Testimony about Katie King by the author Florence Marryat
Arthur Conan Doyle writes in his work "The history of Spiritualism", Vol.1, on p. 247-249 (1926) the following about the author and actress Florence Marryat´s testimony about Katie King:
"The reader may reasonably think that the subdued
light which has been alluded to goes far to vitiate the
results by preventing exact observation. Professor
Crookes has assured us, however, that as the series of
stances proceeded toleration was established, and the
figure was able to bear a far greater degree of light.
This toleration had its limits, however, which were
never passed by Professor Crookes, but which were
tested to the full in a daring experiment described
by Miss Florence Marryat (Mrs. Ross-Church). It
should be stated that Professor Crookes was not pre-
sent at this experience, nor did Miss Marryat ever
claim that he was. She mentions, however, the name
of Mr. Carter Hall as being one of the company pre-
sent. Katie had very good-humouredly consented to
testing what the effect would be if a full light were
turned upon her image :
She took up her station against the drawing-room wall,
with her arms extended as if she were crucified. Then
three gas-burners were turned on to their full extent in a
room about sixteen feet square. The effect upon Katie
King was marvellous. She looked like herself for the space
of a second only, then she began gradually to melt away.
I can compare the dematerialization of her form to nothing
but a wax doll melting before a hot fire. First the features
became blurred and indistinct ; they seemed to run into
eacn other. The eyes sunk in the sockets, the nose dis-
appeared, the frontal bone fell in. Next the limbs appeared
to give way under her, and she sank lower and lower on
the carpet, like a crumbling edifice. At last there was
nothing but her head left above the ground — ^then a heap
of white drapery only, which disappeared with a whisk,
as if a hand had pulled it after her — and we were left staring
by the light of three gas-burners at the spot on which
Katie King had stood.*"
light which has been alluded to goes far to vitiate the
results by preventing exact observation. Professor
Crookes has assured us, however, that as the series of
stances proceeded toleration was established, and the
figure was able to bear a far greater degree of light.
This toleration had its limits, however, which were
never passed by Professor Crookes, but which were
tested to the full in a daring experiment described
by Miss Florence Marryat (Mrs. Ross-Church). It
should be stated that Professor Crookes was not pre-
sent at this experience, nor did Miss Marryat ever
claim that he was. She mentions, however, the name
of Mr. Carter Hall as being one of the company pre-
sent. Katie had very good-humouredly consented to
testing what the effect would be if a full light were
turned upon her image :
She took up her station against the drawing-room wall,
with her arms extended as if she were crucified. Then
three gas-burners were turned on to their full extent in a
room about sixteen feet square. The effect upon Katie
King was marvellous. She looked like herself for the space
of a second only, then she began gradually to melt away.
I can compare the dematerialization of her form to nothing
but a wax doll melting before a hot fire. First the features
became blurred and indistinct ; they seemed to run into
eacn other. The eyes sunk in the sockets, the nose dis-
appeared, the frontal bone fell in. Next the limbs appeared
to give way under her, and she sank lower and lower on
the carpet, like a crumbling edifice. At last there was
nothing but her head left above the ground — ^then a heap
of white drapery only, which disappeared with a whisk,
as if a hand had pulled it after her — and we were left staring
by the light of three gas-burners at the spot on which
Katie King had stood.*"
• " There Is No Death," p. 143, , (från Florence Marryats bok, min anm.)
