THE OHIO CAMPAIGN.
RETURN TO ROCHESTER--ATTEMPTED BURGLARY--SUMMONS TO OHIO--"REV."
C. C. BURR--"TOE-OLOGY"--GOLD MEDALS AND JEWELLED WATCH--FIRST
PUBLIC SPEECH--COMMITTEE INVESTIGATIONS AS USUAL--CALVIN'S
ILLNESS, AND HENCEFORTH MRS. BROWN--FIRST SPIRITUAL CONVENTION.
We reached our home in Rochester late in the evening, and, as my
housekeeper was absent, we were alone in the Troup Street house that
night. The friends had kindly lighted and warmed the house, and were
there to receive us. After they left we immediately retired, and were
soon lost in sleep. I had not slept long, however, when I was awakened
by a voice saying urgently in my ear, "Get up and light your candle,
quick!" Supposing that Margaretta had spoken to me, I replied, "What did
you say?" but finding her fast asleep, I scratched a match, and had just
time to see the form of a man who had got the lower sash raised and half
his body into the room. He was, of course, a burglar, and doubtless
expected to find a booty in the money which the papers had reported us
to have brought with us from Buffalo. My voice and the flash of light
made him start back so precipitately that he broke the window-sash while
making his exit. The visit was never repeated. I may have mentioned that
once before, in my former house in Prospect Street, we had been awakened
by a voice bidding us to "Get up, the house is on fire." We found that
the wood-box behind the stove in the sitting-room was in flames, which
would soon have been communicated to the door, within a few inches of
the staircase, which was our only means of egress and safety.
On the morning after our return from Buffalo, to my great surprise,
mother drove up to the door, having just arrived by the train from New
York. Her first words were, "What is the matter? I have been so urgently
directed to come to you, that I feared something had happened, or was
going to."
She and Katie had remained in New York, during the time of our stay in
Buffalo, with the friends before named. I may here mention that Katie
attended school, all the time she remained in New York, during the day
hours, and sometimes united in the séances held by the friends in the
evenings. Mr. Greeley often said, on the strength of her childish
letters, "Katie, I expect to see you develop into another Margaret
Fuller some day, if you will only give your attention to study."
We employed private teachers for the children, at the hours not
compulsorily absorbed by the public. I gladly stood the brunt of the
labors for their benefit in the matter of their education. (See Mr.
Robinson's letter of March 12, 1851, p. 203.)
After explanations, the upshot was that mother returned the same evening
to rejoin Katie in New York, taking Margaretta with her. Soon after our
return to Troup Street it became necessary, to my great regret, to leave
the house, as the property had to be sold for division among heirs; but
I found a much larger and finer house on the corner of Troup and Sophia
Streets. The fatigues of moving, following so soon upon the Buffalo
inquisition, brought on a serious illness, from which I had scarcely
recovered when I received such insisting summons, by letters and
telegrams, from good friends in Cleveland, Ohio, that I was compelled to
undertake the journey, which proved to be the beginning of what was
called "the Ohio campaign."
So did events arrange themselves, or so did other influences arrange
them, to compel us to widen more and more the fulfilment of the "duty"
to "go forth" which had been imposed upon us. Among the telegrams from
Cleveland, received when I was on a sick bed, was this one: "Mrs. Fish,
we want you to come immediately to Cleveland. It is vitally important."
To which Mr. Post replied, "Mrs. Fish is not well, and we think it would
be dangerous for her to leave." Then came another, saying, "Burr is
here, slandering you and all who believe in Spiritualism."
Still, my friends insisted on my waiting until I was stronger, when
a letter came containing a partial explanation of the "Rev." Burr's
villanous conduct toward me. He had slandered me so grossly that my
friends would not allow him to go unpunished. They had arrested him in
my name, and it was necessary for me to be there in person. I also
received the following letters from a valued friend:
"CLEVELAND, April 25, 1851.
"MRS. FISH:
"DEAR LADY--There are _many_ reasons why you should visit our city. One
is, we are anxious to witness the Spirit manifestations, and another
reason is, that the world-renowned _cheat_, C. Chauncy Burr, will soon
be here to expose the Rochester rappings and the mediums. I wonder if he
will succeed as well as Flint, Lee, and Coventry did in Buffalo! All
this and more, makes it desirable that you should come at once.
