1926
May 2 - Aug 15
May 2, 1926.
[Stead begins to use third trance]
In trance I,
"... he was getting ready to go away somewhere. He has the famous carpetbag and a chest. He has on a coat with a large cape and no sleeves. His father and mother are not wanting him to go where he is going. He sat down in a chair and put his hand on his forehead as if he was thinking. His mother pulled him on the back as if she did not want him to go away."
What we can read out of the script that preceded the R. L. Stevenson tableau, makes its meaning clear:
First trance script:
... "So compelling was the ... so sound that point of view ... rapture ..."
Here R. L. Stevenson is recalling his parents' opposition to his marrying a divorced woman (this was most unusual in the 1870's and 1880's); at the same time he is recalling his deep and lasting love for Mrs. Osbourne.
He will escape all this heartbreak by fleeing To the Little Land where all has been accomplished. He is a sailor on the sea; he has climbed the Clover Tree; he has come home at last, in the companionship of his marriage. There is no doubt as to his meaning.
One bit of imagery "he was in the same room where he was getting ready to go away "- shows it to be a continuation of the picture-story begun earlier.
Third trance script:
"The sailor on the sea climbed the clover tree and came at last home."
Third trance vision:
"I was on the sea in a boat. I heard them saying some rhyme. He was writing and the two or three other men were laughing at it. He was in the same room where he was getting ready to go away."
Verification:
"Oh dear me
That I could be
A sailor in the rain-pool sea,
A climber in the clover tree.
And just came back, a sleepy-head,
Late at night to go to bed."
("A Child's Garden of Verse", - The Little Lord, page 50.)
Comment:
A new adventure in recalling a vision-memory.
Follow first attempt to levitate table - levitated twice a few inches - ask for higher levitation - goes into R. L. Stevenson trance.
After writing:
T. G. H.: "Is this Louie"
Answer: "No. Louie gone home to (.......)
T. G. H.: "Who is this?"
Answer: "(.........) Stead."
May 5, 1926.
First photo of trance.
Trance I.
1. Trance onset.
2. Trance-sleep (R. L. Stevenson vision)
3. Trance-writing (R. L. Stevenson)
4. Awakens and describes vision.
5. Veridical picture of W. B. Cooper's home at Simla, India in his boyhood. Unknown to all present.
R. L. Stevenson. The Amateur Emigrant on the Sea. Good (See
"Underwoods", XXXVIII)
First trance script:
"Say not of me declined weakly the labor of my sins and fled the seas..."
First trance vision:
"I saw Stevenson in his bed working with a lot of books and papers. Then I saw the sea and I did not see land I was so far out. Stevenson was on the boat, too."
Verification:
"Say not of me that weakly I declined the labors of my sires, and fled the seas ..." (first two lines of XXXVIII, "Underwoods".)
Comment:
Here R. L. Stevenson is thinking of his decision to follow literary pursuits rather than the family profession of lighthouse engineering. The vision offers the poetic conception of the verse-lines - the symbolical sea.
Comment:
When the scripts were studied after the séance, it was found that for the first time, R. L. Stevenson had given his plays. As first trance communicator .
Trance II.
David Livingstone writes and speaks in second trance.
Second trance script:
"Makalolo - lions" (breaks off). Speaks: "Lions, Boars, Makalolo."
Second trance vision:
"I saw the funniest pigs ... big, long noses. I saw lions too, and I saw Livingstone. The lions were awful poor-looking. I would as soon be amongst these animals as those people he is with ... they are not very clean!"
Verification:
Not fully. (See "Missionary Travels", page 120, 121 for old lions).
E.M. in a very deep trance is photographed by flash light. (She was not told that beforehand.)
She awakens, gives vision:
"I saw Livingstone. He was ahead of Stevenson. There was some people with him. I saw a dog with long thin hair ... that picture was blackened all up for me ..." (Effect of the flash light?)
1. Trance onset.
2. Trance-sleep (D. Livingstone vision)
3. Writing (D. Licingstone.)
4. Raps gives permission to take flash light of E.M. in trance. (Stead communicating.)
4. E.M. awakens and describes D. Livingstone vision.
Trance III.
1. Trance onset.
2. E.M. photographed during deep sleep. (She is not aware that photo is to be taken.)
Raps give permission for a photograph to be taken. David Livingstone appear to be in charge.
Trance IV.
R. L. Stevenson again.
Light trance. Following the flash E.M. entered a semi-trance condition; saw a picture suggesting Edinburgh and South Sea home.
R. L. Stevenson appears to be very confused. No script.
Was R. L. Stevenson upset by the flash? If so, then the reaction is not entirely the medium's, but also partially on the communicator's part. This throws a new light on the objective reality of these men. ( L. H.)
May 6, 1926.
[Mary Marshall present. Has vision. Flash light taken at beginning of trance.]
Flash light photograph taken of E.M. in trance. No R. L. Stevenson writing. David Livingstone appears to have taken R. L. Stevenson's place.
Order of Events. Second Trance photograph.
