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diff --git a/16538-h/16538-h.htm b/16538-h/16538-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f80ffbb --- /dev/null +++ b/16538-h/16538-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8623 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of THE ALLEGED HAUNTING OF B---- HOUSE. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + a {text-decoration: none} /* no lines under links */ + div.center {text-align: center;} + div.content {width: 69%; margin-left: auto; text-align: left;} + div.centered {text-align: center;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 2 */ + + .cen {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} /* centering paragraphs */ + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} /* small caps, normal size */ + .ws {white-space: nowrap;} /* for keeping emdashes together */ + .noin {text-indent: 0em;} /* no indenting */ + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .totoc {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 85%; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .img {text-align: center; padding: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} /* centering images */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + .tdr {text-align: right;} /* aligning cell content to the right */ + .tdc {text-align: center;} /* aligning cell content to the center */ + .tdl {text-align: left; padding-left: .5em;} /* aligning cell content to the left */ + .tdlsc {text-align: left; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 100%;} /* aligning cell content and small caps */ + .tdrsc {text-align: right; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 100%;} /* aligning cell content and small caps */ + .tdcsc {text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 100%;} /* aligning cell content and small caps */ + .tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 1em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} /* transcriber's notes */ + .block {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; font-size: 90%;} + .right {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Alleged Haunting of B---- House, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Alleged Haunting of B---- House + +Author: Various + +Editor: A. Goodrich-Freer and John, Marquess of Bute + +Release Date: August 17, 2005 [EBook #16538] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALLEGED HAUNTING *** + + + + +Produced by Clare Boothby, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a> + +<h1>THE ALLEGED HAUNTING<br /> +OF B—— HOUSE</h1> + +<a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="noin">Transcriber's Note: <br /> +The Author uses lines of spaced periods to mark the +passing of time, this has been preserved in this edition.</p> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2>B—— HOUSE</h2> + +<div class="img" style="width: 70%;"> +<a href="images/attics.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/attics.jpg" width="80%" alt="Attics." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><span class="sc">Attics</span>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="img" style="width: 70%;"> +<a href="images/2ndfloor.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/2ndfloor.jpg" width="80%" alt="Second Floor." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><span class="sc">Second Floor</span>.</p> +</div> + +<a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a> + +<div class="img" style="width: 80%;"> +<a href="images/1stfloor.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/1stfloor.jpg" width="85%" alt="Ground Floor." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><span class="sc">Ground Floor</span>.<br /> +L. Lift. A. Iron gate in Area. </p> +</div> + +<div class="img" style="width: 80%;"> +<a href="images/basement.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/basement.jpg" width="85%" alt="Basement." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><span class="sc">Basement</span>.</p> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a> +<a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a> + +<h1>THE ALLEGED HAUNTING<br /> +OF<br /> +B—— HOUSE</h1> +<br /> +<h4>INCLUDING<br /> +A JOURNAL KEPT DURING THE TENANCY OF<br /> +COLONEL LEMESURIER TAYLOR</h4> +<br /> +<br /> +<h4>EDITED BY</h4> +<h2>A. GOODRICH-FREER (<span class="sc">Miss X</span>)</h2> +<h4>AND</h4> +<h2>JOHN, MARQUESS OF BUTE, K.T.</h2> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h5>LONDON<br /> +GEORGE REDWAY<br /> +1899</h5> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a> +<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a> + + + +<div style="margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%"> +<p>"I visited <span class="ws">B——</span> representing that Society +[S.P.R.], ... and decided that there was no such +evidence as could justify us in giving the results of +the inquiry a place in our <i>Proceedings</i>."—<i>The Times</i>, +June 10, 1897.</p> +<p class="right"> FREDERIC W.H. MYERS,<br /> +<i>Hon. Sec. of the Society for Psychical Research</i>.</p> +<p class="noin"><i>Compare pages <a href="#Page_189">189 et seq.</a></i></p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a> +<hr /> +<h2><a name="THE_ALLEGED_HAUNTING" id="THE_ALLEGED_HAUNTING"></a>THE ALLEGED HAUNTING<br /> +OF B—— HOUSE</h2> +<br /> + +<p>It was in 1892 that Lord Bute first heard of the +matter. It was not, as stated by <i>The Times</i> +correspondent in that journal for June 8, 1897, +in or from London, but at Falkland, in Fifeshire, +and in the following manner:—</p> + +<p>There is no public chapel at Falkland, and +the private chapel in the house is attended by a +variety of priests, who usually come only from +Saturday to Monday. Lord Bute's diary for +the second week in August 1892 contains the +following entries:—</p> + +<p>"<i>Saturday, August 6th.</i>—Father <span class="ws">H——</span>, S.J., +came.</p> + +<p>"<i>Sunday, August 7th.</i>—In afternoon with +Father <span class="ws">H——</span> and John [Lord Dumfries] to +Palace, and then with him to the Gruoch's Den. +He gives us a long account of the psychical<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a> +disturbances at <span class="ws">B——;</span> noises between his bed +and the ceiling, like continuous explosion of +petards, so that he could not hear himself speak, +&c. &c.</p> + +<p>"[Mr. Huggins afterwards recommended the +use of a phonograph for these noises, in order +to ascertain absolutely whether they are objective +or subjective, and I wrote so to <span class="ws">S——</span> of +<span class="ws">B——.]</span></p> + +<p>"<i>Monday, August 8th.</i>—Father <span class="ws">H——</span> went +away.</p> + +<p>"<i>Tuesday, August 9th.</i>—Mr. Huggins [now +Sir William Huggins], outgoing President of the +British Association, and Mrs. Huggins came.</p> + +<p>"<i>Saturday, August 13th.</i>—Father <span class="ws">H——</span> +came.</p> + +<p>"<i>Sunday, August 14th.</i>—In afternoon with +the children, &c., to the Palace, leaving Mr. +Huggins as much as possible alone with Father +<span class="ws">H——</span> (both being with us), in order to interrogate +him about the psychical noises he heard +recently at <span class="ws">B——,</span> when there, to give a Retreat +to some nuns.</p> + +<p>"<i>Monday, August 15th.</i>—Father <span class="ws">H——</span> went +away after luncheon."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>Lord Bute recalls that Father <span class="ws">H——</span> told him +that he had been at <span class="ws">B——</span> for the purpose of +giving a Retreat [a series of sermons and meditations] +to some nuns, who were charitably +allowed by Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> to take a sort of holiday, +at a house called <span class="ws">B——</span> Cottage, which had +been originally built and occupied by the late +Major <span class="ws">S——,</span> when he first took up his residence +at <span class="ws">B——,</span> which at the time was let.</p> + +<p>Father <span class="ws">H——</span> told Lord Bute that in consequence +of the disturbance his room had been +several times changed, and he expressed surprise +that the sounds did not appear to be heard by +anybody except himself. He also said that he +had spoken of the matter to Mr. <span class="ws">S——,</span> who +expressed an idea that the disturbances might +be caused by his uncle, the late Major <span class="ws">S——,</span> +who was trying to attract attention in order +that prayers might be offered for the repose +of his soul. The sounds occurred during full +daylight, and in a clear open space between +his bed and the ceiling. He did not know +to what to compare them, but as he said +they were explosive in sound, Lord Bute suggested +that they might be compared to the<a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a> +sounds made by petards, which are commonly +used in Italy for firing <i>feux de joie</i>. Father +<span class="ws">H——</span> answered, "Yes perhaps, if they were +continuous enough." He said that the sound +which alarmed him more than any other was +as of a large animal throwing itself violently +against the bottom of his door, outside. A third +noise which he had heard was of ordinary raps, +of the kind called "spirit-raps." He mentioned +a fourth sound, the nature of which Lord Bute +does not remember with the same certainty as +the others, but believes it was a shriek or +scream. Such a sound is described by other +witnesses during the subsequent occupation of +the house by the <span class="ws">H——</span> family. The fact that +the sounds appear to have been inaudible to +every one except Father <span class="ws">H——</span> is a strong +argument in favour of their subjective, or +hallucinatory, character. It will be found that +this was very often the case with the peculiar +sounds recorded at <span class="ws">B——,</span> and even when they +were heard by several persons at the same time, +there does not appear to be any ground for +refusing to recognise them as collective hallucinations.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>Lord Bute's diary and recollections have been +here quoted, not as differing from, but only as +being antecedent to, the following account, which +has been furnished by Father <span class="ws">H——</span> <span class="ws">himself:—</span></p> + +<p>"I went to <span class="ws">B——</span> on Thursday, July 14th, +1892, and I left it on Saturday, July 23rd. So +I slept at <span class="ws">B——</span> for nine nights, or rather +one night, because I was disturbed by very +queer and extraordinary noises every night +except the last, which I spent in Mr. <span class="ws">S——'s</span> +dressing-room. At first I occupied the room to +the extreme right of the landing [No. 8],<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> then +my things were removed to another room [No. 3] +(it seems to me at this distance of time that +<i>this</i> room faced the principal staircase, or was a +little to the left of it). In both these rooms I +heard the loud and inexplicable noises every +night, but on two or three nights, in addition +to these, another noise affrighted me—a sound +of somebody or something falling against the +door outside. It seemed, at the time, as if a +calf or big dog would make such a noise. Why +those particular animals came into my head I<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a> +cannot tell. But in attempting to describe +these indescribable phenomena, I notice now I +always do say it was like a calf or big dog +falling against the door. Why did I not hear +the noises on the ninth night? Were there +none where I was? These are questions the +answers to which are not apparent. It may be +there <i>were</i> noises, but I slept too soundly to +hear them. One of the oddest things in my +case, in connection with the house, is that it +appeared to me somehow that (1) Somebody +was relieved by my departure; (2) that nothing +could induce me to pass another night there, at +all events alone, and in other respects I do not +think I am a coward."</p> + +<p>For the benefit of those who are not aware of +the fact, it may be as well to state that the class +of people known as spiritualists, hold that when +raps are heard, it is the best thing for the hearer +to say aloud, "If you are intelligent, will you +please to rap three times?" and if this is +done, to ask the intelligence to rap three +times for <i>yes</i>, once for <i>no</i>, and twice for <i>doubtful</i>. +It is obvious that considerable conversation +can be carried on by such a code, and<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a> +where it is inadequate, as, for instance, in +obtaining proper names, it is usual to propose +to repeat the alphabet slowly, asking the intelligence +to rap once when the proper letter +is reached. This simple method was entirely +unknown to Father <span class="ws">H——.</span> He had done nothing +but throw holy water about his rooms, +and repeat the prayer <i>Visita quæsumus</i>, which +invokes the Divine protection of a house and +its inhabitants against all the snares of the +Enemy, and which, therefore, in no way concerned +any person or thing which is not associated +with the powers of darkness. It was +natural that no result should be produced.</p> + +<p>Sir W. Huggins told Lord Bute, as the result +of his examination of Father <span class="ws">H——,</span> that he +felt absolutely certain that what the latter had +experienced was not the outcome of morbid +hallucination, but that it was possible that the +sounds themselves might be hallucinatory or +subjective. To ascertain whether this were so, +or whether they had any physical cause, he +suggested the use of a phonograph, as this +would at least show whether the sounds were +accompanied by atmospheric waves. Lord Bute<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a> +happened to know Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> slightly, having +met him accidentally while travelling abroad. +He accordingly wrote to him, and communicated +Sir William Huggins's suggestion. Mr. +<span class="ws">S——,</span> after a delay of some days, refused +absolutely to allow any scientific investigation +to be made, a refusal remarkably coincident +with the recent refusal of his son, the present +proprietor, to allow any similar investigation +with seismographical instruments. It would +seem a legitimate conclusion that neither father +nor son doubted that the sounds are of a +psychical character. As regards the present +proprietor, such a conclusion renders it obvious +that we must understand in some peculiar sense +the letter published in <i>The Times</i>, dated June +10, 1897, in which he says, "As to the stories +contained in the article [<i>i.e.</i> of the anonymous +<i>Times</i> correspondent], they are without foundation." +These words must, however, be, in any +case, accepted in a special sense, considering the +part taken by members of his own family, as +well as by tenants and agents, in attesting the +stories in question.</p> + +<p>Lord Bute states that Father <span class="ws">H——</span> did not,<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a> +upon the occasion of his visit to Falkland, say +anything as to having seen the brown wooden +crucifix (<a href="#Page_132">see pp. 132</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>), but after this +apparition had been seen by two other persons +separately, Lord Bute wrote to Father +<span class="ws">H——</span> to inquire whether he could remember +anything of the sort. His reply was as +follows:—</p> + +<p>"When you mention the brown wooden crucifix, +you awaken a new memory in me. I now +seem to live some of those hours over again, and +I recollect that between waking and sleeping +there appeared before my eyes—somewhere on +the wall—a crucifix, some eighteen inches, I +should say, long, and, <i>I think</i>, of <i>brown</i> +wood.</p> + +<p>"My own crucifix is of black metal, and just +the length of this page (seven inches); and +though I usually have it with me in my bag, +I cannot for certain say that it was in my bag +at <span class="ws">B——."</span></p> + +<p>The following further communication from +Father <span class="ws">H——</span> carries the record further +back:—</p> + +<p>"In August 1893 it was that I met, quite by<a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a> +accident, a person who knew something about +<span class="ws">B——</span> House and its strange noises.</p> + +<p>"Though, on my leaving his house, Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> +begged me not 'to give the house a bad name,' +I did not understand by this that, as a point of +honour, I should refrain from ever mentioning +the subject. I respected his request to the +extent of not alluding indiscriminately to the +noises that disturbed my nights there. But I +did speak to several people about them, and +they had so impatiently and incredulously heard +my statements, that I at last refused to repeat +them, even when pressingly requested to do so. +It was, therefore, quite a surprise to find myself +talking about <span class="ws">B——</span> House, or rather, listening +with rapt attention to another talking about +the place.</p> + +<p>"Miss <span class="ws">Y——,</span> I think her name was, kept +house for a priest <span class="ws">at——.</span> One evening, while +on a visit there, I found her knitting as I passed +the kitchen door, and bidding her the time of +day, I discovered from a remark she made +that she had in former days filled more important +posts. She soon settled down when +she found me an attentive listener to a<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a> +somewhat detailed account of by no means a short +life.</p> + +<p>"'Had she been in Scotland?' 'Yes, sir; +and in a very beautiful part of Scotland, in +<span class="ws">P——shire.'</span> 'Indeed!' In short she told me +that she had been, twelve years ago, governess +in the <span class="ws">S——</span> family at <span class="ws">B——</span> House. (I need +not say that I was now intensely interested.) +'Why did she leave?' 'Well, sir, so many +people complained of queer noises in the house, +that I got alarmed and left.' I asked her had +she seen anything? She said No, and the noises +were only heard in certain rooms, and the +servants inhabited quite a different part of the +house. When I closely questioned her she +located the queer noises precisely in the two +rooms I had successively occupied. She did +not learn from me that I had ever been there. +Pressed for a concrete case of fright and abrupt +leavetaking (I <i>think</i>), she told me two military +officers had 'left next morning.'</p> + +<p>"In conclusion, as against all the above, my +own, and this good woman's account, I must set +it down that, before I left the house, two young +ladies, relatives of the family, occupied the<a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a> +rooms in question, and certainly, to my surprise, +did not seem at breakfast as if they had spent +an unquiet night."</p> + +<p>Inquiry shows that Miss <span class="ws">Y——'s</span> residence +at <span class="ws">B——</span> must have been about the years +1878-80.</p> + +<p>The earliest witnesses in chronological +sequence would be the <span class="ws">S——</span> family themselves; +but though much information has been +contributed by them to various persons interested +in <span class="ws">B——</span> House during the tenancy +both of Mr. <span class="ws">H——</span> and Colonel Taylor, the +present Editors are unwilling to make use of +it without permission.</p> + +<p>A statement in <i>The Times</i> article, of the character +of which the reader can here judge for +himself, elicited the following letter from Mrs. +<span class="ws">S——,</span> which is to be found in the issue of that +journal for June 18, 1897:—</p> + +<p>"May I ask of your courtesy to insert this +in the next issue of your paper. Seeing myself +dragged into publicity in <i>The Times</i> of June 8, +as 'having made admissions under pressure of +cross-examination,' I beg to state that I as well +as the rest of my family had not the remotest<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a> +idea that our home was let to other than +ordinary tenants. In my intercourse with them +I spoke as one lady to another, never imagining +that my private conversations were going to be +used for purposes carefully concealed from me—a +deceit which I deeply resent."</p> + +<p>It will be observed that Mrs. <span class="ws">S——</span> here +leaves no doubt as to the nature of the information +with which she was so good as to +favour Miss Freer, but, notwithstanding this +fact, and the language which Mrs. <span class="ws">S——</span> has +considered it right to use—or, at least, to sign—with +regard to Miss Freer, Miss Freer prefers +to continue to treat Mrs. <span class="ws">S——'s</span> statements as +confidential, and blanks will accordingly be found +in the Journal under the dates on which such +conversations occurred. Miss Freer extends the +same regard for a privacy, which the <span class="ws">S——</span> family +have themselves violated, to communications +made by other members. There have, however, +been several witnesses unconnected with them, +some of whom are referred to in the Journal. +Not only the villagers and persons in the immediate +neighbourhood, but many accidentally +met with in visits to show-places and in<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a> +excursions for twenty miles round <span class="ws">B——,</span> were ready +to pour out traditions and experiences which +are not here quoted, as, though often suggestive, +not always evidential.</p> + +<p>The Rev. P. <span class="ws">H——,</span> already referred to, quotes +a witness who testifies to processions of monks +or nuns having been seen by Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> from a +window, and of a married couple who, "relating +the events of the night, declared they could not +hear each other's voices for the noise overhead +between them and the ceiling," which was +especially interesting to him, as corroborative of +his own experience.</p> + +<p>A former servant at <span class="ws">B——</span> has voluntarily +related, at great length, the story of the alleged +hauntings, which shows that they have occurred +at intervals during the past twenty years. He +is of opinion that as the earlier hauntings were +ascribed to the late Major <span class="ws">S——,</span> so their +revival may be referred to the late proprietor; +but his reasons, as well as his narrative, are +of a nature which might cause annoyance to +the <span class="ws">S——</span> family, and are therefore withheld.</p> + +<p>Dr. Menzies, a correspondent of <i>The Times</i>,<a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a> +June 10th, who speaks of himself as an old friend +of Major <span class="ws">S——,</span> refers to a still earlier haunting—a +tradition current at the time of the Major's +succession in 1844.</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p>In August 1896, <span class="ws">B——</span> House, with the +shooting attached, was let by Captain <span class="ws">S——,</span> +the present proprietor, for a year to a wealthy +family of Spanish origin. Their experience was +of such a nature that they abandoned the house +at the end of seven weeks, thus forfeiting the +greater part of their rent, which had been paid +in advance. The evidence of Mr. <span class="ws">H——</span> himself, +of his butler, and of several guests, will be +found in due chronological sequence.</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p>When Colonel Taylor, one of the fundamental +members of the London Spiritualist +Alliance, a distinguished member of the +S.P.R., whose name is associated both in +this country and in America with the investigation +of haunted houses, offered to take a +lease of <span class="ws">B——</span> House, after the lease had been +resigned by Mr. <span class="ws">H——,</span> the proprietor made no +objection whatever. Indeed, the only allusion +made to the haunting was the expression of a<a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a> +hope on the part of Captain <span class="ws">S——'s</span> agents in +Edinburgh, that Colonel Taylor would not make +it a subject of complaint, as had been done by +Mr. <span class="ws">H——,</span> in reply to which they were informed +that Colonel Taylor was thoroughly well +aware of what had happened during Mr. <span class="ws">H——'s</span> +tenancy, and would undertake to make no complaint +on the subject. Captain <span class="ws">S——</span> having +thus thrown the house into the open market, +and let it to the well-known expert, with no +reference whatever to the subject of haunting, +except that it should not be made a ground +of complaint, it is obvious that he deprived +himself of any right to complain as to observations +upon the subject of local hallucination, +any more than of observation upon the habits +of squirrels or other local features. Nor had he +any more right to complain upon this ground, +as vendor of the lease, than any other vendor +of articles exposed for public sale, such as a +hatter, who after selling a hat to Lord Salisbury, +might complain that he had been induced to +provide headgear for a Conservative. At the +same time, both Colonel Taylor and his friends +were well aware, from a vexatious experience,<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a> +that phenomena of the kind found at <span class="ws">B——</span> +are very often associated with private matters, +which the members of a family concerned might +object to see published, just as they might +object to the publication of the results of an +examination of some object—say, old medicine-bottles—found +in the house let by them to a +strange tenant.</p> + +<p>Acting upon this knowledge, it has been the +general rule of the Society for Psychical Research +to publish the cases investigated by it under +avowedly false names, as private cases are +published in medical and other scientific journals. +Out of a courteous anxiety that nothing should +occur which could in any way annoy any +member of the <span class="ws">S——</span> family, no one was +admitted to the house for the purpose of observing +the phenomena, except on the definite +understanding that they were to regard everything +as confidential, and it was always intended +that any publication on the subject was to be +made with all names and geographical indications +avowedly fictitious.</p> + +<p>As certain points of Gaelic orthography were +found to be involved, it was decided to mention<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a> +the house as standing in a bi-lingual district +upon the borders of Wales, and Lord Bute +arranged with Sir William Lewis to have these +linguistic points represented by Welsh instead of +Gaelic.</p> + +<p>The affairs of the inquiry, and of any phenomena +which might occur, were thus protected, +it was believed, by a confidence even more +absolute than that usually observed in such +affairs of a household as to which honour dictates +that a guest should be silent.</p> + +<p>The appreciation with which the <span class="ws">S——</span> +family responded to this courteous and careful +consideration for their possible feelings, was +made manifest to the world by the tone which +they adopted when, immediately on the appearance +of the anonymous article in <i>The Times</i>, +they rushed into the newspapers, and published +everything concerning themselves, their family +property, predecessors, and tenants, with all the +proper names at full length. After that outburst +it has, of course, been rendered impossible to +keep the identity of the place and people any +longer secret.</p> + +<p>Out of deference to other members of the<a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a> +family who did not take part in this, the matter +in the present volume remains in as private a +form as the newspaper correspondence now +leaves possible.</p> + +<p>The names given in full are those mostly +very indirectly concerned; other names, including +that of the house, are given under the real +initials, with the exception of a few of the less +prominent, when the real initials would create +confusion; and in these latter cases they are +taken from letters of the alphabet not already +used, and are placed in inverted commas; <i>e.g.</i> the +real initial of a Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> is changed, in order +to avoid confusion with the name of the <span class="ws">S——</span> +family themselves, the proprietors of <span class="ws">B——.</span></p> + +<p>The contents of the book are, except in one +respect, arranged upon the simple chronological +system. They commence with a short sketch +of the history of the <span class="ws">S——</span> family, based in its +earlier part upon Douglas's "Baronage of Scotland"; +and all information which the writers +possess as to the phenomena which have occurred +since the death of Major <span class="ws">S——</span> in 1876, except +that supplied by the <span class="ws">S——</span> family, is set forth +in succession.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>The family of <span class="ws">S——</span> date from the earlier +part of the middle of the fifteenth century, and +were settled upon the river <span class="ws">T——</span> within that +century, while they have possessed <span class="ws">B——</span> at +least since the earlier half of the century +following.</p> + +<p>A stone, carved with their arms, belonging to +the old mansion-house, is built into the wall, and +dated 1579. The present house is modern, and +does not even occupy the site of the older one.</p> + +<p>The particular proprietor whose arms are so +represented, Patrick <span class="ws">S——,</span> married Elizabeth +<span class="ws">B——,</span> who survived him and married a second +time. James <span class="ws">S——,</span> his son, in 1586, married +Mary <span class="ws">C——,</span> and after her death, in 1597, +Elizabeth <span class="ws">R——.</span></p> + +<p>Robert <span class="ws">S——,</span> his son by his first marriage, +married Margaret <span class="ws">C——.</span> John <span class="ws">S——,</span> son of +Robert, was killed by the Cromwellians, leaving +no issue, and was succeeded by his brother, +Patrick <span class="ws">S——,</span> who married Elizabeth <span class="ws">L——.</span></p> + +<p>It is not obvious when they adopted the +principles of the Reformation, but it is to be +remarked that this Patrick stood high in the +favour of James II. (and VII.).</p> + +<p><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>Charles <span class="ws">S——,</span> son of the foregoing, married +Anne <span class="ws">D——,</span> and was succeeded by his third +son, another Charles, who married Grizell +<span class="ws">M——,</span> and died in 1764.</p> + +<p>Robert <span class="ws">S——,</span> his son, married Isabel <span class="ws">H——.</span> +Charles <span class="ws">S——,</span> his eldest son, died unmarried +in 1783.</p> + +<p><span class="ws">H——</span> <span class="ws">S——,</span> second son of <span class="ws">R——</span> <span class="ws">S——,</span> +married Louisa <span class="ws">M——,</span> died in 1834, and had +issue—Robert, two other sons, and six daughters.</p> + +<p>Robert <span class="ws">S——,</span> born January 1806, in 1825 +entered the military service of the East India +Company, from which he retired with the rank +of Major in 1850, <i>i.e.</i> sixteen years after succeeding +to the property. He died in April +1876. His two brothers both died unmarried, +and of his six sisters, three married, and a +fourth, Isabella, entered a nunnery. She there +professed under the name of "Frances Helen" +in 1850, the year of her brother's return from +India, and died February 23, 1880, aged +sixty-six.</p> + +<p>Major <span class="ws">S——,</span> by his will dated June 8, 1853, +bequeathed <span class="ws">B——</span> to the representatives of his +married sister Mary, and on his death was<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a> +accordingly succeeded by her second (but eldest +surviving) son, John, who on succeeding assumed +the name of <span class="ws">S——.</span></p> + +<p>Major <span class="ws">S——</span> was a Protestant, but this John +was a Roman Catholic, like his aunt Isabella. +His eldest brother died without issue in 1867, +but he had a younger brother, married, with +issue, and two sisters, Louisa and Mary, whom +Major <span class="ws">S——,</span> by a codicil of December 14, +1868, carefully excluded from all benefit under +his will.</p> + +<p>The register of the parish of L——, in which +<span class="ws">B——</span> House is situated, mentions under the +date July 14, 1873, the death of Sarah <span class="ws">N——,</span> +housekeeper of <span class="ws">B——</span> House (single), aged +twenty-seven years, daughter of John <span class="ws">N——,</span> +farmer, and Helen <span class="ws">R——.</span> (In Scottish legal +documents married women are described by their +maiden name.) It is said that her last illness was +very short, lasting only three days. Mrs. <span class="ws">S——</span> +had the great charity to attend her on her deathbed. +It is mentioned in the register, that the +official intimation of Sarah <span class="ws">N——'s</span> death was +given, not by her parents nor by Major <span class="ws">S——,</span> +but by her uncle, Neil <span class="ws">N——.</span></p> + +<p><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>Major <span class="ws">S——</span> seems to have been somewhat +eccentric, and was very fond of dogs, of which +he kept a considerable number. He had very +strong views upon psychical subjects. He was +a believer in spirit-return, and many witnesses +have attested that he frequently spoke of his +own return after death. Among these psychic +beliefs were two relating to animals; and as +they are of a kind not very commonly discussed +even among spiritualists, and enter, to some +extent, into the following narrative, it is convenient +here to state them at length. It is +very commonly held that the soul or living personality +of man, which will survive the change +called by us "death," is capable of entering +living bodies and making use of their organs. +The form in which this belief is most commonly +met with, is that of the alleged inspiration of +trance mediums by the souls of the dead. Such +a case is that of Mrs. Piper, said to have been +animated by the soul of Dr. Phinuit and other +personalities now disincarnated. It has naturally +been argued that if it is possible for the +disembodied spirit to occupy and animate the +body of a human being, it would, <i>a fortiori</i>, be<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a> +easy for it to do the same with the body of a +beast, where the resistance of will would presumably +be less.</p> + +<p>This idea, coupled with the belief that the +soul can be separated from the body during life, +so producing a kind of temporary death, while +leaving the body in such a state that it is +capable of being again inhabited and animated, +lies at the bottom of the numerous statements +as to sorcerers and sorceresses changing themselves +into hares, wolves, or cats, which are to +be found in the records of witch trials.</p> + +<p>That this was possible, at least after death, +was evidently a strong belief upon the part of +Major <span class="ws">S——.</span> We are informed that he frequently +intimated his intention of entering the +body of a particular black spaniel which he possessed, +and so strong a belief was attached to +his words, that after his death all his dogs, +including the spaniel in question, were shot, +apparently in order to render impossible any +such action upon his part. The policy of the +measure adopted was short-sighted. If the +Major had thoroughly succeeded in animating +the body of the living spaniel, the physical<a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a> +resources at his disposal would have been too +limited to have enabled him to give much +trouble. As it is, a series of witnesses attest +apparitions of this spaniel, and of at least one +other dog, which may naturally be regarded +as much more disturbing.</p> + +<p>The second point is possibly the same as the +last, but it appears to be more probably based +upon the belief held by Major <span class="ws">S——,</span> in common +with a large number of those who have made a +serious study of apparitions—and certainly a +large number of the members of the S.P.R.—that +such apparitions are really hallucinations +or false impressions upon the senses, created, so +far as originated by any external cause, by +other minds either in the body or out of the +body, which are themselves invisible in the +ordinary and physical sense of the term, and +really acting through some means at present +very imperfectly known. Such an opinion of +course reserves the question of the possible +action of unseen forces upon what is commonly +called matter involved in 'spirit'-photography, +materialisation, levitation, the passage of matter +through matter, and other forms of <i>apport</i>,<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a> +although such a distinction, if logically carried +out, becomes somewhat tenuous in face of the +generally accepted fact that all mental processes +are accompanied by physical processes in the +brain. In the following pages will be found +instances of the phenomenon of the apparent +removal of bed-clothing, which raise a question +as to the propriety of regarding as exhaustive +an explanation based solely upon the hypothesis +of subjective hallucination which otherwise +would appear to be generally applicable. +It would stand to reason that if such an intelligence +can produce an hallucination of the +appearance of the human figure, it would be at +least equally easy for it to produce an hallucination +of the appearance of a beast. A belief to +this effect seems to be the explanation of the +fact mentioned in a letter to <i>The Times</i> of June +10, 1897, by Dr. Menzies, who refers to Major +<span class="ws">S——</span> as "an old and dear friend." He writes, +"I have no doubt that he created much scandal +by saying to his gardener that he had better +take care to keep up the garden properly, for +when he was gone his soul would go into a +mole and haunt the garden and him too."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>This theory of the possibility of producing by +mental force the hallucination audible or visual +of a beast, may also be the explanation, not only +of the apparition of the large dog which has +been seen, as well as that of a spaniel, but also +of the phenomenon, attested by several witnesses, +of their having heard the sound as of a large +dog throwing itself from the outside against +the lower part of their doors.</p> + +<p>Major <span class="ws">S——</span> died, as already stated, in 1876, +and was buried beside Sarah <span class="ws">N——</span> and, it is +said, an old Indian manservant. The grave is +in the middle of the parish churchyard. No +monument marks their resting-place, but a +high enclosure, which surrounds it, is a prominent +object. The whole of his dogs, fourteen +in number, including the spaniel already +mentioned, were killed after his death.</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p>The S.P.R. some years ago published a +census of hallucinations based upon the interrogation +of seventeen thousand persons, who +were not only taken casually, but from whom +those were excluded whose replies were foreseen. +From the analysis of these statistics, it<a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a> +appears that the great majority of these phantasms +are figures of people who were living and +continue to live, although research seems to +point to the fact that their bodies are either +always, or very often, in a state of apparent unconsciousness +at the moment of the phenomenon. +Among the minority, <i>i.e.</i> of apparitions of the +dead, the frequency seems to be in inverse proportion +to the time which has elapsed since death. +Those which appear at the moment of death +are very frequent, whereas, on the other hand, +those of persons who have been very long dead +are almost unknown; <i>e.g.</i> the apparition seen by +Lady Galway a few years ago at Rufford Abbey, +where the form represented a person who must +have been dead for about three hundred years, +belongs to a class of which examples are very few.</p> + +<p>A haunted house (or any other locality) is +merely a place where experience shows that +hallucinations are more or less localised, and the +only especially interesting question about it is, +why the hallucinations should be localised at a +particular place, and what causes them there.</p> + +<p>Such Phantasms of the Living have been discussed +in the monumental work of Mr. Myers<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a> +and the late Mr. E. Gurney. They need be +no further remarked upon here, than to observe +that the following pages contain at least one +example, viz. that of the apparition of the Rev. +P. <span class="ws">H——.</span> (<a href="#Page_119">See p. 119.</a>)</p> + +<p>It is very difficult to judge of the forces which +may act in the conditions of what we are accustomed +to call "another world," but a plausible +explanation might be found in the Divine Word, +"Where your treasure is, there will your heart +be also." The thoughts and affections appear to +dwell for a time where they have been already +fixed during life, but changes here, including the +gradual reunion on the other side, of all those +who are loved with those who love them, the +advancing dissociation of the mind with things +here, and, no doubt, the evolution of a different +life under different conditions, seem gradually to +efface the ties of earthly memory, connecting the +feelings with particular spots on earth.</p> + +<p>Such thoughts not infrequently include repentance, +a desire for the remedy of acts of injustice, +and an eagerness for the compassion and sympathetic +prayers of those whom we call the living.</p> + +<p>It is natural, therefore, to suppose that<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a> +haunting, such as that met with at <span class="ws">B——,</span> would be +connected with persons who had died within +some such period as a century at the outside. +Now the number of the members of the <span class="ws">S——</span> +family and others, whose thoughts, memories, feelings, +and affections may presumably have dwelt +largely at <span class="ws">B——,</span> and who have died within the +last hundred years, is very considerable; but—saving +the tradition referred to by Dr. Menzies +(<a href="#Page_22">see p. 22</a>), only to be dismissed—there seems +to have been no idea of the place being haunted +before the deaths of Sarah <span class="ws">N——</span> and of Major +<span class="ws">S——,</span> whereas since that time the peculiar +phenomena have been constantly attested.</p> + +<p>John <span class="ws">S——,</span> his successor, was, as stated, the +second son of Major <span class="ws">S——'s</span> sister Mary, and +assumed the name of <span class="ws">S——</span> upon succeeding to +the property. He was a Roman Catholic; he +was married, and had several children, of whom +the eldest son is the present proprietor. One of +the younger sons is a Jesuit, but not yet a priest.</p> + +<p>In January 1895 Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> went to London +on family business, and was there killed by +being run over by a cab in the street. It was +stated on the authority of three persons, not<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a> +counting members of his own family, that on +the morning on which he left <span class="ws">B——</span> for the +last time, while he was talking to the agent in +his business-room, there were raps so violent +as to interfere with conversation. The earliest +written notice of this circumstance, so far as +can be discovered, is the following entry in +Lord Bute's journal for January 17, 1896:—</p> + +<p>"I hear that the morning the late <span class="ws">S——</span> of +<span class="ws">B——</span> left home for the last time, spirits came +and rapped to him in his room—doubtless to +warn him—so that his death was really owing +to the cruel superstition which had prevented +him allowing them to be communicated with."</p> + +<p>Lord Bute's informant appears to have been +the Rev. Sir David Hunter Blair, as the journal +mentions his arrival at Falkland on that day, and +none of the other guests in the house were people +who were likely to have heard anything about it.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> was succeeded by his eldest son, +Captain <span class="ws">S——,</span> who showed no hesitation in +throwing the house into the public market, with +its 4400 acres of shooting. The alleged haunting +was not mentioned beforehand to the first +tenant, as it afterwards was to Colonel Taylor.