, which were
the better part of our compensation for the time thus absorbed, and for
the fatigue and exhaustion of these labors under the direction of our
friends in the spirit life.
EXCURSION TO TROY.
It is with regret that I dismiss so briefly, as has been done above, our
experiences in Albany, where we began in May, 1850, what may be called
the first stage of the fulfilment of our mission. I might fill this
volume with my reminiscences and notes of them.
It was on May 24, 1850, that we left Albany and went to Troy. Many
Trojans had visited our rooms in Albany, and urged us to spend a few
days in Troy before going to New York. We consented to do so, much
against our own wishes, as we had made our arrangements to go from
Albany direct to New York. We were kindly received at the Troy House,
and our rooms were thronged as elsewhere. Our success was gratifying
to us all. But we were not long permitted to enjoy such peace and
prosperity. A murmur arose among the "women," whose conduct toward us in
Troy was cruel and unchristianlike. They insinuated that if the mediums
were men their husbands would not become so deeply enlisted in this
unpopular, and, seemingly, weird subject. They adopted the absurd theory
of toe and knee rapping. One lady especially distinguished herself by
her intellectual antics in this her line of procedure. (Her husband was
much younger than herself, handsome and prosperous.) She became violent
in her denunciations. I well knew that, with the aid of Heaven, we could
easily prove such accusations false. We met our combatants on their own
premises. A committee of "investigators" was gotten up, composed of
three ladies and two ministers. We submitted to all of their suggestive
whims, and came off, as usual, triumphant. The course and result of this
committee of investigation induced many persons to visit our rooms who
had never before been interested in the subject. We made many life
friends in Troy, and left promising to visit them soon again (which we
did a few months later).
The evening before we left we were honored by a band of music in front
of the Troy House. The proprietor, Mr. Coleman, and General Viele came
to our rooms and announced the fact, saying, "Ladies, this is expressly
for you." He accompanied us to the balcony, where, with uncovered heads,
the crowd saluted us with their hearty applause of approbation. The
following evening we took the night boat from Albany, and were soon on
the beautiful Hudson wending our way to the city of New York.
But as this chapter is so short, I may as well, at the expense of
chronology in my narrative, anticipate a few months, to introduce here
a serious adventure which befell my young child-sister Margaretta, or
Maggie, at this same city of Troy, or rather West Troy, in the following
month of November, 1850. It is a curious illustration of the desperate
bitterness of feeling which arose in some portions of the more ignorant
classes in some of our American communities.
[Illustration: _Margaretta Fox Kane._]
In it we see a striking revival of the old Salem (and mediæval) spirit
of animosity against the so-called "witchcraft;" a spirit which was
perhaps stimulated by the same mistaken and misguided religious zeal
which some couple of centuries before had hurried to the stake, the
scaffold, or the nearest pond or river, many a poor victim to the
unhappy and misunderstood gift of what we now know as mediumship. In the
month of November, 1850, a mob attempt was made to destroy the life of
Margaretta while visiting at the house of Mr. R. M. Bouton. The mob
was composed of a very low order of society, and were urged to do the
work by prompters, who kept themselves in the background. Though not on
the same scale of dimensions in numbers, mother and I at a later day
concurred in recognizing in the riotous mob in New York, in July, 1863,
features in the conduct of the men and women (the latter seemed not
less savage than the former) that curiously reminded us of the terrible
scenes of West Troy. They had evidently been put up to regard this
communication with spirits as deviltry which it was right and proper to
crush out even by taking our lives. They doubtless supposed, that by
destroying our lives the whole matter would be put to rest. Accordingly
her (Margaretta)'s every movement was watched, so that it was not safe
for her to leave the house unattended. Finally the house was forcibly
attacked; but being well barricaded and garrisoned the 'fort was held'
and the assassins were not successful. The following letter from Mr.
Bouton will explain the facts:
"WEST TROY, November 13, 1850.
"MY DEAR MRS. FISH: We are endeavoring to make arrangements for Maggie
to go to another place. If she has mentioned the name of the place
to you, keep it a secret as you value her life. A deep plot is laid
to destroy her. My house is beset every night by a most determined
murderous mob; and we guard her every moment. We think if we can place
her where we wish to, she will be safe. I shall defend her and her
reputation at the risk of my fortune and my life. I will advise you of
our progress; suppress the name of the place, if you can. I write with
difficulty, not having rested for several nights. Five villanous-looking
fellows are watching the house night and day. She has never left my
house unattended, which has foiled them thus far. On returning late
from East Troy, a few nights past, with my wife, her sister, Maggie,
and myself, in our family coach, when we reached the river we found
no boat. The five men above mentioned were there, and they tried
to persuade my driver to go by the way of the long Troy bridge (a
_glorious_ place for murder). We did not go, but they followed us home,
and after we had retired attempted to break into the room occupied by
Margaretta and my sister-in-law. They were furious on being defeated,
and threw stones against the house and fired through the windows. I have
procured means of defence, but we cannot sleep nights, and get very
little rest during the days. They will, no doubt, return again to-night,
but they will meet a warm reception, as many of our friends from East
Troy will be with us. Last night Mrs. B. and Maggie went to the door of
a shed in the rear together; but the fiends were on the watch and fired
at them, with angry exclamations at there being some one with her. They
were all large, strong men."
