08/26/2026
Here's the fascinating story of a seance that took place at the famed Menger Hotel back in 1882. The story appeared in the San Antonio Daily Light, Dec 4, 1882.
**MISS FAY.**
**Private SĂ©ance in the Menger Hotel on Sunday Night.**
**What a Reporter Saw and Heard, and Does Not Account For.**
Miss Fay gave a private séance at her rooms in the Menger hotel last night in the presence of a company of ladies and gentlemen, numbering about twenty. The rooms occupied by Miss F. are directly off the parlor, on the north side of the hotel, and contained only the ordinary furniture of a bed, a small marble top table, a dressing stand with mirror and some chairs. More chairs were brought in to seat the company, which filled up the front room used for the blight manifestations.
The company being seated so as to face the southwest corner of the room, Professor Braden, who acts as Miss Fayâs lecturer, explained the character of the manifestations and the objections raised to them by skeptics. Miss Fay then came forward and a couple of gentlemen were chosen to bind her hands and fasten her to the framework of the door. This fastening was done in the most secure manner, and the lady was seated on a piano stool in the corner and a curtain stretched across, making an improvised cabinet, as it is called. A guitar, tambourine, bells, etc., were placed in Miss Fayâs lap, and the curtain drawn, and instantly there was a commotion and the instruments were played and thrown out into the room; a glass of water was placed in her mouth, and several very excellent tests made to the entire satisfaction of a majority of the company that they were performed without the use of sleight of hand, but through the phenomena of what is known as spiritualism.
Another test was the seating of one of the committee in the cabinet with Miss Fay, who acknowledged to experiencing the manifestation and that the lady remained quiet, a guitar being strummed and lifted from her lap and placed on his head and played. Then a gentleman and lady, selected from the audience, were seated in front of the cabinet along with Miss Fay, with a covering drawn about them, leaving exposed three heads. The most difficult test of the evening was executed. The instruments were played, the guitar passed over the curtain by a visible hand, and the gentleman who sat between the two ladies holding their hands had his hair pulled and back thumped by some invisible agency, and several spirits were announced present. These tests were given with the gaslight turned up and in full view of the company.
A dark séance was then given, a circle was formed by the company, all joining hands and care being taken that no one was left insecure, and Miss Fay seated in the centre of the circle, either clapping her hands to show how she was employed or held by one of the gentlemen firmly by both hands. These manifestations consisted in a guitar being played, a vigorous fanning of the circle and actual taps and slaps, and a pretty lively time generally on the part of the spirits.
Miss Fay announced each apparition and what was asked for during the sĂ©ance. This ended the eveningâs entertainment. As to the manifestations, those present who were spiritualists were firmly convinced of their genuineness, while those who were skeptics either acknowledged to being puzzled or ridiculed the whole thing and claimed to be able to do it all themselves.
Miss Fay wore a dress of rich black silk with long train, and was adorned with a profusion of diamonds. She is certainly a very attractive, pleasant little woman, and to argue that she gives an exhibition susceptible of easy exposition is ridiculous, as she has given entertainments all over Europe and Americaânever failing to astonish, if not to convince, her audiences that she has wonderful power to deceive the sensesâor something else...
