Water Valley progress., November 19, 1904, Image 6

About Water Valley progress. (Water Valley, Miss.) 1882-1918

Image provided by: Mississippi Department of Archives and History

                
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KYRLE BELLEW RELATES MIR
ING CAMP'S EXPERIENCE'
WITH SPIRITUALISM.
Lost Diamond Recovered—Seance to
Discover Precious Metal—How
the Mediums Found and
Cinched It.
By Xyrle Bellew.
(Star Actor and Australian Gold M.ne
Owner.)
THE story I am going to tell has
nothing to do with my career as an
actor, nor does it deal with my later
and bitterly hard won successes as
owner of several more or less pro
ductive gold mines. In fact, I am not
the star of this particular curtain
raiser at all. I am simply one of the
rank and file of its actors.
The scene is laid in Queensland, Aus
tralia. In parts it is a wild enough
place to-day. It was still wilder one
day in the last centmy. when, tired,
choked with dust and discouraged by
the endless journey from Sydney, I ar
rived in the little mining camp of Ar
gyle.
We were a rough but fairly straight
community in Argyle. A lucky strike
or the arrival of pay day, of course, in
volved more or less spirituous conviv
iality, and hands had a way at times of
straying to pistol butts. But our local
vigilance committee had undiluted
ideas of honesty, and woe unto the
man who stole even a pinch of his
neighbor’s gold dust. It was short
shrift, long rope and a still life object
lesson for the rest of the camp.
So stringent did our vigilantes grow
that thefts and hold-ups were as rare
as purple Cows. For months not a rob
bery had occurred in the vicinity, and
the vigilantes’ office had become a sine
cure.
“Funny Folk’’ Beach Camp.
Such was our state of ethics when
the Funny Folk arrived.
Strictly speaking, the Funny Folk
were not funny at all. They did not
claim to be. In fact, I never saw men
with less sense of humor. There were
two of them. One, undersized, nerv
ous, pathetically timid of the desper
ate characters he had heard abounded
among us; the other tall and fleshless
ns a beanpole, and sharing in exagger
ated form his comrade's timorousness.
Both were ragged and footsore. Their
garments w'ere of semi-clerical cut,
their manner faintly suggestive of
evangelists.
The smaller man, who lea tne party
of two, presented Hal Sundowne, our
“head man,” with a very greasy card
that read:
“Professor Hiram T. Spogg and as
sistant, spiritualistic adepts, seances,
materialization and occult readings
given.”
As Sundowne read this card aloud to
the assembled camp in front of the lo
cal tavern a howfl of derisive laughter
arose.
“I guess you'll find all the spirits you
want here,” drawled the landlord.
“Good lively ones to practice on. Come
In if you like and have a drop.”
“Thank you, sir,” said the little pro
fessor, not without a certain mild dig
nity, “but we do not indulge in liquor,
my assistant and I. If our presence
here is distasteful, as I gather from
the derision that greets us, we will not
obtrude our presenco on you longer.”
“Stop on here as long as you like,”
growled Sundowne, “as long as you
don’t bother us and behave yourselves
you’re welcome enough."
“I thank you, gentlemen,” gratefully
replied the professor.
And so it was that the “Funny Folk”
became a part of our life. Who first
gave them that nickname in that re
gion of quick and incomprehensible
nicknames I do not know. But the
name stuck.
Day after day they remained with us,
unobtrusive, polite, harmless, frugal in
their lives, making no offer to thrust
their docrines of spiritualism upon
anyone nor offering blatantly to give
eo-called “exhibitions.” In that rough
Search for Lost Diamond.
Yet, perhaps because ashamed to
evince open curiosity concerning a pro
fession at which they had laughed so
boisterously at first, the camp did not
mention the word “spiritualism,” nor
did it ask any of the countless queries
on the subject that must have risen
to their lips.
One evening as we were sitting out
aide the tavern—the two “Funny Folk”
sitting near, but by themselves—Big
Bundowne gave a cry of dismay.
“My big diamond!” he yelled. “It’s
gone.”
He was staring amazedly down at his
hairy hand, where the empty setting
of a little finger ring betokened the
loss of a stone that had been the
envy of the camp.
“It was there when I washed up for
eupper!” groaned; “It has fallen
out somewhere. I’ll give £50 to the
chap that finds it.”
