I have neglected my usual custom of marking the date of the occurrence on this extract, but the even t occurred only a few years back. The story is evidently a description of a spiritual manifestation, and is quoted from the South Australian Chronicle:-
“Sir, – I wish to correct a statement which appeared in your issue of the 17th instant, concerning a knocking at the doors of my house .I, for one, have never believed in ghost stories; but I will give you a true accoun tof what I, with my family, witnessed and heard.
On Saturday evening, June 8, at 6 o’clock, there came a rap at the front door, but on going to the door nobody was there. It came again afterwards at the back door – a rap, rap, rap – but no one was to be seen. It then came to the front and passage windows. I then determined to try and catch the boys who, I thought, were causing the disturbance, and got my family to remain at the bottom of the passage while I searched every hiding place. During my search the knocking continued at the back door. This rapping continued until half-past ten o’clock. It was so loud that it was heard across the road, and by ten o’clock my house and the next one were surrounded by my neighbours and family, but no one was to be seen as the cause of the mischief.
We heard no more after half-past ten o’clock till Sunday morning, as we were going to have breakfast. At half-past seven o’clock there came two gentle taps at the front door; I answered the door, but could see no one. Directly afterwards it came rap, rap, rap at the back door. This was heard by my neighbours, who ran out to see if it was my door. We then searched the roof and every part of the premises, but nobody was to be seen, and whilst we stood talking at th eback the rapping continued at the front door. My little boy said the door half opened in his hand, and there were three heavy raps before our eyes.
My next door neighbour stood under the verandah watching the outside of my door, and he saw the door shake with the knocks. The back door was beaten severely, and I said – ‘Open the door and see if it will be better;’ but the rapping still continued, and about ten o’clock it came to the inner doors, and remained inside the house all day. There are six inner doors, and each one had three heavy raps. At one o’clock the knocking was very severe, and I had eight adult witnesses in the house who saw the doors shake with the rapping. This continued until half-past four o’clock.
On Monday, the 10th, it returned again about eight o’clock, and at half-past ten o’clock a man who had been lodging with me was in th ehouse, and the rapping was so loud that he ran out quite frightened, and was ill next day in consequence.
I know not what is the meaning of all this, but I have given you a full and clear account of what occurred, and I only hope we shall not be troubled with it again. As to my child, which died on the following Tuesday night, I am not going to suppose that the knocking had anything to do with my child’s death. I may also mention that a friend of mine, who considered the whole affair complete humbug, was in my house on Monday, and when the rapping commenced on the partition, he started, and inquired if that was the noise. On being told that it was, he rushed out of th ehouse, vowing that he would not live a day in it, and was ill all night from the fright.
Philip Howell. Adelaide, June 17th.