“Haunted House” in the Highlands.
Psychic Research Students Make Investigations.
Extraordinary happenings are reported as having taken place in the house of Donald MacKenzie, postman, who resides at lonely Baravulin, Ledaig, a small hamlet in Argyllshire, seven miles south of Oban [seemingly north not south]. The whole district is ringing with the controversy as to whether the phenomena which is stated to have been observed by the inmates at Baravulin is due to natural or spiritualistic causes.
Reports show that in certain quarters it is believed that a spirit presence manifests itself on many occasions, comes through the plaster of the walls, and seeks out the warmest corner of the beds in which the children sleep.
Strange knockings and groanings and house tremors are said to have occurred, adn the position became so interesting that a body of four distinguished psychic research students recently visited the wilds of Argyllshire and slept in the haunted house at Baravulin. These four investigators, it is understood, have not yet reported on the matter, but a serious attempt to explain the causes of the phenomena is to be made.
Meanwhile, a Ledaig correspondent states that opinion in the district seems to be divided as to whether the mysterious occurrences have been real, or are due to an excited imagination and self-deception.
Dundee Courier, 12th November 1921.
Ghosts Steal a Rabbit.
Argyll boys coming to Glasgow for test.
The Argyllshire ghost mystery, first reported exclusively in the “Daily Record,” continues to excite the greatest curiosity throughout Scotland. The weekly press has joined in the attempt to probe the secret of the strange happenings in the cottage of Mr Donald Mackenzie, postman, at Ledaig, a lonely hamlet in the Western Highlands, and the additional facts elicited by those who have followed the “Daily Record’s” lead only serve to make the story more mystifying and unaccountable.
An interesting point mentioned by Mr Mackenzie to a press representative is that the Psychical Research Society are to take his two boys, Ian and Malcolm, to Glasgow, for a proper test of their mediumistic powers. In the course of the same interview, Mr Mackenzie stated that several spirits seemed to take a hand in the strange happenings. One of them, whom he knew as Janet, had conversed with himself and the two boys.
“She told us,” said Mr Mackenzie, “that there were many animals in the spirit world. The boys had a pet rabbit named Binnie which, they were told, one of the spirits coveted. They lifted the rabbit on the bed one night, and almost immediately a spirit came through the wall, seized the rabbit, and disappeared with it. The boys are sure this happened. Anyhow, the rabbit vanished.”
“Some of the spirits who have visited this house appear to be great humorists. My wife and I have seen our cats lifted by the tail and swung in the air by an invisible presence. I am convinced that the spirits who hover about us are possessed of bodily substance, but that they are invisible to all but clairvoyants, and often to such they are only dimly seen.”
Daily Record, 18th November 1921.
The Argyllshire Ghost.
To the Editor of the “Record and Mail.”
Sir, – A report from the members of the “Society of Physical Research,” who investigated at Baravulin Cottage, will, I believe, evince what I state here, that the whole thing is a farce. I spent some time in that district during last summer, and went and heard the supposed ghost on two occasions. The first lasted for about half an hour, during which the noises continued almost incessantly, but the second was interrupted by a torchlight being flashed on the children who were sitting on the bed. The performance stopped there and then.
Here are a few brief facts. The window is covered, and no light is allowed within the room. The children sit on the bed with their backs to the wall. Questions are quite intelligently answered by rapping on the wall.
But the most amusing fact on both my visits, was that Mr McKenzie addressed the supposed ghost with these words, “Come on, my boy.” Also, Mr McKenzie declares that it only acts on his children. It is really a case of self-deception.
N.M., Hamilton.
Daily Record, 19th November 1921.
A Ghostly Gourmet.
Sir, – I would like to corroborate “N.M.’s” statement in his letter regarding the “Argyllshire ghost.” I, along with several others, visited the supposed haunted room, being intensely interested in the stories circulated. Shortly after we entered the house the boys were sent to bed, and after a little time we heard sounds proceeding from their room. We were told that the ghost had begun, and were allowed to go into the room where the children slept.