There was a genera] scattering of
the crowd. Every inch of the adja
cent ground was gone over by a hun
dred willing hands. At the end of
two Lours, however, the chase was
abandoned. Had the stone been with
in the narrow confines of the camp it
could hardly have escaped the hern,
trained eyes of the searchers.
“Better give it up till morning.”
Sundowne said at last. “It’s too dark
to look for it any more lo-nlght.”
Disgruntled and cross he headed
the crowd back to the tavern. There
they saw the two spiritualists, who
had sat quietly together during the
hunt, having taken no part iu the pro
ceedings.
“Nice neighborly interest you two
blokes show in a man’s losses!”
snarled Sundowne as he noted their
inactivity.
‘‘Pardon us, sir,” rejoined the pro
fessor gently. “If we have failed to
join in searching for your missing
jewel it was only because we knew we
could be of greater assistance to you
by staying here and invoking other aid
for you.”
“Other aid?” echoed SundowTii,
scornfully. “What are you giving us?”
Recovered by “Spirits.”
“My friend,” said the professor, with
dignity. “Pray do not scoff, but hear
me out. We have been consulting the
spirits as to your loss.”
“Well, did they tell you all about
it?” sneered Sundowne.
“The whereabouts of the Jewel has
been revealed to us by the spirits,” an
swered the professor calmly.
“Oh, really! Well, maybe you’ll
condescend to tell me where it is?”
sugested Sundowne, incredulously.
“With great pleasure, sir. I am glad
to be able to serve you. The spirits
have revealed to me that the lost dia
mond is in the left-hand pocket of
your jacket, together with the crumbs
of tobacco and dust.”
Half-consciously Sundowne thrust
his hand into the pocket; half shame
faced, half angry, he groped about in
it. Suddenly, with a shout of glad
amazement he drew forth the stone.
“Here it is!” he yelled. “By thun
der, the Funny Folks were right.
Stranger, I beg your pardon for doubt
ing your word. How you knew the
stone was there beats me, but spirits
that can tell a man that are worth be
lieving in. Here’s your £50 reward!”
“Thank you, sir,” said the spiritual
ist, calmly, “but I must beg to refuse
the money. What I did was but a
friendly turn to repay your hospitality.
Good night, gentlemen,” and he and
his long, lean assistant retired to their
hut, leaving us sitting open-mouthed.
Long and late the camp talked over
the miracle that night. Not a man
among the rough brotherhood around
me but was convinced of the “Funny
Folks’ ” supernatural powers.
“Spirits” to Hunt Gold.
“Boys!” whispered Sundowne at
last, saapins -^itu me very strengtn or
the great idea that had suddenly struck
him. “A man that knows where a dia
mond is must know where gold is.
What’s the matter with our offering
these fellows their own terms to have
a spirit seance, or whatever they call
the thing, and getting their bunch of
ghosts to reveal to us where the rich
est gold finds are? This country around
here’s got enough gold in it to make
us all billionaires if only we knew
where to look. If the Funny Folks’
ghosts will tell us where it is we can
be the richest men in Queensland in
side of a week.”
The idea took like wildfire. A com
mittee was appointed to visit the two
spiritualists that very night, wake
them and suggest the plan to their
consideration. The spiritualists were
doubtful at first whether the spirits
could be induced to give information
on so mercenary a matter, but, with
the gentle kindliness that always
characterized them, they agreed to do
their best.
Next day they explained to the camp
—no longer derisive, but respectful,
attentive, eager—that the concourse of
many thoughts had more power to
draw the attention and obedience of
the spirits than had the wills of any
two men, even adepts.
It was decided that on the following
Saturday night the whole camp should
convene in the schoolhouse (a barn
like, disused structure originally built
by optimists who expected the camp to
grow into a village and who wished to
tie beforehand with local improve
ments), and that there, under the two
adepts’ direction, the combined minds
of the camp should will the spirits into
materialization. Then the professor
was to question them as to the where
abouts of the best-paying ore.
The Seance.
Whatever my own feelings I can tes
tify that never since the birth of spir
itualism had a group of more ardent
and absolute “believers” gathered to
gether than in that building. The mir
acle of the diamond’s recovery con
vinced these rough children of nature
as to the truth of spiritualism as thor
oughly as Columbus’ achievement con
vinced Spain that there was really a
new world across the western ocean.