1. E.M. passes through excitement, catalepsy, to deep sleep.
2. When she is sleeping quietly, flash is fired.
3. E.M. writes for David Livingstone.
4. Regains normal consciousness and reports experiences:
Flash taken of medium at beginning of trance.
No first trance script:
First trance vision:
"I was at a funeral the night. I never saw a funeral like it. They were dancing and singing. They are in the habit of keeping the dead there for some time ... he told me so. Part of my picture was blackness . ( Result of a flash in the middle of vision-period?) They were having a great time dancing and the body was rolled in some kind of cloth. Then they went and put it in the ground. They all got up around the grave and danced."
Medium lapses into a semi-trance. Sees R. L. Stevenson and same picture of Samoa, but reports "Stevenson is mixed."
David Livingstone. (Writes after flash fired.)
David Livingstone script:
"The dead ... for several days ... have a great concourse with beating of drums, singing and dancing and debauchery ..."
Verification:
"In cases of death the body is kept several days, and there is a grand concourse of both sexes, with beating of drums, dances and debauchery. The great ambition of many of the blacks of Angola is to give their friends an expensive funeral ..." ("Missionary Travels", page 355.)
May 9, 1926.
E.M. photographed in the excitement stage of trance onset. (Her hands are up in the air.)
1. Flash during excitement stage.
2. Writes for R. L. Stevenson.
3. Awakens and reports vision.
First trance script: - indecipherable.
First trance vision:
Building Vailima.
"I saw Stevenson and a whole lot of men building a house on the mountain. They were colored ... not Negroes. They were dining ... fruit and meat ... it was loaded down. They had cut down a few trees, there was no wood. Stevenson seemed quite happy."
Comment:
The vision suggests the building of the Samoan house
T. G. H.'s note on the effect of the flash light:
"First trance, May 9, 1926. Flash was taken during the excitement stage. Very little interruption to the progress apart from sudden disturbances from the jolt of the flash. In a few seconds E.M. went on with excitement stage and through the spastic stage into deep sleep."
David Livingstone in second trance. Flash taken of medium writing for David Livingstone.
Trance II.
Writing and vision quite good
Oswald shooting Buffalo.
May 11, 1926.
R. L. Stevenson:
Flash taken in excitement stage. R. L. Stevenson follows with visions and writing. R. L. Stevenson and David Livingstone write re flash.
First trance script:
A. "Submerging force of the billows.
B. "Not too bad shock for medium and our friend. Livie and Steve."
First trance vision:
"I saw Stevenson on the sea and then in a home. When I had come away from there Livingstone was around. D. Livingstone and R. L. Stevenson were talking and laughing. Livingstone did not look cross the night."
Comment:
In the "A" section of R. L. Stevenson script we catch echoes of ideas from "A Gossip on Romance."
The "B" part totally unexpected - that is, it came spontaneously. The two laughing together and the shortened names suggest that our communicators were working successfully and in close partnership at last.
David Livingstone and R. L. Stevenson appeared to be there objectively, aware of changes in procedure and environment.
David Livingstone. Memories of Sechele's grandfather.
Second trance script:
"His great-grandfather - Mocheasele"
Second trance vision:
"I saw a real old man. His nails and his fingers were awful! And his feet were awful! Livie goes among them teaching them as if they were gentle lambs. Stevenson does not come and interrupt him as he interrupts Stevenson! He is awful determined!"
Verification:
"His great-grandfather ("Missionary Travels", page 12.)
Comment:
Here the vision is not meant to be regarded as factual. It is simply a dramatic picture based on the idea of old age. David Livingstone can create a whimsical idea when he has the chance. This type of play-acting is rare with David Livingstone. His gentleness with the natives is true to fact. Also his strong determination.
[ Photo of Elizabeth Poole writing in trance ]
[ Photo of Elizabeth Poole in trance and slapping table ]
[ Photo of Elizabeth Poole in trance and slapping table ]
[ Photo of Elizabeth Poole writing in deep trance - with head on Dr. Hamilton's shoulder ]
May 13, 1926.
David Livingstone in R. L. Stevenson vision - New personalities in R. L. Stevenson vision.
David Livingstone speaks in R. L. Stevenson vision. Shares it with him.
Second trance.
R. L. Stevenson.
Flash light photo of E.M. in cataleptic stage.
First trance script: completely illegible.
First trance vision:
Sees R. L. Stevenson with older men.
R. L. Stevenson upset. Writing and vision destroyed by flash taken of E.M. in cataleptic stage of trance onset.
David Livingstone. Undisturbed by flash.
Second trance script:
"Awakened by a messenger from Shinte ... a great thirst ... a raging fever ..."
Second trance vision:
"... I saw a lot of sick people ... it seemed to stick in my throat. A man came running with a paper and handed it to Livingstone. I got in another place and they were giving them drinks but I was told to keep back. I got an awful sore throat but it is getting better."
Verification:
"... January 19, 1854 ... I was awakened at an early hour by a messenger from Shinte ... and the thirst of a raging fever having just assuaged by the copious perspiration." ("Missionary Travels", page 257).