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a>This tenant was Mr. J.R. <span class="ws">H——</span> of <span class="ws">K——</span> +Court, <span class="ws">C——,</span> in <span class="ws">G——shire,</span> and the following +is the account of experiences during his visit, +as given by his butler:—</p> + +<br /> + +<h4>ON THE TRAIL OF A GHOST</h4> + +<p class="cen"><i>To the Editor of "The Times"</i></p> + +<p>"<span class="sc">Sir</span>,—In your issue of the 8th, under the +above heading, 'A Correspondent' tries at +some length to describe what he calls a most +impudent imposture. I having lived at <span class="ws">B——</span> +for three months in the autumn of last year as +butler to the house, I thought perhaps my +experience of the ghost of <span class="ws">B——</span> might be of +interest to many of your readers, and as the +story has now become public property, I shall +not be doing any one an injury by telling what +I know of the mystery.</p> + +<p>"On July 15, 1896, I was sent by Mr. <span class="ws">H——,</span> +with two maidservants, to take charge of <span class="ws">B——</span> +from Mr. <span class="ws">S——'s</span> agents. I was there three +days before the arrival of any one of the family, +and during that time I heard nothing to disturb +me in any way; but on the morning after the<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a> +arrival of two of the family, Master and Miss +<span class="ws">H——,</span> they came down with long faces, giving +accounts of ghostly noises they had heard during +the night, but I tried to dissuade them from +such nonsense, as I then considered it to be; +but on the following two or three nights the +same kind of noises were heard by them, and +also by the maidservants, who slept in the +rooms above, and they all became positively +frightened. I heard nothing whatever, though +the noises, as they described them, would have +been enough to wake any one much farther +away than where I slept, for the noises they +heard were made immediately over my room. +I suggested the hot-water pipes or the twigs of +ivy knocking against the windows, but no—nothing +would persuade them but that the +house was haunted; but as the noises continued +to be heard nightly, I suggested that I should +sit up alone, and without a light, outside their +bedroom doors, where the footsteps and other +rustling noises were heard. I think one other +member of the family, or two young gentlemen, +had arrived at this time, and they had +also heard the noises. I told them of my<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a> +intention to sit up alone, for as one of them had +a revolver I did not want to run the risk of +being shot for a ghost. However, I took my +post on the landing at 11.30 and kept watch, +I am certain, until half-past one; then I +must have fallen asleep, for about two o'clock +Master <span class="ws">H——,</span> hearing the knocking as usual, +came out of his room to hear if I had +seen or heard anything, but found me fast +asleep on the floor, which gave him a greater +fright than the knocking, for he supposed for +the moment that I had been slain by the +ghost.</p> + +<p>"This kind of thing went on nightly, and for +three weeks I heard nothing, although nearly +every one in the house heard these noises except +myself; but my turn had yet to come, although +I firmly held the opinion during that time +that it was the hot-water pipes, and I only +laughed at the others for their absurd nonsense, +as I then considered it to be; but my first +experience was that of being awakened three +successive nights, or rather mornings, at about +3.30. I heard nothing, but seemed to be wide +awake in an instant, as though some one had<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a> +touched me. I would stay awake for some +little time and then go to sleep again; but on +the fourth night, on being awakened as before, +and lying awake for perhaps two minutes, I +heard tremendous thumping just outside my +door. I jumped out of bed quickly, and opened +my door, and called out in a loud voice, 'Who +is there?' but got no answer. I ascended the +stairs and listened for a few minutes, but heard +no further knocking. I then went back to my +room, but did not sleep again that morning.</p> + +<p>"I may mention that my room was the one +described by 'A Correspondent' as the butler's +room under No. 3, the room where most noises +were heard, and the staircase was the service +one, and as there is a door at the top, if any one +had come there to make the noise I should +certainly have heard them beating a retreat.</p> + +<p>"The same thing happened with variations +almost nightly for the succeeding two months +that I was there, and every visitor that came to +the house was disturbed in the same manner. +One gentleman (a colonel) told me he was +awakened on several occasions with the feeling +that some one was pulling the bedclothes off<a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a> +him; sometimes heavy footsteps were heard, at +others like the rustling of a lady's dress; and +sometimes groans were heard, but nearly always +accompanied with heavy knocking; sometimes +the whole house would be aroused. One night +I remember five gentlemen meeting at the top +of the stairs in their night-suits, some with +sticks or pokers, one had a revolver, vowing +vengeance on the disturbers of their sleep. +During the two months after I first heard the +noises I kept watch altogether about twelve +times in various parts of the house, mostly +unknown to others (at the time), and have +heard the noises in the wing as well as other +parts.</p> + +<p>"When watching I always experienced a +peculiar sensation a few minutes before hearing +any noise. I can only describe it as like +suddenly entering an ice-house, and a feeling +that some one was present and about to speak +to me. On three different nights I was +awakened by my bedclothes being pulled off +my feet. But the worst night I had at <span class="ws">B——</span> +was one night about the second week in +September, and I shall never forget it as long<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a> +as I live. I had been keeping watch with two +gentlemen—one a visitor, the other one of the +house. We were sitting in room No. 2, and +heard the noises that I have described about +half-past two. Both gentlemen were very much +alarmed; but we searched everywhere, but could +not find any trace of the ghost or cause of +the noises, although they came this time from +an unoccupied room. (I may mention that +the noises were never heard in the daytime, +as stated by 'A Correspondent,' but always +between twelve, midnight, and four in the morning, +generally between two and four o'clock.) +After a thorough search the two gentlemen went +to bed sadder, but not wiser men, for we had +discovered nothing. I then went to my room, +but not to bed, for I was not satisfied, and +decided to continue the watch alone. So I +seated myself on the service stairs, close to +where the water-pipes passed up the wall, so +as to decide once and for all if the sounds came +in any way from the water-pipes.</p> + +<p>"I had not long to wait (about twenty minutes) +when the knocking recommenced from the same +direction as before, but much louder than before,<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a> +followed, after a very short interval, by two +distinct groans, which certainly made me feel +very uncomfortable, for it sounded like some +one being stabbed and then falling to the floor. +That was enough for me. I went and asked the +two gentlemen who had just gone to bed if they +had heard anything. One said he had heard +five knocks and two groans, the same as I had; +while the other (whose room was much nearer +to where the sounds came from) said he had +heard nothing. I then retired to my bed, but +not to sleep, for I had not been in bed three +minutes before I experienced the sensation as +before, but instead of being followed by knocking, +my bedclothes were lifted up and let fall +again—first at the foot of my bed, but gradually +coming towards my head. I held the clothes +around my neck with my hands, but they were +gently lifted in spite of my efforts to hold them. +I then reached around me with my hand, but +could feel nothing. This was immediately +followed by my being fanned as though some +bird was flying around my head, and I could +distinctly hear and feel something breathing on +me. I then tried to reach some matches that<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a> +were on a chair by my bedside, but my hand +was held back as if by some invisible power. +Then the thing seemed to retire to the foot of +my bed. Then I suddenly found the foot of my +bed lifted up and carried around towards the +window for about three or four feet, then replaced +to its former position. All this did not +take, I should think, more than two or three +minutes, although at the time it seemed hours +to me. Just then the clock struck four, and, +being tired out with my long night's watching, +I fell asleep. This, Mr. Editor, is some of my +experiences while at <span class="ws">B——.</span></p> + +<p>"As to 'A Correspondent's' interviews with +local people:—</p> + +<p>"As to the old caretaker, she is an old woman, +very deaf, and she always occupied a room on +the ground floor, where, during the three months +that I was there, nothing whatever was heard, +as my two footmen slept there, and they did +not hear any noises. As to the intelligent +gardener, if it is the same one that was there +when I was there, he, surely, has not forgotten +the night he spent with me in my room; he +was nearly frightened out of his wits, and<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a> +declared he would not spend another night in +my room for any money—a fact that the factor +or steward and others well know.</p> + +<p>"There are many other incidents in my experience +with the mystery of <span class="ws">B——,</span> but I hope +this is sufficient for the purpose I intend it—namely, +for the truth to be known, for I have +no other motive in writing this letter; for I have +left the service of the house some months now. +But as to your correspondent's statement that +some of the house were doing it, it is simply +absurd; for in turn they were all away from +<span class="ws">B——</span> for a week or fortnight, and still these +noises were heard. Another thing; is it possible +for any one to keep up a joke like that for three +months? or, if any one had been doing it, I +should certainly have caught them; and I can +assure you that the house were very much +annoyed with it, not only for themselves, but for +their visitors, for I have sat up all night with +some of them, who were afraid to go to their +beds: and I think that if 'A Correspondent' had +stayed as long in <span class="ws">B——</span> as I did, and had had +some of my experiences, he would have a very +different tale to tell, although up to my going<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a> +to <span class="ws">B——</span> I would laugh at any one who told +me there were such things as ghosts; and even +now I am not quite convinced; but of one thing +I am certain—that is, that there is something +supernatural in the noises and things that I +heard and experienced at <span class="ws">B——.</span> Thanking +you, dear sir, in anticipation of your inserting +this letter, I remain your obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="sc">"Harold Sanders</span>.</p> +<p class="noin">"<span class="sc">Chidcock, near Bridport, Dorset</span>."</p> +<br /> + +<p>The passage in <i>The Times</i> article is as +follows:—</p> + +<p>"An intelligent gardener whom I questioned +told me that he had kept watch in the house on +two separate occasions, abstaining from sleep +until daylight appeared at seven o'clock, but +without hearing a sound. A caretaker, who +had spent months in the house, and who had to +keep a stove alight all night, never heard a +sound, probably because there was no one to +make any."</p> + +<p>The gardener's evidence on this point will be +found on p. 218.</p> + +<p>Without admitting, for one moment, the<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a> +theory that a servant's evidence may not be of +equal value with that of the so-called educated +classes, it was thought desirable, before admitting +that of Sanders, to make some inquiries as +to his character, intelligence, and capacity for +observation. His employer spoke well of him, +and Colonel Taylor had the advantage of a +personal interview with him, which he thus +describes:—</p> + +<p>"<i>July 18th, 1897.</i>—I went to Coventry yesterday, +and saw Sanders the butler. He is a +slight, dark young man, and, as far as I could +judge, quite honest and serious over the <span class="ws">B——</span> affair. +He assured me that he had written +the letter to <i>The Times</i> without any advice or +assistance, and that all he wrote was absolutely +true. I gathered from him, indirectly, that +before his <span class="ws">B——</span> experience he knew nothing +of ghosts, spiritualism, or any occult matter, +and does not now. He was much astonished +when I told him that the feeling which he +describes as like walking into an ice-house +was a common one under the circumstances. +He said he omitted in his letter many small +personal matters, such as the following:— +<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>During the manifestation in his room, when +his bed was shifted, and when he felt as if +some one was making 'passes' over him, and +breathing in his face, he made the sign of +the Cross, on which the 'influence' receded +from him, but approached again almost at +once. After repeating this a few times with +the same result, he crossed his arms over his +chest, and holding the bedclothes close up +to his chin, went to sleep. He was at no +time afraid. He said things were more active +during the stay of Father 'I.' than at any +other time, and that one of the young <span class="ws">H——s</span> +had seen a veiled lady pass through his +room."</p> + +<p>The following paragraph in the letter of <i>The +Times</i> correspondent called forth the subjoined +letter from Mr. <span class="ws">H——</span> himself, the tenant of +<span class="ws">B——:—</span></p> + +<p>"The only mystery in the matter seems to +be the mode in which a prosaic and ordinary +dwelling was endowed with so evil a reputation. +I was assured in London that it had +had this reputation for twenty or thirty years. +The family lawyer in <span class="ws">P——</span> asserted most<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a> +positively that there had never been a whisper +of such a thing until the house was let for +last year's shooting season to a family, whom +I may call the <span class="ws">H——s.</span> I was told the same +thing in equally positive terms by the minister +of the parish, a level-headed man from +<span class="ws">B——shire,</span> who has lived in the place for +twenty years. He told me that some of +the younger members of the <span class="ws">H——</span> family had +indulged in practical jokes, and boasted of +them. One of their pranks was to drop or +throw a weight upon the floor, and to draw +it back by means of a string. Another seems +to have been to thump on bedroom doors +with a boot-heel, the unmistakable marks of +which remain to this day, and were pointed +out to me by our hostess. If there are really +any noises not referable to ordinary domestic +causes, it is not improbable that these practical +jokers made a confidant of some one about +the estate, who amuses himself by occasionally—it +is only occasionally that the more remarkable +noises are said to be heard—repeating +their tricks. The steward or factor on the +estate concurs with the lawyer and the minister<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a> +in denying that the house had any reputation +for being haunted before the advent of the +<span class="ws">H——</span> family. Yet he is a Highlander, and +not without superstition; for he gave it as +his opinion that <i>if</i> there was anything in +these noises, they must be due to Black Art. +Asked what Black Art might be, he said +he could not tell, but he had often heard +about it, and had been told that when once +set going it would go on without the assistance +of its authors. He was quite clear, however +that if there is Black Art, it came in with +the <span class="ws">H——</span> family."</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">H——'s</span> rejoinder, which appeared in <i>The +Times</i>, was dated June 10th:—</p> + + +<h4><i>To the Editor of "The Times"</i></h4> + +<p>"<span class="sc">Sir</span>,—I must ask you to be good enough to +publish, on behalf of the tenant of <span class="ws">B——,</span> a few +remarks on the article that appeared in your +paper of the 8th inst. with the heading 'On +the Trail of a Ghost.' The writer of that +article finds a very easy solution to the mystery +by attacking a private family who happened +to be tenants of <span class="ws">B——</span> for a short time, and<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a> +making them a 'scapegoat' for his argument. +I do not quite understand if your correspondent +pretends to assert that the place had not +the reputation of being haunted previous to my +tenancy for three months last year; probably +he does not charge me with originating such +reports, as he mentions a story of the visit of +a Catholic Archbishop to the house to exorcise +the ghost. This must have happened some +time ago, and proves that the house was then +supposed to be haunted. What your correspondent +does state as a fact is, that the younger +members of my family played practical jokes, +which have given rise to Lord Bute's investigations. +My object in writing to you is to +deny most emphatically this statement. The +principal proof that is brought forward to corroborate +this slander is, that the doors are +marked by the blows struck to produce the +noises heard. Surely no one could be frightened +after the cause and reason of the noises were +once ascertained by the boot-marks! But there +were no such marks on the doors when we left +<span class="ws">B——.</span> Some of our guests were with us until +very shortly before my family left, and can<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a> +testify to this, for the good reason that in the +endeavour to localise the extraordinary noises, +all doors and other parts of the house were +constantly examined up to the very last. When +I went to <span class="ws">B——</span> at the beginning of August, +my family had already been there a few days, +and at once they told me they had found out +the house was supposed to be haunted, and that +they had heard most unaccountable noises. I +had the greatest difficulty to persuade all my +people to stay in the place, and after all, we left +Scotland about the end of September, two +months earlier than usual. I personally did +not give any importance to the rumours that +<span class="ws">B——</span> House is haunted, and attributed the +very remarkable noises heard to the hot-water +pipes and the peculiar way in which the house +is built. In fact, I have to confess I cannot +believe in ghosts, and, consequently, I did my +best to persuade everybody that <span class="ws">B——</span> was not +haunted, but I am afraid I was not always successful. +I hope you will forgive me for taking +up so much valuable space in your paper, but +I had to do so in self-defence against a false +accusation.—Yours faithfully, <span class="ws">H——."</span></p> + +<p><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>It is believed that, in consequence of this +letter, Mr. <span class="ws">H——</span> was threatened with legal +proceedings, which, however, have not yet been +initiated.</p> + +<p>The following is the account given of the +same period by Miss "B.," a lady of some +position in the literary world:—</p> + +<p>"... We arrived there on Wednesday the +25th August, the house being then tenanted by +Mr. J.R. <span class="ws">H——</span> of <span class="ws">K——</span> Court, <span class="ws">C——,</span> +<span class="ws">G——shire.</span> The household consisted of Mr. +and Mrs. <span class="ws">H——,</span> three sons, Miss <span class="ws">H——,</span> my +sister and I, and two other guests, Colonel +<span class="ws">A——</span> and Major <span class="ws">B——.</span></p> + +<p>"We had rooms in the wing on the ground +floor of the house, opening off the main hall, +divided from the rest of the house by a long +passage, and shut off by a swing-door. Our +rooms opened off each other, and the inner +room opened off a little sitting-room, which +had a door with glass panels leading into the +passage. The only other person who slept in +that wing of the house was Mr. Willie <span class="ws">H——,</span> +whose room was exactly opposite the door of +our room.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>"We heard a great deal of discussion about +the 'ghost' when we arrived, and so that night +my sister made me sleep in the inner room +with her. We heard nothing that night. The +next night I slept in the outer room, and +neither of us heard anything. The third night, +my sister being still a little nervous, I slept +in the inner room with her. The door of the +outer room was locked, the door between the +rooms was locked, and there was a wardrobe +placed against the door leading into the sitting-room. +We both, having taken these +precautions, fell sound asleep.</p> + +<p>"I wakened suddenly in the middle of the +night, and noticed how quiet the house was. +Then I heard the clock strike two, and a few +minutes later there came a crashing, <i>vibrating</i> +batter against the door of the outer room. My +sister was sleeping very soundly, but she +started up in a moment at the noise, wide +awake.</p> + +<p>"'Some one must have done that,' she said; +'such a noise could never have been made by +a ghost!'</p> + +<p>"But neither of us had the courage to go out<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a> +into the passage! The noise lasted, I should +say, for only two or three <i>seconds</i>, and ceased +as suddenly as it had begun. We lay awake +till the light came in, but the house was quite +quiet. I may mention, as against the 'supernatural' +origin of the sound, that it came +against the outer door, did not pass in to the +inner one, and avoided the glass-panelled door +of the sitting-room, which would certainly have +been shivered by the application of force sufficient +to produce such noise. Another very +curious thing was, that on the nights when it +came to our door (<i>we</i> only heard it once, but +other visitors heard it often) Willie <span class="ws">H——</span> +heard nothing; whereas on the nights when +he was disturbed, we heard nothing, yet the +rooms were close together.</p> + +<p>"The following night my sister and Miss +<span class="ws">H——</span> and two of her brothers sat up all night +in the morning-room, which opened off the main +hall. We sat with the door open and in the +dark, but neither heard or saw anything; the +house was absolutely still.</p> + +<p>"The next night my sister and I stayed in +Miss <span class="ws">H——'s</span> room, watching with her. It<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a> +was on the third storey of the house, and on +a line with the specially haunted room, then +occupied by Colonel <span class="ws">A——.</span> Two of the men +sat up downstairs.</p> + +<p>"After 2.30 Mr. Eustace <span class="ws">H——</span> came and told +his sister we need not sit up later, as everything +was so quiet, and the noises seldom came after +that hour. He went to his room then, but his +door was scarcely closed when we all heard a +loud knocking at Colonel <span class="ws">A——'s</span> door. We +ran out, without waiting a moment, into the +passage, where the lamps were still burning +brightly, but it was absolutely empty and quiet. +We heard it several times that night in distant +parts of the house, and once we heard a +scream, which seemed to come from overhead. +We stayed six days in the house after this, +but heard nothing more ourselves, though +every one else in the house was disturbed +nightly."</p> + +<p>The Major <span class="ws">B——</span> mentioned in the above +statement has been good enough to furnish +the following note as to his personal impressions:—</p> + +<p>"On 22nd August 1896 I arrived at <span class="ws">B——,</span><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a> +and remained there until the 2nd September. +During this period I slept in the room on the +first floor, which is at the end of a short corridor +running from the top of the back stairs to my +room [No. 1].</p> + +<p>"Colonel <span class="ws">A——</span> occupied the room next to +me [No. 3]. It was a double room, connected +by a door, and was situated just at the top +of the back stair.</p> + +<p>"August 24th, about 3.30 <span class="sc">a.m.</span>, I heard very +loud knocking, apparently on Colonel <span class="ws">A——'s</span> +door, about nine raps in all—three raps +quickly, one after the other, then three more +the same, and three more the same. It was +as if some one was hitting the door with his +fist as hard as he could hit. I left my room +at once, but could find nothing to account for +the noise. It was broad daylight at the time. +I heard the same noises on the 28th and 30th +August at about the same hour, viz. between +3 and 4 <span class="sc">a.m.</span>"</p> + +<p>The following, which adds somewhat to the +above, was contained in a private letter written +in January 1897 from Major <span class="ws">B——</span> to the Hon. +<span class="ws">E——</span> <span class="ws">F——:—</span></p> + +<p><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>"Between two and four in the morning there +used to be noises on the door (of Colonel +<span class="ws">A——'s</span> room), as if a very strong man were +hitting the panels as hard as ever he could +hit, three times in quick succession—a pause, +and then three times again in quick succession, +and perhaps another go. It was so +loud that I thought it was on the door of his +dressing-room, but he said he thought it was +on his bedroom door. One theory is, that it +was the hot water in the pipes getting cold, +which, I am told, would make a loud throbbing +noise. I tripped out pretty quick the +first time I heard it, but could see nothing. +Of course it is broad daylight in Scotland +then.</p> + +<p>"The same banging was, I believe, heard on +one of the bedroom doors down the passage, +in the wing on the ground floor, and on investigation +I found there were hot-water pipes +just outside that door as well. There were +yarns innumerable while I was there about +shrieks and footsteps heard, and bedclothes +torn off. But I did not experience these.... +I don't think the noises were done by a<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a> +practical joker, as there were too many people +on the alert...."</p> + +<p>The Hon. <span class="ws">E——</span> <span class="ws">F——</span> wrote to Miss Freer +on March 4th:—</p> + +<p>"... [Major] <span class="ws">B——</span> is now in London, and +I have seen him twice. He says (1) the hot-water +pipe theory is not his own, but was +suggested by an engineer friend. He should +not himself have thought that hot-water pipes +could make so big a noise. Besides, Colonel +<span class="ws">A——</span> described the noise as a banging either +against the door itself, or against the door of +the wardrobe inside the room.... (2) He, +<span class="ws">B——,</span> heard the noise himself several times +and bolted out into the passage at once, but +saw nothing. The noise sounded like a very +loud banging at <span class="ws">A——'s</span> door.... (3) He +confirms the story about <span class="ws">A——</span> being unable +to sleep, and says he used to go to sleep on the +moor in consequence."</p> + +<p>During Colonel Taylor's tenancy similar +noises were heard, both when the water was +totally cut off and when, from some defect +in the apparatus, it never reached a high +temperature.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>The Colonel <span class="ws">A——</span> referred to, corroborates +this account, as follows, in a letter to Major +<span class="ws">B——:</span></p> + +<p>"<span class="sc">My dear</span> <span class="ws">B——</span>, You write asking me about +<span class="ws">B——</span> House and its spook. Well, I never +<i>saw</i> anything, and what I heard was what +you heard, a terrific banging at one's bedroom +door, generally about from 2 to 3 <span class="sc">a.m.</span>, about +two nights out of three. Of course there were +other yarns of things heard, &c., but I personally +never heard or experienced anything else than +this banging at the door, which I never could +account for...."</p> + +<p>Before passing from the subject of Colonel +<span class="ws">A——,</span> it is as well to mention that after leaving +<span class="ws">B——</span> he went to stay at another country house, +and the butler there spoke to him of the haunting +of <span class="ws">B——,</span> where he himself was a servant +some years before. This butler was asked for +further information, but sent only the following +reply:—</p> + +<p>"Your note to hand regarding <span class="ws">B——.</span> I am +afraid what I saw or heard would be of little +value to your book, therefore I would rather say +nothing."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>It will be observed that, so far from denying +the facts, he admits that he saw and heard +certain things, which he refuses to describe; but +as this evidence is circumstantial rather than +direct, it is inserted here rather than in the +place to which, chronologically, it would, if +fuller, properly have belonged.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. "G." were also guests at <span class="ws">B——</span> during +the occupation of the <span class="ws">H——s.</span> Mrs. +"G." published an account of her experiences +in a magazine article, of course with fictitious +names; but she affirms that she has in no +sense "written up" the story, which, indeed, is +entirely corroborated by other evidence:—</p> + +<p>"<i>October 9th, 1896.</i>—Some friends of mine +took the place this year for the shooting, and, +relying on the glowing description they had +received, took it on trust, and in July last took +possession of it without having previously seen +it. For a few days all went well; the family +established themselves in the old part of the +house, leaving a new wing for their guests. The +haunted room (for so I may justly call it) was +inhabited by two or three persons in succession, +who were so alarmed and disturbed by the<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a> +violent knockings, shrieks, and groans which +they heard every night, and which were also +heard by many others along the same corridor, +that they refused to sleep there after the first +few nights. Those who serve under her +Majesty's colours are proverbially brave; they +will gladly die for their country, with sword +in hand and face to the foe. For this reason +a distinguished officer [Colonel <span class="ws">A——,</span> above +quoted] was the next occupant of the haunted +chamber, and was told nothing of its antecedents. +The morning after his arrival he came +down refreshed, and keen for the day's sport. +I may here mention, no one is ever disturbed +the first night of their stay. During the succeeding +nights, however, he was continually +roused from his slumbers by the most terrific +noises, and want of sleep would cause him to +become drowsy when out shooting on the moor, +and would tempt him to make a bed of the +purple heather and fragrant myrtle.</p> + +<p>"A friend of mine, a man of great nerve and +courage, next inhabited the room, and went +through the same experiences. He took every +possible means to discover the cause of the<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a> +sounds, and failed in accounting for them in +any way. He said the blows on the door were +so violent he often looked, expecting to see it +shattered to atoms. Since he left no one has +been put into this room, but the noises continue, +and are heard throughout the house. Even the +dogs cannot be coaxed into this room, and if +forced into it, they crouch with marked signs +of fear.</p> + +<p>"The disturbances take place between 12 and +4.30, and never at any other time. A young +lady, of by no means timid disposition, and +possessed of great presence of mind, has often +heard the swing-door pushed open and footsteps +coming along the corridor, pausing at the door. +She has frequently looked out and seen nothing. +The footsteps she has also heard in her room, +and going round her bed. Many persons have +had the same experiences, and many have +heard the wild unearthly shriek which has rung +through the house in the stillness of the night.</p> + +<p>"I will now give my own experience. I arrived +with my husband and daughter on September 17, +having been duly warned by my friends of the +nocturnal disturbances. We were put in rooms<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a> +adjoining, at the end of the new wing. I kept +a light in my room, but the first night all was +still. Next night, about 2 <span class="sc">a.m.</span>, a succession +of thundering knocks came from the end of our +passage, re-echoing through the house, where it +was heard by many others. About half-an-hour +afterwards my husband heard a piercing shriek; +then all was still, save for the hooting of the +owls in the neighbouring trees. When the grey +dawn stole in it was welcome; so was the +cheery sound of the bagpipes, as the kilted +piper took his daily round in the early morning. +The next night and succeeding ones we heard +loud single knocks at different doors along our +passage. The last night but one before we left +I was roused from sleep by hearing the clock +strike one, and immediately it had ceased six +violent blows shook our own door on its hinges, +and came with frightful rapidity, followed by +deep groans. After this sleep was impossible. +The next night, our last in Scotland, my husband +and others watched in our passage all night, +and though the sounds were again heard in +different directions, nothing was to be seen. +As I write, at the commencement of October,<a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a> +the house on the lonely hillside is deserted; +the tenants have gone southwards; an old caretaker +(too deaf to hear the weird sounds which +nightly awaken the echoes) is the sole occupant. +Even she closes up all before dusk, and retires +into her quarters below; though she hears not, +her sight is unimpaired, and she perhaps dreads +to meet the hunchback figure which is said to +glide up the stairs, or the shadowy form of a +grey lady who paces with noiseless footfall the +lonely corridor, and has been seen to pass +through the door of one of the rooms. Within +the last two months a man with bronzed complexion +and bent figure has been seen by two +gentlemen, friends of mine. They both describe +him as having come through the door and +passed through the room in which they were +about three in the morning. I have tried to +give a faithful and accurate account of these +strange events. I leave it to each and all to +form their own opinion on the matter."</p> + +<p>Some passages in private letters to Miss Freer +and Lord Bute written by Mrs. "G.," should +be quoted as bearing upon some points in the +above:—</p> + +<p><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>"<i>February 9th.</i>—I am going to ask you if +you do go there [<span class="ws">B——</span> House] if you would let +me know if you see or hear anything. I +am immensely interested in it, as we stayed +there in the autumn with some friends who +took it, and anything more horribly haunted +could not be. I never should have believed +it if I had not been there."</p> + +<p>After the appearance of <i>The Times</i> correspondent's +accusation against the <span class="ws">H——</span> family, +Mrs. "G." wrote as follows to Lord +Bute:—</p> + +<p>"<i>June 10th.</i>—If the noises complained of +by nearly all who have stayed at <span class="ws">B——</span> were +the result of practical jokes perpetrated by +the <span class="ws">H——s,</span> how is it that not only were +they heard by guests who stayed there years +ago, but are admitted by members of the <span class="ws">S——</span> +family to have been heard by themselves? +Miss Freer also has told me, that the same +noises were heard at all hours day and night +by herself and her guests for months after the +<span class="ws">H——</span> family and their servants had left +Scotland. This so completely exonerates them +from the absurd charge, that I should hardly<a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a> +have mentioned it, had not Miss Freer seemed +quite under the impression that practical jokes +had been played during the tenancy of the +<span class="ws">H——s;</span> and as a proof of this, she told me +that the doors, especially of two of the rooms, +were marked with nailed boots, and the panels +even split through, and this damage was +attributed by her to the younger members +of the <span class="ws">H——</span> family. I am happy to say +I was able to disabuse her mind of this +idea, as we were staying at <span class="ws">B——</span> within a +few days of their leaving Scotland, and I +had most carefully examined the doors especially +of the two rooms specified, one of +which was our own room. There was not a +scratch, nor the smallest mark or indentation; +others can also vouch for this fact. The +<span class="ws">H——s</span> had all left <span class="ws">B——</span> for good at that +time, except the eldest son, and Miss Freer +agreed with me that whatever damage was +done to the doors, must therefore have been +done after the <span class="ws">H——s</span> left, and before her +party came in.... The hot-water pipe +theory revived by the writer of the article +in <i>The Times</i> is disproved by Miss Freer,<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a> +who told me that the hot-water apparatus +was not used for some time, and that the disturbances +continued just the same.... The +stories told in connection with <span class="ws">B——</span> were +not circulated or started by the <span class="ws">H——</span> family. +They were told <i>to</i> them by persons living +around <span class="ws">B——."</span></p> + +<p>In a letter to Miss Freer, dated June 12th, +Mrs. "G." writes, in reference to the charge of +practical joking:—</p> + +<p>"They are the most unlikely family to do +such a thing; and besides, if further proof were +wanted, the young men of the family were away +from <span class="ws">B——</span> when we stayed there ten days, +and there was only one night when we did not +hear the noises."</p> + +<p>Miss Freer of course entirely accepts Mrs. +"G.'s" statement, and that of Mr. <span class="ws">H——</span> as +published in <i>The Times</i>. She had been led to +her earlier conclusions as to the marks of a +boot-heel on the upper panels of the doors +by the statements of interested persons.</p> + +<p>A suggestive point in this connection is the +fact, to which Miss "G." has herself testified, +that while Mr. and Mrs. "G." were disturbed<a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a> +to the utmost degree, their daughter, who slept +in a room communicating with that of her +mother, heard nothing whatever; from which +it would appear that the noises heard by them +were subjective, and that the alleged evidence +of the boot-heel, even were it credible, would +be, in fact, irrelevant.</p> + +<p>The mention of the hallucinatory nature of +such phenomena suggests attention to the intellectual +acumen displayed by <i>The Times</i> correspondent +in saying that "Lord Bute ought to +have employed a couple of intelligent detectives" +for the purpose of catching subjective +hallucinations. On the same principle, he ought +to offer to his learned friend, Sir James Crichton-Browne, +well known as an alienist, some advice +as to the best mode of securing morbid hallucinations +in strait-waistcoats. Is he prepared +to propose to take photographs of a dream, to +put thoughts under lock and key, or to advocate +the supply of hot and cold water on every floor +of a castle in the air?</p> + +<p>One of the guests at <span class="ws">B——</span> during Colonel +Taylor's tenancy wrote after his return to +London to Miss Freer as follows:—</p> + +<p><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>"<i>March 24th.</i>—I went to call the other +day on the 'G.'s' who chanced to be still in +town.... I begin chronologically, and give +you what I was told in all seriousness.... The +<span class="ws">H——s</span> knew nothing about any stories of +haunting when they took the place, and Miss +<span class="ws">H——</span> and one of the sons went up, most +innocently, to prepare for the arrival of the +others. As soon as they entered it the son +said to his sister that he couldn't explain why, +but he had a conviction that the house was +haunted. That night, however, nothing happened. +But the second night the bangings +began. An old Spanish nurse was in the +haunted room, and was greatly disturbed by +the noise upon her door, which seemed as if it +were going to be burst open. She didn't seem +to be alarmed in the least however, and later +took steps to secure its remaining shut by stuffing +a towel under the chink (why this should +secure it I rather fail to see, still that was her +view). Apparently the ghost resented this, and +one night did actually burst the door open, with +such violence that the towel was precipitated +into the middle of the room. The longer they<a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a> +stayed in the house, the worse things got. The +noises were all over the house more or less, +and were by no means confined to bangings. +Miss <span class="ws">H——</span> slept in room No. 8, where the +ghost limped round her bed. She was so +alarmed that she fetched her brother in, and +he slept on the sofa. The limping began again, +and she asked him if he heard anything, and +he at once agreed that somebody was walking +round the bed. In his own room—I forget +which—he twice <i>saw</i> the ghost, once in the +shape of an indeterminate mist, once in the +shape of a man, who came in by the door +and vanished in the wall. Mrs. 'G.'<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> now +appears on the scene, and slept in No. 1 (I +<i>think</i>). She heard only the bangings, which +she declares were indescribably loud. They +were mostly at the door of the haunted room. +Traps were laid to catch unwary jesters; the +door, or the surrounding floor, I forget which, +was covered with flour, and wires were stretched +across the door; and if I had the proper mind<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a> +of a ghost-story narrator, I should say that the +bangings were as bad as ever, and the flour and +the wires were found undisturbed.</p> + +<p>"But as a matter of fact she didn't say that, +though doubtless she intended to, but jumped +on to something else. Mr. "G.," who was +there some weeks after his wife, was put down +in the wing—I don't know which room—and +had visitations. He heard steps approach down +the passage, followed by a heavy body flinging +itself against his door. He also heard screams, +which seemed to him to recede as though the +screamer was passing through the walls. (I +couldn't quite understand this effect, but that +was how he described it.) Their chaplain, who +was put into the haunted room, was also greatly +worried, and both he and the Spanish nurse +and Colonel <span class="ws">A——</span> all had the sensation that +their bedclothes were being pulled off, and they +had to hold on to them to prevent their departure. +The most interesting part of the story +is that Mrs. <span class="ws">S——</span> later admitted to Mrs. "G." +that it was quite true the house was supposed +to be haunted, that she had lived there for +twenty years, and at various times there had<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a> +been outbreaks of this kind of thing of greater +or less duration, but that the outbreaks had +not been often enough for them to think it +worth while mentioning the fact to incoming +tenants. It appears also that the story of the +bangings on the table in the daylight on the +occasion of the last interview between the late +Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> and the land-steward, came from one +of the young <span class="ws">S——s.</span> It was also said that one +of the young <span class="ws">S——s</span> used to sleep in the dressing-room +between No. 1 and the haunted room, +and used to complain that somebody kept pulling +his bedclothes off.</p> + +<p>"I may add that it is quite clear that the +people about the place—some of whom, on my +leaving, I vainly tried to draw—have been +threatened not to talk about the ghost. There +was no mystery about it whatever last year, +the station officials being exceedingly loquacious +and full of information...."