"Very Respectfully,
"M. L. WRIGHT."
"CLEVELAND, May 1, 1851.
"MRS. FISH:
"DEAR FRIEND--Yours of the 28th inst. is at hand. We are glad (as you
see by the _Plaindealer_ which we have to-day sent you) that you have
concluded to come. You have many friends here who will make your visit
pleasant, and not disappoint your expectations. As regards Burr, his
tongue is no slander where he is known. We have decided the Dunham House
(for many reasons) is the best, as you can have a first floor parlor
with three rooms attached, and the house is as respectable as any in the
place, though perhaps not quite as large as the Weddell. You will be
much better accommodated. The table is first-class. Telegraph the day
you will start so that we may know when to expect you, as every one
feels anxious to meet you.
"With kind regards, yours truly,
"M. L. WRIGHT."
All this decided my course and I went. And as my mother and the two
girls, Margaretta and Cathy, were in New York, my married sister, Mrs.
Smith, and her dear little boy Charlie, and Calvin Brown, accompanied
me. Imagine our surprise when we arrived at Cleveland. A party of our
true friends escorted us from the boat to the hotel, where they informed
us they had arranged for a drive to a water-cure resort some ten or
twelve miles in the country.
As soon as we had breakfasted and prepared ourselves, we started on
our excursion. There were several carriages, and I think not more than
two persons in the company whom I had ever met before. Soon after
our arrival, the ladies took us into a beautiful grove and carefully
explained to me the nature of the slanders the Rev. C. C. Burr had
reported against me.
I think they were somewhat surprised at the indifference I manifested.
Atrocious as his slanders had been, I could not work up my mind to deem
them worthy of my stooping to notice them. I said to them, "If you
ladies had passed through one half the abuse I have, for the past
two years or more, you would not wonder that I am personally quite
indifferent to what all my enemies may say against me." However, it was
well that they had prosecuted Burr, as they put him under heavy bonds,
and compelled him to keep the peace, and hold his slanderous tongue.
Mother and the girls returned to Rochester about three weeks after I
left for Cleveland. The children, Maggie and Cathy, were persuaded to go
to Cincinnati with a lady friend of ours from Rochester, Mrs. Kedzie,
who had conceived the idea of a western tour of mediumistic exhibitions,
and knowing that I was in Cleveland, they stopped at our hotel to see
us. Maggie could not be persuaded to go further. Cathy, too, thought it
would be much more pleasant for her to remain with us at Cleveland,
but inasmuch as Mrs. K. had come with them, expecting to go on to
Cincinnati, I argued that having come with her, they should fulfil their
engagement. Finally it was decided that sister Maria should accompany
Cathy, with her little boy and Mrs. K., to Cincinnati, and Maggie remain
with Calvin and myself.
I found out that the girls had left greatly against mother's wishes,
and I telegraphed her to come immediately to Cleveland, which she did.
Mrs. K. and my sisters remained in Cincinnati about three weeks, and
stopped at Columbus, expecting to remain there some time; but when
they had been there about a week little Charley was taken very ill.
His life was despaired of for several days, during which time all
business was suspended, and Mrs. Kedzie returned to Rochester. My
sister Maria's husband arrived about that time and found the child--as
was thought--hopelessly ill.
I was greatly distressed, and my friends gathered around to condole with
me. Every hour brought a despatch saying, "Charley still lives." I could
do nothing but walk the floor and cry in my despair. I had been the
means of bringing him from home, and I blamed myself, knowing the effect
it would have on my brother-in-law and sister, if they should lose their
only child, after having already lost three dear little boys. In our
private room we called on the Spirits to advise us what to do. They
directed us to telegraph at once to Columbus to "bring him here" (to
Cleveland). We followed their directions. They started immediately, and
when they arrived the child seemed in a dying condition.
I took him in charge, and _with the aid of Spirit advice_ soon found him
convalescing. As soon as he was able they returned home.
Floods of letters summoned us to all parts of the State. I had even to
hire other persons to help in the labor of answering them. Nor shall I
now undertake a narrative of our tour. As a general rule, so far as it
was possible, we followed in the tracks of our arch-enemy, the "Rev. C.