Comment:
In life David Livingstone was ill with fever and had a raging thirst. In E.M.'s vision the sickness is transferred to the natives. Basic idea is illness.
Note the hypnotic effect on the medium.
May 16, 1926.
Dr. Frank Smith present.
Trance I.
R. L. Stevenson.
Writing illegible.
E.M. sees R. L. Stevenson lecturing.
R. L. Stevenson. Poor. Tries to share trance with David Livingstone. Confusion
David Livingstone.
Native piano. (R. L. Stevenson enters this trance, but fails)
Second trance script:
"Piano ... Mirabo ... two bars of wood laid side by side ... half a circle of carriage wheel; keys made of wood ..."
Second trance vision:
"I heard some good music this time. It was hand-made. Livingstone was there. I saw some dark men making keys out of wood. Part of it was round. I saw them gathering wood from the trees. It was like a rough organ ..."
Verification:
"The piano, named Muiambo, consists of two bars of wood, placed side-by-side, here quite straight, but farther north bent quite round so as to resemble half the tire of a carriage-wheel; across these are placed about 15 wooden keys ..." ("Missionary Travels", p. 255).
Radium capsule is attached to the table. Two table levitations are photographed.
[ Photo of - Exhibit - table levitation ]
May 21, 1926
Dr. Hamilton's lectures on psychics begin:
Spring 1926, brief talk before the Winnipeg Art Club - Walter J. Philips - artist - now at Banff - invites Dr. Hamilton.
Around 125 doctors present. Programme Committee headed by R. Gibson.
"Shows lantern slides of levitated table. Gives history of discovery of "psychic force" by Crookes - Crawford - Flammarion and others."
No mention of survival. Dr. William Boyd makes a fine speech of congratulations - others more at ease as a result of this speech.
"For full reaction see article by Dr. Bruce Chown in June number of C.M.A., 1935"
[ Photo of Dr. Hamilton's first semi-public lecture - page 1]
[ Photo of lecture notes - continued - page 2 ]
[ Photo of page 3 ]
[ Photo of page 4 ]
[ Photo of page 5 ]
[ Photo of page 6 ]
[ Photo of page 7 ]
[ Photo of page 8 ]
[ Photo of page 9 ]
[ Photo of final page - page 10 ]
May 23, 1926.
David Livingstone in R. L. Stevenson trance.
R. L. Stevenson writes brokenly re character development, in his novels.
First trance script:
"... He himself more or less grown ... character to be his design within certain limits, one with more intellect (uality?) ..."
First trance vision:
"Oh, I was amazed with David coming in too; he spoils it. I was with Stevenson in a university. He was talking and arguing with some men. He was in his teens. It was not too clear."
David Livingstone.
Second trance script :
"Mr. Oswald ... land on his fleeing horse ... lion springing on him ... in Lobebe ... but his dogs saved him ..."
Second trance vision:
"I saw too much. I saw Livingstone on horseback and a big lion after him springing on him, and the horse fell to the ground, and then the dogs got after the lion and put the lion away. Livingstone was on the horse's back when the dogs got after it. The dogs are awful vicious. They are smaller than a collie and have long hair ..."
Verification:
"At Lopepe a lioness sprang on the after quarters of Mr. Oswald's horse ... the horse, on feeling the lion on him, sprang away, and the rider, caught in a thorn bush, was brought to the ground ... his dogs saved him ..." ("Missionary Travels", page 122.)
Comment:
Livingstone plays the part of the hero! A good ploy based on the facts. The horse, not the rider, falls.
E.M.'s receptivity amazing.
May 25, 1926.
First trance script:
"Robert Louis Stevenson settled once more in the United States ..."
First trance vision:
"... I was in a big city; we came to a big building and I was with Stevie and we went in together and he seemed as if he was going to make this place his home ... with books and carpet-bag ... this is where I lost him ..."
Verification:
Reference vague, probably referring to Saranac Lake.
David Livingstone.
Poor. Writing hard to read.
Second trance vision:
"I saw a whole lot of awful low set men ... peculiar with black whiskers ... low set ... they seemed quite happy. They went to a peculiar place with him ... I can't pronounce that name ... then we went into a small place ... more like a village ... one or two painted cream colored ... and a few other smaller houses. But the streets are awful narrow ... no sidewalks ... I don't think there is much else ... I have got kind of lost ... I know I seen more, but I can't get it.
W.B. Cooper vision. Father said to be present.
[ Photo of Elizabeth in deep trance sleep - head on Dr. Hamilton's shoulder - also writing ]
[ Photo - another view ]
[ Photo of Elizabeth Poole in deep trance sleep and writing in trance ]
[ Photo of Elizabeth Poole with head on Dr. Hamilton's shoulder ]
May 27, 1926.
Important Sitting
R. L. Stevenson trance shows four parts.
Three themes.
Good automatic writing - the best in some months.
Raps.
R. L. Stevenson. Alone.
No David Livingstone.
Poems to Nellie Van Der Grift, and "To Minnie" combined. Excellent. Complex.