</p> + +<p>The above are the circumstances which <i>The +Times</i> correspondent thus describes:—</p> + +<p>"Lord Bute's confidence has been grossly +abused by some one. It was represented to him +by some one that he was taking the 'most<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a> +haunted house in Scotland,' a house with an +old and established reputation for mysterious +if not supernatural disturbances. What he +has got is a house with no reputation whatever +of that kind, with no history, with nothing +germane to his purpose beyond a cloud of baseless +rumours produced during the last twelve-month. +Who is responsible for the imposture +it is not my business to know or to inquire, but +that it is an imposture of the most shallow and +impudent kind there can be no manner of doubt. +I interviewed in <span class="ws">P——</span> a man who has the +district at his finger-tips, and was ready to +enumerate in order all the shooting properties +in the valley. He had never heard until the +moment I spoke to him of <span class="ws">B——</span> possessing any +reputation, ancient or modern, for being haunted, +although he is familiar with the estate, and has +slept in the house. It has no local reputation +of the kind even now beyond the parish it +stands in. The whole thing has been fudged +up in London upon the basis of some distorted +account of the practical jokes of the +<span class="ws">H——s."</span></p> + +<p>As the writer in question obtained his<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a> +admission to the house as a guest by Sir +James Crichton-Browne's solicitation through +Sir William Huggins and Lord Bute, it might +naturally have been supposed that the real +facts were known to him, at least so far as +they were concerned. It appears, however, +that he cherished a voluntary ignorance upon +the subject, to judge from the phrase, "it is +not my business to know or to inquire." Of +such a writer, and of such statements, the +reader will now form his own opinion; but +that the correspondent in question should continue +to cling to his journalistic anonymity, +is little to be wondered at.</p> + +<p>Colonel Taylor served in the Bedfordshire +Regiment. He was afterwards Professor of +Tactics at Sandhurst, and retired in 1894. +Possessed of means, leisure, and intelligence, +he chose to make the study of psychic subjects +his particular occupation. He is one of +the seven fundamental members who, in 1895, +signed the Articles of Association of the London +Spiritualist Alliance, holds office in the Society +for Psychical Research, and has rendered very +valuable services in investigation of various<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a> +kinds. Having made the investigation of +houses alleged to be haunted his special +province, he may be fairly considered to be +somewhat of an expert in this matter. It may, +or may not, be regarded as a drawback to his +usefulness in this direction, that he is so +peculiarly insensitive to subjective impressions, +that a man who is colour-blind would be +almost as useful a witness as to shades of +colour as Colonel Taylor upon hallucinations, +local or otherwise; but, as will be seen, he is +fertile in expedients, experienced in research, +and careful and observant of the phenomena +experienced by others.</p> + +<p>Lord Bute, who takes some interest in scientific +matters, has been accustomed not infrequently +to defray the cost of scientific work +which he is unable to undertake himself, and +he offered to meet the expense of the lease of +<span class="ws">B——</span> if Colonel Taylor would take the house, +a proposal which he accepted.</p> + +<p>This is what <i>The Times</i> correspondent of +June 8, 1897, thought proper to describe in +the words, "for reasons which are differently +stated in London and in Perth, where the agent<a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a> +for the proprietor is to be found, Lord Bute +did not take the house in his own name, but in +that of Colonel Taylor."</p> + +<p>It would have been equally true to say of +the Coptic texts, published at Lord Bute's +expense by Mr. Budge of the British Museum, +that Lord Bute wrote and published these +books under the name of Budge.</p> + +<p>Had Colonel Taylor been prevented by circumstances +from becoming tenant of <span class="ws">B——</span> +House, Sir William Crookes, the present President +of the British Association and of the +Society for Psychical Research, or Mr. Arthur +Smith, Treasurer of the S.P.R., was willing +to take the lease.</p> + +<p>Having thus agreed to Lord Bute's proposal, +Colonel Taylor at once proceeded to make himself +acquainted with the history of <span class="ws">B——</span> House. +He naturally placed himself in communication +with the late tenant, assuming that that gentleman +would be willing to assist in investigating +the phenomena by which his family and guests +had been annoyed. But the only information +which Mr. <span class="ws">H——</span> seemed disposed to give was +an admission that some members of his family<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a> +had heard noises, and that the house was locally +reported to be haunted.</p> + +<p>However, other sources of information as to +the experiences of the <span class="ws">H——</span> establishment were +fortunately available.</p> + +<p>Captain <span class="ws">S——'s</span> agents made no scruple +about letting the house to the well-known +expert. The Edinburgh agents, Messrs. Speedy, +indeed mentioned the haunting, and expressed +the hope that Colonel Taylor would not make +it the subject of complaint, as had been done +by the <span class="ws">H——</span> family, and they received the +assurance that this was not a score upon which +he would give trouble. In regard to the letters +of Messrs. R.H. Moncrieff & Co., dated June +12, 1897, which appeared in <i>The Times</i>, it +can only be said that the impression which +they were likely to convey was, that Colonel +Taylor was an imaginary being like John +Doe or Richard Roe. Their scepticism must +have been of recent origin, since none was +manifested on receiving his rent. Their position +is in any case unfortunate, since, even +if unclouded by doubt as to the Colonel's +personality, they appear to wish the public to<a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a> +believe that they seriously thought that one +well known as a Spiritualist in England and +America, a retired Professor of Military Tactics, +with a comfortable house at Cheltenham, a +member of the Junior United Service Club in +London, a man who neither shoots nor fishes, +had been suddenly seized in his mature years +with a desire to hire an isolated country house +in Perthshire, in the depths of winter, for the +purpose of trying his 'prentice hand upon rabbit-shooting +on a small scale.</p> + +<p>Colonel Taylor, who is a widower without a +daughter, was at this time much occupied by +the illness and death of a near relative, and +was unable for the moment to take up residence +at <span class="ws">B——</span> House. Lord Bute accordingly expressed +a hope that Miss Freer would undertake +to conduct the investigation. Mr. Myers also +wrote urgently to her, saying, "If you don't +get phenomena, probably no one will." She +was abroad at the time, but at considerable personal +inconvenience consented to return, and +on December 26th she wrote to Lord Bute, +stating that she could reach Ballechin on +February 2nd, and adding—</p> + +<p><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a>"I have been reflecting further on the +question of the personality of investigators. +I think the names you suggest, and some +others which occur to me, divide naturally into +three classes (assuming, and I think you agree +with me, that it does not follow that every +one can discover a ghost because it is there, +nor that their failure to discover it is any +proof that it is not there). (1) Those who have +personal experience of phenomena, and may be +expected to be susceptible to psychic influences; +(2) those who have no personal powers in that +line, but are open-minded and sympathetic; and +(3) those who are passively open to conviction. +A fourth class, those who come to look for evidence +against the phenomena, but will accept +none for it, should, I think, be left until we +have some demonstrable evidence to show.... +Mr. Myers proposes himself for April 14-21.... +I should suggest the keeping of a diary, in which +every one willing to do so should make entries, +negative or affirmative."</p> + +<p>The <i>Times</i> Correspondent further criticised +the method of inquiry employed at <span class="ws">B——.</span></p> + +<p>"Lord Bute's original idea was a good one, but<a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a> +it was never properly carried out. Observing +that the S.P.R. had made many investigations +in a perfunctory and absurd manner by sending +somebody to a haunted house for a couple of +nights and then writing an utterly worthless +report, he desired in this case a continuous +investigation extending over a considerable +period. He ought, therefore, to have employed +a couple of intelligent detectives for the whole +term, and thus secured real continuity. As +things are, the only continuity is to be found in +the presence—itself not entirely continuous—of +the lady just mentioned. But simply because +she is a lady, and because she had her duties as +hostess to attend to, she is unfit to carry out +the actual work of investigating the phenomena +in question. Some of her assistants sat up all +night, with loaded guns, in a condition of abject +fright; others, there is reason to suspect, manufactured +phenomena for themselves; and nearly +all seem to have begun by assuming supernatural +interference, instead of leaving it for the final +explanation of whatever might be clearly proved +to be otherwise inexplicable."</p> + +<p>It is hardly necessary to repudiate such a<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a> +condition of mind on the part of the guests at +<span class="ws">B——,</span> but it may be well to remark that the +writer of this sapient paragraph seems to be +under the impression that every result of certain +forces at present imperfectly understood is +supernatural. The assertion that any one who +was in the house during Colonel Taylor's +tenancy believed in the possibility of the existence +of anything supernatural is, so far as the +present editors are aware, a pure fabrication, +having no foundation whatever. In their own +belief all things which exist, or can exist, are, +<i>ipso facto</i>, natural, although their nature may +not belong to the plane of being in which we +are normally accustomed to move.</p> + +<p>In this connection may be usefully quoted the +following passages from Miss Freer's article in +<i>The Nineteenth Century</i>, August 1897:—</p> + +<p>"Some of my friends asked me how I proposed +to organise a haunted house research, to +which I could only reply that I didn't propose +to do anything of the sort. It seemed to me +that among several things to be avoided was +self-consciousness of any kind, that the natural +thing to do was to settle down to a<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a> +country-house life, make it as pleasant as possible, and +await events.... The subject of the 'haunting' +was never accentuated, and we always tried to +prevent talking it over with new-comers.... +As to the guests, for the most part they came +on no special principle of selection.... Several +of our visitors had more or less special interest +in the inquiry, but others merely came for a +country-house visit or for sport, and some knew +nothing whatever till after their arrival of any +special interest alleged to attach to the house.... +Analysing our list of guests, I find that there +were eleven ladies, twenty-one gentlemen, and +<i>The Times</i> Correspondent. Of the gentlemen, +three were soldiers, three lawyers, two were men +of letters, one an artist, two were in business, +four were clergy, one a physician, ... and five, +men of leisure."</p> + +<p>It would be unnecessary to quote all the +preliminary correspondence; but the following +passages from Lord Bute's letters to Miss Freer +help to explain the situation, and the relation +of those concerned:—</p> + +<p>"<i>December 20th.—</i> ... I am afraid I shall +encroach even further upon your kindness.<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a> +Myers has all the papers, but I fancy you +would rather know as little as possible, so +as not to be influenced by expectation. It is +no case of roughing it. <span class="ws">B——</span> House is, I +believe, a luxurious country house, ample, +though not too large, in a beautiful neighbourhood...."</p> + +<p>A letter of December 22nd refers to a suggestion +that the phenomena were produced by +trickery, a fact which is mentioned to show +that the possibility was kept in view from the +first.</p> + +<p>On January 23rd, "Not a day should be +lost in beginning the observation, which ought +to be continuous. Such a chance has never +occurred before, and may never occur again. +Orders have been given to get the house ready +for immediate occupation."</p> + +<p>Miss Freer, accompanied by her friend Miss +Constance Moore (a daughter of the late Rev. +Daniel Moore, Prebendary of St. Paul's and +Chaplain, to the Queen), arrived at <span class="ws">B——</span> +House on February 3, 1897.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Here and in all references to rooms by their numbers, see +<a href="#Page_1">Frontispiece</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p> +<a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> See her own account, <a href="#Page_64">p. 64</a>. The account here given, as will +be seen, is not quite accurate as to the precise rooms. Mrs. "G." +slept in the wing.</p></div><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a> + +<h2>JOURNAL KEPT DURING A<br /> +VISIT TO B—— HOUSE</h2> +<br /> + +<div class="block"><p><i>February 3rd, Wednesday.</i>—Constance Moore and I +arrived from Edinburgh, with Mac., the maid, a little +after 10 <span class="sc">p.m.</span>, having sent on beforehand the following +servants:—Robinson and Mrs. Robinson, butler and cook; +Carter and Hannah, two housemaids.</p> + +<p>I had engaged them on behalf of Colonel Taylor in +Edinburgh last evening. They had all good characters, +and were well recommended. We told them nothing, of +course, of the reputation of the house, and were careful to +choose persons of mature age, and not excitable girls.</p> + +<p>I had seen no plans nor photographs of the house, and +merely desired that any rooms should be prepared for us +that were near together—<i>i.e.</i> bedroom, dressing-room, and +maid's room. Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span> [who met us in Edinburgh, and +is a lawyer, mentioned hereafter], who had seen plans, +asked what orders we had given, and remarked that, +as far as he knew, we should secure one quiet night, +as the "haunted" part contained, apparently, no dressing-rooms.</p> + +<p>The house looked very gloomy. It was not cold out of +doors, though thick snow lay on the ground. Inside it +felt like a vault, having been empty for months. None of<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a> +the stores ordered had arrived. We had no linen, knives, +plate, wine, food, and very little fuel or oil. Candles and +bread and milk and a tin of meat had been got for us in +the village. We ate and went to bed. The room was +so cold that we had to cover our faces, and we had no +bed-linen. We had been very busy all day in Edinburgh, +and soon fell asleep.</p> + +<p><i>February 4th, Thursday.</i>—I awoke suddenly, just before +3 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> Miss Moore, who had been lying awake over two +hours, said, "I want you to stay awake and listen." +Almost immediately I was startled by a loud clanging +sound, which seemed to resound through the house. The +mental image it brought to my mind was as of a long +metal bar, such as I have seen near iron-foundries, being +struck at intervals with a wooden mallet. The noise was +distinctly as of metal struck with wood; it seemed to +come diagonally across the house. It sounded so loud, +though distant, that the idea that any inmate of the +house should not hear it seems ludicrous. It was repeated +with varying degrees of intensity at frequent +intervals during the next two hours, sometimes in single +blows, sometimes double, sometimes treble, latterly continuous. +We did not get up, though not alarmed. We +had been very seriously cautioned as to the possibilities +of practical joking; and as we were alone on that floor +in a large house, of which we did not even know the +geography, we thought it wiser to await developments. +We knew the servants' staircase was distant, though not +exactly where.</p> + +<p>About 4.30 we heard voices, apparently in the maid's +room, undoubtedly on the same floor. We had for some +time heard the housemaids overhead coughing,<a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a> +occasionally speaking, and we thought they had got up and +had come down to her room.</p> + +<p>After five o'clock the noises seemed to have ceased, +and Miss Moore fell asleep. About 5.30 I heard them +again, apparently more distant. I continued awake, but +heard no more.</p> + +<p>About 8 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> the maid brought us some tea. She said +she had slept very badly, had worried over our apparent +restlessness, as she had heard voices and footsteps and +the sound of things dragged about, but that the maids +had not been downstairs. We had never risen, and had +spoken seldom, and in low tones, and an empty room (the +dressing-room) intervened between Mac.'s room and ours.</p> + +<p>In order, as we supposed, to follow up the noises we, later, +in the day moved our rooms to the other side of the +house, especially choosing those from which the sounds +seemed to proceed—Nos. 6 and 7—leaving Mac., the maid, +in No. 3.</p> + +<p>The whole day has been occupied with exploring the +house, sending for food and supplies, trying to thaw the +rooms, moving furniture to make things homelike, and +trying to arrive at a little comfort.</p> + +<p>The house will soon be very pleasant, and only needs +living in, but it feels like a vault. It is very roomy and +very light. Nothing less like the conventional "haunted" +house could be conceived. The main body of the house +was built in 1806, the wing about 1883, with the apparent +object of providing the children of the family with rooms +outside the "haunted" area. It is cheerful, sunny, convenient, +healthy, and built on a very simple plan, which +admits of no dark corners or mysteries of any kind. A +pleasanter house to live in I would not desire, but it is<a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a> +constructed for summer rather than for winter use. It +has been added to at least twice, and there is much waste +space. The original mansion, which was, I understand, +upon a different site, was dated 1579; the new wing was +built about fourteen years ago, and consists of four rooms +and offices, adapted for schoolroom or nursery use. But +the older walls are of great thickness.</p> + +<p>After dusk we sat down to rest, and for the first time +read the papers relating to the house,<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a> breaking open +the envelope in which Mr. Myers had given them to me. +I had done this for my own satisfaction, as I wanted, if +only for a few hours, to have as unprejudiced a presentation +of the place as was possible under the circumstances. +Miss Moore had heard some of the rumours about the +house in Edinburgh from Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> and Mr. <span class="ws">C——,</span> +but I had avoided all information as far as I could.</p> + +<p>We now learnt, to our chagrin, that we had done the +wrong thing, and had left rooms alleged to be haunted, +and taken two apparently innocent. We, however, consoled +ourselves by the reflection that we can offer the +others to our guests, and that we are at all events <i>next</i> +to No. 8, which has an evil reputation.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>It is the room in which Sarah <span class="ws">N——</span> died, +and in which Miss <span class="ws">H——</span> heard the limping +footsteps walking round her bed.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>As we had been told that the avenue is shunned by +the whole neighbourhood after dark, we went out for a +stroll up and down about six o'clock. We saw nothing,<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a> +but our dog Scamp growled at the fir plantation beside +the road.</p> + +<p>Mr. L. <span class="ws">F——</span> [eminent as an electrical engineer], +arrived about 10 <span class="sc">p.m.</span> We thought it polite to give him +a quiet night after so long a journey, and he is sleeping +in No. 5.</p> + +<p><i>February 5th, Friday.</i>—Miss Moore and I slept well. +We were both desperately tired.</p> + +<p>Mr. L. <span class="ws">F——</span> awoke suddenly at 2.30. No phenomena. +He has an excellent little apparatus, an electric flashlight, +which he is able to keep under his pillow and +turn on at a second's notice, very convenient for +"ghost" hunting—no delay, and no possibility of blowing +it out.</p> + +<p>The maids tell mine that they heard the sounds below +them of continuous speaking or reading, and "supposed +the young ladies were reading to one another."</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>This is the first occasion on which there has +been mention of the sound of continuous reading +aloud, which afterwards became extremely familiar. +The sound was always that well known to +Roman Catholics as that of a priest "saying his +office." It may be as well to remind the reader +that Clerks in Holy Orders of that Church are, +like those of the Anglican, strictly bound to read +through the whole of the Daily Service every +day, and it is not permitted to do this merely +by the eye, the lips must utter the words. In<a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a> +practice some are accustomed to move the lips +with hardly any sound, and such, we have +ascertained, is the custom of the Rev. <span class="ws">P——</span> +<span class="ws">H——;</span> others read it absolutely aloud, and +will retire to their own rooms or other places, +where they may be alone for the purpose. +This, we heard, was the invariable practice of +the Rev. Mr. "I.," the chaplain of Mr. and +Mrs. "G."</p> + +<div class="block"><p>As a matter of fact, we were sleeping on the other +side of the house, and the rooms under the maids' rooms +were empty.... In the evening, about six o'clock, we +strolled down the avenue again, and Scamp, who never +does bark except under strong excitement, again barked +and growled at the copse.</p> + +<p>The Hon. E. <span class="ws">F——,</span> a fellow-member of an S.P.R. +committee, arrives to-night. Hospitality constrains us to +put him in No. 4, which is "not haunted."</p> + +<p>I asked after the success of the new kitchenmaid, a +local importation, who arrived yesterday. I was told she +had already gone. The cook told me "she talked all sorts +of nonsense about the house, and the things that had +happened in it, and had been seen in it, all day; and then +at night refused to sleep here, and the butler had to walk +home with her at eleven o'clock."</p> + +<p>The Factor [<i>anglicé</i>: bailiff] came this morning, and I +fancied a special intention in his manner. He was much +annoyed about the kitchenmaid, said such talk was "all +havers" [<i>anglicé</i>: "drivel"], begged me not to employ her<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a> +again, and undertook to get another, lending me a girl in +his own service meanwhile.</p> + +<p>I went with him into the wing to get him to see to +things there. We have been too busy in getting the rest +of the house into order to look after it yet; but I find the +pipes are out of order, the cisterns frozen, and the "set-basins" +in the three bedrooms and bath-room out of working +order. He promised attention, but discouraged the +use of the wing. "Had we not room enough without?" +and so on. I suggested that, any way, for the sake of the +rest of the house it must be aired and thawed, and he +insisted that the kitchen fire below did that sufficiently.</p> + +<p>I cannot help remembering that this is the scene of the +phenomena recorded by Miss <span class="ws">"B——,"</span> as Duncan <span class="ws">R——,</span> +the factor, is well aware. Also, he was persistent about +"keeping out the natives," and their chatter, if I wanted +to keep the servants, but did not specify the nature of the +chatter, and I asked no questions.</p> + +<p><i>February 6th, Saturday.</i>—No phenomena last night. The +house perfectly still.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>During Colonel Taylor's tenancy a good many +experiments of different kinds were made in +hypnotism, crystal gazing, and automatic writing. +These, however, belong to a class of matter quite +different from that of spontaneous phenomena, +and are therefore not referred to, with the exception +of a single instance of crystal gazing, +which, though relating to <span class="ws">B——,</span> was made elsewhere, +and one or two occasions of automatic<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a> +writing. This latter method of inquiry displayed +all the weakness to which it is usually, +and apparently, inherently liable, and is only +mentioned here as explaining other matters. +Its chief interest was that it supplied a name +marked by a certain peculiarity which afterwards +became familiar, and that it led to a +hypothesis as to at least one of the personalities +by whom certain phenomena were professedly +caused.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon an experiment was made +with the apparatus known as a <i>Ouija</i> board, and +this, as is very often the case, resolved itself, +after a time, into automatic writing. There is +in the library a portrait of a very handsome +woman, to which no name is attached, but which +shows the costume of the last century. Her +name was asked, and the word <i>Ishbel</i> was given +several times. It is not certain whether this +word was meant as an answer to the question, +or whether, as often happens in such cases, +it was intended merely as an announcement +of the name of the informant supposed to communicate.</p> + +<p>The word, as given, possesses the following<a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a> +peculiarity. In the Gaelic language the vowels +<i>e</i> and <i>i</i> have the effect of aspirating an <i>s</i> immediately +preceding them, in the same way +in which they effect the <i>c</i> in Italian, or the <i>g</i> +in Spanish, so that, as in Italian <i>ce</i> and <i>ci</i> are +pronounced <i>chay</i> and <i>chee</i>, so in Gaelic <i>se</i> and +<i>si</i> are pronounced <i>shay</i> and <i>shee</i>. The name +Isabel is written in Gaelic <i>Iseabal</i>, but the <i>e</i> +is absorbed in its effect upon the <i>s</i> (like the <i>i</i> +in the Italian <i>cìo</i>) and the first <i>a</i> is so slurred +as to be almost inaudible, so that the word is +pronounced "Ish-bel."</p> + +<p>It was obvious, therefore, that the intelligence +from which the writing proceeded (if such existed) +could write in English, and was familiar +with the colloquial Gaelic pronunciation of the +name, but was unacquainted with the Gaelic +orthography. On this occasion also the name +"Margaret" was given in its Gaelic form of +Marghearad (somewhat similarly misspelt as +<i>Marget</i>), without any special connection either +with the questions asked, or, so far as could be +discovered, with anything in the mind of any +present, none of whom had interested themselves +at that time in the <span class="ws">S——</span> ancestry.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a>In reply to questions as to what could be +done that was of use or interest, the writers +were told to go at dusk, and in silence, to the +glen in the avenue, and this, rightly or wrongly, +some of those present identified with what had +been called Scamp's Copse. They were, however, +perplexed by being told to go "up by the +burn," for though Miss Freer and Miss Moore +had twice explored the spot, they had not +observed the presence of water. The journal +continues—</p> + +<div class="block"><p>We decided to walk in the avenue, and to explore +"Scamp's Copse" before dinner, in spite of the fact that +we were expecting Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> [a barrister], Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span> +[a solicitor], and Mr. <span class="ws">W——</span> [an accountant] just about +the time that we should be absent. Miss Moore took +the dog off in the opposite direction, and we walked in +silence to the plantation, Mr. L. <span class="ws">F——,</span> Mr. <span class="ws">F——,</span> and I. +It was quite dark, but the snow gleamed so white, that we +could see our way to the plantation. We went up among +the trees, young firs; the snow was deep and untrodden; +and when we got well off the road, we found that a burn +comes down the brae side. It is frozen hard, and we found +it out only by the shining of the ice.</p> + +<p>We walked on in silence to the left of the burn, up +the little valley, along a small opening between the trees +and the railing which encloses them, Mr. L. <span class="ws">F——</span> first, +then I, then Mr. <span class="ws">F——.</span></p> + +<p><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>In a few minutes I saw what made me stop. The +men stopped too, and we all stood leaning over the +railings, and looking in silence across the burn to the +steep bank opposite. This was white with snow, except +to the left, where the boughs of a large oak-tree had +protected the ground.</p> + +<p>Against the snow I saw a slight black figure, a woman, +moving slowly up the glen. She stopped, and turned +and looked at me. She was dressed as a nun. Her face +looked pale. I saw her hand in the folds of her habit. +Then she moved on, as it seemed, on a slope too steep +for walking. When she came under the tree she disappeared—perhaps +because there was no snow to show +her outline. Beyond the tree she reappeared for a +moment, where there was again a white background, +close by the burn. Then I saw no more. I waited, and +then, still in silence, we returned to the avenue.</p> + +<p>I described what I had seen. The others saw nothing. +(This did not surprise me, for though both have been +for many years concerned in psychical investigation, and +have had unusual opportunities, neither has ever had +any "experience," so that one may conclude that they +are not by temperament likely to experience either +subjective phenomena or even thought-transference.) It +was proposed that we should ascend the glen in her +track on the other side of the burn. It was very difficult +walking, the snow very deep, and after two or three +efforts to descend the side of the bank we gave it up, +and followed to nearly her point of disappearance, keeping +above the tree, not below as she had done. We +saw no more, and returned to the house, agreeing not +to describe what had occurred, merely to say that as the<a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a> +factor (who looks about eighteen stone) is said not to +like the avenue at dark, we had been setting him and +others a good example.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>In a letter to Lord Bute under date February +25th, Miss Freer describes this figure with some +detail:—</p> + +<p>"As you know, these figures do not appear +before 6.30 at earliest, therefore there is little +light upon their surface. Like other phantasms +seen at dark, they show 'by their own light,' +<i>i.e.</i> they appear to be outlined by a thread +of light. It is therefore only when the face +appears in profile that one can describe the +features, and this is somewhat prevented by +the nun's veil. 'Ishbel' appears to me to be +slight, and of fair height. I am unable, of +course, to see the colour of her hair, but I +should describe her as dark. There is an +intensity in her gaze which is rare in light-coloured +eyes. The face, as I see it, is in +mental pain, so that it is perhaps hardly fair +to say that it seems lacking in that repose and +gentleness that one looks for in the religious +life. Her dress presents no peculiarities. The +habit is black, with the usual white about the<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a> +face, and I have thought that when walking +she showed a lighter under-dress. She speaks +upon rather a high note, with a quality of +youth in her voice. Her weeping seemed to +me passionate and unrestrained."</p> + +<p>The appearance of a nun was entirely +unexpected, as the name "Ishbel" had been +associated rather with the portrait of the +beautiful woman in an eighteenth-century +dress in the library, and it was she whom +the witnesses, had they expected anything +at all, would have expected to see. Miss +Freer, moreover, the first witness, had regarded +the statements of "Ouija" with her +habitual scepticism as to induced phenomena, +more particularly those of automatic writing, +in which, as in dreams, it is almost always +difficult to disentangle the operations of the +normal from those of the subconscious personality.</p> + +<p>If the name "Ishbel" were really intended to +apply to the nun, it becomes a very curious +question who is the person meant. A Robert +<span class="ws">S——</span> of <span class="ws">B——</span> married, as has been already +mentioned, Isabella <span class="ws">H——,</span> who died in 1784,<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a> +but we know of no reason for supposing that +she ever became a nun.</p> + +<p>The portrait may possibly have represented +her, but it shows a much older woman than +the phantom so often seen; on the other +hand, the dates are not inconsistent, and a +considerable distance of time is suggested by +certain phrases which occurred in the automatic +writing.</p> + +<p>The person to whom the mind more naturally +reverts is Miss Isabella <span class="ws">S——,</span> the sister, +and apparently the favourite sister, of Major +<span class="ws">S——.</span> As already mentioned, she professed +as a nun under the name of Frances Helen in +1850, and died in 1880, aged sixty-six. She +did not, therefore, enter her convent till the +age of thirty-five, an age much greater than +that shown by the phantom.</p> + +<p>It is, moreover, interesting to note that +this lady's name was Isabella <i>Margaret</i>, so +that both names, as given automatically, may +have really referred to her. In the seventh +edition of "Burke's Landed Gentry," 1886, +there appears for the first time this entry—</p> + +<p>"<i>IV. Isabella Margaret, a nun, regular<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a> +Canoness of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, +d. 23 Feb. 1880.</i>"</p> + +<p>The editors have obtained from the Nunnery, +where she lived and died, a photograph, representing +the dress of the Community, and a +description of herself, which is as follows:—</p> + +<p>"She died 23rd February 1880, quickly, of +an attack of pneumonia or acute bronchitis. +She died a most edifying death, in perfect +consciousness, assisted by the Confessor ... +and the Community around her, and having +received the last Sacraments only a few hours +before she expired. As to her appearance, she +was short, rather fair, not at all stout, but +not extraordinarily thin.</p> + +<p>"She entered the Community in April +1848, was clothed in May 1849, and professed +May 1850. We do not know whether she +could speak Gaelic. She was very fond of +Scotland, and very particular about the pronunciation +of Scotch names. She was a most +entertaining companion, being full of natural +wit."</p> + +<p>The dress, which is dignified, is very peculiar +and striking, and not the least like the very<a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a> +ordinary nun's attire in which the phantom +appeared, while it would be difficult to +imagine a greater contrast than that between +the merry old lady of the description and +the weeping girl so often seen.</p> + +<p>There was, however, at least one very +peculiar reason, which will be noticed presently, +for supposing that this phantom was +really intended to represent the late Rev. +Mother Frances Helen, and that its inaccuracy +was owing to the stupid, and rather melodramatic +misconception in the mind which +originally imagined it and transferred it to +the witnesses at <span class="ws">B——.</span></p> + +<div class="block"><p>This is our arrangement for to-night:—</p> + +<div style="margin-left: 2em;"> +<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="60%" summary="arrangements1"> +<tr><td width="10%" class="tdc">Room</td><td width="90%" class="tdl">1 (where we heard noises). Mr. <span class="ws">F——</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">2. Dressing-room communicating with Nos. 1 and 3; doors opened between.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">3. Mr. L. <span class="ws">F——</span> (specially "haunted").</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">4. Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">5. Mr. <span class="ws">W——</span>.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">6. Dressing-room, Miss Moore.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">7. Myself.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">8. Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span>. (Sounds alleged, see evidence.)</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2"><i>N.B.</i>—Nothing is alleged against 4 and 5.</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p><i>February 7th, Sunday.</i>—Miss Moore was awakened this +morning soon after one o'clock by a loud reverberating<a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a> +bang, which seemed close to her bed. She lay awake +for a long time afterwards, but the sound was not repeated. +The men heard nothing. They report that they +went to bed soon after eleven, and very quietly.</p> + +<p>My maid, who has had to give up her room, slept +downstairs last night. She was kept awake nearly all +night by noises and footsteps. The wing is not yet fit +for use, as all the pipes are frozen, and the only downstairs +bedroom was insufficiently aired; so I told her to +use that for dressing, and make herself up a bed on one +of the sitting-room sofas, and she slept (or rather, lay +awake) in the drawing-room. She was not frightened, as +she thought all the noises were made by the gentlemen; +but they declare they made no noise.</p> + +<p>I asked her as to the other servants. She says the +maids are still very nervous. I spoke to them for the +first time about the noises to-day. The butler's wife has +heard sounds, but her husband only scoffs. The upper +housemaid thinks ghosts the proper thing, and tolerates +them along with the high families to which she is +accustomed. The under housemaid is very shy, is Highland, +and knows little English, and won't talk, but owns +to discomfort, and is scoffed at by the other servants, who +think it all part of her having been only a "general" till +she came here. The kitchenmaid goes home to sleep, +but I believe some one fetches her.</p> + +<p>I have had a girl out of the village to make up the +linen, and she, we notice, is careful to go home before +dark.</p> + +<p>This morning we all went to churches of various sorts. +When the men came in to tea they reported that they +had had a conversation with an outdoor servant, who<a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a> +proved to have been in the service of [Mr. <span class="ws">F——'s</span> +father] Lord <span class="ws">D——,</span> and was consequently the more +communicative. I know him, and have found him extremely +intelligent.</p> + +<p>He says that having heard from the <span class="ws">H——s'</span> butler +(who slept on the dining-room floor, in the room my maid +is to occupy to-night) that it was impossible to sleep in a +room so noisy, he induced him to allow him to share his +room, that they heard much, but they dared not show a +light for fear of his admission being discovered (the +<span class="ws">H——s</span> being much on the alert), and they saw nothing +[<a href="#Page_40"><i>cf.</i> p. 40</a> for evidence of the <span class="ws">H——s'</span> butler].</p> + +<p>We did not like to send for him on a Sunday, but +decided to have him in on Monday, and test him as to +the intensity of the noise.</p> + +<p>In the evening, while we were all chatting in the +drawing-room, Miss Moore came out into the hall, where +she had been looking after the dog. In spite of the +noise we were all making, she distinctly heard the clang +noise upstairs. She had said the same thing, though with +less certainty, once before, and we agreed that one night +some one must sit up in the hall. (This was afterwards +done without result.)</p> + +<p><i>February 8th, Monday.</i>—Last night my maid heard footsteps +and the sound of hands fumbling on her door; this +she told us when she came in with our early tea.</p> + +<p>Miss Moore in the early morning, between one and two, +heard again the sharp, reverberating bang as before. We +speculated at breakfast as to whether the sound could +have been made by the men after we had gone upstairs, +though they were all sure of having been quite still +before midnight. We made them rehearse every sound<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a> +they had in fact made, but nothing was in the least like +it, either in quality or quantity.</p> + +<p>I had been disturbed about 5.30 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> by the sound +(which we had not heard hitherto) described by former +witnesses as "explosive." I know of nothing quite like +it. I have heard the Portsmouth guns when at a place +eight miles away; the sound was like that, but did not +convey the same impression of distance. I heard it, at +intervals, during half-an-hour. Miss Moore is a very +light sleeper, but she did not awake. At six I got up +and went through my room to the dressing-room door +(No. 6), after a sound that seemed especially near. It +was so near, that though I thought it quite unlikely +under the circumstances, I wanted to satisfy myself that +no one was playing jokes on Mr. <span class="ws">C——,</span> whose room was +close by. The house was deadly still. I could hear the +clocks ticking on the stairs. As I stood, the sound came +again. It might have been caused by a very heavy fall +of snow from a high roof—not sliding, but percussive. +Miss Moore had wakened up and heard it too.</p> + +<p>(<i>N.B.</i>—We afterwards found that, as the roof is flat, the +snow is cleared away daily.)</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">W——,</span> an utter sceptic, he declares, left early; +then we all went for a walk. We spent the whole afternoon +making experiments. Miss Moore or my maid or I, +as having heard the noises, shut ourselves up in the room +whence they were heard, or stood in the right places on +hall or staircase.</p> + +<p>The experimental noises made were as follows:—</p> + +<p>1. Banging with poker or shovel as hard as possible on +every part of the big iron stove in the hall; kicking it, +hitting it with sticks (as Miss Moore and I persisted<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a> +that the first noise was as of metal on wood, or <i>vice +versâ</i>).</p> + +<p>2. Trampling and banging in every part of the house, +obvious and obscure, in cupboards and cistern holes.</p> + +<p>3. (On the hypothesis of tricks from outside.) Beating +on outside doors with shovels and pokers and wooden +things, on the walls and windows accessible; banging and +clattering in outside coal-cellars and in the sunk area +round the house. (<i>N.B.</i>—Beating on the front door +handle with a wooden racket, was right in kind, but not +nearly enough in degree.)</p> + +<p>Miss Moore, who was familiar with the noise, did it rather +well by going into a coal-cellar (always locked at night, +however) outside and throwing big lumps of coal, from a +distance, into a big pail, but <i>it wasn't nearly loud enough</i>.</p> + +<p>4. Finally the men climbed on to the roof, outside, +while Miss Moore and I shut ourselves into the proper +places. They clattered and walked and stamped and kicked +and struck the slates, but <i>they couldn't make noise enough</i>.</p> + +<p>Then we had in the gardener they saw yesterday, and +put him in the butler's room, and the four men made +hideous rows as before. He was grateful and respectful, +but contemptuous. <i>They couldn't make noise enough.</i></p> + +<p>We went out at dusk, having sent Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> and +Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span> to pay a visit (as they had not been told of the +brook scene), intending that the same trio as before +should go to the copse. Mr. <span class="ws">L——</span> <span class="ws">F——</span> couldn't come, +and as Mr. <span class="ws">F——</span> and I went on alone, we met Mr. +<span class="ws">MacP——</span> and Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span> returning before they were +expected. On the spur of the moment I asked Mr. +<span class="ws">C——</span> to come with me, leaving Mr. <span class="ws">F——</span> and Mr. +<span class="ws">MacP——</span> in the avenue. The snow had gone, and I<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a> +saw less distinctly; but I saw the nun again, and an older +woman in grey, who talked earnestly with her, she +answering at intervals. I could hear no words; the ice +was giving, and the burn had begun to murmur. (I tried +to persuade myself that the murmur accounted for the +voices, but the sounds were entirely distinct, and different +in quality and amount.)