Town Talk. By “The man in the street.”
Cleethorpes can now be considered quite up-to-date. It has got a ghost. A lady living on the Kingsway was so disturbed the other evening by weird rat-tats emanating from somewhere in the region of the false roof that she hurried outside for assistance. A gentleman not unknown on the Fish Docks was passing, and followed her inside without turning a hair. The lady, however, thought she would like a little more moral support, so she called in a couple of policemen. A thorough investigation was made, and one of the men in blue explored the dark and dusty regions of the roof. When he emerged devoid of coat and helmet and looking anything but his own cool, sweet self, he was almost mistaken for the cause of the search. The mystery was not solved, however. Now, who’s the practical joker!
Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 6th April 1921.
Mystery Rappings.
Alarming manifestations at Kingsway House.
Policemen’s search for ghosts.
Cleethorpes has its mystery house. No, it is not a new amusement erection along the Promenade devised for the purpose of relieving holiday-makers of their cash, but an ordinary dwelling-house, situated on the Kingsway – number 28 to be precise – and the tenant, Mrs Wild, has lost many hours of sleep and suffered much mental agony through recent experiences. Living with her is her nephew, aged 21, and for some time curious noises have been heard by Mrs Wild after she has retired to bed. Matters reached a climax on Monday night, when she was kept awake by the rappings most of the night.
“It sounded as though there was somebody concealed in the walls banging away like grim death with a hammer,” she told the ‘Telegraph’. “Sometimes it was in my bedroom, and then it would break out in other rooms. Occasionally it is quite a gentle sound, but at other times it is deafening, and in the middle of the night it is no joke to be startled like this.”
“Your neighbours cannot offer and explanation,” suggested the ‘Telegraph’ man. “No, it has happened sometimes when the people on both sides have been out. They have complained to me about the noise,” said Mrs Wild. “On Monday night the bangings lasted for several hours on and off. They broke out again on Tuesday night, and it was getting more than I could stand, so I went out for help. Two policemen came in and they searched all through the house and up in the false roof, but found nothing to explain the mystery. I can’t understand it at all. I sometimes think the foundations are giving way. The curious thing is wherever the noises break out plaster and strips of wallpaper drop down, I can’t make it out at all.”
“What about rats?” Mrs Wild was asked. “I don’t think the noises are like those made by rats. I think sometimes somebody is playing pranks on me. Besides, I’ve missed little articles out of the house during the past few months. I haven’t had visitors in since last September. And I did not miss anything before then.” “This ghost of yours is a bit of a thief then,” smilingly suggested the ‘Telegraph’ man. “Well, it’s all very strange. The police couldn’t fathom it, and they heard the noises as they were going upstairs. But it soon stopped that night, and I didn’t hear it any more. I hope I don’t hear it again. It is getting on my nerves.”
Whatever the cause of these mysterious sounds, there is no doubt that Mrs Wild has been genuinely disturbed by them.
Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 7th April 1921.
Knockings in the night.
Alarmed by mysterious rappings within the walls of her house on the promenade at Cleethorpes, Mrs Wild, a widow, called in police officers. They reached the house, and explored the false roof, but could not solve the mystery.
“The sounds go from room to room,” said Mrs Wild interviewed yesterday. “Sometimes they are a mere gentle tapping; at others they become deafeningly loud, as though someone were imprisoned and trying to break out with a hammer. My neighbours have complained of the noises, too, and we cannot account for them. They keep me awake at night, and the weirdness of the thing is getting on my nerves. Moreover, things have disappeared from the house since the ghostly knockings began.”
Mrs Wild lives alone with a nephew, aged 21, and they know of no one who would try to frighten them by a stupid, practical joke.
Bradford Daily Argus, 8th April 1921.