First trance script:
"On the bright island where he feared to touch ... the spirit re-adventures ... his wife slumbered by his side safely at home ... (pause)
B: "... The thought of the land revisits him ..." (pause)
C: "... He surprised them by the prayer ... He comes to his own ..." (pause).
D: "... A Picture Frame for you to fill ..."
Verification:
"Strange is the Seaman's heart; he hopes; he fears;
Draws closer, and sweeps wider from that coast.
Lost, his rent sails refit, and to the deep
His shattered prow uncomforted puts back.
Yet as he goes he ponders at the helm
Of that bright island where he feared to touch.
His spirit re-adventures; and for years
Where by his wife he slumbered safe at home,
Thoughts of that land revisit him; he sees
The eternal mountains beckon; and awakes
Yearning for that home that might have been ..."
("Underwoods", 107.)
C: not verified.
D:
"A picture frame for you to fill
A paltry setting for your face."
("To Minnie", "Underwoods", page 105.)
First trance vision:
"... I could not tell it all. I was in the home on the island. Stevenson was in bed and his wife was sitting by. There were all kinds of flowers around ...Then I left there but landed in the Old Country (Scotland) after being on boats and trains and all. I saw him out of the town in a home. He was not looking good at all. In the old home he was just looking over the place, just looking around."
"Then I went back to the island and he gave me the frame for a picture. I told them I had no picture; it was like a home-made frame to put a picture in. He was still in bed. I talked to him each time. I must whisper when you don't hear the conversation ..."
Comment:
Whatever may have been R. L. Stevenson's real purpose and meaning in this poem in its entirety, the part now referred to is used to indicate homesickness for Scotland, a homesickness, as all readers must surely know, that at times filled his mind and heart with yearnings that could not be suppressed. Now, in the vision, the dear land is visited, as is his home out of the city at Swanston.
While this is basically a true memory recall, we are forced to consider that the transmission has as its chief purpose that of demonstrating once again the power of the communicator's imagination, backed by will, to project this image onto the mind of the entranced medium.
The picture frame is a thing apart, yet she sees it, and a whole series of events fall in natural sequence to her. Her unquestioning, unsophisticated mind receives all ideas as a mirror reflects.
David Livingstone.
Poor. Badly written and not understood.
Stead writes, and raps talking of new work to be started - photo-plate work in dark.
May 30, 1926.
First trance script:
"Dinner in state ... Library - stairway leading to a room sufficient to accommodate ... an establishment ..."
First trance vision:
"I had a big dinner in a great large room lined around with books. There were waiters all around a big long table and then I heard them singing paraphrases and hymns. R. L. Stevenson was seated near one end; it seemed he liked the singing."
Query: Did R. L. Stevenson have hymns sung at meals at Vailima? Not yet verified.
Second trance script:
"There are upwards of 30 species of birds coming up the river itself ..."
Second trance vision:
"I was on the river in a boat and I saw all kinds of birds. I stood at the water's edge but I was scared of the birds. I saw David and some of the black. I came out of the boat and walked on the water to the side ... David will soon be as dark as the rest ... he is awful tanned ..."
Verification:
"When quite beyond the inhabited parts we found that country abounding in animal life of every form. There are upwards of 30 species of birds on the river itself. Hundreds of the Ibis Religiosa came down the Luombye with the rising water ..." ("Missionary Travels", page 219).
Table moves without contact. Is photographed.
Dr. Ross Mitchell and Dr. A. M. Davidson are present as observers.
Flash taken of table moving out of cabinet - Dr. Ross Mitchell and Dr. J. R. Davidson present.
[ Photo of table sideways levitation - Dr. Ross Mitchell and Dr. A. M. Davidson in corner ]
[ Photo ]
June 1, 1926.
R. L. Stevenson and David Livingstone in one trance. The long struggle for the two communicators to work in one trance, without confusion, seems to have been accomplished.
R. L. Stevenson. no picture.
Script:
"Our little friend can't stand all of us ... get a friend to yourself that can take a message ... R. L. Stevenson ..."
David Livingstone - same script:
"Go and leave us with our friend. We are not such learned men as you are but we have a place greater than yours ... no respecter of persons here.
Second trance vision:
"...Such a bunch! I got into an awful mix up! There was five of them! R. L. Stevenson was sitting by them with two fingers on his forehead as he was deep in thought. David Livingstone gave those men a talking to! He did not want them! Stevie and Livie were friendly to each other ..."
Comment:
About this time E.M. began to call her two companions 'Stevie' and 'Livie', apparently at their suggestion.
Note that this is the first time R. L. Stevenson does not use any memory-ideas.
Comment:
By June, after nine months from David Livingstone's first appearance, and after some dozen separate attempts to use the one trance, a new step forward has been achieved: E.M., awakening from deep trance, is now able to describe in detail both the vision experiences, one for R. L. Stevenson, one for David Livingstone, without pause. This also marks a splendid triumph for E.M.'s carrying powers as well.
June 3, 1926.
