Our friends urged David to act in accordance with the request of the "Spirits," but he could not make up his mind to do so. He walked from room to room, and in secret prayed that this terrible injunction might be removed. He cried, with uplifted hands, to God, to have compassion on our family; and then, in despair, would say: "Better to die together, than to live so disgraced." The sight of his grief and despair was heart-rending; but the Spirits were inexorable. The day appointed for the digging arrived. During the previous, night all was in an uproar. The sounds as of broken crockery were heard, and as if heavy weights were dragged across the floor. Sawing, planing, digging, boring, groaning, and whispering close to our ears. This continued until the bright, beautiful dawn of the morning warned us that it was time to prepare for the labors of the day. We were commanded by the Spirits thus--"Go forth and do your duty, and good will come of it." Chauncy Culver, my brother's wife's brother, called in, and David said: "Chauncy, you are politely invited to join us in the digging to-day." He answered, "I am willing to do so, Dave." Others who had been named, but not invited, dropped in by chance, and all united with us; but the great burden fell upon David's shoulders. Chickens were cooked, puddings, pies, cakes, and sweet-meats were prepared by my brother's wife, Elizabeth, and my sister Maria. Our living was sumptuous, and we had very little opposition during the first day's work. The earth was hard and dry, and the digging tiresome; but the party worked diligently until near noon, when they came to a quantity of charcoal and traces of lime (this was between four and five feet below the cellar bottom), some hair of a reddish or sandy hue, and some teeth, which showed, beyond all question, that the earth had at some time, and for some purpose, been disturbed. The party worked on until it began to grow dark, and the first day's work was ended. We returned to David's home, about two miles from the Hydesville house, well satisfied with our day's work, and the friends felt that they had done all in their power to get at the truth of the Spirits' declaration.
We made two large beds on opposite sides of the parlor; the women and children rested upon one of them, and the men on the other; Dr. Faulkner and his little son being in the parlor bedroom. All heard the manifestations that night; and they were most wonderful in character. This arrangement of the beds was directed by the Spirits, that they might gratify all by making manifestations during the night.