REMARKABLE PHENOMENA IN THE LIGHT AT CAMBRIDGE HOUSE

WITH MRS.WRIEDT

By Felicia R. Scatcherd

No record of the phase of phenomena described below seems to have reached you, so I send the following extract from my notes, written immediately after the occurrence.

The phenomena were repeated a fortnight later, with slight variations.

May 29, 1912. “Julia’s Bureau.”—We had nearly finished supper. The electric light was full on. We were all talking. Mrs. Wriedt was telling us about her first meeting with Mr. W. T. Stead, when I saw Mr. Mallinson looking with startled eyes at the very large marguerite bush that has occupied Mr. Stead’s chair at the head of the dining room table for the last month. Mrs. Wriedt sat on the right side of the table, I on the left, facing her. So the plant was between us. I followed Mr. Mallinson’s gaze to the blossoms nearest Mrs. Wriedt. They were in agitated movement one after the other, then all together. The rest of the plant was quiet. But as I looked the topmost blossom moved alone; later others “Bowed,” as one of the guests said.

“Well done! Now move the whole plant,” I exclaimed. It turned, pot and all, towards me.

“Perhaps you can move the chair also.” Almost immediately the chair was twisted from right angles to a position of forty-five degrees from the table, so that the left corner of the chair faced me. Then, still keeping that position with reference to the table, it was shifted six or eight inches nearer to where I was sitting.

We all felt the floor, walls, and windows vibrating. I have twice experienced earthquake shocks in the Ionian Islands. The sensation was similar.

Mrs. Harper cried: “That’s right Chief! Keep your word.” We were all sitting away from the table, to be sure no involuntary action had shaken the plant, after we first noticed its movements.

I suggested the lowering of the lights. The electric switch was turned off, leaving us in darkness, except for light from outside.

Three violent shocks caused the windows to rattle; the crockery clattered, and the walls and floor were shaken by a deep-seated vibratory movement, that I can only liken, as I have said, to my earthquake experiences. This movement was accompanied by the sound of heavy footfalls, as of someone stamping round the room. Then all was still. We turned on the lights.