David Livingstone and R. L. Stevenson use same trance.
R. L .Stevenson on the island. (Note, this is the first two-vision output)
D. Livingstone. Natives cooking meat.
June 7, 1926.
[The note-taking for this sitting is a bit of a muddle.]
R. L. Stevenson. Trouble with father.
Two themes used in first trance.
[Order of events][The order is not consecutive down the page]
[Plate exposed. David Livingstone does not appear]
Trance begins at 9:56 p.m. writing begins at 10:01 p.m.
Medium throws pencil.
10:04 p.m. "Who are you?"
Mrs. Poole: "Stevenson."
Dr. Hamilton: "What have you to tell us?"
Dr. Hamilton: "Write it on the paper. Mrs. Poole, writes.
11:15 p.m.
Throws her pencil again.
Dr. Hamilton: "Have you something to tell us?"
10:07 p.m. Trance over. Writing again at 10:07 and 1/2 p.m.
Dr. Hamilton: "Who is it?"
Answer: "Stevenson."
Dr. Hamilton: "What have you to tell us?" 10:10 p.m.
Message:
"I saw too much ... I think I must have been in the old land. First I saw a whole lot of young men all going to a college or something. They had all long black coats and three-cornered hats. Then I got Stevenson but I think it was his father with him. The father was lecturing him about something he wanted him to do. He would be about twenty years ... I left there and then I was away in some other place ... both his mother and that nurse were with him and he had been writing and he let it up and read it to them. This was a coast place. I can see it yet and the water and the people and children wading at the shore ... the colors and all. I talked to some of them ... I don't know what he was writing but I heard him reading it ..."
"I saw a few more of them there ... Livingstone and some others. There is one man has side breezes and a bald spot on his head at front. Upper lip clean shaven and there seemed a part of his chin bare, another long faced whiskers and all and I don't remember whether he had mustache."
"I saw these before the people on the beach ... I think I had two pictures ... they looked as they were here.
Dr. Hamilton: "Are you feeling all right now?"
Mrs. Poole: "My throat is sore."
Dr. Hamilton: "What did you see this time?"
Mrs. Poole: "I don't know."
Dr. Hamilton: "What did you see?"
Mrs. Poole:
"I was away at one of the old places. I was never in it before. He was looking around. He had a lot of literature around him. There was three doctors around him. And he named (........ ) He seems quite happy with them.
David Livingstone. Superstition in Cassange.
"I got too much ... I saw ... a child killed ... that was in South Africa with Livingstone ... I was there ... we ... I saw a lot of peculiar people and that I have got mixed up with a whole lot ... I think they got the one that done this killing. Then I was in amongst a whole lot of men come there. I don't know all I saw ... all the men. I don't know where I was when I got the singing. I heard this singing ... Livingstone and a whole lot of the better men ... more than I saw on the hillside ... they sang old tunes ... out in a glen ... the sound of the voices was coming from afar off ... I remember them. I was not coming back among them ... I remember going at this side of something ... not a building ... I stood beside when I was looking at them. They are as bright and the place is brighter than day - on the front of the little hill I saw silver leaves all shining ... they were walking on those as you would walk on a fence carpet. They had on long ... something for dresses and they walk as walking and with their heads up their shape is of a man. Livingstone is about the smallest and their dress is as you could see through it ... their head is a shape and with a ring around them ... in front shaped about the head ... but none have wings. I talked to them so they could all take it ... or not that I was not coming back ... they keep two to three feet away ... they don't come close ... I have had an awful mix up. If they would take their turns.
Dr. Hamilton: "Did they have any particular.... a flash ...
Mrs. Poole: " ... right in front of the cabinet. There are lots of forms in the cabinet."
10:24pm.
There is a face on top of the camera.
Q: "Will you answer some questions?" (3 raps) (Yes)
Q: "Do you want left hands put over the camera?" (Yes) (3 raps)
Q: "Are we to sing during exposures? (Doubtful) (2 raps)
Q: "Is it your ..." 10:22pm. (?)
Q: "Are you ready for us to open the shutter?" (3 raps)
The shutter is open opened and the Plate is taken out of the camera.
Dr. Hamilton: "I am writing on the bottom of the plate."
10:50pm.
Stop at 11:07pm.
Note: The Plate exposed in darkness. Elizabeth's hands on camera. W. T. Stead directs the experiment, raps when camera to be opened and when to be closed.
[Results in photo of unidentified blobs.]
D. Livingstone uses first part of second trance.
Other communicators (Milton, Tennyson, Longfellow, David Livingstone, R. L. Stevenson sign names and refer to angels - hymns, etc. These appear in second part of the trance.
In semi-trance ( Third) sees T. G. H.'s father - He purports to write.
June 8, 1926.
R. L. Stevenson in the Other World, A child.
First trance script:
"He set two faces ... there is nothing ...They say would not eat with us but had meat and coconut of their own."
First trance vision:
"... I was away on that island with Stevenson. Well, that is where he has settled himself. There was just hisself and some red men. He was sitting on a stone ..."