When the thumping noises were at their loudest, some one in the company flashed a light on the children in bed, and instantly there was dead silence – because there was an “unbeliever” in the company, we were told. Mr Mackenzie told us then we might as well go, as we would hear nothing more, which proved true.
I believe there have been many ghostly visitants since then, and one of the latest arrivals has expressed a desire for some “H.P.” sauce – evidently as a relish along with the pet rabbit which one of their number coveted and took away. We Highlanders are supposed to be very superstitious, but is that not enough to make the most credulous of us smile? The “Argyllshire ghost” is a source of great amusement to many in the Benderloch district.
FIRINN. Ledaig.
Daily Record, 22nd November 1921.
The Argyllshire Ghost.
Sir, I notice a letter in the “Record and Mail” of Saturday’s date on the “Argyllshire Ghost Mystery,” by “N.M.” of Hamilton. In the first instance, he refers to the “Physical Research Society” investigating at my house. I know of no such society, and I am afraid “N.M.” must be mixing up terms. We had several members of the Society for Psychical Research, but that is not a physical society.
In the second place, your correspondent refers to the supposed ghost at Baravulin Cottage. I must say we had no ghost, supposed or unsupposed, but we had, and we have still, discarnate spirits in the house who do act upon and through some of my children.
When “N.M.” came to my house he was in no way interested in the phenomena, but was in a very self-assertive, sceptical, biassed, non-friendly frame of mind. He was not alone, he had a relative with him, a native of the district, and it is my opinion that he was put forward as a catspaw to try and humble me in the eyes of the public, as he openly accused me, in the presence of other people, of carrying on a farcical exhibition.
Evidential proof is in good hands and safe-keeping, so let “N.M.” “wait and see.”
Donald McKenzie. Baravulin Cottage, Ledaig.
Sir, – I read “Firnn’s” letter in your issue of the 22nd regarding the strange happenings in Ledaig’s haunted house. He states that the moment the light was flashed at the children in bed the rappings ceased, presumably owing to the presence of an unbeliever. Without going into details, I might state that spiritualist students can account for this; but to the uninitiated person, and especially the biased one such a happening naturally lends colour to the idea of fraudulency.
The spiritual question is really too serious to treat lightly, so I sincerely trust that the public will await the results of our scientific investigator before scoffing at the matter. At least let us be tolerant. T. McG. Glasgow.
Daily Record, 23rd November 1921.
Argyll Ghost’s Voice.
Sang and spoke French.
“Janet” elusive.
The advent of the Argyllshire ghost, which was exclusively described in the “Daily Record” some time ago, continues to exercise the minds of those interested in psychic phenomena. Writing in “Light,” the Rev. Stanley Gordon, who has investigated the case, throws some further light on the subject. The phenomena are said to take place in Baravulin Cottage, Ledaig, about four miles from Connel Ferry, occupied by Mr Donald McKenzie, one of the local postmen.
Rappings and noises were first heard about a year ago. “Later,” says Mr Gordon, “about the beginning of June, 1921, a weak voice was heard, which gradually became stronger. This voice spoke to the boys. It professed to be the voice of a spirit named ‘Janet,’ who had been a servant in the house about 50 years ago. The voice spoke, sang and recited poetry in English and Gaelic. ‘Janet’ claimed to be interested in the boys, and refused to be dislodged from the house.”
“Another voice that seemed to drill soldiers was heard. The Marseillaise hymn was sung and French was spoken. Other phenomena of a perplexing character occurred. ‘Janet’ is very elusive and will not speak to strangers. But on the night of my arrival I heard her voice distinctly. The boys were then in bed, and ‘Janet’ was talking with them. It was a thin, falsetto voice, and quite unlike the voices of the boys. On my arrival she went away, but returned as soon as I was out of the house.”
“On the second night I was there the only phenomenon that occurred was a perceptible rapping in the room, which continued for ten minutes by my watch. We were all in the kitchen at the time, but as the room is adjoining and the door was open, rapping could be distinctly heard.”
