Alleged Phenomenal Occurrences.
From the Herald.
Sydney, Wednesday.
The Mudgee paper gives an account of a mysterious phenomenon in that locality. A farmer, named Large, residing in the vicinity of Cooyal, has reported to the police that for several nights himself and family have been terrified in consequences of stones, some of which weighed 1 1/2 lbs, continually dropping inside the house, apparently coming through the roof. Strange to say these occurrences were never apparent unless the man and his wife were in the room. The affair has created quite a sensation, and all who have visited the place, seeing for themselves, the police included, persist in applying what they regard as an appropriate term “ghostly missiles” to huge stones, which have dropped into the house when both doors and windows have been secured.
The effect on the poor woman, Mrs Large, who feels that she is the victim of some awful vengeance, is most alarming. At times, when the missiles are falling around her, deathly chills affect her whole system and almost prostrate her. On one evening, fearful to remain indoors, the poor woman sought a quiet spot outside the house; but, strange to say, several large stones dropped close to her, whilst one, although falling on some part of her, left no mark, in fact was hardly felt. A cold deathly chill then crept over her, and she had to be taken to the fire, but this did not restore warmth to her system.
It is an easy matter to convince superstitious people that alleged occurrences are facts, but when sceptics go and see and sit with the woman and her husband in the same room and have stones dropping round about them they are very glad to be rid of such unpleasant associations. This was the case when Mr Parker and others went out at the solicitation of Large recently.
On another occasion a large sized stone, which fell in the ordinary way, struck a little child on the side of the face, and left no mark, nor did the child appear to take any notice of the blow, if such it can be termed. This occurred at the time Mr Parker was sitting in the house while a number of his friends who had accompanied him were stationed outside to see that no person was on the roof.
The house is without a ceiling so that no person can be secreted inside. It is understood that Large has determined to remove his family from the place.
Portland Guardian, 18th February 1887.
The Mysterious Stones.
Prompted by a desire to throw more light upon the peculiar occurrences which we reported in a recent issue in connection with the Large family, resident some 24 miles from Mudgee, in the wilds beyond Cooyal, we determined one day this week to visit the locality, and, if possible, get in the midst of the “ghostly missiles” said to have been flying thick and furious during the past week or so. After a rough and not uneventful journey, we arrived at the now historic spot, and were greeted by Mrs Large, the good woman whose name has been a household word ever since the mysterious phenomena was set on the wing. She was surrounded by a pack of “little Larges,” the bantlings of a family of 15, to whom she has given birth.
We found her agreeable and communicative, fully competent to describe all the wonderful, yet to her startling, incidents connected with the stone-throwing episode. She said it was not stone-throwing, but ‘stones falling,’ the stones coming, so it seemed, through the roof, at times appearing to ‘float in on the air, and while floating looked white.’ This is her way of explaining it. (We suggested the stones were luminous).
Said Mrs Large, ‘When the stone fell on the floor, it fell with a dull thud, and looked black.’ One of the audience here remarked that a stone thrown by the hand of a man would strike with some force whatever object it came against. ‘On the contrary,’ said Mrs Large, ‘at times some one of the children would be struck by a stone, but never hurt. The children described it ‘as though a small bag of feathers struck them’.’
On the first evening of this strange manifestation, Mr Large was returning home with a bag of flour on a pack horse, and on approaching the house the animal stood still, apparently afraid to move towards the dwelling. After no little persuasion, with much pulling, the terrified steed was got to the door. With difficulty he was unpacked, and an altogether unusual thing for the beast to do, he bolted as though maddened, careering in every direction except near the house. This set the family wondering.
Just then, for the first time, the stone commenced dropping in the house. Mrs Large at once concluded some of the young people were having a lark with her in revenge for her refusal to permit a dance being held there that night. During that evening, and every succeeding evening from 5 o’clock until 9 or 10, the stones fell. On several occasions stones or mud would float in the room, sometimes diagonally, at other times horizontally.
One evening a most extraordinary incident occurred. A flat stone “floated in” the door, struck against a kerosene lamp on the table, then knocked against a half dozen plates, causing them to roll to the floor, but, strange to say, none were broken. This stone was about three inches in diameter, nearly circular in shape, but flat. It was afterwards taken away by some of the many visitors who went to witness the phenomenon. None of the missiles fell whilst we were there, nor had any fallen for four or five days.
En route to Large’s we met a man, who said many strange tales had been told by outsiders concerning the mystery; most people, he said, asserting that the whole affair was a big joke perpetrated by members of Mrs Large’s family. He said that one day he was working near Large’s house, about noon, when he saw the children running towards him all seeming terror stricken, and crying out that stones were falling all about the house. The mother and father were absent. The man said he was convinced the family had nothing to do in the matter; that it was some unforeseen power that caused the phenomena, but for what purpose he could not say.
We were told by Mrs Large that in the latter part of the manifestations, during last week, she felt as if all her strength was failing her. She was very nervous. We advised Mrs Large not to quit her home, and pay no heed to what curiosity-mongers might advise.
Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 1st March 1887.
The Ghostly Missiles.
The mysterious stone-falling at Large’s farm near Cooyal (says a Mudgee telgram of Tuesday to the Evening News) is still going on. Yesterday a report came into town that no less than 24 stones had dropped on the premises. The parents were away from home, and the children were left in charge. When the stones commenced to fall the children made off to the house of a neighbour, named McCann, and informed him of the occurrence. He at once proceeded to Large’s farm. He reports the above having taken place. Hundreds of people have visited this place, and affirm that the stones have come, but the mystery as to where they come from remains unsolved.
Goulburn Evening Penny Post, 3rd March 1887.