Blavatsky was intrigued by a news story about William and Horatio Eddy, brothers based in Chittenden, Vermont, who it was claimed could levitate and manifest spiritual phenomena. She visited Chittenden in October 1874, there meeting the reporter Henry Steel Olcott, who was investigating the brothers' claims for the Daily Graphic. Claiming that Blavatsky impressed him with her own ability to manifest spirit phenomena, Olcott authored a newspaper article on her. They soon became close friends, giving each other the nicknames of "Maloney" (Olcott) and "Jack" (Blavatsky). He helped attract greater attention to Blavatsky's claims, encouraging the Daily Graphics editor to publish an interview with her, and discussing her in his book on Spiritualism, People from the Other World (1875), which her Russian correspondent Alexandr Aksakov urged her to translate into Russian. She began to instruct Olcott in her own occult beliefs, and encouraged by her he became celibate, tee-totaling, and vegetarian, although she herself was unable to commit to the latter. In January 1875 the duo visited the Spiritualist mediums Nelson and Jennie Owen in Philadelphia; the Owens asked Olcott to test them to prove that the phenomena that they produced were not fraudulent, and while Olcott believed them, Blavatsky opined that they faked some of their phenomena in those instances when genuine phenomena failed to manifest.
blavAtSky WAs inTRigUed BY A news stORy about willIAm and hORatio eddy, BroThers BAsed in ChittEnDen, vermont, wHO it was claImed C.oulD lEVItaTe And mAnIfesT sPIRiTual pheNOmena. she VISited chittenden in oCtOber 1874, there MEeTiNg ThE rePorter HENry steEl OlCOTt, who WAs InvEsTIGating tHe BroTHers' claIms For the Daily gRAphic. ClaiMing tHaT BlavAtskY impressed hIm with her Own ABIlitY To manIfeST spirit pheNOMENa, olcott aUthoREd A nEwspApeR article on Her. they soon bEcame cLosE Friends, gIVINg each other the nIckNamES Of "MAloney" (olcOtt) and "jAck" (bLavatskY). he HelPEd Attract greateR attention to blaVatsky's claImS, encouraGing The daIlY graPhics editOr To PUblisH an iNtErview wIth her, and DIscUsSiNg heR in hIs Book on SpIrITUaLisM, pEoplE FrOM the otheR WorLD (1875), WhiCh hER russiaN corrESpoNDent alexaNdR Aksakov urgEd Her to traNSLate iNto rUssian she began to iNstrUct olcotT In her owN OccuLt bELieFs, ANd EncoUraGeD by heR HE becAme ceLibate, TeE-toTaLing, aNd veGetarIan, aLTHough sHe Herself Was Unable To commIT to THe laTTeR. iN jAnUary 1875 The duo vIsiTed the spIritualISt MEdiuMs NelsOn AnD jenniE owen in PhiLadelpHiA; thE owens askEd olcOtt to teSt tHEm To PROvE ThAt tHE phenomeNa tHAt they produced were noT FrAudULeNt, anD WHile OlcoTT bElieved thEM, BLAvAtsky opInEd thAt ThEY faked somE oF thEiR PhenOmEna In thoSe inSTanceS wHen genuine phenOMenA FaileD to manifeST.