</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>This older woman in grey afterwards became +familiar. The name "Marget" was given +to her at first half in fun and simply because +this was one of the two names given by Ouija +(<i>cf.</i> p. 98). She is apparently the grey woman +referred to in the paper published by Mrs. +<span class="ws">G——</span> (<a href="#Page_64"><i>cf.</i> p. 64</a>).</p> + +<p>The fact of voices being heard by two persons, +while one alone saw the figures, seems a +clear proof that the figures were hallucinatory. +It seems probable that the sounds also were +hallucinatory, but were what is called in the +vocabulary of the S.P.R. the "collective" hallucination +of two persons. This seems to render +it highly probable that in the case of each the +hallucination had a cause external to both, +although common to both; moreover, hallucinations +are often contagious. <i>The Times</i> correspondent +states, that "the lady admitted that<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a> +the apparition was purely subjective, but in +regard to other matters was not willing to +suppose that she might be the victim of +hallucinations of hearing as well as of sight." +On the contrary, as all readers of Miss Freer's +published works are aware, she is entirely of +opinion that such sights and sounds are pure +sense-hallucinations, whatever may be their +ultimate origin.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>We rejoined the others in silence. Then Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> +said to Mr. <span class="ws">C——,</span> "Did you see anything?" "Nothing; +I only heard voices." "What sort of voices?" "Two +women. The older voice talked most, almost continuously. +I heard a younger voice, a higher one, now and then."</p> + +<br /> +<p class="cen"><i>Note by Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span>.</i></p> + +<p>"I knew previously, though Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span> did not, that +Miss Freer had seen something up the burn; and when +waiting for her and Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span>, <span class="ws">Mr. F——</span> told me the +whole story."</p> +<br /> +<p><a name="feb9" id="feb9"></a><i>February 9th, Tuesday.</i>—Last night we—Miss Moore and +I—heard the "explosive" noises about 11.30 <span class="sc">p.m.</span>, and +speculated as to the possibility of their being caused by +the wind in the chimney. There was a little wind last +night—very little. It is worth mentioning, that ever +since we have been here the air has been phenomenally +still. One can go outside, as we do frequently, to feed +the birds and squirrels without hats and not feel a<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a> +hair stirred. Even when the snow was on the ground +we never felt the cold, owing to the absence of wind, +and the thaw has been imperceptible. Snow is still on +the hills. I have several times thrown open my bedroom +window about dawn for an hour to familiarise myself +with the outside noises. There is nothing human within +a quarter of a mile. (<i>N.B.</i>—The others, who are much +more likely to be accurate as to distance than I, say +the lodges are farther off.) The servants' houses are in +a group of buildings on the hill above the house, but +are, I believe, all empty. We found, and adopted, a +deserted cat, whose condition certainly testified to the +nakedness of the land. There are two inhabited lodges +far out of hearing. A gardener comes round to the +houses about 10 or 10.30 <span class="sc">p.m.</span>, but we have watched +him, and know exactly what sounds he creates.</p> + +<p><i>February 10th, Wednesday.</i>—Mrs. <span class="ws">W——</span> arrived this +morning from London; also Miss Langton, who is "sensitive," +but wholly inexperienced. In the evening, at 6 <span class="sc">p.m.</span>, +Colonel Taylor arrived. He is in No. 8.</p> + +<p>Miss Moore and I moved back into No. 1, and moved +Mr. <span class="ws">F——</span> into No. 3, the room reported (by the <span class="ws">H——s</span>) +as specially haunted, where Colonel <span class="ws">A——</span> and Major +<span class="ws">B——</span> had slept, and in our time Mr. <span class="ws">L——</span> <span class="ws">F——,</span> who +left last night.</p> + +<p>The wing is now ready for habitation, except that the +pipes are out of order, and the "set-basins" useless, +also the bath. (<i>N.B.</i>—The fact that the pipes are all +out of working order, and not a drop of hot water is to be +had except in the kitchen, does away with a theory, which +has been rather emphatically put forward, that "it is all +the hot-water pipes.")</p> + +<p><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a>We are anxious to test the wing. Only one story, Miss +<span class="ws">"B——'s,"</span> is connected with it, and if there has been any +practical joking anywhere, I personally incline to think +that was the occasion. The wing is new, built, they say, +in 1883, and the "ghost" showed human intelligence in +selection of doors and victims. (After my return to London +I had a conversation with Mrs. <span class="ws">G——,</span> which convinced +me that I was mistaken in supposing that tricks had been +played upon Miss <span class="ws">"B——."</span> <a href="#Page_71">See p. 71.</a>)</p> + +<p>An old woman in the village asked Miss Moore to-day +with interest, "Hoo'll ye be liking <span class="ws">B——</span>?" She spoke +of the hauntings, and her husband insisted (the Highlander +always begins that way) that there were not any, and so +on, and the old woman explained that it was just the young +gentlemen last year that was having a lark. Later she admitted, +"There's nae ghaists at <span class="ws">B——,</span> but the old Major" +(who died about twenty years ago); "he'd just be saying +to Gracie if she didn't do as she was told, that he'd be +coming back and belay the decks" (<i>cf.</i> p. 136).</p> + +<p><i>P.S.</i>—<i>Monday 15th.</i>—In the kirkyard to-day at <span class="ws">L——</span> we +were shown the Major's grave. It is one of three, inclosed by +a rough stone wall. They have no headstones, and seem quite +uncared for. One is, we are informed, that of his housekeeper, +Sarah <span class="ws">N——.</span> The other is said to be that of a black +man-servant.</p> + +<p>Last night we slept as follows:—</p> + +<div style="margin-left: 2em;"> +<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="60%" summary="arrangements2"> +<tr><td width="10%" class="tdc">Room</td><td width="90%" class="tdl">1 and 2. Myself and Miss Moore.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">3. Mr. <span class="ws">F——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">4. Miss Langton.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">5. Mrs. <span class="ws">W——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">6 and 7. Empty.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">8. Colonel Taylor.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>Miss Moore lay awake nearly the whole night. She heard, +though in less degree, the old noises; and in the early +morning (compare our first night) heard the sound of +women's voices talking. When I awoke, about 6 <span class="sc">a.m.</span>, +she told me she had been disturbed, and said she feared +that the others had also, as she had heard Mrs. <span class="ws">W——</span> +talking in Miss Langton's room.</p> + +<p>At breakfast Mrs. <span class="ws">W——</span> reported that she had been +awakened by knockings, but had never moved. Miss +Langton had heard nothing.</p> + +<p>The Colonel reported that about, or just before, six he +had heard footsteps over his head. There is no room +over No. 8, which is mostly a built-out bow, and the +servants had not moved before 6.30. (If they moved +then, it was contrary to their habits!) We heard later +that Hannah had gone, about 6.30, "in her stocking-feet, +only without her stockings," to ask the time at the cook's +door.</p> + +<p>The Colonel (before our inquiries) had imitated the +noise by stamping heavily with striding steps across the +library.</p> + +<p><i>February 11th, Thursday.</i>—The Colonel moved down +into "Miss <span class="ws">B——'s</span> room" in the wing, and Mr. <span class="ws">F——</span> +into the room next to him.</p> + +<p><i>February 12th, Friday.</i>—No phenomena. The great +business to-day, which we had specially reserved for +the Colonel's arrival, was the making of sketches and +measurements for the plan of the house. We found no +mysteries. The walls are immensely thick, but all the +space is accounted for.</p> + +<p><i>February 13th, Saturday.</i>—Miss Moore slept very badly +again last night. She heard the noises at intervals<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a> +between three and five; she was awake before and after. +They were loudest and most frequent after four. At 5.30 +I was awakened by a loud crash as of something falling +very heavily on the floor above. The maids sleep there, +but can give no account of any fall. Miss Moore, of +course, heard it as, and when, I did.</p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="ws">W——</span> reports having heard loud raps. She +thinks the noise may have wakened her, but after she +was awake enough to get a light and look at her watch +(3.40) she heard what she describes as "a double knock."</p> + +<p><i>February 14th, Sunday.</i>—Our first wet day. The weather +so far has been perfect. We all got very wet coming +from church.</p> + +<p>In the evening we did various experiments—thought-transference, +crystal gazing, &c.—but nothing came of it +in regard to the house.</p> + +<p><i>February 15th, Monday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">F——</span> left early.</p> + +<p>We all walked to the Parish Church, and had some +talk with the sexton, and I had to listen to long yarns +about the Major (see under date <a href="#feb9">February 9th</a>). I was +tired, and could not go to the copse.</p> + +<p>In the evening we played games, and were very lively. +Miss Langton came into my room for a few minutes, and +was certainly not in any nervous condition, nor did we +speak of the hauntings. But this morning (Tuesday) at +breakfast she reported having heard a loud crash almost +directly after getting to her room. We considered possible +causes, but could not discover that any one was moving +in the house. The servants had gone to bed some time +earlier, and we had put out the lights ourselves in the +hall and on the stairs.</p> + +<p><i>February 16th, Tuesday.</i>—I had an experience this<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a> +morning which may have been purely subjective, but +which should be recorded. About 10 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> I was writing +in the library, face to light, back to fire. Mrs. <span class="ws">W——</span> +was in the room, and addressed me once or twice; but I +was aware of not being responsive, as I was much occupied. +I wrote on, and presently felt a distinct, but gentle, push +against my chair. I thought it was the dog and looked +down, but he was not there. I went on writing, and in +a few minutes felt a push, firm and decided, against +myself which moved me on my chair. I thought it was +Mrs. <span class="ws">W——,</span> who, having spoken and obtained no answer, +was reminding me of her presence. I looked backward +with an exclamation—the room was empty. She came +in directly, and called my attention to the dog, who was +gazing intently from the hearthrug at the place where +I had expected (before) to see him.</p> + +<p>As the day began with the above, and I had had a +quiet rest, I went to the copse at dusk. The moon was +bright, and the twilight lingered. We waited about in +the avenue to let it get darker, but it was still far from +dark when we made our way up the glen—Miss Moore, +Miss Langton, and myself.</p> + +<p>I saw "Ishbel" and "Marget" in the old spot across +the burn. "Ishbel" was on her knees in the attitude +of weeping, "Marget" apparently reasoning with her in +a low voice, to which "Ishbel" replied very occasionally. +I could not hear what was said for the noise of the burn. +We waited for perhaps ten or fifteen minutes. They had +appeared when I had been there perhaps three or four.</p> + +<p>When we regained the avenue (in silence) Miss Moore +asked Miss Langton, "What did you see?" (She had been +told nothing, except that the Colonel, who did not know<a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a> +details then, had said in her presence something about +"a couple of nuns".) She said, "I saw nothing, but I +heard a low talking." Questioned further, she said it +seemed close behind. The glen is so narrow, that this +might be quite consistent with what I saw and heard. +Miss Moore heard a murmuring voice, and is quite certain +it was not the burn. She is less suggestible than almost +any one I know.</p> + +<p>The dog ran up while we were there, pointed, and ran +straight for the two women. He afterwards left us, and +we found him barking in the glen. He is a dog who +hardly ever barks. We went up among the trees where +he was, and could find no cause.</p> + +<p>Miss Moore and I moved into No. 8 (dressing-room +No. 6). It is a "suspect" room, which I had not tried, +and Miss Moore had scarcely slept all the week in No. 1, +and was looking so worn out, that I decided to move.</p> + +<p><i>February 17th, Wednesday.</i>—A most glorious day, still, +bright, and sunny.</p> + +<p>Nothing happened till evening. The Colonel, Mrs. +<span class="ws">W——,</span> Miss Langton, Miss Moore, and I were in the +drawing-room after dinner. Some of us, certainly the +last four, heard footsteps overhead in No. 1, which is just +now disused. I was lying on the sofa, and could not +get up quickly: but Mrs. <span class="ws">W——</span> and Miss Langton ran +up at once, and found it empty and dark, and no one +about.</p> + +<p>Later, about 10.30, we all five heard the clang noise with +which some of us are so familiar. The servants had gone +to bed—or so we presumed, as all lights were out, except +on the upper floor. It occurred four times. It is of +course conceivable they may have made it, but we do<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a> +not hear it when we know them to be about, and we do +hear it when we know them not to be about.</p> + +<p>The following quotation is from Miss Langton's private +diary:—</p> + +<p>"On the night of Wednesday, February 17th, I had a +curious dream or vision. I seemed to be standing outside +the door of No. 4, looking up the corridor to No. 2, +when suddenly I saw a figure with his back to the door +of No. 2, and quite close to the door which leads to No. 3. +His face was quite distinct, and what struck me most was +the curious way in which his hair grew on his temples. +His eyes were very dark, keen, and deep-set; his face was +pale, and with a drawn, haggard expression. He looked +about thirty-nine years of age. His hair was dark and +thick, and waved back from his forehead, where it was +slightly grey. It was a most interesting and clever face, +and one that would always, I should think, attract attention. +He was dressed in a long black gown like a cassock, +only with a short cape, barely reaching to the elbows."</p> + +<p>A further reference to this vision, which at the time +seemed irrelevant, will be found on page 225.</p> + +<p><i>February 18th, Thursday.</i>—This morning's phenomenon +is the most incomprehensible I have yet known. I heard +the banging sounds after we were in bed last night. +Early this morning, about 5.30, I was awakened by them. +They continued for nearly an hour. Then another sound +began <i>in</i> the room. It might have been made by a very +lively kitten jumping and pouncing, or even by a very +large bird; there was a fluttering noise too. It was +close, exactly opposite the bed. Miss Moore woke up, +and we heard it going on till nearly eight o'clock. I +drew up the blinds and opened the window wide. I<a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a> +sought all over the room, looking into cupboards and +under furniture. We cannot guess at any possible +explanation.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>Further experience of these curious hallucinatory +sounds, combined with visual hallucination +in the same room, taking also into +consideration the interest which our own dogs +always displayed in these phenomena, led us to +the conclusion that our first deductions had been +wrong, and that the sounds were those of a dog +gambolling.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>(The Rev.) Mr. "Q." (an English vicar), arrived. In +the evening, at 6.30, Miss Langton and I took him down +to the glen. It was a very light evening. I saw the +figure of Ishbel, not very distinctly, in conversation with +the second figure, which was barely defined. We remained +in perfect silence as usual. On regaining the +avenue Miss <span class="ws">L——</span> said she had heard voices, and +thought she had seen what might be the white parts of +the nun's dress. Mr. "Q." said he had seen a light +under the big tree. The figures were nearer the tree +than usual. Miss Langton went up a second time with +the Colonel, and again heard voices.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>It is worth remarking that Mr. "Q." has, +doubtless from some idiosyncrasy, since developed +a faculty of seeing lights where other +people see phantasms.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a></p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>February 19th, Friday.</i>—No phenomena last night. We +have spent the day in <span class="ws">A——,</span> the neighbouring town, +where I had a fall and hurt my foot, so that I was +obliged to drive home, and could not go to the glen. +Miss Langton and Mr. "Q." went down about seven o'clock. +Mr. "Q." saw the outline of a figure of which he has +written the description. Miss Langton heard the usual +voices on the other side of the burn; they seemed to her +to be interrupted by a third voice, in deeper tones; and +she also heard the footsteps of a man passing behind her, +a heavy tread, "not like a gentleman."</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>The following, the account referred to, was +contained in a private letter from Mr. "Q." to +Lord Bute. The description of Ishbel in the +Journal of February 26th, was, it will be observed, +of later date, although before Miss Freer +had seen the following:—</p> + +<p>"<i>February 19th and 20th, 1897.</i>—I had heard +only that Miss Freer had seen two figures by the +burn, one of which was that of a nun, the other +a woman, before whom, on one occasion, the nun +appeared to be kneeling. I had always pictured +the nun as standing or kneeling with her back +to the spectator.</p> + +<p>"On February 19th, at about 6.45 <span class="sc">p.m.</span>, I +visited the burn with Miss Langton (<i>and not +Miss Freer</i>). After looking a little I saw<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a> +(<i>a</i>); the white was very plain, and the head +clearly outlined, but the vision was for the fraction +of a second. I was conscious of it indistinctly +for a few minutes, and there seemed a good deal +of movement. Suddenly I was again conscious +of the figure as shown in (<i>b</i>), full-face, as though +gazing at me; again the white part was very +distinct, but I could distinguish no features."</p> + +<div class="img" style="width: 70%;"> +<a href="images/imagep122.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep122.jpg" width="70%" alt="vision images." /></a><br /> +</div> + +<div class="block"><p><i>February 20th, Saturday.</i>—This morning we went down +to <span class="ws">——</span> and had a little talk with the old servant who +told us stories the other day about the Major, and she +repeated the story of his threatened return. The same +story was repeated independently this afternoon by [a +local tradesman], who opened conversation by inquiring +whether we had "seen the Major yet."</p> + +<p>Miss Moore and I again this morning heard noises in +No. 8, more especially those of the pattering footsteps, +just after daylight, and a violent jump and scramble, +which we thought was our dog, until we found that he +was sleeping peacefully as usual on his rug at our feet.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a>In a letter to Lord Bute, dated February 21, +1897, Mr "Q." gives the following account:—</p> + +<p>"On February 20th, at about 6.45 <span class="sc">p.m.</span>, I +visited the burn with Miss Freer and Miss Langton. +I was very briefly conscious of the figure (<i>a</i>) on +the bank of the burn, but saw no more till Miss +Freer pointed to the hollow of a large tree, when +I again saw (<i>b</i>). On each occasion of seeing (<i>b</i>) +a curious sensation was noticeable, and I felt +I was being looked at. On speaking afterwards +to Miss Freer, I found her vision of the nun +<i>under the tree</i> to be the same as mine at (<i>b</i>), +<i>i.e.</i> full face, as indeed Miss Freer had seen it +on previous occasions. This is the second sketch +I have drawn of the full face (<i>b</i>). The first I +showed to Miss Freer, remarking to her, 'I have +made the figure <i>too broad</i>' (being unaccustomed +to drawing). 'Yes,' said Miss Freer, 'for the +nun is very slight.'"</p> + +<p>It was seen at the same moment also by +Miss Freer and Miss Langton.</p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>February 21st, Sunday.</i>—Again this morning we heard +noises of pattering in No. 8, and Scamp got up and sat +apparently watching something invisible to us, turning his +head slowly as if following the movements of some person +or thing across the room from west to east. During the<a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a> +night Miss Moore had heard footsteps crossing the room, +as of an old or invalid man shuffling in slippers. We both +heard a bang at the side of the room about 6.20, some +time before any sounds of moving were heard from the +servants above. The noise was muffled in quality, and +had no resonance, and seemed to come from behind a +small wardrobe on the east wall. The room (No. 7) on +that side was unoccupied. [This bang was heard at other +times in the same spot. Experiment showed that no +noise made in No. 7 was audible in No. 8, not even +hammering with a poker on the wall, which is curved +at this point.]</p> + +<p>This morning, on coming out of church, I received a +letter from Mr. <span class="ws">F——,</span> in which was the following +passage:—</p> + +<p>"... Miss <span class="ws">H——,</span> who slept, I believe, in the room +occupied by you when I left, heard sounds of footsteps +going round her room, footsteps with the most unmistakable +limp in them. Shortly after she heard stories connected +with the former owner, who used to go by the +name of <span class="ws">B——,</span> an aged man [the Major]. She asked if +he could be described. 'No,' said her informant; 'the +only thing he could remember about him was that he had +a most peculiar limp,' and he forthwith gave an exhibition, +which tallied exactly with the limp around the bed."</p> + +<p>In discussing this, Miss Moore and I agreed that, had +Miss <span class="ws">H——</span> slept in No. 8 instead of in No. 1, as Mr. +<span class="ws">F——</span> supposed, we should have considered these limping +sounds as probably identical with those we ourselves had +heard. After I had closed my reply to Mr. <span class="ws">F——,</span> Miss +Moore discovered Miss <span class="ws">"B——'s"</span> plan of the house (in +the packet of evidence of the <span class="ws">H——s'</span> tenancy, <a href="#Page_96">see p. 96</a>),<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a> +which showed that in fact No. 8 <i>was</i> the room referred to. +Hence it appears that the room in which Miss <span class="ws">H——</span> heard +the footsteps was the same as that in which <i>we</i> heard them. +We had been misled by Mr. <span class="ws">F——</span> speaking of "the room +you occupied when I left," a mistake on his part, as, though +the change had been spoken of, we had not left No. 1.</p> + +<p>This afternoon Miss Langton experimented with Ouija +at Mr. "Q.'s" request.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>Lord Bute had suggested various test-questions +in relation to the phantasm of the nun, to +be asked the next time the Ouija board was in +operation, and answers to these were attempted +at various times, with the usual result of showing +the influence, conscious or sub-conscious, of the +sitters, almost all statements as to matters not +actually known to them being worthless. On +this occasion, however, in reply to the question, +"How old was Ishbel when she died?" answers +were spelt out to the effect that she was still +living, and that her age was fifty-nine.</p> + +<p>This may perhaps be taken as throwing light +upon the intended personality of Ishbel, and +supplying a possible clue to the identity of the +mind of which she seems to be an imaginary +creation.</p> + +<p>Fifty-nine was the age of the late Rev.<a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a> +Mother Frances Helen in the year 1873, when +Sarah <span class="ws">N——</span> died. They are not people who +are at all likely to have met each other upon +"the other side" any more than upon this.</p> + +<p>It is a generally recognised fact that the conditions +which we call "time and space" exist +on in the world beyond in a form so very different +from those in which they are conceived of +by us, that from our point of view they can +hardly be said to exist at all. It is natural, +therefore, to seek the utterer of this remarkable +statement in some person connected with <span class="ws">B——</span> +who did not know the late Mother Frances Helen +(supposing her to be the person for whom Ishbel +was intended), but had heard of her.</p> + +<div class="block"> +<p><i>February 22nd, Monday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">"Z——"</span> <i>came</i>.</p> +</div> + +<br /> + +<p>The whole matter of the inquiry had been +made known to Mr. <span class="ws">"Z——,"</span> the proprietor +of a prominent Scottish newspaper, of course +in the strictest confidence, which was carefully +made a condition of the admission of any +one to the house, a confidence which he most +honourably observed. It was arranged that +if anything occurred within the observation of +himself or his son, the scientific value of which<a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a> +rendered it, in their judgment, desirable to +publish a notice of it in <i>The <span class="ws">——</span></i>, the notice +should be published under avowedly false names +and geographical indications. Mr. <span class="ws">"Z——"</span> +was unable to come himself, but his son arrived +this day.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Mr. "Endell" (a Member of the S.P.R.) arrived while +we were out, and made a tour of inspection alone of the +outside of the house and the ground-floor rooms. He +intuitively fixed on the window of No. 3 as that of a +"haunted" room, and has since, equally by intuition, +diagnosed the drawing-room and library as "creepy," and +the dining-room as definitely cheerful. (This coincides +with our experience.)</p> + +<p>My own experiences to-day were confined to ejection +from a high waggonette, while waiting at the station for +Mr. <span class="ws">"Z——,"</span> the horse having bolted at the appearance of +the train.</p> + +<p>No phenomena. We are putting Mr. <span class="ws">"Z——",</span> at his +own request, in No. 3, the "ghost-room."</p> + +<p><i>February 23rd, Tuesday.</i>—Pouring wet. No phenomena. +Visit to glen impossible.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. <span class="ws">R——</span> (local residents) came to lunch. +Though in great pain I was able to see them for a few +minutes, and both inquired whether we had had any +experience of the reported hauntings, of which, however, +they could give us no details.</p> + +<p><i>February 24th, Wednesday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">"Z——"</span> left early. +(<i>N.B.</i>—No phenomena reported by any one during his +visit; he himself slept soundly in the "haunted" room,<a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a> +but does it the justice to acknowledge that he "could +sleep through an earthquake.")</p> + +<p>Miss "N." (the daughter of a landowner of the district) +arrived.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garford (an old friend and excellent observer) +came from London. We sleep to-night as follows:—</p> + +<p>In the wing, in the two rooms alleged by guests of +the <span class="ws">H——s</span> to be haunted, the Colonel and Mr. "Endell."</p> + +<div style="margin-left: 2em;"> +<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" summary="arrangements3"> +<tr><td width="5%" class="tdc">No.</td><td width="95%" class="tdl">1. Mr. Garford.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">3. Mr. "Q." ("ghost-room"; he has just asked to be removed from his former room in the wing).</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">4. Miss Langton.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">5. Mrs. <span class="ws">W——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">7. Miss "N."</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">8. Miss Moore, myself, and dog.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><i>February 25th, Thursday.</i>—Mr. "Endell" reported this +morning having heard a sound he could in no way account +for, which seems to us to correspond with the "clanging" +noise. We asked how he would imitate it as to volume +and quality, and he said that a large iron kettle, about +the size of the dinner-table (we are dining eight), boiling +violently, so that the lid was constantly "wobbling," might +produce it.</p> + +<p>(<i>N.B.</i>—Mr. "Endell's" opinion later is that a pavior's +crowbar heavily dropped, so as to produce a prolonged +reverberation, is a better illustration.)</p> + +<p>Mr. Garford, who was not told that any sounds might +be expected in No. 1, says he was awakened by a +violent banging at the door of communication between +Nos. 1 and 2 (No. 2 is empty). Mr. "Endell," Mr. "Q.," +and Miss Moore went up later in the day to experiment<a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a> +on the door, and found that it would <i>open</i> with the slightest +push. Mr. Garford had closed it on going to bed, and +found it closed in the morning. He had not been alarmed, +and had almost called out to his supposed visitors, before +he remembered supernormal possibilities. He described +the sound as a muffled bang, and in order to reproduce it +to his satisfaction one of the party held a thick rug on +the inner side while another hammered on the panels +without.</p> + +<p>Mr. "Q.'s" experiences in No. 3 will be reported by +himself. The groans which he heard coming from No. 2 +some of our party suggested might have been made in +sleep by the occupant of No. 1, but on trying experiments +it was found that no sounds of the kind which he could +make in his room were audible in No. 3.</p> + +<p>Mr. "Q." left.</p> + +<p>Miss Langton went up the glen with Mr. Garford, +and was perplexed by seeing the grey figure when looking +for the nun; she saw it but dimly, but later in the +evening recovered it in the crystal, more clearly and in +greater detail.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>The following is Mr. "Q.'s" account of +his experience, written on February 24th and +March 4th, in private letters to Lord Bute, but, +in order to avoid the possibility of suggestion +to others, not contributed at the time to this +journal. The Editors have been permitted also +to read another account written by Mr. "Q." of +this and of his subsequent experience, written<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a> +immediately after the occasion, which agrees with +his letters to Lord Bute in every particular.</p> + +<p>"<i>February 24th, 1897.</i>—I slept in room No. 3. +I knew it had a 'bad' reputation, also +I had heard through Ouija of probable appearances +and noises at 3 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> and 4.30 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> I +noted the time of retiring in passing the clock +on the staircase, <i>i.e.</i> 12.10.</p> + +<p>"Before going to bed I sat in a chair with my +back to a small mahogany cupboard, placed +against the wall of the dressing-room, into which +my room (No. 3) opens. About 1 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> I was +much startled at hearing behind me very distinctly +a loud groan, coming, apparently, from +the dressing-room, in the direction of the mahogany +cupboard. The sound was very distinct, +and but for the fact of there being no one visible, +I should have estimated its origin as <i>in</i> the room, +its distinctness being such that, coming from the +next room, with the door closed, it would have +sounded slightly muffled. So distinct was it +that I heard what I can only describe as the +throat vibration in the tone.</p> + +<p>"I tried to ascribe it to the bubbling of the +hot-water pipe of a washing basin fixed in the<a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a> +dressing-room, as I supposed, against the wall +of the bedroom, but saw next day that the +basin in question was fixed against the opposite +wall of the dressing-room.</p> + +<div class="img" style="width: 60%;"> +<a href="images/imagep131.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep131.jpg" width="55%" alt="Cupboard, Chair, Washing-stand." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">A, Cupboard. B, Chair. C, Washing-stand (fixed).</p> +</div> + +<p>"The sound was a greatly magnified and +humanised edition of what I have several times +heard in the drawing-room below the dressing-room, +and which has been heard by several of +the party together."</p> + +<p>And in a letter dated March 4.—"I went +upstairs at 12.10. On shutting the door of my +room I experienced a curiously cold sensation.<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a> +I stood by the fire, which was burning brightly, +and shivered to an extent that was quite phenomenal; +the fire did not in the least remove +the cold shudderings which ran from head +to feet.</p> + +<p>"I threw the feeling off as best I could, but not +entirely. I read a little and then prayed. I +read the office of compline and my private +prayers, and praying according to my custom +for all faithful departed, and especially for those +who had previously lived in the house or been +connected with it. After this I looked at my +watch; it was just upon one o'clock, and I sat +for a few minutes in the chair by the fire, when +I heard the noise described, behind me.</p> + +<p>"I changed my position and placed the chair +with its back to a table and facing the door, the +candle on the table, and took a book and read; +my shuddering sensations had been worse than +ever. Suddenly I looked up, and above the bed, +<i>apparently</i> on the wall, I got just a glimpse +(like a flash) of a brown wood crucifix: the wall +was quite bare, not a picture, nothing to make +it explainable by imperfect light or reflection. +From that time the sensation of cold and<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a> +shuddering went away: I don't say immediately, +but I was quite conscious of being +reassured.</p> + +<p>"About half-an-hour afterwards all feeling of +distress of any sort had gone. I went to bed +and to sleep. My own idea now is, that the +sound I heard was an inarticulate cry for help, +probably by means of prayer. The influence I +feel was <i>bad</i>, but something overcame it."</p> + +<p>It is desirable to add, as a question of evidence, +for comparison of the dates of this and +Miss Freer's subsequent account of the same +phenomenon, that a letter from Mr. "Q." in +Lord Bute's possession, dated March 16th, +begins, "I have no objection to Miss Freer +seeing my letter on the subject of the +crucifix...."</p> + +<p>Mr. "Q." also states that his delay in +writing to Lord Bute about the crucifix was, +that he thought it might be a mental reproduction +of one which he sometimes sees in his +own home, but that he found on examining the +latter that it has a white figure, whereas that of +the apparition has the figure of the same brown +wood as the cross. In the private account<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a> +above referred to Mr. "Q" writes, "I found +that the crucifix at home <i>in no way</i> resembles +what I saw at <span class="ws">B——".</span> It will be remarked that +this peculiar apparition was seen in the same +room by the Rev. P. <span class="ws">H——</span> in August 1892 +(<a href="#Page_17">see p. 17</a>), and it was again seen on March 6th +by Miss Freer, who had not heard at all of his +experiences, and only a bare mention, without +detail or description, of that of Mr. "Q." A +fourth vision in this connection—that of Miss +Langton, who had heard of none of the other +three, is described under date March 19.</p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>February 26th, Friday.</i>—Nothing happened till I was +in the drawing-room in the evening, when I was, as usual +since my accident, taking my meal alone. A screen stood +between my sofa and the door, so that it was impossible +to see who entered. I saw the shadow of a woman on +the wall, and supposed it to be a maid come to see after +the fire. Next, the figure of an old woman emerged from +behind the screen; she was of average height, and stout; +she wore a woollen cap, and her dress was that of a +superior servant indoors. Supposing her to be some +servant's visitor come to have a look at the drawing-room +while the party were at dinner, I moved to attract +her attention, with no result. She walked a few steps +towards the middle of the room, then disappeared. Her +countenance was not pleasing, but expressed no personal +malevolence; her face may have been coarsely handsome.<a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a> +Her dress was dark, and made in the fashion which was +worn in my childhood. When the dog came in later he +seemed to sight something from behind the screen and +followed it across the room, when he lay down under +my couch, instead of on the hearth as usual. He had +done the same thing yesterday morning, looking much +frightened, and had then taken refuge under Miss +Langton's chair.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>In connection with this it will be seen elsewhere +that footsteps were constantly heard in +the drawing-room, both at night and in daylight.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Mr. Garford, in No. 1, heard last night what seemed +like the detonating noise, which he describes as like a +wheelbarrow on a hard road, "a sharp, rapidly repeated +knocking," at a distance.</p> + +<p><i>February 27th, Saturday.</i>—Colonel <span class="ws">C——</span> and Mr. +<span class="ws">MacP——</span> arrived.</p> + +<p>To-night we sleep as follows:—</p> + +<div style="margin-left: 2em;"> +<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" summary="arrangements4"> +<tr><td width="5%" class="tdc">No.</td><td width="95%" class="tdl">1. Mr. Garford.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">2. Miss Langton.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">3. Colonel <span class="ws">C——</span> (I had planned for him to go in the +wing, but the butler, an old soldier with two medals, +seemed to think it due to such a distinguished officer to put him in the haunted room).</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">4. Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">5, 7, and 8 as before.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2"> The Colonel and Mr. "Endell" unchanged.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The glen was visited by Colonel <span class="ws">C——</span> and Mr. +<span class="ws">MacP——,</span> escorted by Miss Langton.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a><i>February 28th, Sunday.</i>—All slept well. I assisted Miss +Langton with some Ouija experiments in the presence +of, first, Mr. "Endell," then Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——,</span> then of +Colonel <span class="ws">C——</span> and Miss "N."</p> + +<p><i>March 1st, Monday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> reported at breakfast +that he had awakened at 5.45, and almost immediately +heard a loud clanging sound in the north-west +corner of his room; he was fully awake, struck a light, saw +nothing, and looked at his watch. We tried later to reproduce +this noise, which he described as resembling a +loud blow upon a washhand basin. I shut myself into +No. 1, and found this a fair, but too faint, imitation of the +sounds Miss Moore and I had heard there.</p> + +<p>Colonel <span class="ws">C——</span> and Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> left.</p> + +<p>Miss <span class="ws">M——</span> and the Colonel have to-day had some +talk with <span class="ws">——</span> [who had an intimate knowledge of the +<span class="ws">S——</span> family. See under dates Feb. 9th and 20th]. She +repeated her former story of the Major's promised "return," +especially a statement made to an old woman who worked +in the garden, who had told him that at least "he'd no get +in there, she'd keep the gate locked," that he "would come +in below the deck" (<i>cf.</i> p. 114). He was described as a +short, broad man, with white hair and beard, "a'ful fond +o' dogs (of which he had many), and so noisy with them +in the morning, that when he and his housekeeper-body +let them out, his voice could be heard on the hill." She +also said that on Major <span class="ws">S——'s</span> return from India to +assume the property he found a tenant in possession, and +had built himself a small house beyond the grounds, +which he afterwards let with the shooting. In the late +Mr. <span class="ws">S——'s</span> time this house was used as a retreat during +the summer for nuns (a statement which interests us<a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a> +greatly, as affording a possible clue to the apparition).</p> + +<p>The Major was greatly attached to the place, and had a +great dislike to the presence of strangers in it, or to its +going out of the old name. The estate, we hear, was +much encumbered when he succeeded to it, but he +cleared off all debts in a few years, and appears to have +lived a somewhat eccentric and recluse life, in the society +of his dogs and dependants.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>This is the first mention of the fact that nuns +had ever lived at <span class="ws">B——.</span> Miss Freer had not +been aware that the object of the Rev. P. +<span class="ws">H——'s</span> visit in 1892 had been to give what +is called a Spiritual Retreat to those who had +been occupying the cottage. It is only fair to +suggest that the phantasmal nun, to whom the +name Ishbel had been given, may really have +been the phantasm of one of these visitors, and +that the dress of at least some of them was +identical with or closely resembled hers, while +it was totally unlike that worn by the community +to which the late Mother Frances Helen +belonged. At the same time, Ishbel's dress was +of a kind so very common among nuns, that it +would have been that with which she would, +most naturally, have been clothed by the<a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a> +imagination of any one unacquainted with the very +rare Order to which Mother Frances Helen belonged. +To make further investigation into the +history of all the Sisters who ever stayed at +<span class="ws">B——</span> through the kindness of the late Mr. +<span class="ws">S——</span> would have been a task impossible for +its vastness, and almost certainly futile through +the natural reticence of their communities with +regard to any matters likely to occasion +haunting.</p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>March 1st (continued), Monday.</i>—I went up the burn +for the first time since my accident on Saturday, February +20th. We had had a promise from Ouija on Sunday that +if Mr. "Endell" were to visit the copse with me after 6.30 +he would be touched on the left shoulder. He was told +to go to the farther side of the burn, and to stand under +the sapling, which is at some little distance from the spot +where the phantasm usually appears. This we accordingly +did. I was barely able in the dusk to distinguish the +figure from my post on the west bank, but the phantasm +appeared very near him, as I could distinguish the white +pocket-handkerchief in his breast pocket. I saw her +hand approach this, but could not positively say that it +touched him. Mr. "Endell" saw nothing, and could not +positively say that he felt a touch, though conscious of a +sense of sudden chill, and agreed with me that had he +certainly felt one, he would probably have considered it +the effect of expectation. We stood there for perhaps ten +minutes, and he was for a short time conscious of the<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a> +subjective sensations which he commonly feels in the presence +of phenomena. We returned simultaneously to the avenue, +where we discussed the occurrence and the possibilities +of making it evidential. The only thing we could think +of was to send for Miss Langton, and without telling her +anything of what we had seen or expected, ascertain +whether she saw the phantasm in its usual position (high +up on the bank), or a good deal farther to the left, and +nearer the burn, as I had done. By the time she arrived +it was much darker, but she saw the figure under the +tree by the brook, and described it as "kneeling." She +has better sight than I, and believed it to be behind +Mr. "Endell." I should have judged her to be crouching +or stooping in front of him, but judging from comparison +of our normal sight, she is much more likely to be +accurate than I.