Highland Villa Ghost.
Major’s All-night Vigil With Maids.
Shots for eerie visitant. Fort-William, Saturday.
The inhabitants of the picturesque village of Aharacle, on the shores of Loch Shiel, have been greatly perturbed of late by reports of mysterious happenings in the commodious villa of Drumbeg, situated in the neighbourhood of the Strontian Estate. The house in question is occupied by Major Burnet, a distinguished officer, on the retired list.
Some time ago the maidservants at Drumbeg heard what they took to be knockings, caused by human hands, in various parts of the house, but, on inquiry, no visible reason was found to account for the strange phenomena. Of late the rappings at different bedroom doors have become louder and more distinct, causing consternation among the maids.
The latter finally brought the matter to the notice of the Major, who made certain that all main doors were locked and fastened, and determined to hold an all-night vigil with the servants. Shortly after midnight the knocking started, and the Major, seizing a game gun, fired two shots. This proceeding, he assured the maids, would put an end to the strange disturbances.
Such, however, has not proved to be the case, for the rappings continued night after night as before. So perturbed did the domestics become that two of the more timorous of their number left the house, definitely refusing to return.
No explanation of the mystery has so far been found. The knocking appears quite real, and seems exactly similar to the ordinary act of a person seeking admission. Efforts have been repeatedly made to have the rappings answered with the minimum of delay, but still there was nothing found to account for them.
As may well be supposed, not a few of the people of the locality associate the rappings with a supernatural agency. In the past such happenings are said to have been frequent in different parts of the Highlands, where they were always understood to portend untoward events of the future. Such beliefs have largely died out, however, and there is keen local speculation as to whether a material explanation will be found to account for the eerie disturbances at Drumbeg mansion-house.
Sunday Post, 4th October 1925.