Chauncy Burr;" and it was often announced that when he should have
concluded his course of lectures, the Fox family would succeed him and
afford the public the opportunity of judging for themselves. As the
Buffalo doctors had gone in for their theory of knee-ology (with what
success the reader has seen), so the Burr theory may be called that of
_toe_-ology; for he had conceived the brilliant idea of producing a sort
of low raps, inside a _wide_ boot, by striking his great toe upon the
sole, as any one may do upon the table by pressing and over-lapping
the middle finger by the index and suddenly releasing the latter. His
brother Heman was the one who thus operated, while he himself figured as
the lecturer. The head-waiter of the hotel at which Burr stopped, told
me how his toes were inflamed and bloody from this exercise, and how
many a poultice he had had to supply him with. The difference was
always manifest between the mere underfoot uniform sounds, yielded by
this miserable trick, and the variety of the "knockings" on tables,
floors, doors, walls, and ceilings--now faint, now approaching the
thunderous--to say nothing of the identification of the Spirits who were
rapping to us, through the recognized significance and truth of their
communications. Burr was at last almost hooted and pelted out of the
State; and at the court-house of Painesville we were taken to see the
marks of the showers of shattered eggs and muddy pieces of turf which
remained to attest the reception he had received the day before.
Our progress was a course of triumph. I might fill a page with the names
of the friends in all quarters of the State, including its best men and
women, between whom and myself arose friendships which time will never
obliterate from my heart. I will only name one who was to us in Ohio
what Greeley was in New York, John W. Gray, the editor of _The
Plaindealer_, and his wife, one of the loveliest and best of women.
Out of the trunks and boxes of letters, whose contents are beyond my
power to explore, I have taken a few, almost at random, with no time for
selection, which are given below, and from which the reader may gather
some particulars of this period, which will in part supply the place of
a narrative of our experiences in this, which I have called our Ohio
campaign. But I must mention the interesting incidents of two gold
medals having been presented, the one to myself, in Cleveland, when I
was about to leave, the other to Maggie, at Cincinnati. To Katie was
presented a beautiful jewelled watch and chain. I indulge myself in the
pleasure of showing mine to my readers. I am unable to show Maggie's
(which was oval) because it has been unfortunately lost in a trunk that
was stolen. I say nothing of beautiful presents, in diamonds and other
jewelry, etc. from ladies and gentlemen, who often seemed to feel that
they could not do too much to show us their gratitude for the certain
and realized _knowledge_, received through us, of the great truth that
our loved and lost still live and love us, and that "death" is only a
brief separation of those soon to be reunited forever.
[Illustration: A
Tribute of Respect
_to
Mrs. Ann L Fish
from Friends in_
CLEVELAND
1851.]
The following letters accompanied my medal and Katie's watch and chain.
The substantially similar one accompanying Maggie's medal seems to have
been lost.
"CLEVELAND, July 1, 1851.
"MRS. A. LEAH FISH:
"DEAR FRIEND--We the undersigned present you with this emblem as a
sincere token of our love and affection.
"You have been faithful and steadfast in all your duties. You have
been instrumental in bringing us to a realization of the truth of
Immortality.
"May you be blessed with health and crowned with victory, and triumph
over your enemies, is the prayer of your united friends.
N. E. CRITTENDEN, M. C. WRIGHT,
D. A. EDDY, S. D. KELLY,
DR. BIGELOW, ANTHONY M. REYNOLDS,
JOHN W. GRAY, A. UNDERHILL,
R. L. PAINE, E. HINKLY, _Artist, and
DR. UNDERHILL, Designer of the Medal_."
"CINCINNATI, O., July 9, 1851.
"MISS CATHARINE FOX:
"The individuals whose names are hereunto attached, having faith in your
integrity, as a testimonial of their regard for you personally, and of
the gratification they have enjoyed through you as a Medium for
Spiritual communications, desire you to accept the watch and chain which
will be presented to you by your friend, MR. E. F. NORTON.
B. URNER, JOHN D. PARK,
W. T. COGGSHALL, JAMES GOODIN,
CHARLES H. ERWIN, DANIEL GANO,
S. H. TITUS, C. J. W. SMITH,
RALPH VALENTINE, E. F. NORTON,
AUGUSTUS WATTLES."