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>Mr. "Endell's" separately recorded account, +dated March 5, exactly agrees with this, but +adds some additional touches to the latter part.</p> + +<p>"At Miss Freer's suggestion, I fetched Miss +Langton, telling her nothing of what had +occurred, but merely that we were trying an +experiment, and she was to report what she saw.</p> + +<p>"I stood again under the sapling. This time +I began to shudder almost immediately. It +was so dark they told me that they could only +see my collar though I was only ten yards from +them.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a>"Miss Langton said that thirty seconds after +I had taken up my position, the figure appeared +behind me a little to my left, and seemed to +raise its arm. Miss Freer said it was waiting +for me, and touched me as before.</p> + +<p>"I felt no touch throughout, only shiverings +that seemed to coincide with appearances."</p> + +<div class="block"><p>To-night Miss "N." wishes to sleep in No. 3, and +Miss Langton will remain in No. 2; the door of communication +can be opened between them.</p> + +<p><i>March 2nd, Tuesday.</i>—This morning I was reading in +bed by candlelight from 5.30 to 6 o'clock, and again +heard the pattering sound which has become familiar +to us in No. 8. Miss Moore was asleep, but happened +to awake while the sound was specially distinct, and +without speaking signified that she was giving it her +attention. Shortly after six we heard the sound of a +violent fall about the middle of the west wall, between +the fireplace and window. Our first thought was that +one of the maids upstairs must have fallen, till we remembered +that there was no room above us. We have +since inquired, and find that none of them moved till +nearly seven o'clock, nor was anything heard either by +them or by Mr. Garford, whose room (No. 1) joins our +west wall.<a name="FNanchor_D_4" id="FNanchor_D_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_D_4" class="fnanchor">[D]</a></p> + +<p><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a>Miss "N." passed a very disturbed night. She went +to bed about twelve o'clock; she is habitually an exceptionally +good sleeper, and, moreover, has slept in +many rooms alleged to be haunted without the slightest +inconvenience, and has never had an "experience" of any +sort. She lay awake in discomfort till 3 <span class="sc">a.m.</span>, and then +sought refuge with Miss Langton.</p> + +<p>Miss "N." left. The following is the record of her +impressions:—</p> + +<p>"<i>March 4th.</i>—You ask me to write exactly what I felt in +No. 3 when I slept there on March 1st. Well, it is rather +difficult to describe! I never felt frightened out of my +wits at nothing before, if it <i>was</i> nothing. I certainly saw +no shadows or figures, and the only noise I heard was the +thud twice, which sounded as if it came from the storey +below. If I shut my eyes for a minute I felt as if I was +struggling with something invisible (not indigestion, as I +never have it!). I was so paralysed that I <i>dare</i> not call out +to Miss Langton, and lay awake from twelve to three without +moving! In the morning, of course, I felt I had been +a fool to be so silly, and I would go and sleep there again +to-night if I had the chance."</p> + +<p>Mrs. B. <span class="ws">C——</span> came. She is an Associate S.P.R., is a +Highlander, has been all her life interested in psychical +matters, but has had no "experience."</p> + +<p>Mr. "Endell," Miss Moore, and I sat up in No. 3 till +about 2.30 in the dark, except for the firelight, and in +silence, except when any one wished to draw the +attention of the rest to sounds or sensations. There +were no sounds for which, on reflection, we found it impossible +to account. Mr. "Endell" suffered, as on previous +occasions, from the sensation known as "cold-air," and<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a> +very visibly shivered, though clearly not in the least +nervous. He is keenly interested in psychical inquiry, +but has never had any "experience" other than subjective +sympathy with the psychic impressions of others, +or a consciousness, such as he described on his arrival +here, of an atmosphere other than normal. (This last +has been of frequent occurrence, and seems to have been +always veridical.)</p> + +<p>The sole experience of any kind on this occasion was +my own. Mr. "Endell," by way of reproducing the conditions +of former occupants of the room, threw himself +on the bed about twenty minutes to 2 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> Soon after +he was seized by audible and visible shivers. We did +not speak till he uttered some forcible ejaculation of +complaint, when, looking towards him, I saw a hand +holding a brown (probably wooden) crucifix, as by a +person standing at the foot of the bed. He immediately +said, "Now I'm better," or words to that effect.</p> + +<p>We persisted in silence till perhaps 2.30, when we +agreed to separate, and while we were having some +refreshment over the fire, I told Miss Moore and Mr. +"Endell" what I had seen. (<i>Cf.</i> under date February 25, +p. 132.)</p> + +<p><i>March 3rd, Wednesday.</i>—Mrs. <span class="ws">W——</span> left.</p> + +<p>This afternoon we had a call from Mrs. <span class="ws">S——</span> and her +daughter. The Colonel, Miss Moore, and I were in the +room.</p> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="ellipsis dots"> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /> + +<p><i>March 4th, Thursday.</i>—Mr. "Endell" left.</p> + +<p>Heavy snowstorm.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a><i>March 5th, Friday.</i>—Last night I was in bed and asleep +before Miss Moore came in from her dressing-room. She +did not light the candle for fear of waking me, but, while +sitting by the fire reading, she heard the pattering noise +just behind her, in the same place where we have heard +it and the fall before, though never till then at night. +It only lasted a few minutes, but there was apparently +nothing to account for it, though of course she took +every possible means to discover its cause.</p> + +<p>Mrs. B. <span class="ws">C——</span> left to-day. Miss Moore happened to mention +at breakfast that the upper housemaid had told her +that the maids had twice again on the last two nights heard +the sound of monotonous reading, once as late as 2 <span class="sc">a.m.</span></p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>The theoretical hour for Mattins is midnight, +which, however, is only observed in practice in +certain very rigid monasteries; in others it +begins at two. But it is easily conceivable that +a priest, if wakeful at that time, would select it +in preference to another.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Mrs. B. <span class="ws">C——</span> at once said that she also had heard +precisely that sound each night, and had spoken of it to +her maid, and, like the servants, had concluded that Miss +Moore was reading to me, although it was as late as +twelve o'clock. She had also heard a bang on a door +close to her own, but had supposed it was a late comer, +possibly one of the gentlemen from the smoking-room, +and had not been disturbed. She had been sleeping in +No. 1, her maid in No. 2, and none of the gentlemen are +on the same floor. Mr. Garford, who is now in the wing,<a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a> +remarked that he too had heard voices as of speaking or +reading several times when sleeping in No. 1, but had +assumed that they were normal. As a matter of fact, +Miss Moore goes straight to her dressing-room on going +upstairs, and I am always too tired to read or speak. No +two persons sleep in any other room.</p> + +<p>We tested this by getting Colonel Taylor to shut himself +into No. 1 while I, in No. 8, read aloud at the top of my +voice, Miss Langton remaining in the room with me. The +Colonel could hear no sound less than direct banging on +the wall with a poker.</p> + +<p>The cook has been talking to-day of the various noises +heard at night; she is not nervous, nor are the maids, +but all speak of voices and bangs for which they cannot +account; except the butler, who has heard nothing, but is +obviously impressed with his wife's experience last night. +Her story is that, not feeling well, she went up to bed +early, before the servants' supper, the rest of the household +being as usual in the drawing-room. While in bed, +before ten o'clock, she distinctly heard the sound of voices +talking, apparently below, but not far distant (her room +is over No. 7, at present empty). She "wondered if it +could be the servants in the servants' hall at supper"—an +obvious impossibility, as their room is <i>not</i> underneath, is +two storeys away, and has no connection with the upper +part of the house. She also heard bangs on the wall, +behind her bed and to the side; there was no furniture +there to crack, and it was mostly on the <i>outside</i> wall, so +she finally became uncomfortable, and buried her head in +the clothes to deaden the sound. She "doesn't believe in +ghosts," but thinks the house "very queer," and says that +far and wide in the country round it is spoken of as<a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a> +"haunted," though no one seems to know of any story, +as to the cause, except that, very improbable, about the +murder of a priest by the wife of a former proprietor. It +appears that a maid engaged in the village refused to +sleep in the house, because when in service here once +before she had been frightened by bangs at the door of +her bedroom (in a room over No. 1); she had also heard +the sounds of a rustling silk dress on the back-stairs, and +had seen the bedroom door pushed open and a lady come +in.... A maid, who came after this one had left, told +the cook that she believed there was a story of a "priest +murdered somewhere at the Reformation"; she had once +been told it by Mrs. <span class="ws">S——</span> in explanation of the noises, +but had not heard whether the said murder was in the +house or the grounds, and thought Mrs. <span class="ws">S——</span> particularly +did not wish the spot known. This maid has only been +an occasional help in the house, but has lived for years in +the district, and knows the place well by reputation.</p> + +<p>To-day as we passed through the churchyard, [a resident +in the neighbourhood] pointed out the desolate grave of +the Major, with the remark that one could hardly be +surprised at a man being said to "walk" who was expected +to rest in such a place as that. He said that there +had been a great deal of talk all over the neighbourhood +as to the excitement during the <span class="ws">H——s'</span> stay at <span class="ws">B——,</span> +and seemed to believe that practical joking might account +in part for what had occurred. He did not, however, deny +that stories had been told long before their coming to +the place.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>This resident is the one as to whom the <i>Times</i> +correspondent dogmatically stated, that having<a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a> +lived in the place for twenty years he asserted +that there had never been a whisper of the +haunting of <span class="ws">B——</span> until the tenancy of the +<span class="ws">H——s.</span></p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>March 6th, Saturday</i>.—Mr. Garford left.</p> + +<p>The Colonel is to sleep to-night in No. 3, which has not +been occupied since Miss "N." left.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span> arrived. He sleeps, by his own choice, in +No. 2. He has had a conversation with the butler, whom +he had been instrumental in engaging for us, which +began by his asking how he liked his situation? He +expressed himself satisfied with everything, but added, +"But there's something very queer about the house," +and then proceeded to tell his wife's experience.</p> + +<p><i>March 7th, Sunday</i>.—Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span> has written an account +of his experiences last night.</p> + +<p>Robinson has this morning told him of his first experience! +He was awakened by the noise of a heavy +body falling in the middle of the room; he awoke his +wife, struck a match, and looked at his watch—it was +3.30; no one else had been disturbed. Mr. <span class="ws">C——'s</span> +account follows:—</p> + +<p>"<i>March 7th, 1897.</i>—It was arranged that Colonel +Taylor should occupy No. 3, and that I should sleep in +No. 2. I went to bed about twelve, but did not go to +sleep at once.</p> + +<p>"I awoke suddenly with the distinct impression that +there was some one in the room. I lay still, and tried +to realise what was in the room, but could not do so. +There was no idea of movement in my mind, but still<a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a> +I felt convinced that some one was there. The impression +seemed gradually to fade out of my mind after about seven +or ten minutes, and then I got up and looked at my watch—the +time was 4.40 <span class="sc">a.m.</span></p> + +<p>"I then went back to bed, but did not go to sleep. I +heard the clock in the hall strike five.</p> + +<p>"Shortly after I thought I heard some one moving about +in No. 1, which I knew to be unoccupied. I listened, and +it seemed to me that some one was moving round three +sides of the room and then coming back. The movement +went on for about three or four minutes and then stopped, +but after a pause of some minutes it began again. I tried +to make out footsteps, but could not do so. The movement +was that of a heavy body going round the room, and the +floor seemed to shake slightly, after the way of old flooring +when a heavy man moves about. After going on for +some time the movement stopped, and again, after a pause, +began again. The movement, whatever it was, occurred +four times, with three pauses in between. The durations +of the movement and pauses were irregular. After the +noise ceased I got up and lit the candle. The time was +5.25, and I read for twenty-five minutes, when I felt +sleepy and blew out the candle. I did not, however, go +to sleep, and I heard six strike. The day was dawning. +The rooks I first heard about 5.35, when I was reading.</p> + +<p>"About ten minutes after the clock struck six I heard +a noise like a light-footed person running downstairs, +which seemed to adjoin No. 3, where the Colonel was sleeping, +and almost immediately after I heard a loud rapping +at the door of No. 1. After a short pause this occurred +again, and I jumped out of bed. As I opened the door +of my room leading into the passage the rapping sounds<a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a> +occurred again, but less loudly. There was no one in the +passage, and I went back to bed, not having quite shut my +door. No sooner had I done so than there was a knock +at my door, which I thought must be the Colonel coming +to speak to me about the rapping at No. 1. I called out +'Come in,' but there was no answer, and I accordingly +again went to the door, only to find no one.</p> + +<p>"I heard the servants begin to move about at 6.30 above +me, and as seven struck I heard them going through +the house.</p> + +<p>"The Colonel did not hear anything.</p> + +<p>"There are no stairs coming down to the bedroom +storey where I thought I heard footsteps.</p> + +<p>"The rapping was not in any way an alarming noise.</p> + +<p>"On Saturday night 'Ouija' had said that I was not to +be disturbed that night, so I was 'not expecting.' It +also stated that Nos. 3 and 8 were the rooms that 'the +Major' occupied."</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p><i>March 8th, Monday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span> left early. He has promised +to write of any experience last night, as he was gone +before we were up. Colonel Taylor is still in No. 3; +he has heard nothing, but this is perhaps the less evidential, +that, although a frequent visitor to haunted houses, he +has never had any experience.</p> + +<p>We are still in No. 8, in which we have had a sufficient +number of experiences to make us anxious to distribute +responsibility by handing it over to another sensitive at +the earliest possibility. Miss Langton has hitherto slept +in No. 4, in which she was put on her first arrival, except +for the three nights she was in No. 2, with companionship +in the adjacent rooms. There seems to be no object in<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a> +the Colonel remaining in No. 3, as he is unlikely to see +or hear anything, and as soon as that side of the house is +quite emptied she proposes to go into No. 1, as we are +anxious to discover whether her experience will corroborate +that of Miss Moore, myself, Mrs. B. <span class="ws">C——,</span> Mr. Garford, +and the maids, as to the sound of voices.</p> + +<p><i>March 9th, Tuesday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span> writes this morning +in regard to Sunday night: "<i>March 8th.</i>—... Last night +I was not so much disturbed, but I awoke at 3.10, and +did not sleep after that. I had exactly the same sensation +as on the previous night, that whenever I was going +to sleep something woke me. At 5.20 I heard three +noises very close together, but they were very distant, and +sounded from the direction of your room" (No. 8).</p> + +<p><i>March 10th, Wednesday.</i>—I awoke about 5.30, and lay +awake reading. I had drawn the blinds up, but kept +the candle in as long as it was required. At intervals +between twenty minutes to six o'clock and ten minutes +past I heard the sounds characteristic of No. 8., viz., footsteps +of a man, and pattering of a dog. Miss Moore +awoke, and heard the later sounds. About 6.10 we both +heard the thud, which seems to occur generally beyond +the wardrobe nearer the door.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon Miss Moore and I called on Mrs. <span class="ws">S——.</span></p> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="ellipsis dots"> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /> + +<p><i>March 11th, Thursday.</i>—Very wet day, no phenomena.</p> + +<p><i>March 12th, Friday.</i>—Another wet day. I had had a +headache all day, and was unable to join the others in +a walk when the rain cleared off, but I went out, alone, +about 6.30 to the copse. Standing in my usual place,<a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a> +I saw the nun coming over the hill towards the burn; +she stood nearly opposite to me, looking down to the +water for a few minutes, and then moved away towards +the avenue. I followed as quickly as possible, but when +I got to the drive she was still a few yards ahead of me, +and I failed to catch her up, though I pursued her down +to the lodge, about two hundred yards; she then, passing +through the gates, turned to the left, and I lost her in +the obscurity of the road, which is there darkened by +heavy trees. When I returned to the house I was still +in so much pain that I took a sedative draught and went +to bed, and to sleep at once.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>With regard to the above it may be remarked +that the way she came led from <span class="ws">B——</span> Cottage, +where by the kindness of Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> some nuns +had formerly spent their annual holiday, and +the road on which she disappeared was a way +which would have led back to it.</p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>March 13th, Saturday.</i>—At ten o'clock last night Miss +Moore woke me to take some food. I was still under +the influence of the opiate, and did not really rouse, even +when she came to bed half-an-hour later. We did not +speak till I was aroused by a loud banging noise, when, +in answer to my startled exclamation, Miss Moore suggested +that it was probably the servants shutting up +downstairs, as we were early, and they had very likely +not yet gone to bed. I was much annoyed, as I knew +they had been cautioned to keep quiet, and even the +maid had not been allowed to enter my room. This<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a> +morning, when Miss Moore went to see the housekeeper, +the butler came in and asked if we had heard any noises +last night, about a quarter to eleven o'clock, he thought, +after every one had gone up to bed; adding, "It was two +bangs like a fist on a door, and I said, 'If that isn't Miss +Moore or Miss Langton, I'll believe in the noises they all +talk about,'—it's just like what the gentlemen told me."</p> + +<p>His wife had also heard the bangs, but had waited for him +to speak to her of them, and the maids on the other side +of the house had been roused to come to their door and +listen.</p> + +<p>The footman, who sleeps in the basement, and the +Colonel, who was in the smoking-room in the wing till +11.30, heard nothing; but Miss Langton, in No. 4, to +whom Miss Moore mentioned the servants' story, had +heard noises "between 10.30 and 10.45," but had not +been disturbed, thinking, as we had done, that they were +probably made by the servants.</p> + +<p>On inquiry we found that the cook had gone to bed +directly after the servants' supper, the two under maids +were up by ten o'clock (Miss Moore heard their voices +when she came to my room at ten o'clock), and the upper +housemaid had gone up a few minutes after the hall clock +struck, following Miss Moore up the stairs. The butler +had come up directly after, only waiting to put out the +hall lamp, and all were in bed before 10.30. We ourselves +noticed the striking of the hall clock <i>after</i> we heard the +noise—it had gone wrong, and only struck nine instead of +eleven o'clock—so there seems little doubt that we all heard +the same sound, and all describe it as coming from below.</p> + +<p>In discussing the occurrence with the butler and his +wife, Miss Moore learned that they had lately heard a<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a> +story [from a local resident] which was new to us. A +maid of Mrs. <span class="ws">S——,</span> who, though married to the butler, +still lived in the house, and performed her duties as usual, +was one night coming up the back-stairs with a tray for +Mrs. <span class="ws">S——,</span> when, on reaching the top, by the door of +No. 3, she met the figure of a nun, which so frightened +her that she dropped the tray and broke all the plates +on it. Mrs. <span class="ws">S——</span> explained it away by saying it was +"only <span class="ws">——"</span> (they could not remember her name) "come +to pray with her." It was Sunday night, but they knew +there was no one there who could in the least account +for the appearance. The only explanation offered by +the narrator of the story was that "there had been a Miss +<span class="ws">S——,</span> a nun, who had died."</p> + +<p><i>March 14th, Sunday.</i>—I called on Mrs. <span class="ws">S——,</span> and had a +long talk with her.</p> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="ellipsis dots"> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p><i>March 15th, Monday.</i>—Miss Moore and I, both awake at +the time, heard a loud, vibrating noise about a quarter to +six. Miss Langton in No. 4 heard it also. The Colonel, +who sleeps downstairs, heard it as from the hall, and said +he also felt the vibration. Except for about three nights +he has always slept in the wing, where, during our tenancy, +there have been no phenomena.</p> + +<p><i>March 16th, Tuesday.</i>—Miss Moore, Miss Langton, the +Colonel, and I, left <span class="ws">B——.</span> Miss Moore, Miss Langton, +and I returning on March 20th.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a>After leaving <span class="ws">B——</span> Colonel Taylor wrote as follows to +Lord Bute:—</p> + +<p><i>March 19th, 1897.</i>—"I arrived in London yesterday, +after having spent five weeks at <span class="ws">B——</span> very pleasantly. +I feel sure that there <i>is</i> a ghostly influence pervading the +house, but I am a little disappointed at the way in which +it manifests itself, for, up to the time I left, the nature of +the manifestations was such that, though it is satisfactory +to me, it would not be so, I think, to those who do not +look at such things from so favourable a position as I do.</p> + +<p>"I hope a change may yet come, and things take place +which one might think would justify people in evacuating +and forfeiting their money as the <span class="ws">H——s</span> did; certainly +nothing of this sort happened while I was there.</p> + +<p>"It is very interesting to note Miss Freer's experiences, +but in regard to those of others who have something to +relate, it is perhaps difficult to determine how much +these statements should be discounted for error of observation +and self-suggestion. I heard many noises in the +night during my stay at <span class="ws">B——,</span> but they were of much +the same sort I have been accustomed to hear at a +similar time in other houses. I think that some of our +witnesses may have given them undue prominence, under +the influence of their own expectancy. The clairvoyant +visions of 'Ishbel' in the grounds are not of great +evidential value for the scientific world in general, and I +think that any amount of 'voices' could be read into +the noises of the running stream, near where she is seen, +by those who 'wished to hear.' Still, there are some +objective noises which cannot be easily accounted for in +an ordinary way, and the three almost independent visions +of the brown cross are important.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a>"I hope things will improve; in any case, you will have +added considerably to psychical research when all has +been recorded...."</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>It is difficult perhaps to see why Colonel +Taylor should regard the independent visions of +the crucifix as of more value than the equally +independent and far more numerous hallucinations, +audible and visual, of "Ishbel." We have +the statements of the failure of several persons +who "wished to hear" voices in the sounds of +the burn, which was, moreover, frozen and silent +when the voices were heard by the first two +non-expectant and quite independent witnesses.</p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>March 19th.</i>—A passage in Miss Langton's private +journal under this date is as follows:—</p> + +<p>"<i>St. Andrews, March 19th.</i>—I looked into a water-bottle +to-night to see if I could see anything of what was happening +at <span class="ws">B——.</span> I distinctly saw room No. 3, and gradually a +figure came into view between the two doors (<i>i.e.</i> near the +foot of the bed), the figure of a tall woman, dressed in a +long clinging robe of grey, and who seemed to be holding +something in her hand, against the wall at the foot of +the bed. This became more distinct, and I saw that it was +a cross of dark brown wood, some 12 inches long (I should +say). The figure did not appear to move. I seemed to be +standing at the door of No. 3, which opens on to the +landing" (<i>cf.</i> pp. 17, 132, 142).</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>For the information of those not accustomed +to the phenomena of crystal-gazing, it may be +as well to remark that it is quite possible that +the image had been subconsciously seen by +Miss Langton when sleeping in No. 3, as deferred +impressions are often externalised for the first +time in the crystal. She may equally have received +the impression by thought-transference +from others. Certainly she had not been informed +of earlier experiences.</p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>March 20th, Saturday.</i>—Miss Langton, Miss Moore, and I +returned to <span class="ws">B——</span> house. Four guests arrived in time +for dinner.</p> + +<p>Rooms for to-night:—</p> + +<div style="margin-left: 2em;"> +<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" summary="arrangements5"> +<tr><td width="5%" class="tdr">1. </td><td width="95%" class="tdl">Miss Moore and I.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">2. </td><td class="tdl">Miss Langton.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr" valign="top">3. </td><td class="tdl">Miss "Duff," a lady whose name is familiar to readers of recent records of crystal-gazing and other students of +the literature of the Psychical Research Society.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">4. </td><td class="tdl">Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">5. </td><td class="tdl">Mr. <span class="ws">W——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">8. </td><td class="tdl">Colonel <span class="ws">C——.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><i>March 21st, Sunday.</i>—Last night, about 11.15, after Miss +Moore and I were in bed in No. 1, we heard a loud sound +from the left-hand side of the fireplace (south-west corner). +It might be imitated by the "giving" of a large tin box +(<i>cf.</i> pp. 173, 179). There was nothing but a footstool and<a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a> +a draped dressing-table there. We called out to Miss +Langton, whom we could hear still moving about. She +said she had heard the noise, but had made none herself.</p> + +<p>Her account is as follows:—</p> + +<p>"Last night (Sunday, March 21st) we retired to bed early, +as Miss Moore was leaving by an early train next morning, +and I was going to get up in order to see her off. It was +certainly not later than 10.45, when I went to my room, +having gone to No. 1 to say good-night to Miss Freer +and Miss Moore, who were sleeping that night in that +room. Miss 'Duff' was in No. 3, and I was occupying +No. 2. I am not at all nervous, and certainly I was not +expecting to see anything, as No. 2 is always supposed +to be a 'quiet' room. I was some time getting to bed, +but I put out my candle at twelve o'clock, and, after +noticing that the moon was shining brightly, I got into +bed. Contrary to my usual custom I did not fall asleep +for some time, and I felt that the room was, in some +inexplicable way, not as usual. At last I fell asleep, but +not comfortably. I kept waking, and for some time after +each awakening I could not get to sleep again. I put +this down, however, to the fact that I wanted to waken +early the next morning, and was restless in consequence. +At last I really fell asleep, but at 4.30 I suddenly +awakened with the feeling that I was not alone in the +room. I looked round; the room was quite dark; the +moon was not shining, but between the bed and the +wardrobe there was a figure standing. At first it was +very indistinct and misty, but gradually it formed itself +into the figure of a woman—a slight, tall woman, with a +pale face. She was dressed in long robes, but the upper +part was the only part I could see clearly. Round her<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a> +face and head was a white band, like that worn by a nun, +and over her head was what might have been a black +hood or small shawl, but in the darkness it was very +difficult to distinguish. I could not see what her features +were like, but she looked as if she were in trouble, and +entreating some one to help her. She stood for some +few moments at the foot of my bed looking towards me, +and then she made a movement towards the door, but +before she reached it she had vanished. I was not at all +frightened, as there was nothing at all alarming in her +appearance. I cannot write a better description of her, as +the vision was so short. The figure was the same as that +I had seen at the burn, only very much clearer."</p> + +<p>Miss "Duff" writes under this date March 21st:—"On +my arrival yesterday I was shown to my room (No. 3), +which I had selected, with Miss Freer's permission, as one +said to have an evil reputation. Perhaps it was natural +that a feeling 'as if I were not alone' should come over me, +and needless to say there was no <i>apparent</i> cause for this!</p> + +<p>"As a rule I am a very sound sleeper, nothing ever +disturbs me; but last night I was suddenly wide awake, +as if roused by something unusual. I sat up quickly in +bed, but suddenly remembering where I was, I waited +expectantly. Nothing occurred, although I did not get +to sleep again for about two hours."</p> + +<p><i>March 22nd, Monday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> was awakened +between four and five by heavy footsteps overhead. We +made many experiments to account for it, and of course +made inquiries among the servants, but could find no +cause. We are the more interested that hitherto nothing +has been heard by our party in his room, No. 4, though +there is a tradition of earlier disturbances there.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> has furnished the following +account of his experience:—</p> + +<p>"As usual I went to bed about 12 <span class="sc">p.m.</span> I +had no desire to be disturbed, and so my +room was still No. 4, which I had originally +selected as being reputed innocuous, and +which, save in one slight instance, I had +hitherto found to deserve its reputation. My +repeated visits had eliminated any expectancy +which may at first have, perhaps, existed.</p> + +<p>"My bed was alongside the south wall of my +room, and parallel to the corridor or passage, my +head towards No. 5, and my feet towards No. 3.</p> + +<p>"As often happened at <span class="ws">B——,</span> I awoke from +a sound slumber, not by degrees, but in a +moment. There was no transition—no half-awakening, +but full and complete consciousness +all at once. I struck a light, looked at my +watch, found it was 4.30, and went to sleep +again immediately. I then wakened slowly and +gradually, hearing more and more clearly a noise +which appeared to me to be the cause of my +awakening. The noise was the kind of sound +which is produced by a person walking rapidly +with one foot longer than the other—<i>i.e.</i>, it<a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a> +was a succession of beats in rapid sequence, +each alternate beat being louder than the one +immediately before it.</p> + +<p>"It appeared to me (1) to be produced outside +my room; (2) to be on a higher level; +and (3) to be moving in the direction of my +bed—<i>i.e.</i>, going as from No. 5 past No. 4, in +which I was, towards No. 3. I at once jumped +out of bed, opened my door and looked out. I +saw nothing, and the noise stopped. I then +struck a light, and found that it was only 4.45. +I lay awake till I heard the servants obviously +moving about, and then went to sleep again. +At breakfast I asked, 'Has anybody ever heard +this kind of noise?' reproducing it as well as +I could by a series of thumps on the table. +'Oh yes,' was the answer, 'that is what we +call the 'limping' or 'scuttering' noise. Of +course I had heard the phrases used, but thought +they referred to two separate noises. I had +also formed quite distinct ideas as to the kind +of noises these epithets were intended to describe—both +entirely different from the kind +of noise I had heard—and I showed what I +meant. 'Oh no,' said Miss Freer, 'what you<a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a> +heard is what we have been calling indiscriminately +the <i>limping</i> or <i>scuttering</i> noise, and we +have not heard the kinds of noise these words +suggested to you.' I emphasise this as showing +clearly that I cannot have been expecting to +hear the particular noise in question.</p> + +<p>"The next thing was to account for the noise, +if possible, and we spent some time experimenting. +First of all the servants were interrogated +as to whether any of them had been moving +about at 4.45. Answer, 'No.' Next we asked +who got up first. This was a maid who slept +in <span class="sc">x</span>, and went into <span class="sc">y</span> to call the kitchenmaid, +who slept there. To do so she had, of course, +to go through the narrow room which was over +part of my bedroom.</p> + +<p>"This, she said, was a good bit later than 4.45. +But we thought it well to make her go from +<span class="sc">x</span> to <span class="sc">y</span> while I lay down on my bed and +listened. We made her walk backwards and +forwards, both with her slippers on and also in +her stocking soles. I and some of the others +who came into my room heard her quite distinctly. +But (1) the noise of her steps was in +a different place—near my window, and exactly<a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a> +in the line of her progress; (2) it was an entirely +different kind of noise. She walked now fast, +and now slowly, but both footsteps seemed +always of the same weight; and (3), and this, +to my mind, was most important, we heard her +quite distinctly going from <span class="sc">x</span> to <span class="sc">y</span>, and back +again from <span class="sc">y</span> to <span class="sc">x</span> and could tell in which +direction she was moving. Now, the noise +which I had heard only went in the one direction, +<i>i.e.</i>, parallel to the maid's outward progress. +I did not hear anything going in the other +direction. I was entirely wakened by the +noise which I had heard, and, as I have said, +I continued to listen intently for some considerable +time, and yet I heard nothing.</p> + +<p>"In short, alike from its apparent <i>locus</i>, from +its quality, and from the direction of its movements, +I am convinced that the noise which I +heard was not caused by any of the servants +moving about upstairs.</p> + +<p>"Anybody who knows the house will understand +that where the noise seemed to me to be +was in the neighbourhood of the dome. For all +I know, the dome, as somebody suggested, may +be a regular sounding-board; but even so, that<a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a> +does not help much towards an explanation. +Wherever the noise may have been produced, +the question still remains, 'What produced it?' +and that we have entirely failed to answer."</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p>The gist of this account was communicated by +Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> to the Hon. <span class="ws">E——</span> <span class="ws">F——,</span> who +replied as follows on April 19, 1897: "Do you +appreciate the fact that your ghost, with the +footsteps of alternate lowness and softness, is +absolutely correct, and corresponds with Miss +<span class="ws">H——'s</span> ghost, as I heard it from Mrs. <span class="ws">G——</span> +lately in town. Miss <span class="ws">H——</span> slept, I <i>think</i>, +in No. 4 [this is wrong; <i>cf.</i> p. 124], and was +wakened by the sound of walking round her +bed with a peculiar limp. Much alarmed, she +went and called her brother, who came and +slept on the sofa (is there a sofa in No. 4?), and +shortly afterwards they both heard the same +noise again."</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——,</span> as already mentioned, did not +know that this noise had been heard by any +one.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Miss "Duff" thus describes her next night: "Having +heard nothing unusual all day, I went to bed quite disappointed. +However, I was to be again awakened, and<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a> +this time by a loud <i>crash</i> at my door, which resounded +for some time. I lit a candle, but nothing had fallen in +my room to account for the sound.</p> + +<p>"I began to think I might be mistaken as to the direction +of the noise, and that it might have been caused by +a large piece of coal falling in the fender. I went to +look, but there was no coal at all, only the dying embers +in the fire. I soon fell asleep again, only to be again +awakened by a similar crash (although not so loud), and +this time between the washstand and the window. I +kept awake till morning, and heard nothing more." [We +had carefully concealed from Miss "Duff" the nature +of the usual phenomena of this room.]</p> + +<p><i>March 23rd, Tuesday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">L——</span> and his friend +Captain <span class="ws">B——</span> arrived.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>The proof of this portion of the Journal was +submitted to Mr. <span class="ws">L——,</span> who returned it with, +<i>inter alia</i>, the following note:—</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to suppress the fact of my +visit to <span class="ws">B——,</span> but object to the publication of +any details about me or any of my writings." +In deference to Mr. <span class="ws">L——'s</span> wish, therefore, his +contributions to the Journal have been withdrawn, +and all further references to him deleted.</p> + +<p>Captain <span class="ws">B——</span> had no experiences, and by +his desire some interesting suggestions made by +him as to possible normal causes have been +omitted.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a></p> + +<div class="block"><p>We are now sleeping as follows:—</p> + +<div style="margin-left: 2em;"> +<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="60%" summary="arrangements6"> +<tr><td width="5%" class="tdr">1. </td><td width="95%" class="tdl">Captain <span class="ws">B——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">2. </td><td class="tdl">Miss Langton.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">3. </td><td class="tdl">Miss "Duff."</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">4. </td><td class="tdl">Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">5. </td><td class="tdl">Myself.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">6. </td><td class="tdl">Mr. <span class="ws">L——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">7. </td><td class="tdl">Colonel <span class="ws">C——.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Miss "Duff" writes under this date:—</p> + +<p>"Last night I sat late by my fire <i>expecting</i>, but as nothing +seemed to be going to happen I went to bed, and soon +to sleep. However, I was to have my most startling +experience! I was awakened as if by some one violently +shaking my bed (I must mention there was a great wind +blowing outside), and at the same time I felt something +press heavily upon me. <i>I struck out!</i> rather frightened, +but remembering again where I was, refrained from striking +a light, in order to see the next development of this weird +experience. To my disappointment nothing happened, +although sleep was successfully banished till daylight."</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p>[On March 28th Miss "Duff" wrote to me: "Mr. +<span class="ws">——</span> suggested that I should describe to you more +accurately the shaking of my bed, as it was not at all +such a vibration as might be caused by a high wind or +any ordinary movement occurring in other parts of the +House.</p> + +<p>"The bed seemed to heave in the centre, as if there +were some force under it, which raised it in the centre +and rocked it violently for a moment and then let it sink +again. I should also have added, that on other nights +quite as windy this phenomenon did not occur; in fact,<a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a> +no movement I have ever felt has given me quite the +same sensation. The highest point on the 'Switchback' +is the nearest to it in my experience. I was wide awake +at the time, so it was no nightmare."]</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p>Miss "Duff" thus continues her account of Tuesday, +March 23rd:—</p> + +<p>"This morning, as I sat in the drawing-room, I heard the +low, monotonous voice of some one reading aloud. Knowing +that Miss Freer and Miss Langton were writing in +the next room, I concluded that Miss Freer must be +dictating while Miss Langton wrote for her, although I +must say I did not recognise Miss Freer's voice. This +went on for about an hour. Soon after Miss Langton +came into the drawing-room, and I said, 'Well, you +<i>have</i> been busy; I suppose Miss Freer has been dictating +to you?' She looked surprised and said, 'No, indeed +she hasn't; we have both been writing, and if Miss Freer +spoke at all, it was only a few words now and again.'" +This low monotonous sound of a human voice I afterwards +heard once or twice in Room 3.</p> + +<p><i>March 24th, Wednesday.</i>—Last night I heard a crash as +of something falling from the dome into the hall, about +twenty minutes to twelve.</p> + +<p>At breakfast Colonel <span class="ws">C——</span> said he had heard a loud +thump on his door at an early hour—before six, when +wide awake.