"Livie's bunch were cooking meat; he wanted the black men to come and dine but they would not. He gave them a quarter of the meat. They cooked it and pulled it to pieces and ate it ..."
Verification:
R. L. Stevenson not clear. Unplaced.
David Livingstone:
"They would not eat with us but took our meat ... cooked their own ..." ("Missionary Travels", page 279.)
Comment:
David appears to be the stronger of the two communicators. Why?
R. L. Stevenson script illegible.
David Livingstone script:
Verification:
"The serpents were particularly venomous here - dark brown, nearly black in color, one 8 1/2 feet long." ("Missionary Travels", page 126.)
Vision:
"... I saw a beautiful picture. I saw five men. Stevenson was the only one I knew. They wanted to get something through. One was an especially fine looking man. Stevenson was the poorest.
They look in white gauze. But light I saw there was a beautiful light. The sun was never so bright! I seemed to be near them, yet they seemed to be far away. I seen the mountains ...the trees were all silver and glistening. I saw no green. They seemed to be on the ground and yet they seemed to be walking in the air."
"Then I saw R. L. Stevenson as a child with his nurse and mother. Then I lost him. I was with Livingstone. I saw dark snakes, longer than a man. They were in long grass."
June 13, 1926.
The child R. L. Stevenson writing. Script illegible.
Script:
"Katena ... no ford ... unreasonably greedy ... toll bridge keeper. Greedy guide.
Vision:
" ... Stevenson was just a little boy. His nurse was with him but he was writing."
"I got so much with Livie the night that I got mixed up. I got to a place where they seemed to be starving. One awful black man wanted something a younger man was eating but they did not give it to him. And there was one cranky man ... David Livingstone was with them. I can't give it all to you ... there was so much ..."
"After that I saw different ones, white men, in gauze. D. Livingstone was one of them. He is the smallest. He asserts hisself; he wants them all to stand aside to let him in ..."
(Note: one of the company in gauze was said to be Stead. E.M. had no recollection of this statement, which she spoke while in deep trance.)
Verification:
D. Livingstone. Need of food - page 288-9. Toll bridge page 290. Guide page 292) ("Missionary Travels.")
[Stead first time in first trance, fourth interval. Stead's second appearance in the trance.]
June 15, 1926.
[First lecture.]
David Livingstone. Medical aid to Katima's men. David alone.
Script:
"...Having a free treatment at the Village of Katentaa, February 24, descendants of Bololong ..."
Vision:
"... I saw both Stevenson and Livingstone but they put Stevenson down; Livingstone is so determined! I saw Livingstone and some of his blacks ... they came out further, Out of some flooded lands."
Verification:
" Having met with kind treatment, Katendo's guides returned." P. 283.
R. L. Stevenson fails to get through.
[ Photo ]
July 2, 1926.
R. L. Stevenson.
First trance script:
"... Father, Celtic melancholy ... (pause) ... When I am stronger, and can choose what I can do, Leerie, I will go and light the lamps with you."
First trance vision:
" I was out with R. L. Stevenson lighting lamps on the street. An old man put his ladder up against the lamp and R. L. Stevenson went up and lit the lamp. R. L. Stevenson was just a young lad."
Verification:
See the poem "The Lamplighter", XXX, p. 37.
David Livingstone. Makes personal statement and prediction re keeping of his birthplace in Blantyre. Good.
(Each has his own trance interval).
Second trance script:
" ... Born at Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland. My birthplace is now (in) the slum of the little village. It won't be destroyed as people (will) put up a monument in memory of the African. The young generation want to destroy my old home, my birthplace. You will hear of this."
Second trance vision:
"... I was in an awful tangle. I saw in the Old Land and then in Africa and then in the Old Land. I saw an old house with a stone floor, a bed and a little child and it was in the kitchen. And some there wanted to do something. They even named Livingstone and there he was standing there. I think Livingstone belongs to that place; some old people came forward and patted him on the shoulder."
[ Photo ]
July 18, 1926. Mrs. Poole, Dr. J. A. Hamilton and Dr. T. G. Hamilton.
R. L. Stevenson and David Livingstone in one trance.
Phonograph used:
Trance about 10 minutes.
The first writing evidently was by R. L. Stevenson.
R. L. Stevenson script:
Illegible.
A second trance
David Livingstone.
Winds in the Cassange district. Good.
A third person however was reported present and attended the sitting.
Comment: At this point, W. T. Stead now enters the trance sleep as a communicator. From now on, there will be three trance-intervals.
Communicators asked to write names of those present - all.
We had names, W. T. Stead., R. L. Stevenson, and David Livingstone - written.
D. Livingstone script:
"The easterly winds blowing ... it was good ... enjoy good health. The westerly winds bring fever ..."
Vision:
"... I saw David; I was two or three places with him. One place and there seem to be quite a wind storm. That seemed to change and they get the wind again and they were better pleased."
Verification:
"As long as westerly winds prevail all enjoy good health... the unhealthiness of the West winds probably results from malaria sweeping down the valley of the Cassarge from the Western plateau." (Missionary Travels, p 375.)