As if to encourage our belief in the
wealth of the gold-bearing earth about
us,’ that week’s mining had been un
usually prosperous. On the following
day the big, lumbering ore wagon,
heavily guarded, was to make the
monthly journey to Sydney with our
thirty days’ earnings. So perf-ctly
was the vigilance committee’s reign of
order established that such men as did
I not carry their gold dust about with
' them in bags and "dust belts” left it
<*t the^r cabins unguarded that nig.
For every soul ia Argylo crowded
iho sclioolhouse.
We reached the door, Snndovfri
leading. There the professor's long*
sistant greeted us. Within, lty ftie lig
of a few' lanterns (whoHe titful glo
idaed to the desolation of the place
we could see boards ranged along tv
unfurnished central space ns seats
wbilo at the packing-box desk on thr
little platform at the farthest end sai
the professor.
Weapons Barred.
As Sundowne was entering the as
sistant timidly checked him by point
ing to his big revolvers.
“Carnal weapons will distract th«
mind from spiritual thought,” he mur
mured apologetically. “And ever)
nerve of every mind is needed for out
great struggle with the spiritual world
to-night."
Sundowne'hesitated, for he was evei
loath to lay aside his “arsenal,” as hr
termed his barkers.
“It is of no consequence, if the gen
tleman objects,” called the professoi
gently from the other end of the hall
“Let him retain his arms. We nnlj
suggested disarming, as better result*
might follow.”
Urged by the murmur of approval
at this speech, Sundowne pulled hit
two 44s from their holsters and lair
them tenderly on the ground outside
Every man, in entering, followed hh
example, until a little mountain of pis
tols, ugly knives and shotguns lay al
the threshold.
“We will begin the exercises." oh
served the spiritualist, when all hac
filed in and were seated, “by a little—
ah—discourse by myself, on the ain
and scope of the profession of which 1
have the honor to be so humble ye)
so ardent a devotee. Believe me, 1
do not do this to weary you, but t<
calm the minds of those whos<
thoughts might be too turbulent witt
visions of gold to permit of the quie)
concentration of will which is neces
sary for our purpose.”
Whereat he began to speak, at flrsi
fluently, then haltingly. At length b<
came to an abrupt stop.
“There are elements working against
me to-night,” he said, after a pause
“I fear we shall fail. Perhaps if somi
one could sing a little the spirit might
prove more propitious.”
Sing to Woo “Spirits.”
There was a silence. Then, hesitat
ingly, Sundowne’s thunder-voice begai
the classic strains of “Whoa Emma!’
The song had but recently reachec
“the bush” and was a great favorite
Voice after voice joined in, until th<
rickety building shook with the vol
ume of sound. The men were not sing
ing for amusement. They were sing
ire for gold. And, plied by th.© pro
fessor's deprecating voice and by hi)
assurance that the spirits were evej
drawing nearer, the men sang son*
after song. Nearly an hour must havi
thus passed.
At length the professor raised hii
hand.
“I—I feel it coming on!” he mur
mured, “the inspiration. Should it leaf
me even out into the night do not stir
but continue to sing. Thus shall !
keep in touch with your minds anf
thus shall the spirits direct me to th<
gold—as I feel they are doing—and 1
shall return to you and—”
As he had been speaking he had left
the platform, and, as if moved by som<
power beyond hi3 control, had walked
blindly, staggeringly, through oui
awe-struck ranks. At the last word hi
vanished into outer darkness*
“Oh, Emma, you put me in such <
dilemma!” bellowed Sundowne, and al
joined in, singing for the gold ti|ej
felt almost in their grasp.
It was perhaps ten minutes late)
that in a pause in the roaring songs
the faint, distant sound of a jinglini
chain cut through the night and smott
every ear.
“Funny Folk” Locate Gold.
“Spirits!’ g a s p e * Sundowne
“They’re bringin’ it in an ore wagon!’
And with feverish delight the sonf
burst out afresh. In the middle of th<
second verse, however, a horrible ide£
seemed to dawn upon him. With t
grunt of suspicion he made for th<
door. A good mile away, under th<
dazzling- moonlight, was an ore wagon
And spiritual enough it looked in thal
ghostly light. But it was traveling
from us, not toward us, as fast as sia
strong mules could gallop.
Yes, it was our ore wagon. Th«
mules were ours. In the wagon wat
every ounce of gold dust, every nuggei
garnered for one solid month by th<
largest camp in the richest portion ol
Queensland. And on the seat our tw<
“Funny Folk” lashed the mules.
