The Most Famous Ghost

Without a doubt Katie King's most spectacular appearances came at the sŽances of a young English medium named Florence Cook. During Florence Cook's sŽances she would go into a cabinet that was closed off by a curtain. Sometimes a whole room was curtained off to serve as a cabinet. There she was supposed to go into a trance. Out of the cabinet would step Katie King. The "spirit" would walk around the room, talk to people, even touch them. The room was pretty dark. But, still, some people remarked that it was amazing how much Florence Cook resembled the spirit of Katie King. In fact, Katie King looked just like Florence Cook wearing a veil.

In order to show people that she did not just dress up as the spirit of Katie King, Florence Cook would let someone tie her to a chair in the cabinet. Then the curtains would be closed. In a few moments Katie King would step out. When the sŽance was over, the curtains would be opened. Florence Cook would be found still tied to her chair.

But everyone was not convinced. No one had ever seen the medium and the spirit at the same time. Some said that the medium slipped out of the ropes and put on her Katie King outfit. Then she was able to slip back into the ropes after the performance was over. Professional magicians were able to do that sort of thing.

At one sŽance there was a man named W. Volckman in the group. Volckman had been sent by a rival medium. He was out to make a fool of Florence Cook. While Katie was walking around, Volckman grabbed her. He was trying to prove that the spirit was only Florence in disguise. Katie slapped Volckman, scratched him, and swore loudly at him.

Then all the lights went off. The people bumped into one another. No one knew what was happening. In the confusion the spirit of Katie King escaped from Volckman's grasp. When the lights went on again Florence Cook was found in her cabinet. She was still tied to her chair.

Word of this incident got around. It hurt Florence Cook's reputation. She decided that she had to have someone verify her powers as a medium. She chose William Crookes to do the investigating.

William Crookes was a very important man. He was a scientist of the first rank. His discoveries are still discussed in modern textbooks. He had been interested in psychical research for years. Most other scientists thought he was wasting his time, but they still recognized his brilliance. They even elected him the president of the Royal Society, the most important scientific society in Britain. Even today the name of William Crookes would still appear on any list of top scientists who ever lived. He was particularly well known for his careful laboratory work.

Crookes' interest in mediums was well known. He took up the task of investigating Florence Cook with enthusiasm. In one set of tests he used equipment dreamed up by an electrician named Cromwell Valery. The tests took place in 1874.

Thin wires were attached to the medium's arms and shoulders while she sat in her cabinet. These led to a device outside the cabinet, in plain view of the experimenters. The device would register if the medium even moved her arms. It would go wild if she tried to get out of her chair or take off the wires.

The sŽance went on as usual. During the first half hour the instrument registered only minor changes. This must have been due to Florence shifting in her chair. Then the spirit of Katie King peered out from the curtains.

A few minutes later she was walking around the room. She put her hand on Crookes' head. She took a paper and pencil and wrote some messages. All of this time the instrument registered no change at all. The spirit went back to the cabinet. When the curtains were opened the medium was found with the wires still attached to her.

That sounds like pretty conclusive proof. But it isn't really. All scientific experiments should be described carefully in writing. In this way other scientists can try and repeat them to see if they get the same results. The experiments with Florence Cook were written up, but very badly. Frank Podmore, the psychical researcher, read the record. He complained that there was really no way of telling what had gone on. Modern attempts to repeat the experiment have failed. The electrical equipment that Crookes describes cannot be made to work properly.