“In a letter before me from Mrs Mackenzie, I am informed that ‘Janet’ has ceased, to a great extent, to trouble them. But on the other hand the boys, Malcolm and Ian, are developing very special psychic gifts. Levitation has occurred and other similar phenomena. There can be little doubt that the boys are psychic, and more may be heard of them.”
“The real question at issue is whether there is a spiritual world as well as a material world. If there is a spiritual world, and if the dead really live, then the phenomena taking place at Baravulin Cottage in Argyllshire are another evidence that the doors of the spiritual world are not entirely closed, and that, under certain conditions, communication between the two worlds can be maintained.”
Daily Record, 20th December 1921.
The poltergeist case at Ledaig, Argyleshire.
In January, 1920, a series of disturbances were reported as occurring in a small cottage near Ledaig, a hamlet in Benderloch, Argyleshire. The alleged phenomena appeared to be connected with two of the children of the family of seven, who lived with their father and mother in this remote country district. The two children, Malcolm and Ian M—, were about thirteen and nine years of age respectively when the manifestations commenced. They consisted in rappings, the breaking of tables and crockery, the levitation of the children themselves, and similar phenomena. Several persons visited the family, and soon the manifestations changed somewhat in character, becoming more orderly and easy to control. The children began to give sittings to investigators, without asking any remuneration whatever for their services.
The case was investigated by some members of the Glasgow Society for Psychical Research, who, upon two occasions, had the children to Glasgow, and held a series of sittings. The results were not particularly satisfactory, and although some of the Committee believed the table movements obtained to be supernormal, there was no general agreement in the matter. Towards the summer of 1922 further developments took place. “Voices” had been heard for a considerable time, but the “communicators” were shy, avoiding strangers and any investigation. Later, however, they became stronger and Malcolm became a “direct voice medium,” being controlled by an entity calling herself “Janet,” or in greater detail Janet MacGregor, late of Kinloch. This person was supposed to have been a servant at one time in the M—‘s house at Ledaig, but she was not able to give many details about herself. The younger child, Ian, then became controlled by another entity called Dundas Campbell, who professed to have lived in Madrid. According to the investigators’ reports the voices did not in the least resemble those of the children, and at times made prophecies which turned out correct and spoke in languages unknown to the boys.
At the invitation of certain members of the Council of the Glasgow S.P.R., one of whom generously gave financial aid, the Research Officer visited Ledaig at the end of September, remaining there from September 18th to the 28th. He was accompanied by his wife, and seven sittings in all were attended. The “phenomena” consisted in voices, direct writing on paper placed between Malcolm and Ian, raps, tips of the table and levitation of Malcolm. All the phenomena were of the most puerile possible character, and no evidence whatever was obtained that the children have even the weakest mediumistic power. When control conditions were imposed the phenomena ceased absolutely and nothing occurred. The performances do not warrant any detailed description in these pages. A full report is in preparation for the Society’s files, where it may be seen on application.
Journal of Society for Psychical Research, November 1922.
Since 1920 the Society had been receiving reports concerning the alleged poltergeist phenomena which were occurring in a lonely cottage in Argyllshire. The case had interested the Glasgow Society for Psychical Research, and several members had sittings with the family, the results being considered worthy of further study. Accordingly the two children most concerned in the manifestations visited Glasgow and gave sittings, but the phenomena did not seem good enough for the Committee to issue a unanimous report. Later a member of the Glasgow Society had a number of further sittings and gave a more favourable report. It was suggested that our Research Officer might visit the family and give his report, and a member of the Glasgow Society very kindly defrayed a part of the travelling expenses.
At the end of September, therefore, Mr and Mrs Dingwall visited the hamlet. A number of sittings were attended and a great variety of phenomena observed. There was, however, no reason to suppose that any of the manifestations were supernormal, and when adequate control conditions were imposed the phenomena ceased absolutely. Although the case presented nothing in the way of sound evidence for supernormal physical phenomena, it has some psychological and historical interest in relation to similar pseudo-poltergeist cases elsewhere. In connexion with the study of fraud in incipient mediumship, too, the case may prove of interest, and it is hoped to keep in touch with the family for the next few years.
Journal for the Society for Psychical Research, v 21, 1923-24.