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">W——</span> also had had an experience. He heard +sounds outside his room, and went to investigate. On +returning he found the kitten in his room, but, sceptic +as he is, he acknowledged freely that the kitten, a wee +thing, could not have produced the sounds he heard.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a> +<i>Copy of letter from</i> Mr. <span class="ws">W——</span> <i>to</i> Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——.</span></p> + +<p>"<i>March 24th, 1897.</i>— ... In case it may interest Miss +Freer to know what I thought of the noises I heard in +No. 1 prior to the kitten incident, the following states +my recollections shortly: The first noise was about half-past +four, and resembled two small explosions, such as +a fire sometimes makes. They followed one another +closely, and came from the direction of the fireplace or +the south-west corner of the room. I got up and looked +at the fire, and it was all but out; but I would not like +to swear that the noises did not come from it.</p> + +<p>"As to the other noise, it occurred about a quarter to +six, and was quite loud. It sounded as if one of the large, +deer heads on the staircase wall had fallen down and +rolled a step or two. I cannot understand how some of +the others did not hear the noise, but I heard and saw +nothing when I went out of my room to see what it was.</p> + +<p>"I should add, that in this case, as well as in the former +one, I was awake when the noise occurred. If I had +heard these noises in any other house I would not have +thought of noticing them, but it might be curious to see +if they are the same that have been heard in that room +already."</p> + +<p>After breakfast I heard of a great excitement among +the servants, and taking Miss Langton with me, to serve +as witness and to take notes, I interviewed separately +the three concerned, as well as the cook, to whom they +had told the story also. It is worth while to mention +that I have several times heard the kitchenmaid complained +of as lacking in respect for her betters—in +scoffing at their reports of phenomena. Only yesterday<a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a> +Mrs. Robinson told me she had not mentioned several +things (bell-ringing, a knock at her door, &c.) because +it upset her authority in the kitchen to exhibit interest +in such things.</p> + +<p>All the stories were consistent, and no cross-questioning +upset the evidence. They were distinctly in +earnest.</p> + +<p>The three maids and a temporary servant, <span class="ws">M——,</span> +belonging to the district, went up to their rooms about +10.30. The two housemaids sleep together [in <span class="sc">z</span>], Lizzie, +the kitchenmaid, separately, in a room adjoining [in <span class="sc">y</span>]. +Directly after getting into bed all heard knockings, and +they called out between the rooms to each other. Lizzie +stayed awake, and looking up towards the ceiling had +what sounds like a hypna-gogic hallucination, of a cloud +which changed rapidly in colour, shape, and size, and +alarmed her greatly. Then she felt her clothes pulled +off, but thought this might be accidental, and tucked +them in. Then she was sure they were pulled off again, +and screamed to the other maids. Neither dared go to +her, her screams were so terrifying; but they finally +opened the door of communication between the rooms, +and Carter went to fetch the temporary assistant from +the other end of the corridor, "because she was such a +good-living girl" (particular about fasting in Lent, I +gather). The three then returned for the kitchenmaid, +and all spent the night in the housemaid's room.</p> + +<p>The upper housemaid went to Miss Langton's room +this morning, I hear, much upset and crying, and there +can be no doubt of the conviction of all the maids.</p> + +<p>For the future they wish to occupy one room.</p> + +<p>The cook, sleeping on the ground floor below No. 3,<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a> +heard footsteps and knockings, and awoke her husband, +but he heard nothing. She diagnosed it as being "about +the door of Miss 'Duff's' room (No. 3 above). She +thought it was outside of her door, but was not sure. +It was just after midnight.</p> + +<p>Miss "Duff" writes on the same day:—</p> + +<p>"Last night I had just got into bed, when I heard footsteps, +so, always on the alert for phenomena, I listened +and was relieved (? disappointed would be better!) to +hear Mr. <span class="ws">——</span> cough, so I settled down to sleep. A +quarter of an hour or twenty minutes later (about twelve +o'clock) I again heard steps, but this time they came from +the back-stair and shuffled past my room, and then I heard +a loud fall against what seemed to me the door of room +No. 1, which is practically next door to mine.<a name="FNanchor_E_5" id="FNanchor_E_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_E_5" class="fnanchor">[E]</a></p> + +<p>"I went to listen, but not a sound was to be heard, and +I saw no one. It could not have been the gentleman +who was occupying that room [Mr. <span class="ws">W——</span>], as I heard him +(with others) come up a quarter of an hour later and go +into his room. Although the fall seemed <i>against</i> the door +of No. 1, I must add that the depth and quality of the +noise was as if a large body had fallen far away, of which +we only, as it were, heard the echo, but that <i>quite distinctly +on</i> the door of No. 1."</p> + +<p>[Miss Langton testifies to being disturbed by the +same sounds in No. 2, the dressing-room between Miss +"Duff's" room and Mr. <span class="ws">W——'s</span>.]</p> + +<p>Miss "Duff" continues:—</p> + +<p>"<i>March 25th.</i>—Last night I felt my bed shake, as if some +one had taken it in both hands, but as there was a high +wind, I did not take much notice of this. I have had my<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a> +bed shaken violently in that room once before, however, +when there was no wind at all."</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> and Captain <span class="ws">B——</span> left. The only +phenomenon to be noted under this date is the following +record by Miss Langton:—</p> + +<p>"I heard a loud thump at the door of communication +between Nos. 1 and 2 when dressing for dinner, but on +going into No. 1 found it quite empty. A curious point +about these noises is that the knocks on the door between +Nos. 1 and 2 have been audible in this room, No. 2 (in +my experience) only when No. 1 is empty, and in No. 1 +only when No. 2 is empty."</p> + +<p><i>March 26th, Friday.</i></p> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="ellipsis dots"> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /> + +<p>Miss "Duff" writes on the same day:—</p> + +<p>"As I was talking to Miss Langton at the door of her +room (No. 2) on my way to dress for dinner, a double +bang on the door came from the inside of room No. 1, +which was the one Captain <span class="ws">B——</span> had occupied, and +where he had heard nothing. At the same moment +Miss Langton called out that there had been a bang on +the door between her room and No. 1. For a moment +I hesitated to go in, but a housemaid came down the +corridor at that moment to see what the noise was +she had heard, and we investigated together, but to no +purpose."</p> + +<p>Miss Langton writes further under this date:—</p> + +<p>"I heard three distinct bangs at the lower part of the +door of my room leading into the corridor. I described +it to myself as a person coming along the corridor towards +No. 2, walking in an unsteady way, and as if he could not +see where he was going, and then walking straight against<a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a> +the door of my room and banging his foot against it. +Miss 'Duff' this morning acted at our request as I +have just described, and the noise she made was an +exact reproduction of what I heard last night. The +bang occurred at three intervals—at 11.35, 11.45, and +11.50."</p> + +<p><i>March 27th, Saturday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">——</span> and Miss "Duff" left. +Miss Langton and I are now alone.</p> + +<p>Miss "Duff" was undisturbed last night.</p> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="ellipsis dots"> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /> + +<p>There was very little wind last night, as I happen to +know in the following connection. Carter twice over, +about 11.30 and again after midnight, heard the sounds +of reading, which she imitated to me this morning—like +the monotoning of a psalm. She called out to two other +maids to listen, and all three heard it. She felt sure it +was not the wind or the pipes. Both the gardener and +the gamekeeper say it was a very quiet night.</p> + +<p><i>March 28th, Sunday.</i>—As it had been suggested that +practical joking or malicious mischief were in question, we +were a good deal on the <i>qui vive</i> to-night, being alone. I +watched from behind the curtain at an open window from +10.30 <span class="sc">p.m.</span> till after midnight, and again from 4.30 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> to +6 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> The night was windy and there was a good deal +of noise, but very different in kind from any of our usual +phenomena. We found that there were people moving +about till after midnight, but we did not attach much +importance to this, as the gardeners may have been to +the stoves (the night was frosty), and there is a right-of-way +through the grounds.</p> + +<p>No phenomena.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a>The servants, we find, are alive to the fact that some +one prowls about at night. The footman, who sleeps +downstairs, says they have tried to frighten him, and +things have been thrown at the kitchen windows. I +found it out by the fact that I was seized by the butler +and footman when I went out "prowling" on Sunday +night, fancying I had heard footsteps. They were on the +same errand, and caught me in the dark!</p> + +<p><i>March 29th, Monday.</i>—To-day Miss Langton and I have +been very busy writing in the library, both silent and +occupied. Again and again have we heard footsteps overhead +in No. 8, at intervals between ten <span class="sc">a.m.</span> and one, and +again in the evening between six and seven. No rooms +are in use on that side of the house—6, 7, and 8 are all +empty. The rooms below are locked up and shuttered. +At 11.30 we both heard some one moving about outside +on the gravel, but it was too dark a night to see any +one.</p> + +<p>[<i>Friday, April 2nd</i>—An unpleasant light has (possibly) +been thrown on these movements. We find to-day that +some one has killed a sheep in the garden, in a retired +spot, taking away the skin and the meat.]</p> + +<p><i>March 30th, Tuesday.</i>—No phenomena, except the sound +of steps overhead above the library. For this reason, +Miss Langton is going to sleep in No. 8, where the steps +occur.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> came.</p> + +<p>[We were particularly glad to welcome Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> for +other reasons than the pleasure of her society. She is of +Spanish origin, and a Roman Catholic, and according to +previous evidence, so were other persons upon whom +specially interesting phenomena had been bestowed.]</p> + +<p><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>Mr. B. <span class="ws">S——</span> and Miss V. <span class="ws">S——,</span> brother and sister of +the owner, dined with us.</p> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="ellipsis dots"> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /> + +<p><i>March 31st, Wednesday.</i>—Mr. and Mrs <span class="ws">M——</span> were put +into No. 1. Both complain of a very sleepless night.</p> + +<p>Miss Langton in No. 8 heard sounds after daylight—footsteps +shuffling round the bed, and a knock near the +wardrobe. No one is overhead nor in No. 7, the next +room.</p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> spent two hours alone in the drawing-room. +She asked me just before lunch what guns those +were she had heard. I suggested "The keeper?" and +she said, "No, it is like the gun you hear at Edinburgh +at one o'clock <i>a long way off</i>," which is a good description +of the familiar detonating sound (<i>cf.</i> under date, +February 8).</p> + +<p>Her own account of the day is as follows:—</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="sc">"B—— House.</span></p> + +<p>"I arrived here last evening, Tuesday, 30th of March, +about six o'clock. It was a nice bright evening, but cold. +I was received by Miss Freer, who gave me some tea, +and then I was taken to my bedroom by Miss Langton, +of whom I asked if my room was haunted. She said +it had 'a reputation', but somehow or another it did not +seem to impress me much. That night Miss <span class="ws">S——</span> and +her brother dined here; they were very pleasant, and +talked away hard, and we played card games, such as +'Old Maid' and 'Muggins.' We went to bed feeling +quite happy, saying we had never been in such an<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a> +unghostly house before. The bed was quite comfortable, +and we lay talking quite happily, but could not sleep, +and were not in the least bit restless. About two o'clock +we dozed off, and a few minutes to four <span class="sc">a.m.</span> we were +both suddenly awoke by a terrific noise, which sounded +to me like the lid of the coal-scuttle having caught in +a woman's gown. We then lay awake until about 6.30, +and in that interval we heard a few noises, what I cannot +exactly describe, as they were very ordinary sounds one +might hear in any not very solidly built house. We came +down to breakfast feeling we had passed a sleepless night, +but otherwise quite happy. After breakfast I went into +the smoking-room in the new wing, where my husband +was writing letters. I sat there a good time, and he was +in and out of the room. All the time I heard tramping +up above as if the housemaid was doing the room. Not +knowing the geography of the house I took it for No. 8. +and thought what very noisy servants these were. I +then went into the drawing-room to write my own letters, +and Miss Freer came and spoke to me there. While she +was with me there, I heard a distant cannon, exactly like +the one o'clock gun in Edinburgh, and the whole morning +a ceaseless chatter, which I put down to Miss Freer and +Miss Langton in the room next door (<i>cf.</i> under date, +March 23rd).</p> + +<p><i>April 1st, Thursday.</i>—This is Mrs. <span class="ws">M——'s</span> account of +last night. "Last evening we were late for dinner, as Mr. +<span class="ws">M——</span> and I had been out to see the nun by the burn, +but had seen nothing. The whole evening I had a sort +of half consciously disagreeable feeling, and when I went +to my room it was some time before I could make up my +mind to get into bed. The servants very much annoyed<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a> +me; they were making such a needless amount of noise in +running about the room overhead. [The room overhead +was empty. Since their adventure of March 23rd, the +servants had slept on the other side of the house.] At +last I got into bed, and I may say I hardly slept a wink +the whole night. I simply lay in terror, of what I cannot +say, but I had the feeling of some very disagreeable +sensation in the air, but we did not hear a sound all +night from the time we got into bed until we got up +next morning at 8.30.</p> + +<p>"I spent the whole of the morning in the drawing-room +writing letters and reading, and from time to time I went +up to No. 1 to get books and different things, and each +time was a little surprised to find the room empty, as +there had been a ceaseless noise of housemaids, and very +noisy ones too. I also heard what I had described before +as the cannon. After luncheon Miss Freer and Miss +Langton and I went out walking, and just as we were +coming in to tea we all three heard the cannon, and then +I said that is the noise I heard every morning, and sometimes +in the evening, in the drawing-room."</p> + +<p>This afternoon we were having tea in the drawing-room +at 4.30, Mrs. <span class="ws">M——,</span> Miss Langton, and myself. +We heard some one walking overhead in No. 1, a sound +we have heard often before, when we knew the room to be +empty above. Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> remarked that it was just the +sound she had heard, again and again, when sitting alone +in the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>It was so exactly the heavy, heelless steps we had +heard before, that Miss <span class="ws">L——</span> ran upstairs softly to see +if any one was there, but found no one about. Next we +heard a loud bang—not of a door—in the hall, and she<a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a> +went out again to ascertain the cause, and met the butler +on the same errand. We could find nothing to account +for it. It was like the noise before described, of something +dropped heavily into the hall from the gallery +above.</p> + +<p>There had been so much trouble of ascertaining whether +the noises were caused by doors banging, that since the +warmer weather set in, ever since our return on March +20th, in fact, we have had every passage-door opening +into the hall and into the gallery upstairs fixed open with +wedges.</p> + +<p>We had scarcely settled to our tea again before we +again heard the footsteps overhead, and again Miss +Langton went up and found the room empty. She walked +across the room, and we heard her do so, but the sound +was quite different. She did it noisily on purpose, but +though she is very big and tall, she didn't sound heavy +enough.</p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> remarks, on hearing this read over, that +the sound was different in character as well as in volume—that +the footsteps she (and we) heard were "between +a run and a walk." My phrase was, and has always been, +"as of the quick, heavy steps of a person whose foot-gear +didn't match." We called it, when we first heard it in +No. 8, a "shuffling step."</p> + +<p>After she came down the servants' tea-bell rang, and +we at once said, "Now we shall know where they all +are." The hall is under the wing, at the other end of +the house, and we knew that the room underneath us was +empty, and the shutters up, and that all who were in the +house were either in the drawing-room or the servants' +hall.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a>In a few minutes we again heard the pacing footsteps, +up and down, up and down; we heard them at +intervals during half-an-hour. We also heard voices as +of a man and woman talking. I went to the foot of the +stairs, just below the door of No. 1, and heard them plain. +Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> is not quick of hearing, but she heard them +distinctly several times. At 5.20 we heard the maids go +up the stone staircase, coming away from their tea, and +though we listened till after six, the other sounds did not +occur again.</p> + +<p><i>April 2nd, Friday.</i></p> + +<p>[Mr. <span class="ws">M——</span> left early, Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> remaining till a +later train.]</p> + +<p>At 11.15 Miss Langton and I were in the library at +two different tables writing. The room was silent. +Suddenly we heard a heavy blow struck on a third table, +ten feet at least away from either of us. I instantly +fetched Mrs. <span class="ws">M——,</span> and in her hearing Miss Langton +imitated the sound on the same table, by hitting with her +fist as heavily as possible. There is a drawer in the table, +empty, which added to the vibration, and also pendent +brass handles. I tried, but could not make noise enough. +We kept watch in the room till lunch, Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> +keeping guard when we were obliged to leave, but +nothing happened till, when we were sitting at luncheon +(there is only a single door and a curtain between the two +rooms), we heard it again as above described.</p> + +<p>One of the informants, who described the scene which +occurred the day the late Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> left this house for +the last time, said "a very heavy blow like a man's fist +came on the table between them." This is the same room.</p> + +<p>The same sound occurred again while we were at lunch<a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a> +in the dining-room just now. The first time Miss Langton +rushed to the library and found a housemaid there at the +stove, so we agreed it should not count. It occurred again +in about five minutes, and again she went into the room +(which is next the dining-room) and found it empty and +no one in the hall.</p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="ws">M——,</span> whom I asked to locate the sound, pointed +to just that part of the wall by the table upon which the +knock had struck.</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 5em;"> +Signed (as correct) by Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> and Miss Langton.</p> + +<br /> + +<p>(I have since asked the housemaid if she heard anything, +and she says no, she was making too much noise +herself. We all heard it distinctly, above the clatter of +the fire-irons.)</p> + +<p>On April 9th Mr. <span class="ws">M——</span> sent me the following account +of his impressions:—</p> + +<p>"... You ask me to describe the noises I heard while +staying with you at <span class="ws">B——.</span> I should say, in the first +place, that I am a good, but light, sleeper; I seldom lie +awake, am generally asleep five minutes after going to +bed, but wake easily, and awake at once to full consciousness. +I am not the least nervous, and have often slept +in so-called 'haunted' rooms [Mr. <span class="ws">M——</span> has had very +exceptional opportunities in this direction]; and while I +certainly cannot say that I altogether disbelieve in what +are commonly called 'ghosts,' I do believe that in nine +cases out of ten, noises, and even appearances, may, if +investigated, be traced to perfectly normal causes.</p> + +<p>"We spent three nights at <span class="ws">B——:</span> March 30th and +31st, and April 1st. The first two nights room No. 1<a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a> +was our bedroom, and the third night room No. 8. Room +No. 2 was my dressing-room.</p> + +<p>"When talking to you and Miss Langton at the top of +the stairs, just before going to bed, we all of us heard +noises—rappings—coming apparently from No. 2. The +noises were very undoubted, but as we were talking at +the time I cannot define them more accurately.</p> + +<p>"When first going to bed, both nights in No. 1, we heard +footsteps and voices apparently in conversation above us. +The sounds seemed to come from a room which was over +the bed, but did not extend as far as the fireplace in +No. 1, and also from the room which would be above the +room next to ours behind the bed."</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>The rooms overhead were empty. <i>Cf.</i> under +date April 1st.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>"These noises I attributed at the time, and still attribute, +to the maids going to bed. I am bound to say, +however, that they were heard both by Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> and +her maid, who was in No. 1 with her, during the daytime, +at an hour when it was said no servants were upstairs. +These voices and footsteps did not go on for long +into the night. For (I should say) some hours during the +night of the 30th, I frequently heard a sound which +seemed to come from near the fireplace, and which I +can best describe as a gentle tap on a drum—like some +one tuning the kettle-drum in an orchestra. I do not +think Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> heard this noise, for though she slept +very badly, she was dozing a good deal during the first +half of the night. At 3.55 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> I was in a state of semi-consciousness, +when both I and Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span> were fully<a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a> +roused by a noise so loud that I wonder it did not wake +people sleeping in other parts of the house. It seemed +to come either from the door between No. 1 and 2, or +from between that door and the fireplace. To me it +sounded like a kind of treble rap on a hollow panel, but +far louder than any one could rap with their knuckles. +My wife described it as the sound of some one whose +gown had caught the lid of a heavy coal-scuttle and let +it fall. This noise was not repeated, and by a treble rap +I mean the sound was like an arpeggio chord. I feel +certain it was not against the false window outside, +indeed it had the sound of being in the room. The +kettle-drum sounds might easily have been a trick of the +wind, though the night was still, but the only natural +explanation of this noise that I can give is practical joking, +as the noise <i>might</i> have come from my dressing-room. The +coal-scuttle was standing between the fireplace and door-post, +just where the sound seemed to come from. The +second night I moved the scuttle right away to between +the head of the bed and the window, and the noise was +not repeated. The second night the talking and footsteps +were both heard when first we went up; and once, +shortly after all was still, early in the night. Nevertheless +we again both of us slept very badly indeed—I may say +that except from about 6 to 8 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> I slept very little +either night. I should say that all through both nights +I frequently heard the owls hooting—both the tawny owl +and another, which I think was the little owl; the former +on one occasion was very close to the window, and any +one with a vivid imagination or unacquainted with the +cry of the owl (and, strange as it may seem, a country-bred +girl, staying at <span class="ws">L——</span> the other day, did <i>not</i> know<a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a> +the owls' cry when she heard it), might well take it for +shrieks."</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p><i>N.B.</i>—No one ever heard shrieks during +Colonel Taylor's tenancy at <span class="ws">B——.</span></p> + +<div class="block"><p>"The third night, as I have said, we were in No. 8, and +both of us slept like tops, and heard or saw nothing.</p> + +<p>"One morning, in the smoking-room in the east wing, +I heard voices which <i>seemed</i> to come from above, but +which I am convinced were from the kitchen beneath.</p> + +<p>"As you know, 'Ishbel' was not kind enough to show +herself to me....</p> + +<p>"<i>P.S.</i>—I wrote the above without reading over my wife's +account. I have only to add that I had none of the uncomfortable +sensations she talks of. Bodily and mentally +I was comfortable all night. Nor was I in the least restless—only +wakeful. But for the noises, <span class="ws">B——</span> certainly +strikes one as a very unghostly house."</p> + +<p><i>April 3rd, Saturday.</i>—Miss Langton and I heard footsteps +walking up and down overhead at dinner-time last +night, in No. 7, a room which is not in use. We looked +at each other, but did not at first say anything, on account +of the presence of the servants. After it had gone on for +at least ten minutes, I asked the butler if he had heard +them. He at once said, "Yes, and might he go and see +if any one were about?" We heard him go upstairs and +open the door of the room, and walk across it, but his +step was quite different from the sound we had heard. +He came back saying, "The housemaid had been in to +draw the blind down since we had been at dinner." I +have questioned her since, and she says she simply went +in and out again—was not there half a minute.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a>About four o'clock this afternoon, Miss Langton ran in +from the garden where we were gathering fir-cones, to +fetch a basket out of the library, and heard so much noise +going on in the drawing-room that she went in to investigate. +It was empty and silent. The noise was a violent +hammering on the door between the two rooms on the +drawing-room side.</p> + +<p>The two rooms below the library and drawing-room +were empty, and shuttered (the smoking-room and +billiard-room), No. 1 was disused (over the drawing-room), +and Miss Langton found no one in No. 8 (over the +library). She came back and told me at once.</p> + +<p>I have now had the following rooms locked up and the +keys taken away by the butler:—</p> + +<p>Ground floor: All the wing and drawing-room.</p> + +<p>Above: 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. (I am sleeping in No. 5, +Miss Langton in No. 8.)</p> + +<p>Basement: Smoking and billiard rooms.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> arrived in the afternoon. We were all out +till dinner-time. While at dinner, we all three, as well +as the butler, heard steps walking overhead in No. 7, as +we did last night.</p> + +<p><i>April 4th, Sunday.</i>—I was wakened early this morning +by the sound of a crash. As it was mixed with my +dreams I did not think it worth while to get up and investigate, +but looked at my watch. It was twenty +minutes to six. Five minutes later I heard another crash +under the dome—of the kind so often described—and +looked out, but the house was perfectly still. I heard +the servants come down about seven o'clock.</p> + +<p>Miss Langton, sleeping in No. 8, describes the same +sounds at the same moment.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>Mr. B. <span class="ws">S——</span> and Miss <span class="ws">S——,</span> brother and sister of the +proprietor, called.</p> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="ellipsis dots"> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> writes under this date:—</p> + +<p>"<i>April 4th, Sunday.</i>—I heard footsteps overhead last +evening while at dinner. Sleeping in No. 1. To bed +about 11 <span class="sc">p.m.</span> To sleep in about half-an-hour. Meanwhile +I heard sounds as of reading aloud in No. 8. +Woke at 6.20. Heard voices in No. 8 again."</p> + +<p><i>April 5th, Monday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> said at breakfast that +he had heard sounds as of some one reading in Miss +Langton's room, No. 8, between 11.0 and 11.30 <span class="sc">p.m.</span>, and +again the sound of voices from the same room in the +morning. Miss Langton was alone, nor, as we have +proved—(see under date March 2nd)—could any sound of +reading or speaking have been heard, had any really +existed.</p> + +<p><i>April 6th, Tuesday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> writes under this date:—</p> + +<p>"To my room last night about 11 <span class="sc">p.m.</span> Loud thuds on +the floor above me, and a heavy thud against the door +dividing my room (No. 1) from the dressing-room beyond +(No. 2). I went out and listened at the servants' staircase. +They were talking, but not moving about. [I learnt on +inquiry that they were all in bed by 10.30.—A.G.F.] I +went to sleep immediately after I got to bed, but woke +up later with a violent start, as if by a loud noise, though +I heard nothing. I waited a few minutes and then +looked at my watch. It was 12.30. I heard voices talking +pretty loud. I was awake over three-quarters of an +hour, then slept till 5.30."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a>Mr. B. <span class="ws">S——</span> was out fishing with Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> in the +morning, and came in to lunch and again to dinner. In +the evening I had a good deal of talk with him.</p> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="ellipsis dots"> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /> + +<p>This afternoon Mrs. <span class="ws">——,</span> a lady well acquainted with +the neighbourhood, came to tea. She asked me about the +hauntings, and said they were matter of common talk in +the district. She also told me that in the late Mr. <span class="ws">S——'s</span> +time it had been alleged that the disturbances were intentional +annoyances, though she agreed it was rather a +sustained effort.</p> + +<p>I also called to say "good-bye" to Mrs. <span class="ws">S.——,</span> to +whom I remarked that, though I could not doubt the +existence of phenomena at <span class="ws">B——,</span> we had been most +comfortable, and had greatly liked the place.</p> + +<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="ellipsis dots"> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +<tr style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;"> +<td width="10%"> </td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdc">.</td> +<td width="10%"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /> + +<p>Early this morning (I am still sleeping in No. 5) +I heard the familiar crash under the dome. It was +about 2.30. Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> said at breakfast that he had +heard it too.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 7th.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> writes under this date:—</p> + +<p>"To bed about eleven. To sleep at once. Awakened +at 2.30 by a terrific crash, and the sound of voices. A +little later I heard light raps at the foot of my door, as if<a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a> +a dog had wagged his tail against it. Looked out, saw +nothing; very disturbed night."</p> + +<p><i>April 8th, Thursday.</i>—Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> writes, "Woke last +night at 12.30. Heard nothing, but slept very badly. I +may mention that I am, as a rule, a very sound sleeper, +and as I had taken a lot of exercise every day—fishing, +shooting, cycling, and walking, from breakfast-time to +dark—there was no reason why I should not sleep."</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> had been out the whole of this +day with the keepers—heather burning—and +was obviously "dead tired" when he went to +bed. It is curious that even when not disturbed, +he should have slept so badly, but +sleepless and nameless discomfort has assailed +most persons in No. 1, though the room is large +and airy.</p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>April 8th, Thursday.</i>—We had planned to leave yesterday, +but it was borne in upon me that to-day being the +anniversary of the Major's death, it would be a pity—on +the hypothesis of there being anything supernormal in +these phenomena—that the house should not be under +observation to-night.</p> + +<p>In the morning the Land-steward called, having heard +from Mrs. <span class="ws">S——</span> that we had heard footsteps about the +house at night, and that I had several times observed a +disreputable-looking man about the place, whom I knew +not to be one of the farm-servants.</p> + +<p>The admissions hitherto made by him, and by <span class="ws">——</span> and<a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a> +<span class="ws">——,</span> as to some of the phenomena, carry the evidence +back for over twenty years.</p> + +<p>I don't know whether we have been specially on the +<i>qui vive</i> to-day, but we seem to have heard bangs and +crashes and footsteps overhead all day, though all the +rooms, except Nos. 1, 5, and 8 are locked up—Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> occupies +No. 1, Miss Langton No. 8, I No. 5.</p> + +<p>Acting upon the hints given us by <span class="ws">——</span> and <span class="ws">——</span>, I +thought the downstairs smoking-room ought to be specially +under observation to-day. I was suffering from acute +headache, and was obliged to lie down in my own room +from lunch-time to dinner, and this smoking-room, which +is known as "the Major's room," was the only sitting-room +in use. A few minutes before dinner, I went down +and busied myself in putting my camera to rights. It was +a delicate piece of work, and when I saw a black dog, +which I supposed for the moment to be "Spooks" (my +Pomeranian), run across the room towards my left, I +stopped, fearing that she would shake the little table on +which the camera stood. I immediately saw another dog, +really Spooks this time, run towards it from my right, +with her ears pricked. Miss Langton also observed this, +and said, "What is Spooks after?" or something of that +sort. A piece of furniture prevented my seeing their +meeting, and Spooks came back directly, wagging her +tail. The other dog was larger than Spooks, though it +also had long black hair, and might have been a small +spaniel.</p> + +<p>[It was not till after we had left <span class="ws">B——</span> that we +learned that the Major's favourite dog was a black +spaniel.]</p> + +<p>After dinner we returned to this room. I had intended<a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a> +to try Ouija and the crystal, but was in too much pain to +make this possible, and Miss Langton felt she could not +do it alone; it was as much as I could do to sit up at all, +but, by a strong effort of will, I was able to remain downstairs +till after midnight. [I was still occasionally suffering +from the results of my accident.] We sat in front of the fire, +playing a round game. About nine we all three heard footsteps +coming from the south-west corner and going towards +the door; I held up my hand for silence, but I could see, +from the direction of their eyes, that they heard the sounds +as I did—even the dog looked up and watched. The steps +were those of a rather heavy person in heelless shoes, +who walked to the door, and came back again, passed +close behind Mr. <span class="ws">T——'s</span> chair, crossed the hearth-rug +just in front of me, and stopped at or about the north-east +corner, but—it seemed—remained in the room, behind +Miss Langton's chair. We heard them again about 10.30; +we also heard sounds several times during the evening of +the talking of a man and woman. Three times over Miss +Langton and Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> went out to listen, but the +house was perfectly quiet, and though we were on the +same floor with the servants, there had been, the whole +time, three closed doors between us and their quarters in +the wing, which also was in the direction opposite that +from which the sounds came (the present billiard-room). +About 10.45, Miss Langton and I went up to the dining-room +in search of refreshment; everything upstairs seemed +perfectly still, and the servants had long before gone +to bed. Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> followed us up, and as we went +back to the smoking-room, the voices seemed to be in +high argument just inside. We could distinguish no +words, though the <i>timbre</i> of the voices is perfectly clear in<a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a> +my memory. About 12.20 we went to bed. I had intended +to sit up in No. 8, but found I was not equal to +it, and Miss Langton would not accept my offer of sleeping +there with her. She was therefore there alone, I in +No. 5, and Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> in No. 1. I had not been many +minutes in my room when I heard the familiar loud crash +as of something falling into the hall, under the dome, and +rushed out immediately—the house was perfectly still. +We had left a small lamp burning in the corridor. Mr. +<span class="ws">T——</span> said, next morning, that he had also came out +at the sound, but must have been later than I, as he was +just in time to see my door shut. About twenty minutes +after, I heard the shuffling footsteps come up the stairs, +and pause near my door; I opened it, and saw nothing, +but was so definitely conscious of the presence of a personality, +that I addressed it in terms which need not be set +down here, but of which I may say that they were intended +to be of the utmost seriousness, while helpful and +encouraging. I may add, that I knew from experience of +the acoustic qualities of the house, that I should not be +audible to those in Nos. 1 or 8. Absolutely, while I was +speaking, the voices we had heard downstairs became +audible again, this time it seemed to me outside the door +of No. 8; they were certainly the same voices, but seemed +to be consciously lowered. (Miss Langton's account will +show that she heard voices and footsteps outside her +door at about this time.) I was asleep before the clock +struck two, but was awakened again about 3.30, and was +kept awake for more than an hour by various sounds in +the house. Roughly speaking, these were of two kinds: +one, those of distant clangs and crashes which we have +heard many times in varying intensity, loudest of all on<a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a> +our first night and on this. The other (more human in +association), knocks at the door, thuds on the lower panels +within, say, two feet of the ground; footsteps, not as +before, but rapid and as of many feet, and again the same +voices. The night was perfectly still, and I could clearly +differentiate the cries of the owl (of two kinds, I think), +the kestrel hawk, and even of the rabbits on the lawn. I +went to the windows and looked out, but the night was +quite dark, and the dawn was grey and misty.</p> + +<p>About 5.45 I fell asleep, and did not wake till my tea +came up at 7.30, when I asked the maid if she had been +disturbed, and she replied that the servants had been +extra busy the day before, had gone to bed early, and +had slept soundly.</p> + +<p>Miss Langton and Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> attest the above as a +correct account of our experience, so far as they were +concerned.</p> + +<p>The following is from Miss Langton's private diary:—</p> + +<p>"Miss Freer, Mr. <span class="ws">T——,</span> and I all agreed that, as +it was the anniversary of the old Major's death, we +would sit to-night in his own sitting-room, which we +always call 'the downstairs smoking-room.' Just before +dinner, Miss Freer, who was sitting between the writing-table +and fireplace, suddenly called out, 'What is Spooks +running after?' and then she said that there were <i>two</i> +black dogs in the room, and that the other dog was +larger than Spooks she said, 'like a spaniel.'</p> + +<p>"After dinner we three sat round the fire and played +games; suddenly one of us called out, 'Listen to those +footsteps,' and then we <i>distinctly</i> heard a heavy man +walking round the room, coming apparently from the +direction of the safe, in the wall adjoining the billiard<a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a> +room, and then walking towards the door, passing between +us and the fireplace in front of which we were sitting. It +was a very curious sensation, for the steps came so very +close, and yet we saw nothing. Footsteps died away, and +we resumed our game. Three times over we distinctly +heard outside the door the voices of a man and woman, +apparently in anger, for their voices were loud and rough. +Each time we jumped up at once and opened the door +quietly—there was nothing to be seen; the passage was in +total darkness, all the servants having gone to bed (the +last time was nearly eleven o'clock). We certified this fact +by making an expedition into the kitchen regions. We +then returned to the smoking-room, and not long after +the footsteps again began in exactly the same direction. +This time they lasted a longer time.</p> + +<p>"I slept in No. 8, and was so tired I slept pretty well, +but before going to sleep, just before one o'clock, I heard +the sound of a heavy man in slippers come down the +corridor and stop near my door, and then the sound as of +a long argument in subdued voices, a man and a woman."</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>On April 9th Miss Freer and Miss Langton +left <span class="ws">B——</span> in order to pass Easter elsewhere, +and Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> left with them.</p> + +<p>During Miss Freer's absence the house was +occupied for some days by the eminent classical +scholar Mr. F.W.H. Myers, late Fellow +of Trinity College, Cambridge, one of her +Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, and Hon. Sec. +to the S.P.R.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a>It is well known that the S.P.R. is very +greatly indebted to Mr. Myers for his most +valuable services for many years as Hon. Sec., +and for his many important contributions to its +literature. He has, however, of late years somewhat +alienated the sympathies of many of its +members, by the extent to which he has introduced +into its <i>Proceedings</i> the reports of +spiritualist phenomena, and the lucubrations +of mediums. The original rules of the society +would appear to exclude the employment of +hired mediums, and it is difficult to distinguish +Mrs. Piper, and certain other subjects of experiment, +from this class. The differences, however, +between Mr. Myers and some of the members +do not stop at this point, for his preference +for the experiences of female mediums, whether +hired or gratuitous, would appear to amount +to an indifference to spontaneous phenomena, +an indifference that is distinctly and rapidly +progressive.