The Haunted Farm and the Bewitched Bull. A story from Wales.
Extraordinary sights and sounds have been manifested nightly (says a correspondent of the Liverpool Post) at Bodurdda Farm, not far from Aberdarron and Bardsey Island. The inhabitants are thoroughly terrified, and to one of the farm servants the affair is likely to have a serious ending. When the cowman went at early dawn to the shippons to milk the cows, to his astonishment he found the sixteen cows and one bull unfastened in the yard. The bull immediately butted at the man, knocked him down, thrust his horn right through his cheek, and tore his clothes in tatters, leaving him in a shocking condition. A posse of the Carnarvonshire police were then sent to watch the premises, and during the night three cow house doors opened simultaneously and closed with a bang. They rushed out in alarm, but not a soul could be observed, and this extraordinary nocturnal incident has greatly increased the alarm, especially as weird sounds have since been heard.
Liverpool Echo, 28th January 1889.
The Haunted Farm.
It is a trite remark that this is an age of occultism. Culture is supposed to do away with superstitions, but I find culture very superstitious, only it is called occultism! I do not know the end of a wonderful ghost story I read in a Welsh paper last week; it interested me, and though I dare say it will be explained away at present it is mysterious, and I like it. A cowman at a certain farm rose at cockcrow, as usual, to milk the kine in the byre, where they were tethered securely. He found them loose and in their midst, a bull, which savagely gored him. I do not know if he is dead yet, but I fear so. Mysterious sounds and strange appearances at this farm have lately terrified the neighbours, and as yet they have not been accounted for on any human basis. The place is haunted – so it is said. The animals themselves show signs of supernatural terror.
Liverpool Echo, 8th February 1889.
The Haunted Welsh Farm. An Explanation.
A correspondent at Pwllheli writes: – A special telegram appeared in the Echo for January 28, giving an account of extraordinary sights and sounds that were manifested about the farm of Bodwrdda, Aberdaron, Carnarvonshire. I can testify that no extraordinary sights and sounds have been manifested about the farm at all, and the truth about the cowman simply is this: When he went, in early dawn, to attend the cattle he found only the bull unfastened in the cowhouse, and the gate of the shed besides, where fifteen unfastened bullocks were kept, was open, and the cattle found in the stack yard, having been driven there by some evil disposed person or persons no doubt. The cowman succeeded in fastening the bull without receiving any harm. As to the police, not one of the force visited the place, and no weird sounds have been heard about the place.
Liverpool Echo, 15th February, 1889.