Sees W. T. S. in vision.
July 22, 1926.
Trance I.
R. L. Stevenson. Refers to his 'blunder' in trying to be a play writer
Trance II.
W. T. Stead gives instructions for séance procedure.
Trance III.
David Livingstone.
The Bakalahari and their large-horned cattle.
[Single sheet - automatic writing.]
"algomo"
[Single sheet - automatic writing.]
"place a large vessel water to moisten the room"
[ Photo ]
July 23, 1926.
R. L. Stevenson.
First trance script:
A. "Playwright; committed a blunder."
David Livingstone in same script:
B. "The Bakohahara - a large horned cattle driven to desert by their natives.
Vision:
"R. L. Stevenson was at about twenty years of age. He was writing. A stout man was with him and they were chatting. They were planning something."
"I was with Livie. There was a whole lot of peculiar cattle and some dark men came and drove them to a place where there was lots of water."
Verification:
R. L. Stevenson.
Apparently a reference to his collaboration with W. E. Henley in play-writing, which was not very successful. (See Biographies.) This took place in R. L. Stevenson's early manhood, as his letters show. Even then he held back, as if he was aware that this was not his field. (See "Letters, volume II", page 90 and 98.)
David Livingstone:
"The Bahalahari are traditionally reported to have possessed enormous herds of large horned cattle ... until they were driven into the desert by a fresh migration of their own nation. ("Missionary Travels", page 43.)
July 25, 1926.
R .L. Stevenson output poor.
[Stead]
"you must not"
STEAD'S WORK BEGINS.
[ Photo ]
[ Photo ]
[ Photo ]
July 28, 1926.
R. L. Stevenson, David Livingstone, and W. T. Stead are shown as coming in at various times.
R. L. Stevenson.
R. L. Stevenson. Something about "Angels". Script poor.
Vision:
"I was in a train with Stevenson and two other men were there."
Trance II.
D. Livingstone script:
" In these regions hunting hippopotamus ... Makalolo ... elephant ... made them place the plunder back on the sand bank ..."
Hunting hippopotamus with the Makalolo.
Vision:
"... I know I was in Africa. I saw elephants and big, huge animals with horrid heads on them. Then I saw a bunch of natives carrying a whole lot of things. David was awful angry! He made them put everything that they were carrying down. I lost him then ..."
Verification:
"...Before reaching the Loeti we came to a number of people from Lobale region hunting hippopotami ... my own Makalolo, who were accustomed to plunder wherever they went, rushed after them, totally disregarding my shouting. I took my stand in a commanding position as they returned, and forced them to lay down all the plunder on a sand bank, and leave it there for the lawful owners." ("Missionary Travels")
Trance III.
Script by E.M. in trance:
Stead Script:
"My work has begun. This sphere is beautiful for all of us. W. T. S. Your stops are too frequent; it takes too much out of all of us. Keep your same number of friends if you want good pictures. It will take time."
Stead vision:
"I saw Stead. He was making some kind of pictures and then he showed it and an angel was in the picture. I could scarcely explain the color. I don't know what was beneath the angel. I was amongst those who looked at it. W. T. Stead was talking. I don't know what he said."
Sead seemed determined that we go forward with new work - that of securing materialization phenomena. We had no reason to suspect that such would occur in our séance room. (L. H.)
(Note: Stead was an old friend. He came first in October, 1920, with Myers by way of table tilts; by raps with Myers, 1921-22; by raps in 1925 and early 1926. (L. H.)
Verification:
[Graph with Caption: "Dr. T. Glen Hamilton's Chart of typical E.M. procedure after W. T. Stead became third major communicator, July 28, 1926. W. T. Stead appeared to be interested primarily in physical experiments, not in giving evidence for continuing memory and imagination and will - (L.H.)]
R. L. Stevenson. Leaves group. Says a good-bye. Gone to another sphere.
Comment:
Now began an interval of four sittings at which R. L. Stevenson did not appear. Absent on August 5, 8, 13, 15. It was claimed that there was "interference" from "undesirable entities.".
[ Photo ]
[ Photo ]
[ Photo ]
August 1, 1926.
Mrs. Poole, T. G. Hamilton and Mr. and Mrs. Mullreaux(?)
R. L. Stevenson absent for the first time in more than three years.
First trance vision:
"I am thinking of a picture. I saw R. L. Stevenson in that beautiful place! He has left me for some time; he said he was coming back. He did not leave me for good. I just saw him in bright blue. He had on a bluish coat from the neck down." ( E.M. now in a semi-trance). "Now I see him again. I see the light and rising ground in the distance. Here is Stevenson. He is shaking my hand. He is going up the ground. He is gone ..."
E.M. ( normal):
"Stevenson is not well pleased because so many interfering with his work. Livingstone takes too much! He is too determined!"
Second trance script: Poor in the first part of trance.
"R. L. Stevenson gone to another sphere. Goodbye."