</p> + +<p>Mr. Myers, however, appeared to take considerable +interest in the phenomena of <span class="ws">B——,</span> +and on March 13, 1897, after reading the +journal for the first five weeks, the only part<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a> +of the evidence which has been submitted to +him, or indeed to any member of the Council +of the S.P.R., he wrote to Miss Freer:—</p> + +<p>"It is plain that the <span class="ws">B——</span> case is of <i>great</i> +interest. I hope we may have a discussion of +it at S.P.R. general meeting, May 28th, 8.30, +and perhaps July 2nd, 4 <span class="sc">p.m.</span>, also. Till then, I +would suggest, we will not put forth our experiences +to the public, unless you have any other +view....</p> + +<p>"I should particularly like to get Mr. ['Q.'] +to go again in Easter week [<i>i.e.</i> during the +Myers' tenancy]. I saw him last night, and heard +his account, and next to yourself he seems the +most sensitive of the group. I am very glad +that you secured him.... I will send back +the two note-books after showing them to the +Sidgwicks. I am so very glad that you and +others have been so well repaid for your +trouble.... You seem to have worked natural +causes well."</p> + +<p>On April 12th Mr. Myers arrived at <span class="ws">B——,</span> +and remained until the 22nd. He was preceded +a day or two earlier by Dr. Oliver Lodge, +Professor of Physics at Victoria College,<a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a> +Liverpool, Mrs. Lodge, and a Mr. Campbell of Trinity +College, Cambridge. The party also included a +"medium," the only person to whom this term +could be applied, in the ordinary sense, who +visited <span class="ws">B——</span> during Col. Taylor's tenancy. +This person was a Miss <span class="ws">C——,</span> but in order to +avoid confusion with other persons, she is here +called Miss "K." Miss "K." is not a professional +medium, in the same sense in which +a gentleman rider is not a jockey. She is +the proprietress of a small nursing establishment +in London, and at the time of her visit +to <span class="ws">B——</span> was described as in weak health and +partially paralysed. She was accompanied by +an attendant who was a Roman Catholic, a circumstance +which is interesting in view of the +strongly sectarian character of the ensuing +revelations.</p> + +<p>Mr. Myers recorded regularly, and transmitted +to Lord Bute, the account of the phenomena +which occurred during his visit, and which were +testified to by four members of his party. He +declines, however, to allow any use to be made +of his notes of what occurred during this +episode.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a>The regret with which his wish is deferred to +is the less, because the chief value of the notes +in question seems to be that of a warning +against the methods employed; a fact of which +Mr. Myers seems later to have himself become +aware, as in regard to his journal letters to +Lord Bute he wrote on March 15, 1898, <i>a +year later</i>, "I am afraid that I must ask +that my <span class="ws">B——</span> letters be in no way used. +I greatly doubt whether there was anything +supernormal."</p> + +<p>However, while actually staying at <span class="ws">B——,</span> +Mr. Myers wrote to Miss Freer on April +15th, in much the same terms as on March +11th:—</p> + +<p>"What is your idea (I am asking Lord Bute +also) <i>re</i> speaking about <span class="ws">B——</span> at S.P.R? If +this is <i>not</i> desirable on May 28th, should you +have second-sight material ready then? If it is +desirable, could we meet sometime, ... and discuss +what is to be said? As many witnesses +as possible. Noises have gone on. I am +writing bulletins to Lord Bute, which I dare +say he will send on to you.... I am +moving into No. 5 to be nearer to the noise.<a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a> +I have heard nothing. Lodge hears mainly +knocks."</p> + +<p>On April 21st he wrote again to Miss +Freer:—</p> + +<p>"If you come to S.P.R. meeting, we +could talk in a quiet corner after it. I dine +with S.P.R. council at seven o'clock, so +there would scarcely be time [<i>i.e.</i> to call +on you] between, but I would call <span class="ws">at——</span> +at 9.30 Saturday morning, if that were +more convenient to you than going to the +meeting."</p> + +<p>The interview took place, and July 2nd was +finally arranged as the date upon which the +evidence was to be presented at a general +meeting of the S.P.R.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, however, the article of the +anonymous <i>Times</i> correspondent appeared in +that journal on June 8th—an article which was +practically an attack on certain methods of +the S.P.R., after which Mr. Myers published +the following letter:—</p> + +<p><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a></p> + +<p class="cen">ON THE TRAIL OF A GHOST.</p> + +<p class="cen"><i>To the Editor of "The Times."</i></p> + +<p>"<span class="sc">Sir</span>,—A letter entitled 'On the Trail of a Ghost,' which +you publish to-day, appears to suggest throughout that some +statement has been made on behalf of the Society for Psychical +Research with regard to the house which your correspondent +visited. This, however, is not the case; and as a misleading +impression may be created, I must ask you to allow me space to +state that I visited <span class="ws">B——,</span> representing that society, before your +correspondent's visit, and decided that there was no such evidence +as could justify us in giving the results of the inquiry a place +in our <i>Proceedings</i>. I had already communicated this judgment to +Lord Bute, to the council of the society, and to Professor +Sidgwick, the editor of our <i>Proceedings</i>, and it had been agreed +to act upon it.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="right">"<span class="sc">Frederick W.H. Myers</span>,<br /> +<i>Hon. Sec. of the Society for Psychical Research.</i></p> +<p style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="sc">Leckhampton House, Cambridge</span>, <i>June 8</i>."</p> + +<br /> + +<p><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a>One may gather from a comparison of this +letter with the foregoing records that the standard +of evidence is a somewhat variable quantity +in the Society for Psychical Research. In +attempting to explain the matter, Mr. Myers +wrote to Lord Bute, June 11, 1897:—</p> + +<p>"As to haunted houses recorded at length +in <i>Proceedings</i>, there have been several minor +ones, and one especially, 'Records of a Haunted +House,' where I was instrumental in getting the +account written. The great point there was +the amount of coincidence of visions seen independently.... +In the <span class="ws">B——</span> case there is +<i>some</i> coincidence of vision, but so far as I know, +not nearly so much as in the Records of a +Haunted House, which did appear in <i>Proceedings</i>. +We want to keep our level approximately +the same throughout."</p> + +<p>Another point of view in relation to the same +matter, is that taken by Miss Freer in an article +in the <i>Nineteenth Century</i>, August 1897:—</p> + +<p>"That the S.P.R. recognised that haunted +houses were among the alleged facts of general +interest, was proved by their early appointment +of a Committee of Inquiry, on the management<a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a> +of which it is too late to reflect. At the end +of a few months only, they practically dismissed +a subject which, if considered at all, required +years of patient research. They had come across +the surprising number of twenty-eight cases +which they considered worth inquiry; but these +were presented to the public on the evidence +of only forty witnesses—that is to say, an +average of less than one and a half to each! +The appearance of figures is recorded in twenty-four +of these stories, whilst four record noises +only. Ten years later the <i>Proceedings</i> take up +the subject again, and give us at some length +an elaborate story on the evidence of two or +three ladies, two servants, a charwoman, and a +little boy. ['Records of a Haunted House.'] +No proper journal was kept, and the Society for +Psychical Research came upon the scene when +all was practically over."</p> + +<p>In relation to the period of the visit of the +Myers party to <span class="ws">B——</span> House, Lord Bute received +several journal letters from Professor +Lodge, as well as from Mr. Myers, which, as +he has made no request to the contrary, might +be quoted here <i>in extenso</i>, were it not that they<a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a> +relate in considerable part to the proceedings +of the medium, as to which the present editors +agree with Mr. Myers, that "they greatly doubt +if there was anything supernormal."</p> + +<p>Professor Lodge was from the first much +interested in the <span class="ws">B——</span> inquiry, and wrote to +Lord Bute on April 14th, two days after +arrival: "I have not found anything here as +yet at all suitable for physical experiments. +I have heard a noise or two, and intelligent +raps. Nothing whatever can be normally seen +so far."</p> + +<p>And on April 17th: "The noises and disturbances +have been much quieter of late, in +fact have almost ceased <i>pro tem</i>.... We have +not heard the loud bang as yet. Knocks on +the wall, a sawing noise, and a droning and +a wailing are all we have heard. The droning +and the wailing, some whistling, and apparent +attempts at a whisper, all up in the attic, +may have been due either to the wind or +birds. They were not distinct enough to be +evidential, though they were just audible to +all of us. The sawing noise was more distinct. +I think I will go to the attic about 3 <span class="sc">a.m.</span><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a> +to-night to see if anything more can be heard. +Most of the noises occur then, or else at 6 <span class="sc">a.m.</span> +Mr. Campbell has heard a dragging along the +floor in his bedroom, No. 3. I have heard, like +many others, the knocking on the wall, but +for the last two nights things have been +quiet.</p> + +<p>"<i>April 20th.</i>—There has been nothing here +for me to do as a physicist, and I return home tomorrow, +but nevertheless the phenomena, taken +as a whole, have been most interesting.... +I know that you are hearing from Mr. Myers +the details of our sittings.... There is certainly +an interregnum of noises, the last three nights +having been undisturbed. [After describing +recent séances with Miss <span class="ws">'K——.'</span>] I write +just as if what we have been told were true.<a name="FNanchor_F_6" id="FNanchor_F_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_F_6" class="fnanchor">[F]</a> +The cessation of the noises may of course be<a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a> +merely a temporary lull as before, and they +may break out again...."</p> + +<p>On April 22nd, he wrote to Miss Freer +"The sounds are not very strong, and latterly +there has been one of your interregna in the +noises, but still we heard some of them; only +knocks, however, except once a low droning, +a sawing noise, and a whistling whisper. +Some of the raps seemed intelligent, but there +was nothing to investigate on the physical +side...."</p> + +<p>And in another note, undated:—</p> + +<p>"There has been nothing capable of being +photographed. The sounds are objective though +not impressive.... I have seen nothing to suggest +electricity or magnetism, or any of the +ordinary physical agents in connection with the +disturbances; but the noises are so momentary +and infrequent, that they give no real scope for +continued examination."</p> + +<p>Professor Lodge left on April 21st, and Mr. +Myers on April 22nd; but Miss <span class="ws">"K——,"</span> with +Mr. Campbell, remained alone till the morning of +Monday 26th, and on the afternoon of the same +day Lord and Lady Bute arrived, and stayed<a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a> +till Wednesday 28th. Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——,</span> who came +with them, was obliged by previous engagements +to leave next morning.</p> + +<p>They slept in the wing, and nothing occurred +during their visit so far as they were concerned.</p> + +<p>Lord Bute records, however, that he twice +read aloud the whole of the Office for the dead +in its five sections (vespers, nocturns, and lauds) +in different places, but neither he nor any one +with him saw or heard anything, unless it were +a sound of women talking and laughing while +he was reading the Office about 10.30 <span class="sc">p.m.</span> in +No. 8, and this he supposed was simply the +maids going to bed, though in fact the room +overhead was unoccupied. He had, however, a +most disagreeable impression, not in the places +where he expected it, which were the glen, +No. 3, and No. 8, but in No. 1. The sensation +was that of persons being present, and on the +second occasion that of violent hatred and +hostility. He recorded "Went to No. 1 a third +time, and again experienced the sensation of +persons being present, but on this last occasion +as though they were only morosely unfriendly."</p> + +<p>It is remarkable that this sensation of unseen<a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a> +presences is one which many other persons experienced +in this room, and in this room only; +but it is also remarkable that this was the first +indication of the hostile or irreligious tone +which was thenceforth apparent. Until the +sojourn of the party of members of the S.P.R. +the tone had been plaintive and religious.</p> + +<p>Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——,</span> who is a Presbyterian, made +a remark which struck Lord Bute as interesting, +to the effect that the whole of the Office +for the dead, with the frequent occurrence of +the words <i>Requiam eternam</i>, &c., might be as +irritating to Intelligences which desired to +communicate, as would be the effect of saying +merely "keep still," or "be quiet," to persons +who wished to set forth their wrongs. But this +curious hypothesis would be insufficient to account +for a sensation of absolute enmity.</p> + +<p>A private letter, written by Lord Bute on +April 29th to a distinguished ecclesiastic, repeats +these statements, and adds one or two +additional touches which it is desirable to +quote:—</p> + +<p>"We returned yesterday after spending forty-eight +hours at <span class="ws">B——,</span> where we heard and saw<a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a> +nothing, but as my proceedings were mainly +ecclesiastical, your Grace may like to know +what happened.</p> + +<p>"On the way I was shown the inclosure in +the churchyard wherein lie, in unmarked graves, +the late Major <span class="ws">S——,</span> his 'housekeeper,' and +his old Indian servant. I would have gone and +prayed there, but the place seemed to me too +public.... <span class="ws">B——</span> is a remarkably beautiful +place, and the day was splendid; were it not +for the grandeur of the scenery, I should have +called the landscape laughing, or at least smiling. +The house is remarkably bright and cheerful, +and indeed luxurious. There is a really +nice set of family pictures from about the +time of Charles II.... The place is a perfect +aviary, and the sight of the innumerable birds, +evidently encouraged by long kindness, building +their nests was very pleasant, and has some +psychological interest, since animals sometimes +see these things when we do not, and there +was evidently nothing to scare the birds, +rabbits, or squirrels.... As her ladyship +and I did not wish to be troubled at night, +we took rooms in the wing, which the late<a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a> +Mr. <span class="ws">S——</span> is said to have built in order to +save his children from the haunting, and which +has been but little troubled; and we slept there +quite comfortably. Soon after 6 <span class="sc">p.m.</span> I went to +the place near the burn where apparitions have +so often appeared, and which was, I think, first +indicated by Ouija. I read aloud the vespers +for the dead, but no phenomenon appeared, nor +had I any sensation. About 7.30 I went to a +room which I will call A [No. 1] ... and read +aloud the first Nocturn of the dirge; there was +nothing to be seen or heard, but I felt some +physical inconvenience in beginning, like an +impediment in speech, and I had a very strong +sensation that there were persons listening....<a name="FNanchor_G_7" id="FNanchor_G_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_G_7" class="fnanchor">[G]</a> +Soon after 10 <span class="sc">p.m.</span> I went and read aloud the +two next Nocturns in room B [8]. As I finished +the second, Mr. <span class="ws">MacP——</span> and I heard two<a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a> +women speaking merrily outside the door, and +I doubt not they were the maids going to bed. +During the night, although we slept well, my +servant [who slept in No. 4, next to Mr. +<span class="ws">MacP——</span> in No. 5], like other people in +haunted rooms, could not sleep after five, and +he tells me one of the maids saw the bust of +a woman with short hair, as though sitting at +the foot of her bed.</p> + +<p>"In the morning I said Lauds in room C +[Library]. No phenomena or sensation. Soon +after 5 <span class="sc">p.m.</span> said <i>Placebo</i> again in room B [8]. +Nothing. Then visited the haunted burn again +for some time. Nothing. About 7.30 read the +first two Nocturns again in room D [No. 3]. +Nothing. Soon after ten read the third Nocturn +in A [1]. Made slips of pronunciation, and felt +the presence of others very strongly, and that +it was hostile or evil, as though they were +kept at arm's-length; a disagreeable sensation +continued until I threw some holy water on my +bed before getting into it, when it suddenly +disappeared. Next morning I said Lauds in A +[1]. I had no difficulty in utterance; the sense +of other presences was not strong, and I had no<a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a> +feeling of hostility [on their part], but rather of +their having to put up with a slight nuisance +which would soon be over. These subjective +feelings are in no way evidential, nor would I +mention them were they not confined to one +place out of five, and occurred whenever I went +there, at three most varying hours.... My +servant, the second night, could not sleep +between 4.30 and 6."</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<p>Miss Freer returned alone to <span class="ws">B——</span> on April +28th. The Journal is now resumed.</p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>April 28th.</i>—I returned to <span class="ws">B——,</span> arriving at 7 <span class="sc">p.m.</span> +Slept in No. 8. Quiet night.</p> + +<p>This morning I inquired of the servants as to what +occurred in my absence. They have very definite views as +to the nature and causes of the phenomena during the +visit of Mr. Myers's party ... including much table-tilting +at meals, and so on. When questioned as to any +experiences of their own, all answered to the same effect, +that they shouldn't have taken notice of anything that +happened at that time, but that something had occurred +after the last two members of the party had left on the +day of his Lordship's arrival, "and that," said the cook, +"was quite another matter."</p> + +<p>The experience was Carter's, the upper housemaid, and +she told it in a manner that it would be difficult to distrust. +She was not anxious to talk about it, and seemed<a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a> +annoyed that it had been mentioned at all. I wrote down +her story verbatim.</p> + +<p>"It was about four o'clock, or may be a little later, but +it was just getting light; there is no blind to the skylight +in my room, and I woke up suddenly and I thought some +one had come into the room, and I called out, 'Is that +you, Mrs. Robinson?' and when she didn't answer I +called out 'Hannah,' but no one spoke, and then I +looked up, and at the foot of my bed there was a woman. +She was rather old, and dressed in something dark, and +she had a little shawl on, and her hair short. It was +hanging, but it didn't reach nearly to her shoulders. I +was awful frightened, and put my head down again. I +couldn't look any more."</p> + +<p>I asked about the height of the woman, wondering if it +were like the figure seen in the drawing-room, and Carter +said, "I didn't notice, only the top part of her." I said, +"Do you mean she had no legs?" and she said, "I didn't +take notice of any." She was genuinely concerned and +alarmed.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>This is probably the incident thus described +by <i>The Times</i> correspondent. "One of the +maidservants described a sort of dull knocking +which, according to her, goes on between two +and six in the morning, in the lath and plaster +partition by the side of her bed, which shuts off +the angular space just inside the eaves of the +house. She likened it to the noise of gardeners +nailing up ivy outside. She seemed honest, but<a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a> +as she had seen the ghost of half a woman +sitting on her fellow-servant's bed, one takes her +evidence with a grain or two of salt. Any +noises she has really heard may be due to the +cooling of the hot-water pipes which pass along +behind the partition just mentioned to the +cistern." The hot-water pipe theory has been +already discussed.</p> + +<p>Before proceeding, it had better be again +mentioned that, owing to the fact that several +of the persons interested in <span class="ws">B——</span> were +Roman Catholics, and the Rev. <span class="ws">P——</span> <span class="ws">H——</span> +having been one of the principal witnesses, +as well as having himself appeared phantasmally +in the house, it was considered desirable +to obtain the assistance of some clergy +of that communion. Miss Freer accordingly +secured the services of three members of a +famous society; one of those was the Rev. +<span class="ws">P——</span> <span class="ws">H——</span> himself, one a well-known Oxford +man who takes much interest in such questions, +and the third a man of great experience at a +place where miracles are said to be frequent. +However, their Superior refused to allow them +to come, and she then applied to a well-known<a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a> +monastery, but was again refused help. Lastly, +she turned to the secular clergy, and obtained +the assistance of two priests and a bishop. +The priests are here designated <span class="ws">MacD——</span> and +<span class="ws">MacL——.</span> All three were previously well +known to her, and she had especial reason to +consider them not only worthy of her esteem +and confidence, but, moreover, as taking an +instructed and intelligent interest in the +subject.</p> + +<div class="block"><p><i>April 29th, Friday.</i>—Rooms for to-night:—</p> + +<div style="margin-left: 2em;"> +<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="60%" summary="arrangements7"> +<tr><td width="5%" class="tdc">No.</td><td width="95%" class="tdl">3. Rev. A. <span class="ws">MacD——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">4. Rev. A. <span class="ws">MacL——.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc"> "</td><td class="tdl">8. Myself.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The priests arrived late in the evening. I put them +in No. 3 and 4, though I like to give No. 1 to new-comers. +However, I had promised that to Madame Boisseaux, +whom we are expecting from Paris, with the dressing-room +for her maid.</p> + +<p><i>April 30th.</i>—The priests both look very weary. They +were not frightened, but the sounds have kept them awake +all night.</p> + +<p>Young <span class="ws">S——</span> called to-day; he is going to help me +to get up a dance for the servants. His mother is away +at <span class="ws">S——.</span></p> + +<p><i>May 1st.</i>—I shall have to move the priests. They persist +that they are not frightened, but they are both looking +shockingly ill and worn, and the Rev. <span class="ws">MacD——</span> is<a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a> +not in a state of health to take liberties with. The Rev. +<span class="ws">MacL——</span> seems in the same mental state as was Mr. +<span class="ws">P——.</span> He sees nothing, but is supernormally sensitive, +and without any hint from me, declared that he felt the +drawing-room, wing, and No. 7 to be "innocent."</p> + +<p>Poor little "Spooks" is the chief sufferer. She sleeps +on my bed now, but even so, wakes in the night growling +and shivering, and she refuses her food, and is in a dreadfully +nervous state. Perhaps I ought not to keep her in +No. 8, where we have so often heard the patterings of +dogs' feet, and where Miss Moore was once pushed as by +a dog, in broad daylight.</p> + +<p><i>May 2nd.</i>—Nothing occurred. We perhaps all slept the +sounder last night, having been kept up till two o'clock +waiting for Madame Boisseaux, who never turned up. +She and the <span class="ws">M——s</span> and Mrs. "F." arrived to-day.</p> + +<div style="margin-left: 2em;"> +<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="90%" summary="arrangements8"> +<tr><td width="30%" class="tdl"><span class="ws">Madame Boisseaux arrived,</span></td> +<td width="30%" class="tdl"><span class="ws">and was put into</span></td> +<td width="40%" class="tdl">No. 1.</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Her maid</td> +<td class="tdc">"</td> +<td class="tdl"> " 2.</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Father <span class="ws">MacD——</span></td> +<td class="tdc">"</td> +<td class="tdl"> " 3.</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Father <span class="ws">MacL——</span></td> +<td class="tdc">"</td> +<td class="tdl"> " 4.</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Mrs. "F."</td> +<td class="tdc">"</td> +<td class="tdl"> " 5.</td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Mr. and Mrs. <span class="ws">M——</span></td> +<td class="tdc">"</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="ws"> " 6 and 7.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Myself</td> +<td class="tdc">"</td> +<td class="tdl"> " 8.</td> +</tr> +</table></div> + +<p><i>May 3rd.</i>—The general tone of things is disquieting, +and new in our experience. Hitherto, in our first occupation, +the phenomena affected one as melancholy, depressing, +and perplexing, but now all, quite independently, say +the same thing, that the influence is evil and horrible—even +poor little Spooks, who was never terrified before, as +she has been since our return here. The worn faces at +breakfast were really a dismal sight.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a>In spite of her long journey, Madame Boisseaux could +not sleep. She was so tired, she dropped to sleep at +once on going to bed, but was awoke by the sound of +a droning voice as if from No. 3, and, at intervals, more +distant voices in high argument. She said she dared +not go to sleep; she felt as if some evil-disposed persons +were in the room, and it would not be safe to lose consciousness. +But she saw nothing. She looks so ill that +her maid, a very faithful old servant, has been to beg +me, "<i>pour l'amour de Dieu</i>," to give Madame another +room. So to-night I will put her in <span class="ws">No. 5.</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. "F." who was in No. 5, was disturbed by +knocks at her door (<i>cf.</i> Mrs. <span class="ws">W——'s</span> experience in the +same room), and to-night is to sleep in my room, No. 8, +which last night was also somewhat noisy, but she will +not be alone. The Rev. <span class="ws">MacD——</span> looks so ill from two +nights' sleeplessness that the priests are to go into the +wing to-night. They were unwilling to move, and made +no complaints, and now do not say they have seen anything, +merely that the evil influence about them was +painful and disturbing.</p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="ws">M——,</span> who, it will be remembered, was much disturbed +during her last visit, begged that she might be +quiet, and we gave her No. 7. She is the only person +who has had a really good night, except Mr. <span class="ws">M——,</span> who +had a fancy to sleep in the smoking-room, in the hope +of a visit from the Major, but nothing happened. As he +had been mountaineering all day, he probably would have +slept well under any conditions.</p> + +<p><i>May 4th.</i>—I am thankful to say the priests slept well +in the wing. Madame Boisseaux, in No. 5, was disturbed +by knocks at her door, but as she wisely remarked,<a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a> +they had the advantage of being outside. Mr. <span class="ws">M——</span> had +moved into No. 1, and slept fairly well, but said he +felt as before, "not alone," but as he <i>had</i> felt that before, +expectation may count for something.</p> + +<p>Mrs. "F" slept with me; I was awoke early by my +dog crying, and I saw two black paws resting on the table +beside the bed. It gave me a sickening sensation, and I +longed to wake Mrs. "F" to see if she would see them, +but I remembered her bad night of yesterday, and left +her in peace.</p> + +<p>The priests spend much time in devotions, and are very +decided in their views as to the malignity of the influence. +The bishop comes to-day, and we hope he will have Mass +said in the house. We shall then have ten Roman +Catholics in the household—two visitors, three clergy, two +visitors' maids, and three of our own servants. That should +have an effect upon the Major! Miss Moore and Scamp +arrived.</p> + +<p><i>May 5th.</i>—The bishop is in No. 1. He arrived to lunch +to-day. Last night all was quiet after bedtime, but +sitting in the drawing-room about five o'clock, having just +come in from a drive, five of us heard the detonating +noise, as it were in the empty room overhead. Madame +<span class="ws">B——,</span> Mrs. "F," Mrs. <span class="ws">M——,</span> the Rev. <span class="ws">MacL——,</span> and +myself. Mrs. "F" left this morning.</p> + +<p>The priests went with me to the copse. They saw +nothing, but were in too anxious a state to be receptive. +I saw Ishbel for one moment. She looked <i>agonised</i>, as +never before.</p> + +<p>Mr. B. <span class="ws">S——</span> dined with us, and the servants, indoor +and out, danced in the hall in the evening. We had +pipers, and some supper for them in the billiard-room.<a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a> +The gardener and the butler and cook say there was a +great crash in the room just when the parish minister +was saying grace, and that many of the people from outside +noticed it, and "they just looked at each other." I +was myself in the room, but as we had just had a very +physical and commonplace disturbance—the arrival of an +uninvited and intoxicated guest, of which the other people +did not know as I did—I was preoccupied at the moment.</p> + +<p>Mass this morning in the drawing-room.</p> + +<p><i>May 6th.</i>—Madame Boisseaux has had to go suddenly; +there has been terrible news for her of this Paris fire. +She came into my room very early with her telegram +(arrived too late for delivery last night). I did not like +to worry her with questions, overwhelmed as she was, +but she said her room "resounded with knocks."</p> + +<p>There was Mass said in the ground-floor sitting-room +this morning, and as I knelt facing the window I saw +Ishbel with the grey woman, nearer the house than ever +before. She looked pensive, but, as compared with last +time, much relieved.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>This is the last time the figures were seen. +The following details are quoted from a letter +written by Miss Freer to Lord Bute on this day: +"Mass was said this morning in the downstairs +room, the altar arranged in front of the window, +so that, as we knelt, we faced the garden. +Poor Madame Boisseaux was dressed for travelling, +and in much agitation. As the carriage +which was to take her to the station was<a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a> +expected at any moment, I suggested that she +and I should remain upstairs, but she said she +should like to be there, if only for a few minutes, +the more that the 'intention' was to be partly for +those who had suffered in the fire, and for their +sorrowing friends. She and I, therefore, knelt +close to the door, keeping it slightly ajar, so as +to be able to obey a summons at any moment.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly she touched my arm, and directed +my attention to the window. There I saw a +figure standing outside, which—so slow-sighted +am I—I took for the moment for Madame's maid, +and thought she had come to call our attention +through the window—a long 'French' one, +opening out on to the lawn—as less likely to +disturb the service. I was starting up when +I perceived that the figure was 'Ishbel'—the +black gown, like that worn by the maid, had +misled me for the moment. 'Marget' seemed +to hover in the background, but she was much +less distinct than the other. A minute later +we were called away.</p> + +<p>"The room had been selected by the priests +themselves, but it is the one I should myself, for +obvious reasons, have chosen for the purpose."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a></p> + +<div class="block"><p>When the bustle of Madame's hasty departure was +over, and we had breakfasted, the bishop blessed the +house from top to bottom, and especially visited rooms +Nos. 1, 3, and 8, and also the library. He sprinkled the +rooms with holy water, and especially the doorway leading +to the drawing-room, where noises have so often been +heard. He and the priests had hardly gone when there +was a loud bang upon a little table that stands there. +It is an old work-table, a box on tall, slender legs, and the +sound could easily be imitated by lifting the lid and +letting it fall smartly, but I saw no movement—not that +I was watching it at the moment. The bishop and +priests returned, and the ceremony was repeated, after +which the bang again occurred, but much more faintly.</p> + +<p>The three clergy left this afternoon. Miss Moore and +I are now alone.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>This bang was the last phenomenon of an +abnormal kind during this tenancy. Miss Moore +and Miss Freer stayed in the house another +week without anything further occurring either +to themselves, their guests, or the servants.</p> + +<p>During that time, they received six more +guests: Miss <span class="ws">C——,</span> Miss "Etienne," with her +brother, a lawyer, and three other visitors, with +whom Miss Freer had no previous acquaintance, +but who received an invitation under the following +special conditions, not being, as were other +guests, personal friends, or, in one or two<a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a> +instances, accompanying personal friends by whom +they were introduced, and at whose request they +were invited.</p> + +<p>Sir William Huggins had some time before +written to Lord Bute to beg him to obtain +admission to the house for Sir James Crichton +Browne, who is, of course, well known as a +physician of great eminence, and in especial as +an expert in psychology, and whom Sir William +stated to be deeply interested in phenomena +such as those observed at <span class="ws">B——.</span></p> + +<p>Lord Bute accordingly wrote to Miss Freer, +who wrote to Sir James. He did not immediately +reply, which surprised her, after so earnest +a request, and because admission to the house +for the purpose of such observations was a mark +of confidence, which as a hostess she was very +chary of giving, and which would never have +been extended to him, notwithstanding his +scientific eminence, had it not been for the +intercession of Sir William Huggins and Lord +Bute, through whom he had sought it.</p> + +<p>He wrote to her after some time, apologising +for the delay on the score of illness, +begging to know if it were still possible for<a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a> +him to be admitted, and whether he might +bring with him a scientific friend. Miss Freer +consented, and he then wrote announcing his +arrival and that of a nephew, a student at +Oxford, interested in science. He then asked, +by telegram, whether a third guest could be +admitted, to which she also consented, and his +two friends, one of whom is believed to have +been the anonymous <i>Times</i> correspondent, accordingly +came, four days after the phenomena +had, as has been stated, apparently ceased. +The way in which this hospitality was repaid +is a matter of common knowledge. Their hostess +knew of no intention to make copy of their +visit, with full names, geographical indications, +and repetition of private conversations, until +the publication of the <i>Times'</i> article of June +8th. They remained from Saturday evening +till Monday morning, and, like others, saw and +heard nothing; and much time was spent in +repeating the already often repeated experiments +as to possible sources of the sights and +sounds observed at <span class="ws">B——.</span> Their observations +appeared to be able to penetrate no further +than the mark of the shoe which Miss Freer<a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a> +pointed out on the door in the wing, made +subsequently to the flight of the <span class="ws">H——</span> family, +a passage under the roof, with which the +household had long been as familiar as with the +hall-door, and the suggestion that a certain +stream might run under the house, the which +stream runs nowhere near the house at all, as +Miss Freer was already well aware, a fact which +she demonstrated for their benefit on a map of +the estate.</p> + +<p>This is perhaps a suitable point at which to +add a letter from the head-gardener who has +been referred to more than once, more especially +as an important witness to the phenomena of +the <span class="ws">H——s'</span> tenancy.</p> + +<p>He writes to Miss Freer in reference to a +statement by <i>The Times</i> correspondent:—</p> + +<p>"<i>July 8th, '97.</i>— ... I might also mention +to you, while writing, that 'the intelligent +gardener' that was made mention of in <i>The +Times</i> was a journeyman, and not myself, as +many have supposed. I thought it proper to tell +you, madam, because I told you and several +others that I was in the house and had heard +something."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a><i>The Times</i> correspondent's statement is as +follows:—</p> + +<p>"An intelligent gardener whom I questioned +told me that he had kept watch in the house +on two separate occasions, abstaining from sleep +until daylight appeared at seven o'clock, but +without hearing a sound."</p> + +<p>The under gardener's experience of two nights +is as exhaustive of the subject as that of <i>The +Times</i> correspondent and his friends, who also +remained two nights, but do not allege that +they "abstained from sleep."</p> + +<p>Mr. "Etienne" was the last guest at <span class="ws">B——,</span> +and arrived the evening before the house was +vacated. He afterwards told Lord Bute that he +had brought, without the knowledge of any one +in the house, two seismic instruments, but that +they recorded nothing, and that during the +night he heard a sound as of a gun being fired +outside the house. This he attributed to some +poacher unknown, an explanation which seems +hardly probable, as at this time of year there is +nothing to shoot except rabbits. One never +hears of a poacher shooting rabbits, and in any +case, he would hardly do so in the immediate<a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a> +neighbourhood of an inhabited house, and discharging +his gun once only.</p> + +<p>Mr. "Etienne's" experiments are the more interesting +because that among many suggestions +made by Sir J. Crichton Browne, the only one +which had not been already considered, was the +use of seismic instruments. This—the house +being within the seismic area—seemed so reasonable, +that Miss Freer at once entered into correspondence +with the well-known Professor Milne, +with a view to experiment in this direction. +The following is from his reply:—</p> + +<p>"<i>May 15th, 1897.</i>—I was much interested in +your note of the 13th, and fancy that the +sounds with which you have to deal may be +of seismic origin. Such sounds I have often +heard, and the air waves, if not the earth waves, +can be mechanically recorded. What you require +to make the records is a seismograph with +large but exceeding light indices, or a Perry +tromometer.... The reason I think that the +sounds are seismic is, first, on account of their +character, and secondly, because you are in one +of the most unstable parts of Great Britain, +where between 1852 and 1890, 465 shocks<a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a> +(many with sounds) were recorded. Lady +Moncrieff, when living at Comrie House in +1844, often heard rumblings and moanings, +and such sounds, possibly akin to the 'barisal +guns'<a name="FNanchor_H_8" id="FNanchor_H_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_H_8" class="fnanchor">[H]</a> of Eastern England, often occur without +a shake. The mechanism of this production +may be due to slight movements on a fault +face, and they may be heard, especially in rocky +districts, in very many countries...."</p> + +<p>Miss Freer's reply was an urgent request that +machinery and an operator might be at once +sent up to <span class="ws">B——.</span> Professor Milne replied that +delicate instruments, such as he himself employed, +could only be used by one other person, +but suggested that she should hire from a +well-known London firm what are known as +"Ewing's-type" seismometers, adding, "I doubt +whether these will record anything but movements +to which you are sensible."</p> + +<p>Miss Freer's designs, however, were frustrated, +for on applying for an extension of tenancy for +this purpose, Captain <span class="ws">S——,</span> the proprietor, peremptorily +forbade the continuance of scientific +observation—a remarkable parallel to his father's<a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a> +refusal to permit the use of the phonograph +when suggested by Sir William Huggins.</p> + +<p>In relation to his experiments at <span class="ws">B——</span> Mr. +"Etienne" writes:—</p> + +<p>"Lord Bute has asked me to describe a seismographic +instrument which I used during my +short visit to <span class="ws">B——.</span> The instrument consisted +of a light wooden frame or platform which rested +on three billiard-balls. The balls in their turn +rested on a horizontal plate of plate-glass. +Through two wire rings in the centre of the +platform already mentioned a needle stood +perpendicularly, resting on its point on the +plate of glass. The centre of the plate of glass +(and the area round it and within in the triangle +describable with the balls at its angles) was +smoked. You will see that the parts of such +an instrument are held together by gravitation, +and a very little friction, and that a tremor communicated +to the plate will not simultaneously +affect the platform. The needle-point describes +on the smoked surface which it moves across +the converse of any movement of the plate +which is not simultaneously a movement of the +platform, and the error between this and the<a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a> +description of the tremor drawn by an absolutely +fixed point—say the earth itself—has been calculated +on a replica of this instrument as equal to +the error of a pendulum thirty feet long."</p> + +<p>It will be noticed that the phenomena began, +so far as Miss Freer was concerned, upon the +night of her arrival in the house, February 3rd, +and ceased (if we except the sound heard by +Mr. Etienne), after the service performed by +the Bishop on the morning of May 6th. This +period comprises ninety-two days, but from +these must be subtracted the seventeen days +between Miss Freer's leaving <span class="ws">B——</span> on the +morning of April 9th, and that of the departure +of Mr. Myers's medium, Miss "K.," on the +morning of April 26th.</p> + +<p>Of the remaining seventy-five days, Miss +Freer was absent from the house for four days, +from March 16th to March 20th, and for two +nights after Miss "K.'s" leaving; during this +latter interval, however, Lord Bute was himself +on the spot. On the other hand, she remained +in the house for eight days after the service +performed by the Bishop, during which time +no phenomena occurred.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a>Of the sixty-nine days of which a record is +kept in the journal, viz., from February 3rd to +May 14th, exclusive of twenty-three days for the +reasons already indicated, daytime phenomena +occurred upon eighteen days, and night phenomena +upon thirty-five nights.