A postscript to this letter, dated the next day, says:
"As I feared, the men did return last night, and broke into the house;
but we were prepared for them, and they did not effect any thing. Come
immediately, if you can."
The mob increased on the following night (Saturday), and on Sunday I
received five telegraphic despatches to come to Troy, as follows:
"ROCHESTER, November 16, 1850.
"This despatch has been received from West Troy for MRS. A. LEAH FISH.
"Send your mother here, or come yourself, by Monday night. It is of
vital importance. Answer by telegraph at once.
"R. M. BOUTON."
On receipt of this telegram I immediately telegraphed to know its
meaning, and received the following in reply:
"ROCHESTER, November 16, 1850.
"This despatch has just been received from West Troy for MRS. A. LEAH
FISH.
"You must be here by Monday night, 18th inst. It is of _vital_
importance.
"R. M. BOUTON."
I then telegraphed back to Mr. B. begging him to explain the situation
of my sister, when immediately I received the following:
"ROCHESTER, November 17, 1850.
"This despatch has just been received from West Troy.
"MRS. A. LEAH FISH:
"Your sister is alive and well, but in great danger. Safe at present.
"R. M. BOUTON."
I started for Troy on the first train East the next morning. When I
reached Schenectady I had to change cars for Troy.
I had just taken a seat, at about the middle of the car, when a
rough-looking man sat down beside me, and commenced interrogating me as
to where I was going, etc. I endeavored to be civil, but I suspected him
of having something to do with the mob. After a while he left and held a
long conversation with two men, near the front of the car, very like
himself in appearance, and soon returned, taking his seat beside me
again. I had moved to the other end of the seat, and maintained my
position, thereby compelling him to press through in front of me with
some difficulty. When again he attempted to speak to me I took up my
satchel and left the seat entirely to himself. He _again_ followed me,
but this time I braced myself up and called the conductor (who had been
watching his behavior all the way), and requested him to "compel this
man to leave," which he did immediately.
There were very few persons in the car; I think not more than seven in
all. It was evident that he had a design against me; but he expected to
meet an older person, and was thrown off his course by my youthful
appearance. He had doubtless expected to meet mother. They had made
inquiries of a passenger who had taken the car from Schenectady, and who
afterward told Mr. B. that those men said they were expecting to meet a
lady from Rochester; but that she was older than the lady on the car,
etc.
It had been arranged that I should stop at the Troy House on my arrival
at East Troy. It was eight o'clock P.M., and very dark. As I stepped out
of the car on to the platform, I saw a carriage standing in front of the
hotel, and supposed it was for me, as had been previously arranged. At
this moment a gentleman stepped up, and after a close scrutiny said to
me:
"I am right, it is Leah; I know you by your resemblance to Maggie," and
motioning me to silence.
Another gentleman stepped on my other side, and they guarded me to the
carriage each with a drawn revolver. On entering the carriage I saw
three loaded pistols lying on the seat in front of me. It is difficult
to say which I most feared, the mob or the pistols. The religious
telegraphic operator had evidently revealed the correspondence between
Mr. Bouton and myself, as there was no other source through which it
could have been made known that I was expected.
A number of disorderly persons followed the carriage and crossed the
ferry with us. No attempt was made to disturb us; but on reaching Mr.
B.'s house we found it surrounded by a reinforced mob. I had been
instructed how to conduct myself on our arrival. I was told that two or
three gentlemen would rush from the door and suddenly carry me in.
Accordingly, when the carriage stopped close to the door steps I found
myself in the arms of three strong men, who landed me safely. I found
Maggie sick and nearly paralyzed with fright. There were strong-armed
forces for protection on our side. We had not been in the house ten
minutes when several shots were fired and stones thrown, breaking
everything in their way. We crouched beneath the furniture, and lay on
the floor to escape the bullets, expecting at every moment some stray
shot or stone would strike us. (Our hiding-room was in the interior of
the house.) The mob threatened and did all in their power to destroy us;
but, knowing the gentlemen inside were so well prepared for them, they
retired for the night. They, however, continued their watchfulness until
we left the place. Mr. Bouton's house stood in the outskirts of West
Troy, near a lumber yard, a capital hiding-place for a mob, and I am not
sure there were any policemen there at that time. Poor Maggie's nerves
were terribly unstrung. She would start in her sleep and cry out
fearfully, believing she was still besieged by the mob. She was too ill
to be taken home, and I managed (with the aid of friends) to get her to
Albany, where we remained several weeks at the Delavan House. During
our stay in Albany, the identical men who met me and followed me from
Schenectady to West Troy were prowling about my home in Rochester. All
the circumstances connected with the affair show conclusively that
there was a deep-laid scheme to destroy us, and that these men had been
appointed to accomplish that object; but, like every other attempt at
violence against us, they met with nothing but discomfiture.