I will mention one other incident in the course of our Ohio experience,
as being the first occasion on which I was compelled, and mustered the
courage, to address a short speech to an audience. On an urgent
invitation we went to Painesville toward the last of May. We arrived
there late in the afternoon. We found many friends, in the parlor of the
hotel, awaiting our arrival and prepared to escort us to the Court
House, to see the condition in which Rev. C. C. Burr had left it. Tufts
of grass (it had been raining the previous night), bricks, broken eggs,
sticks, and tin pans, with which the reverend gentleman had been
saluted, were strewn all over the Court House. We advertised through
all the papers that, immediately after the Burrs had lectured and
entertained the public with their toe-rapping expositions, the Fox
family would be forthcoming to give them every opportunity of testing
the truth of the real Spirit rappings. We were expected, and everything
was done to make our visit there agreeable. The Court House was cleared
of all the rubbish, and at precisely eight o'clock Calvin, Maggie, my
sister Maria's little boy, Charley Smith, and myself entered the Court
House with crowds of friends, amid shouts of "Welcome to the Fox family"
resounding from every part of the room.
Lawyer Tiffany was there to address the audience, but he was not able
to make himself heard, but stood and smiled at the demonstration. The
audience, with one accord, called out, "Take the platform!" Calvin
accompanied us, leaving little Charley with a lady friend, but he was
frightened and cried, "Take me too." He was only two and a half years
old. Judge Bissell carried the child in his arms, and placed him by my
side. He looked up at me and said, "Aunt Leah, will they hurt you?" I
told him, "No, dear, they are our friends." The rappings were distinctly
heard all over the hall as soon as quiet was restored. The audience
would not be content until I spoke to them. My words were few. I thanked
them for their kindness, but tears of gratitude soon choked all further
utterance. This was my first public speech.
At this point, Mr. Tiffany was allowed to proceed with his lecture,
which was very satisfactory to the audience.
We had engaged to go a second time to Cincinnati, as there were many
there who had not had an opportunity of visiting Katy's rooms while she
was there in company with sister Maria and Mrs. Kedzie, about the 20th
of July.
The cholera had broken out in the Burnett House, and we engaged rooms in
the Walnut Street House, where we remained during our stay in
Cincinnati.
We were frequently invited to visit our friends living in the vicinity
of the city, and gladly accepted their kind invitations, as it afforded
us rest, change of scene and atmosphere. We spent several days
delightfully at the house of Major Gano; and also made many visits at
the house of Mr. Longworth, the proprietor and owner of the great wine
vaults of Cincinnati, well known to the public, and whose son-in-law,
William Flagg, and his wife, were interested in us. We submitted to the
examination of many committees in Cincinnati (and other places which we
visited in Ohio). We remained in that city until the latter part of
August. The weather was extremely warm, and we were all prostrated with
heat and fatigue, and we longed to return to our home and friends in
Rochester. About this time Calvin was suddenly attacked with hemorrhage
of the lungs. Physicians pronounced his case hopeless. Mother and I took
care of him through that fearful night. The following morning he said to
us--taking each one by the hand--"Dear Mother and Leah, the only regret
I feel is in leaving you, subject as you are to the persecutions of your
enemies." Then fixing his eyes on me he said, "You have been a dear
sister to me. The best legacy I could leave you, as a protection when I
am gone, is my name. If we were married now, your widowhood would be a
great protection from the importunate intrusions to which you are so
frequently subjected." Mother wept over him as none but a mother could
weep. She fully consented, and left us to decide as we both thought
best. We were married September 10, 1851, on what was supposed to be the
death-bed of our beloved Calvin, and thus I became Mrs. Brown. Calvin
recovered, however, from that attack and lingered in tolerable comfort,
until about six months previous to his death, in May, 1853.
The agitation of the subject of Spiritualism resulting from this our
"Ohio Campaign," of 1851, led to the first Spiritualist convention in
the world's history, so far as I know, which was called for and
assembled at Cleveland in February, 1852, respecting which I find the
following letter from David A. Eddy, bearing date of the 28th of that
month:
"I enclose to you to-day a Cleveland _Herald_ containing a report of
our convention, the first of the kind ever known, and which may with
propriety be called 'Spiritual Convention No. One.' It has had some
effect in bringing the subject before the people, and calling out
investigation. It has thrown the church into spasms. Everything in Ohio
is going on as well as we could wish."