</p> + +<p>To these must be added the night of April +27th, the occasion of the vision seen by +Carter the housemaid during Lord Bute's visit. +Thirty-four nights, or almost exactly half the +period, were entirely without record of any +phenomena whatever. This is without counting +the seven nights of the last week, during +which there were observers for longer or shorter +periods in the house, none of whom recorded +any sight or sound of a supernormal kind, +unless it were the percussive or detonating +noise heard by Mr. "Etienne."</p> + +<p>The term "night" is here understood to +cover the period between the hour of going to +rest at night, to that of leaving one's room next +morning, even if the phenomena occurred in +the daylight hours of the early morning. The +term "day" is used to cover the hours of active, +waking life, from breakfast to bedtime.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a>To sum up the character of the phenomena, +it may be well to begin with those that are +<i>visual</i>.</p> + +<p>1. The phantasm of the Rev. P. <span class="ws">H——.</span> +This was seen once only, and by Miss Langton, +on the night of February 17th. Of the identity +no doubt can be felt, since Miss Moore and +Miss Freer afterwards recognised the accuracy +of the description on meeting the Rev. P. +<span class="ws">H——</span> for the first time, in a crowded railway +station on May 25th. This is the only one of +the apparitions which is undoubtedly that of +a living person, and like many such apparitions, +it occurred at an hour when it is +probable that he was asleep. <span class="ws">B——</span> is a +place to which Father <span class="ws">H——'s</span> thoughts were +naturally and disagreeably drawn, and to which +his attention had been called anew. On +awaking, he would probably have no recollection +of the circumstances, or at the utmost +would have an impression of having dreamt +that he was there.</p> + +<p>2. The woman once seen by Miss Freer in +the drawing-room. She was older than Sarah +<span class="ws">N——,</span> who died at the age of twenty-seven,<a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a> +but of whose haunting of <span class="ws">B——</span> there is some +tradition, but assisted by the parish register +of marriages and births it is not difficult to +form a guess at the identity of the phantasm. +As there is some uncertainty as to whether +the person in question is still living, though +it is probable that she is dead, the vision is +mentioned here before those as to which there +is no reason to doubt that they represent the +dead. There is reason to believe that the same +apparition has been seen by former occupants +of the house, and it is alleged to be that of a +member of the <span class="ws">S——</span> family.</p> + +<p>3. The phantasm seen by Carter the housemaid, +on the night of April 27th, who was described +as "rather old," may possibly have been +identical with the above.</p> + +<p>4. The nun to whom was given the name +of "Ishbel." This subject has been already +discussed, and the suggestion thrown out that +the phantasm was an erroneous mental picture +of the late Rev. Mother Frances Helen, evolved +from the imagination of a half-educated person +who had never seen the lady in question, and +knew little about her. This figure was seen<a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a> +many times by Miss Freer and Miss Langton, +twice by the Rev. Mr. "Q.," and probably by +Madame Boisseaux, who unhappily died suddenly +before the editors had an opportunity of +asking her for exact information. There were +also earlier witnesses. She was never seen elsewhere +than in the glen, except once by Miss +Langton, and on the one occasion when a +Bishop was saying Mass in the house, and Miss +Freer saw her outside the window just after +the elevation of the chalice. It was stated, +however, by two separate witnesses, that a +figure, probably the same, had been seen inside +the house on at least one occasion, when, some +years before Colonel Taylor's tenancy, Mrs. +<span class="ws">S——</span> was keeping her room, and a maid who +was bringing up a tray met the figure on the +stairs, and experienced such a start that she +dropped the tray.</p> + +<p>5. The lay-woman dressed in grey to whom +was given the name of "Marget," and who was +sometimes seen in the company of "Ishbel," +usually as though upbraiding or reproving her. +She was seen by Miss Freer and Miss Langton, +and her voice in conversation with "Ishbel" was<a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a> +heard not only by them, but by Mr. <span class="ws">C——</span> and +Miss Moore, Mr. "Q." and Miss "Duff" (<i>cf.</i> +Mrs. G.'s evidence, p. 68).</p> + +<p>6. The appearance of the wooden crucifix +seen in No. 3. It was about eighteen inches +long, and the figure was of the same wood +as the cross. Its earliest appearance is to +the Rev. P. <span class="ws">H——.</span> It afterwards appeared +to the Rev. Mr. "Q.," and lastly to Miss +Freer, none of the witnesses knowing anything +in detail of the experience of the +others. It was also seen in the crystal by +Miss Langton—possibly by thought transference +from others.</p> + +<p>When the Rev. P. <span class="ws">H——</span> saw it he was +always drowsy, but when it appeared to Mr. +"Q." its appearance was immediately preceded +by a sensation of acute chill on his part, and its +appearance to Miss Freer by a similar sensation +on the part of "Endell." It is perhaps worth +while to remark, that we are told that among +spiritualists the sensation of cold is supposed to +be an unfavourable indication as to the character +of the spirits who are present, and that in the +cases of both Mr. "Q." and Mr. "Endell" the<a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a> +appearance of the crucifix seemed to put an end +to the chill.</p> + +<p>7. The dogs. These were much more often +heard than seen, the sounds being those of +their pattering footsteps, sometimes as of +their bounding about in play, and sometimes +of their throwing themselves against the lower +part of doors. It seemed, however, that they +were visible to Miss Freer's living dog at times +when they were not visible to her, and indeed +the abject terror which the Pomeranian displayed +in No. 8 was so distressing, that she +changed her room from No. 8 to No. 5 in +consequence.</p> + +<p>A dog was, moreover, seen by Miss Freer and +Miss Langton in the smoking-room on April 8th; +Miss Freer and Miss Moore have described more +than one occasion when they felt themselves +pushed as by a dog; and on the night of +May 4th, Miss Freer saw the two forepaws only, +of another and larger black dog resting on the +edge of a table in No. 8.</p> + +<p>Other apparitions seen in the house by former +occupants were described to members of Colonel +Taylor's party as well as to earlier tenants, but<a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a> +here, as elsewhere, we have refrained from all +quotation from the relatives of the present +proprietor.</p> + +<p>It is interesting to remark that one apparition +which was constantly expected during Colonel +Taylor's tenancy was expected in vain. This +was that of the little old gentleman with stooping +form and limping gait mentioned by earlier +witnesses. His peculiar step was heard very +frequently, and by a great number and variety +of witnesses, alone and collectively; and his +appearance, naturally enough, was constantly +looked for, but it never occurred.</p> + +<p>In the same way there was one expected +sound which never occurred, though frequent +in the experience of earlier witnesses—that of +the rustling of a silk dress, suggesting to the +mind of the hearer the idea of some one who, +either in fact or in thought, had worn such a +garment.</p> + +<p><i>Tactile.</i> The most important of these were +the experiences of Miss "N." on the night of +March 3rd, and of Miss "Duff" on the night of +March 22nd, both in No. 3; and of a maid, Lizzie, +on the night of March 23rd, in the room above<a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a> +No. 3, on the attic storey, who all testified to +the sensation of the moving of the bed, or the +handling of the bed-clothes. These were the +only occasions during Colonel Taylor's tenancy, +but the phenomenon is one often testified to +by earlier witnesses, both during the <span class="ws">H——s'</span> +tenancy and that of the family of the late +Mr. <span class="ws">S——.</span></p> + +<p>It presents a peculiar difficulty in the way of +the theory that all the phenomena at <span class="ws">B——</span> +were subjective hallucinations, and this is especially +the case with regard to the evidence of a +witness who has not been brought forward in +the preceding pages, but whose account of a +similar experience is reported by two first-hand +witnesses. On one occasion he had +the whole of the upper bed-clothes lifted +from off him and thrown upon the floor, +while a pile of wearing apparel, which was +laid on a chair beside the bed, was thrown +in his face.</p> + +<p>It is of course conceivable that the whole of +these experiences, including the last, were the +result of an hallucination; but on the other +hand, it would be very unwise, in the present<a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a> +state of our ignorance on the subject, to dogmatise +as to the possible action of unseen forces +upon what is commonly called matter. It is +interesting to note that this senseless and +childish trick coincides with what was said by +Miss <span class="ws">A——</span> as to the presence of mischievous +elementals, and also what she says as to +<i>apports</i>.<a name="FNanchor_I_9" id="FNanchor_I_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_I_9" class="fnanchor">[I]</a></p> + +<p>1. The sensation of the movement of the bed +itself, whether as being rocked, as in the experience +of Miss "Duff" on March 22nd, and of Miss +Langton on several occasions, and by guests of +the <span class="ws">H——</span> family, or of being lifted up, as in +that of the maid Lizzie, is a phenomenon by no +means uncommon, and if objective is of the +nature of levitation; but we have unfortunately +no evidence from a second person observing the +phenomenon from outside. Whether it were +actually moved it is impossible to say, but the +sensation seems to have been more than subjective.</p> + +<p>2. The sensation of struggling with something +unseen, described by Miss "Duff," March 22nd, +and of the sensation of an incumbent weight, +<a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a>as described by Miss "Duff" (same date) and +Miss "N." on March 2nd. This coincides +with the arrest of his hand experienced by +Harold Sanders. These phenomena adapt +themselves to the theory of subjectivity more +easily than the foregoing, because they more +closely resemble those of nightmare (familiar +to most persons), although they occurred while +the witnesses were awake.</p> + +<p>3. The sensation of being pushed by a dog was +experienced in two different rooms by Miss Freer +and Miss Moore respectively. If Mr. "Endell" +were touched by Ishbel on the evening of +March 1st, as appeared to Miss Freer to be +the case, he had no independent consciousness +of the fact that might not have been referred +to expectation, so that this cannot be regarded +as evidential.</p> + +<p>For lack of other classification, we mention +under this heading of "tactile" the sensation +of chill experienced by Mr. "Endell" and +Mr. <span class="ws">Q——</span> in No. 3, and which appears to +be the same as that described by Harold +Sanders as the sensation of "entering an +ice-house."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a>The <i>audile</i> phenomena were so frequent and +so various, that a conspectus of them is given +in an appendix. Some of them appeared to +be human in origin, such as voices, reading or +speaking, footsteps, and, according to earlier +witnesses, screams and moans. Others might +have been caused by dogs, such as pattering +footsteps, jumping and pouncing as in play, +the wagging of a dog's tail against the door, +and the sound as of a dog throwing itself +against the lower panels. Other sounds have +been differentiated, as the <i>detonating</i> or explosive +noise; the <i>clang</i> sound, as of the +striking of metal upon wood; the <i>thud</i> or +heavy fall without resonance; and the <i>crash</i>, +which was never better described than as if +one of the beasts' heads on the staircase wall +had fallen into the hall below. It very often, +or almost always, seemed to occur under the +glass dome which lighted the body of the house, +and the falling object seemed to strike others +in its descent, so that it was not ineffectively +imitated by rolling a bowl along the stone +floor of the hall, and allowing it to strike +against the doors or pillars, when the<a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a> +peculiar echoing quality was fairly reproduced +by the hollow domed roof and surrounding +galleries.</p> + +<p>The editors offer no conclusions. This +volume has been put together, as the house at +<span class="ws">B——</span> was taken, not for the establishment of +theories, but for the record of facts.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Footnote_C_3" id="Footnote_C_3"></a><a name="Footnote_D_4" id="Footnote_D_4"></a><a name="Footnote_E_5" id="Footnote_E_5"></a> +<a name="Footnote_F_6" id="Footnote_F_6"></a><a name="Footnote_G_7" id="Footnote_G_7"></a> +<a name="Footnote_H_8" id="Footnote_H_8"></a><a name="Footnote_I_9" id="Footnote_I_9"></a> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p> +<a href="#FNanchor_C_3"><span class="label">[C]</span></a> They consisted +of a small part of the evidence already quoted.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p> +<a href="#FNanchor_D_4"><span class="label">[D]</span></a> We have since +ascertained by experiment that no sound short +of beating with a hammer on the wall itself is audible between +the two rooms; also, that the upsetting of a metal candlestick on +the bare boards in the nearer servants' room (over No. 1) cannot +be heard in No. 8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p> +<a href="#FNanchor_E_5"><span class="label">[E]</span></a> <i>Cf.</i> Mrs. +Robinson's account <i>ante</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p> +<a href="#FNanchor_F_6"><span class="label">[F]</span></a> These remarkable +disclosures included, among other details, +the murder of a Roman Catholic family chaplain, at a period +when the <span class="ws">S——s</span> were and had long been Presbyterian, the +suicide of one of the family who is still living, and the throwing, +by persons in mediæval costume, of the corpse of an infant, +over a bridge, which is quite new, into a stream which until +lately ran underground. +</p> + +<p>Professor Lodge had not had the same opportunity of acquiring +a critical standpoint as to such statements, as those whose +knowledge of the place was more intimate.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p> +<a href="#FNanchor_G_7"><span class="label">[G]</span></a> The words, in +uttering which Lord Bute was thus affected, +were, "Regem cui omnia vivunt venite adoremus," an invitation +in which he meant to include all intelligent beings. +</p> + +<p>Miss Freer, Miss Langton, and a third guest, chatting one +night about 10.30 in this room, were startled by one of the +familiar crashes outside. Miss Freer treated the matter lightly, +fearing lest the lady in question, by no means a nervous person, +however, should be alarmed; and receiving no reply turned to +look at her, and observed that her lower jaw was convulsed, and +that she was painfully struggling to recover speech.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p> +<a href="#FNanchor_H_8"><span class="label">[H]</span></a> See Appendix II.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p> +<a href="#FNanchor_I_9"><span class="label">[I]</span></a> See Appendix I.</p></div> + +<p><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a></p> + +<p><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a></p> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a></p> + +<p><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a></p> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX_I" id="APPENDIX_I"></a>APPENDIX I</h2> + + +<p>A lady, known to readers of <i>Proceedings +S.P.R.</i> as Miss <span class="ws">A——,</span> who is an habitual +automatic writer, but whose social position removes +her from the temptations and tendencies +of the ordinary so-called medium, was good +enough on March 10, 1897, to contribute the +following automatic script in reply to a request +from Lord Bute:—</p> + +<p>"I do not much care for the influence of this +house; it is most decidedly haunted, but not +by any particularly good spirits, the haunting +being carried on by mischievous elementals, and +as far as I can make out there is some one who +lives there through all the changes, who supplies +a great deal of force, and who is not +aware of the power. I think that a great deal +more is added to what really takes place, as +the hauntings appear to me to consist of disturbing +noises, with now and then a case of<a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a> +apport, for the elementary forces are not +sufficient to produce forms unless a great deal +of outside force is given.</p> + +<p>"The forms that would appear would always +be different, as each mediumistic person would +supply his own surroundings. The only one I +am not sure about is the shadowy figure of an +old man whom I have twice seen in rather a +dark passage, and from his surrounding light I +should say he may often be there.</p> + +<p>"I think the noises would stop of themselves, +at least the more disturbing part, if a less +attentive attitude were taken towards them."</p> + +<p>These statements present certain interesting +points as coming from one who had never seen +the house, and knew nothing of its phenomena. +"The shadowy figure of an old man in a dark +passage" seems to point to the figure, possibly, +of the Major, seen by earlier witnesses in the +dark lobby—the only dark corner in the house—outside +the door of the downstairs smoking-room, +and whose voice was heard there by Miss +Freer, Miss Langton, and Mr. <span class="ws">T——</span> during the +tenancy of Colonel Taylor.</p> + +<p>An occasion upon which the phenomena<a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a> +might be described as those of "mischievous +elementals," and also of <i>apports</i>, is referred to +in the summing up of tactile phenomena, +though it did not occur during the tenancy of +Colonel Taylor.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the phenomena were often +more active when least looked for, and some of +those most expected never occurred. As there +was not even a servant, nor even a dumb animal, +common to the occupation of the <span class="ws">S——</span> family +and the tenancy of the <span class="ws">H——s</span> or Colonel +Taylor, we are at a loss to know who the +person can be who lives at <span class="ws">B——</span> through all +the changes, and supplies force during the past +twenty years.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"></a></p> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h2><a name="APPENDIX_II" id="APPENDIX_II"></a>APPENDIX II</h2> + +<h4>BARISAL GUNS. (<a href="#Page_221"><i>See page 221.</i></a>)</h4> +<br /> + + +<p>Readers not acquainted with this phenomenon +may be referred to an interesting correspondence +in the pages of <i>Nature</i> (Oct. 1895, and <i>Seq.</i>), +opened by Professor G.H. Darwin—</p> + +<p>"In the delta of the Ganges," he says, "dull +sounds, more or less resembling distant artillery, +are often heard. These are called Barisal +guns, but I do not know the meaning of the +term."</p> + +<p>The same sounds have been recorded by +M. Rutot of the Geological Survey along the +Belgian coast, and are alleged to be pretty +common in the North of France. M. van der +Broeck, Conservator of the Museum of Natural +History of Belgium, says—</p> + +<p>"I have constantly noticed these sounds in +the plain of Limburg since 1880;—more than<a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a> +ten of my personal acquaintances have observed +the fact. The detonations are dull and distant, +and are repeated a dozen times or more at +irregular intervals. They are usually heard in +the daytime, when the sky is clear, and especially +towards evening after a very hot day. +The noise does not at all resemble artillery, +blasting in mines, or the growling of distant +thunder."</p> + +<p>M. van der Broeck elsewhere refers to "similar +noises heard on Dartmoor, and in some +parts of Scotland." Readers of Blackmore's +story of "Lorna Doone" will remember, among +other valuable observations of out-door life, +his accounts of "the hollow moaning sound" +during the intense cold of the winter, of which +he gives so graphic an account. It was "ever +present in the air, morning, noon, and night +time, and especially at night, whether any wind +was stirring or whether it were a perfect calm" +(Chap. xlvi.).</p> + +<p>Another correspondent in <i>Nature</i> refers to +remarkable noises among the hills of Cheshire: +"When the wind is easterly, and nearly calm +on the flats, a hollow moaning sound is heard,<a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a> +popularly termed the Soughing of the Wind, +which Sir Walter Scott, in his glossary to +'Guy Mannering,' interprets as a hollow blast +or whisper."</p> + +<p>Another writer quotes experiences in East +Anglia, tending to show that such sounds may +be reports arising from the process of "faulting" +going on, on a small scale, at a great depth, and +not of sufficient intensity to produce a perceptible +vibration at the earth's surface.</p> + +<p>It would seem that in districts such as Comrie +in Perthshire, East Hadden in Connecticut, +Pignerol in Piedmont, Meleda in the Adriatic, +&c., sounds without shocks are common during +intervals, which may last for several years. +Remarkable sounds, not apparently accounted +for, are reported to proceed from Lough Neagh +in Ireland.</p> + +<p>See <i>Nature</i>, Oct. 1895, and following numbers; +articles by M. van der Broeck in <i>Ciel et Terre</i> +(Belgium), Dec. 1, 1895, and following numbers, +also <i>Geol. Mag.</i>, vol. ix. 1892, pp. 208-18.</p> + +<a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h2>CONSPECTUS OF AUDILE PHENOMENA AT<br /> +<span class="ws">B——</span> HOUSE RECORDED IN JOURNAL</h2> +<br /> + +<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="100%" summary="Conspectus Of Audile Phenomena"> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" width="10%">Recorded under Date.</td> +<td class="tdc" width="20%">Heard in Room.</td> +<td class="tdc" width="30%">Witness.</td> +<td class="tdc" width="40%">Description of Sound.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="2" valign="top">Feb. 4</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Freer <br />Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl">Loud clanging sound, as of metal struck with wood<br />Voices in conversation</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">No. III.</td> +<td class="tdl">"Mac," the maid</td> +<td class="tdl">Voices, footsteps, things dragged about</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Feb. 5</td> +<td class="tdl">Attics</td> +<td class="tdl">Two housemaids</td> +<td class="tdl">Continuous reading</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="2" valign="top">Feb. 7</td> +<td class="tdl">No. VII.</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl">Reverberating bang close to bed</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Drawing-room Hall</td> +<td class="tdl">Mac<br />Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl">Noises and footsteps<br />Clanging sound upstairs</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="4" valign="top">Feb. 8</td> +<td class="tdl">"Butler's room"</td> +<td class="tdl">Mac</td> +<td class="tdl">Footsteps and sounds on door</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="2" valign="top">No. VII.</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Reverberating bang</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Noises percussive or explosive</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">The Glen</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Freer <br />Mr. C——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Voices in conversation</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Feb. 9</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VII.</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Noises percussive or explosive</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="3" valign="top">Feb. 10</td> +<td class="tdl">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl">Clangs. Voices in conversation</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">No. V.</td> +<td class="tdl">Mr. W——</td> +<td class="tdl">Knockings.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">Colonel Taylor</td> +<td class="tdl">Footsteps overhead</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="3" valign="top">Feb.13</td> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="2" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl">Clanging noise</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Crash</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. V.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. W——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Knockings</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Feb. 15</td> +<td class="tdl">No. IV.</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl">A loud crash</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Feb. 16</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">The Glen</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Langton<br />Miss Freer<br />Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Voices in conversation</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">Feb. 17</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Drawing-room</td> +<td class="tdl">Mrs. W——<br />Miss Langton<br />Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Footsteps overhead in disused room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Drawing-room</td> +<td class="tdl">Col. Taylor<br />Mrs. W——<br />Miss Langton<br />Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Clanging noise, four times repeated</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="4"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a>Feb. 18</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Banging sounds</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Sounds as of an animal's movements in the room in daylight</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">The Glen</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Langton<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Voices in conversation</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">The Glen</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Langton (later)</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Voices in conversation</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Feb. 19</td> +<td class="tdl">The Glen</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl">Voices in conversation and footsteps</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Feb. 20</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Sounds of active movement of an animal in the room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="3" valign="top">Feb. 21</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="3">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Footsteps of an old man shuffling in slippers</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer<br />Dog</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Movements of animal</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Bang on wall near No VII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="3" valign="top">Feb. 25</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Wing</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. "Endell"</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Clang noise "like a pavior's hammer dropped"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. Garford</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Violent banging on door of Nos. I. and II.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. III.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. "Q."</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Groans; "a greatly magnified edition of sounds I have several times heard in the drawing-room"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Feb. 26</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. Garford</td> +<td class="tdl">Detonating or percussive noise like "a wheel-barrow on a hard road"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">March 1</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. IV.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. MacP——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Loud clanging sound in the room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="3">March 2</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer<br />Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Movements of animal in the room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer<br />Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Heavy fall</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. III.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss "N."</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Thud, sounding from below</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="5">March 5</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Movements of animal in the room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Attics</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Two maids</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Monotonous reading</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. B.C.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Monotonous reading (also mentioned by Mr. Garford as occurring in No. I.)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. B.C.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Bang on door of room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Attics</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. Robinson (cook)</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Voices in conversation<br />Bangs on the wall of room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">March 7</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Attics</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Robinson (butler)</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Heavy body falling in the room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. II.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. C——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Movements of heavy body in the room<br />Footsteps as if descending stairs<br />Loud rapping on doors of Nos. I. and II.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a>March 8</td> +<td class="tdl">No. II.</td> +<td class="tdl">Mr. C——</td> +<td class="tdl">Noises in No. I. (empty room)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">March 10</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Animal moving in the room<br />Heavy fall</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="3">March 13</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Loud bangs</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Attics</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Robinson, and Mrs. Robinson</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Loud bangs</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. IV.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Loud bangs</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="3">March 15</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Vibrating bang</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. IV.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Vibrating bang</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Wing</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Colonel Taylor</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Vibrating bang</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" colspan="4">[Miss Freer was absent for four nights, and no Journal was kept.]</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">March 20</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Moore<br />Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Metallic sound in room "like the 'giving' of a large tin box"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">March 22</td> +<td class="tdl">No. IV.</td> +<td class="tdl">Mr. MacP——</td> +<td class="tdl">Heavy footsteps overhead</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">No. III.</td> +<td class="tdl">Miss "Duff"</td> +<td class="tdl">Resounding crash at door<br />Resounding crash in room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">March 23</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Drawing-room</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss "Duff"</td> +<td class="tdl">Monotonous reading (also mentioned as occurring in No. III.)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="7">March 24</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. V.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Crash of something falling under dome</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Colonel C——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Loud thump on door of room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. W——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Explosive noises<br />Crash of something falling under dome</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Attics</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Two housemaids and kitchen-maid</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Loud knockings</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Butler's room on ground floor</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. Robinson</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Footsteps and knocking on door of No. III.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. III.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss "Duff"</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Shuffling foot steps outside room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. II.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss "Duff"<br />Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Fall against door of No. I.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">March 25</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. II.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Loud thump on door between I. and II.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">March 27</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Attics</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Carter (housemaid)<br />Under-housemaid<br />Kitchen-maid</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Monotonous reading</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">March 29</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Library</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Footsteps in locked-up room overhead</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="2">March 30</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Library</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Footsteps in locked-up room overhead</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Corridor</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. and Mrs. M——<br />Miss Langton<br />Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Rappings in No. II. (empty).<br />(See Mr. M——'s account)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="3"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a>March 31</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Shuffling footsteps in the room<br />Knock near the wardrobe</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. M——<br />Mr. M——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Metallic clangs in the room like "tuning a kettle-drum"; later, "terrific noise," "like treble rap on a hollow panel,"--like "the lid of a heavy coal-scuttle let fall"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Drawing-room</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. M——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Voices in library<br />Detonating noise (like a distant cannon)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="4">April 1</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. M——<br />Mrs. M——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Voices and footsteps in room overhead (empty)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Drawing-room</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. M——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Voices and footsteps overhead</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">In the garden</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. M——<br />Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Detonating noise</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Drawing-room</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. M——<br />Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Limping footsteps overhead<br />Voices of a man and woman</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="3">April 2</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">Library</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Heavy blow on table</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. M——<br />Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Heavy blow on table (heard in dining-room)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Dining-room</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton<br />Robinson (butler)</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Footsteps overhead in empty room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">April 3</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Library</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Violent hammering on door in daylight</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Dining-room</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton<br />Mr. T——<br />Robinson (butler)</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Footsteps overhead in empty room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">April 4</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. V.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Crash under dome</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">April 5</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. T——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Monotonous reading</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">April 6</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. T——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Thuds on floor above, and on door of room<br />Voices in conversation</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">April 7</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. V.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Crash under dome</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. T——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Crash under dome<br />Voices in conversation<br />Raps at foot of door</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="6">April 8</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Various parts of the house</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Household generally</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Crashes and bangs and footsteps heard during the day</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Smoking-room</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer<br />Miss Langton<br />Mr. T——<br />Dog</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Shuffling footsteps in the room<br />Voices outside door</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a>No. IV.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Crash under dome</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Langton</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Shuffling footsteps</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. T——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Voices</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. IV.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Thuds on lowest panels of door<br />Footsteps of many persons</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" colspan="4">[No Journal kept between April 8 and April 29. During this period Professor Lodge's notes testify to "knocks on the wall, a sawing noise, a droning and a wailing, ... some whistling, and apparent attempts at a whisper, all up in the attic.]</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">May 3</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mme. Boisseaux</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Monotonous voice from No. III.<br />Voices in argument</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. V.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mrs. "F."</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Knocks at door</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">May 4</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. V.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mme. Boisseaux</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Knocks at door</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">May 5</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Drawing-room</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mme. Boisseaux<br />Mrs. "F."<br />Mrs. M——<br />Miss Freer<br />Rev. MacL——</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Detonating noise in empty room overhead (No. I.) in daylight</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Billiard-room</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Gardener, butler, cook and others</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Crash in the room</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top" rowspan="2">May 6</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. V.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mme. Boisseaux</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">"Room resounded with knocks"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Library</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Miss Freer<br />Miss Moore</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Bangs on table</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">May 13</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">No. I.</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">Mr. "Etienne"</td> +<td class="tdl" valign="top">[?] Detonating noise</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h2>NOTES</h2> + +<p class="cen">[Compare Plan of House.]</p> + + +<p>1. The rooms spoken of in the text as "the library," and the "upstairs," +or "wing" smoking-room, are those marked in the Plan as the +"morning-room," and the bedroom to the extreme east in the wing.</p> + +<p>2. Most of the maid-servants slept in rooms Y and Z, over 1 and 2, +until the alarm of March 25, when they moved to the rooms on the other +side the house (X and W), thus leaving those over Nos. 1 and 2 empty.</p> + +<p>3. Robinson and Mrs. Robinson (butler and cook) occupied room W +till March 13, when both moved into the butler's room off the hall, which +during the first month had been occupied by Mac the maid, who became +ill and returned south.</p> + +<p>4. Opinions regarding the noises, and experiments as to their origin, +will be found on the under-mentioned pages of the Journal.</p> + +<p><i>Opinions</i>, pp. <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, +<a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, +<a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, +<a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, +<a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, +<a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, +<a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, +<a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, +<a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</p> + +<p><i>Experiments</i>, pp. <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, +<a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, +<a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.</p> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h5>Printed by <span class="sc">Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.</span><br /> +Edinburgh & London</h5> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Alleged Haunting of B---- House, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALLEGED HAUNTING *** + +***** This file should be named 16538-h.htm or 16538-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/3/16538/ + +Produced by Clare Boothby, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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