A Haunted House.
Mysterious occurrences were reported on Wednesday by a Larne correspondent. He says a house there, occupied by a railway guard, has become known as the “haunted house” owing to strange manifestations. The family have been disturbed by the most unaccountable noises. As soon as the lights are out chairs move, doors are banged, and articles thrown violently about by unseen hands. Watch has been kept several nights but the mystery has not been elucidated.
Dundee Courier, 5th August 1884.
A Haunted House in Larne.
During the last week there has been unusual excitement in the neighbourhood of St John’s Place, Larne, in consequence of the extraordinary actions of supposed ghostly visitants during the silent hours of the night in a house in that locality. The present occupant of the house is a guard named Downey, in the employment of the Ballymena and Larne Railway Company – a most respectable man – and ever since he came to live there he and his family had been disturbed at night by the most unaccountable noises. Notwithstanding the utmost watchfulness, nothing could be seen, but as soon as the lights were put out chairs began to move about, doors were banged, articles were thrown by unseen hands violently about the house, and all the other phenomena usually found a spirit-rapping seances took place. It is said that the former occupant of the house left it on account of these noises.
For the last night or two a number of people including nearly all the employees of the Ballymena and Larne railway, have been keeping watch, but for so far although the utmost vigilance was exercised, the noise commenced as usual, and continued through the night, but nothing was seen. On Monday night eight men kept within the house, and instituted a strict search before the house was closed up for the night. About twelve o’clock the noise commenced with the sound of a sharp slap on the passage door, leading from the hall to the scullery, followed by the sound of heavy articles rolling about. A scuffle, as of people wrestling, was heard in the scullery but, on the watchers repairing there, nothing could be seen. As soon as they left the sound of scuffling was again heard, and on going back they found that pitcher of water, which sat on a chair, had been removed, and a number of articles displaced. Up to the present those manifestations remain entirely unaccounted for. The affair has created a considerable amount of excitement in the neighbourhood, which is a very quiet one, and the excitement has increased, owing to the fact that the present occupant of the house finds it necessary to leave it.
Ulster Gazette, 2nd August 1884.
The Haunted House in Larne.
The excitement, writes our correspondent, about the house supposed to be haunted in St John’s place, Larne, still continues. On Tuesday night a large crowd assembled around the door, and the neighbours made a complaint to Mr Williams, J. P., of the annoyance caused by the crowd. Several of the constabulary were then sent to disperse the crowd. As usual a number of people waited in the house to watch. The ‘manifestations’ did not occur till nearly 3 a.m., when two knocks were heard at an inside door leading to the scullery, and a smart slap, as with an open hand. A search was made in every part of the house but no sooner was the party in one end of the house than the sounds were heard in the other, and every description of articles seemed to be dragged about by unseen hands. Contrary to the practice of orthodox ghosts, the spirits in St John’s-place are not the least intimidated by the “crow of the cock,” but continue their manifestations till sometime after sunrise. Perhaps, being new to the business, they have not as yet learned all the rules of ghostly etiquette, and after a time will conform to the customs observed by all spirits having any claims to respectability.” Belfast News-Letter.
Enniskillen Chronicle and Erne Packet, 7th August 1884.