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The Salem Seer – George Bartlett

Unlike other mediums, Mr. Foster needed no "conditions." All times, all days, and all places were alike to him. Raps in answer to questions came at his biding, standing at the corner of the street, in the grocery store, in.the cafe, or riding in the Broadway stage.

Thomas R. Hazard writes :

One day as I was passing down Fifth Avenue I thought I heard my name pronounced, and looking back saw Foster and a stranger standing quietly by an iron railing. I turned, when Foster beckoned and asked me to wait for him a moment, as he wished to see me.

Shortly after the stranger left, and Foster joined me. As we walked down the avenue, he told me that the gentleman who had just left him was an occasional visitant of his circles, who had a short time before joined him on the avenue and said to him : " Mr. Foster, I wish you could make the raps somewhere else than in your own room," to which Foster replied that he could have them come anywhere ! The gentleman said, " I will give you a dollar for each one you will make just here." Whereupon Foster asked the skeptic to stand with him beside the iron railing and count aloud all the raps as they were made.

Soon the raps came on the iron railing, and the gentleman counted them until the number ten was reached, when a pause ensued, and Foster asked if the raps should yet go on?

" No," said the gentleman ; "l am satisfied," suiting his action to his word by handing Foster a ten dollar bill, which he then showed to me.