We rushed for the corral to find thej
had turned loose every pony we had
To follow on foot was idiocy. Whilt
the professor had urged us to sing witk
him that long hour his assistant had
been ransacking every cabin, loading
the gold into the wagon and harness
ing the mules. And the men’s bellow
ing had drowned every sound. That Is
all except a line scrawled on the back
of a “professional” card pinned on tlu
corral gate. It read:
“When Sundowne slipped his hand
into his pocket after tobacco the dia
mond was on his Anger. When h<
pulled it out the diamond was gont
That is how the ‘spirits’ told me It hai
fallen from the setting and was in hit
pocket Professor Spogg."
tCopyrigb*. 1803, By Joseph B. Bowles.)
The Proper Ham*.
The Daughter—No, mother, dear, I could
jot niarrv Mr. Smith; he squints.
l’hc Mother—My dear girl, a man who
has $100,000 a year may be affected with a
alight optical indecision—but a squint,
never.—Loudon Tatler.
Physicians assert that disease is spread
by the saloon free lunch. The doctors ap
parently do not understand that no man
Is entitled to sample the free lunch until
he has bought a germkiller.—Washington
Poet. _
The next legislature is expected to take
sognixance that trains going in opposite di
rections on a single track are not to be
passed lightly.—Kansas City Star.
They who say that beautifying ia fool
ish dispute their own eyes—Chicago Rec
ord Tie raid.
The population of London increacea by
70,000 annually.
Blot on California.
They were discussing the charms of the
California climate.
“I never knew but two peraona who co«l*
resist the wiles of that delightful Ja“d,
one of the company said, and they
a mother and daughter from the Hub. I e|j
came to Pasadena while we were there,
and they stayed just two days. One of o*
chanced to express surprise at their brieS
sojourn, and the older woman cxpUmedi •
“ ‘It is beautiful here, of eourse. Wa
realize that. But, after all, it is so far
from Boston; , ,, v
“And they went that very day. N. Y,
Syn. _m_
Do not believe Piso’s Cure for Consume*
tion has an equal for coughs’ *™1 colde/-J.
F. Boyer, Trinity feprings, Ind., Feb. 15.
Faithful Friend.
Jobbs—I stood by my friend BUI the last
time ne got in trouble.
Dobbs—Yea; I heard you were the
mao.—Chicago Journal. _
I The letters of Miss Merkley, whose pic-!
ture is printed above, and Miss Claussen,
prove beyond question that thousands of
cases of inflammation of the ovaries and
womb are annually cured by the use of
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable CompouncL
“Dear Mrs. Pinkham:—Gradual loss of strength and nerve force
told me something was radically wrong with me. I nad severe shooting
pains throught the pelvic organs, cramps and extreme irritation com
pelled me to seek medical advice. The doctor said that I had ovarian
trouble and ulceration, and advised an operation. I strongly objected to
this and decided to try Lydia JE. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound.
I soon found that my judgment was correct, and that all the good
things said about this medicine were true, and day by day I felt less
pain and increased appetite. The ulceration soon healed, and the other
complications disappeared and in eleven weeks I was once more strong
and vigorous and perfectly well.
“ My heartiest thanks are sent to you for the great good you have
done me.”—Sincerely yours, Miss Margaret Merkley, 275 Third St,
Milwaukee, Wis.
Hiss Claussen Saved from a Surgical Operation.
mDkar Mrs. Pinkham:—It seems to me that
all the endorsements that I have read of the value
of Lydia E. Pinkham’s Compound do not express
one-half of the virtue the great medicine really
possesses. I know that it saved my life and I
want to give the credit where it belongs. I suf
fered with ovarian trouble for five years^had three
operations and spent hundreds of dollars on doc
tors and medicines but this did not cure me
after alL
“ However, what doctors and medicines failed
to do, Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Com
\ pound did. Twenty bottles restored me to per
1 feet health and I feel sure that had I known ot its
value before, and let the doctors alone, I would
have been spared all the pain and expense that
if fh« women who are sunenng, ana.
fruitless operations cost me.:Ut f^ia E. Pinkham’s Vege
the doctors do not help^ them, disappointed with the results.
WJ? City’Mo
““Forfeit T^SSSSOSeSSSS
fiSt? uftKoolaU. which will Med. Co.. IW “««■