Stead Script:
"You must have a proper sitting, 5 or 7 ... steady, if you want good results in your work. Five is better, if they are good ones. Your medium must be kept cheerful before her sittings. Do not disturb her mind. Have people you can rely on ... W. T. S."
[William Stead (?) David Livingstone(?)]
[Trance I, first part.]
[Single sheet - automatic writing.]
"He apparently desired more peace."
Stead.
[From second trance.]
"you must have a proper"
[ Photo ]
[ Photo ]
August 5, 1926.
R. L. Stevenson absent.
W. T. S. in second trance.
Excellent D. Livingstone script.
First trance script:
"Bushman has the reputation of curing his wounds of poison. They administer the Caterpillar with a combination of fat; rub the fat into the wound saying 'Ngua want fat' ... poison ... milky juice of the tree Euphoria - Father Pedro - Jesuit Zanbo ..."
First trance vision:
"... I see a lot of faces press around. I saw Livingstone and a whole lot of bushmen, a little shot men; one of them had got poisoned and they were making a great fuss around him. They had all kinds of cures; some stuff they had was like milk, or ointment, in a liquid. It all seem concerned with the man's leg, whatever had been done to it."
Verification:
"One (a bushman) discharged a poisoned arrow (into a lion) ..." Our friends showed me a poison which they use on these occasions. It is the entrails of a Caterpillar called 'N'gwa', half an inch long ...As the Bushmen have the reputation of curing the wounds of this poison, I asked how it was effected."
"They said they administered the Caterpillar itself in combination with fat; they also rub fat into the wound, saying 'the N'gwa wants fat'. We give it what it wants and it is content." The poison more generally employed is the milky juice of the tree Euphorbia ... Father Pedro, a Jesuit, who lived at Zumo, made a balsam containing a number of plants and castor oil, as a remedy for poisoned arrow wounds ..."
("Missionary Travels", page 149.)
Trance II.
More instructions from W. T. Stead.
Script: "Have all a good Christian people - not failing, W. T. S."
( E.M. sees Stead in bluish robes.)
Stead - second trance.
[Single sheet - automatic writing.]
"instruction re your work"
[ Photo ]
August 8, 1926.
[First trance.]
"indecipherable"
R. L. Stevenson signs his initials, but does not write or give vision.
Second trance script and vision.
Poor. Refers to Arab slave traders.
Script signed "David Livingstone and R. L. B. Stevenson."
David Livingstone vision:
"I saw a fair or a festival or something like that ... quite a bit of clapping of hands. I saw Livingstone and he pointed to some man and the man did some talking. David Livingstone seemed to be enjoying hisself. They were all out in the open ..."
Trance III.
W. T. Stead writes to invisible entity and rebukes it. Writes welcome to Lillian Hamilton, who has been away.
Third trance script:
"Sing some of the old psalms and hymns for good results. None of this artificial music! W. T. S."
[Single sheet - automatic writing.]
"you must not make changes in your group again"
[ Photo ]
August 12, 1926.
First trance script:
W. T. Stead:
"Spare me not, my Savior" ... "You must not enter your classroom until your class is gathered. Start at 9:00pm and rise at 10:30 p.m.. Do not tire your medium. This is a better land. W. T. S."
David Livingstone
Second trance script:
"Laid down our arms 40 feet away; I walked center of the circle - clapped my hands in the their fashion - his wife - my spokesman was called - I pointed out to Kolumbota ..."
Verification:
"We put down our arms about 40 yards off and I walked up to the center of this circular bench and saluted ... clapping the hands in their fashion. He pointed to his wife... I was asked who was my spokesman. Having pointed to Kolimbota, the palaver began." ("Missionary Travels", page 238.)
[Single sheet - automatic writing.]
"laid down our arms - forty - I walked"
"More arms for"
Trance III.
Stead.
[Single sheet - automatic writing.]
"you must keep the right number"
[ Photo ]
[ Photo ]
[ Photo ]
August 15, 1926.
Script re selling family home in Old Country.
Verified.
No R. L. Stevenson.
Stead writes. (See full Stead reports.)
David Livingstone script:
"Anniversary of the resurrection of our Savior observed the 16th of April - Portuguese rejoiced - no Priests at Cassange - residence of the Commission at 10 a.m."
David Livingstone vision:
"Livingstone had like a church parade and an awful lot of blacks turned out and quite a few were playing their trumpets. They were marching and the blacks were having a good time playing their trumpets. Stevenson came in two or three times. He was just watching."
Verification:
"... The anniversary of the resurrection of our Savior was observed on the 16th April as a day of rejoicing; though the Portuguese have no priests at Cassange. The colored population dressed ... in their gayest clothing, made visits to all the principal merchants ... at 10 a.m. we went to the residence of the Commandant ... two guns commenced firing, trumpets sounded ..." ("Missionary Travels", page 320.)
Long pause.
Stead.
Script: "O Lord! Save me from the depths! Nearer, my God, to Thee! William Thomas Stead."
(E.M. has a vision of a sinking ship.)
Note: Stead lost his life in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, when the ship struck an iceberg.)
"Don't place your medium in more than one trance."
