Weird Happenings in a “Haunted House.”
Water pours out from broken gaspipes.
From our own Correspondent.
Leicester, Saturday.
The house of Mr George Heafield, Leicester-road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, has been the scene of weird happenings, and visitors are at a loss to account for the mystery. When shown over the house by the occupier, I saw that all the gas brackets had been literally torn from the walls, and there was evidence of a considerable quantity of water having streamed from the pipes.
“Our misfortunes began when one day the gas failed and water ran from the burners,” said Mr. Heafield. “The kitchen was flooded. Then the tap of the kitchen gas bracket blew out and the meter had to be removed to avoid an explosion. Plumbers investigated the occurrences, but failed to solve the mystery. Six inches of lead piping had been twisted off in one or two instances.”
To test the matter Mr. Heafield himself firmly screwed a gas fitting to the wall, and in little over an hour it had twisted and dropped to the floor. “We have sometimes seen them slowly breaking away from the wall,” continued Mr. Heafield, “but the violent wrenchings only happen when no one is in the room.”
Liverpool Echo, 12th November 1921
An Invisible Destroyer.
Uncanny happenings at Ashby house.
Mysterious pranks of gas fittings.
What appears to be a pretty little problem for the scientist awaits solution at a house in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, where for a fortnight past, there have been uncanny happenings. The story has such a fantastic air that it might do credit to the facile pen of Mr H.G. Wells; and it was with a frankly sceptical mind that a ‘Burton Observer’ representative went on a tour of investigation.
He found the dwelling in Leicester Road, near the Cottage Hospital, the occupiers being Mr and Mrs Geo. Heafield, who are well-known residents of the historic town. Outwardly, the building bears no remarkable characteristics. It is a large, red brick place standing back from the highway, in well laid-out grounds, and, in fact, has such a highly respectable appearance, that one could not, in fancy, endow it with a sense of humour; – if the occurrences which we are about to relate may be said to be anything but serious. The house was erected some eight years ago, and up to the time stated everything had, apparently been quite normal.
Conceive, then, of the surprise of the occupants when, on going to light the gas one evening, not gas, but water came trickling forth. Was it a case for the gasworks authorities or the Join Water Committee. Eventually, steps were taken to clear the pipes, although how the water got there remains a mystery. Then came the most baffling surprise. There are nine gas burners in the house, each having been affixed to the wall by means of an ordinary block. Did one believe in the manifestation of psychic influence, one would have imagined some ghostly hand slowly twisting, twisting the brackets from the walls. The movements were quite perceptible, and one by one the fittings crashed as the unseen force was at work.
Attempts were made to repair the damage, but the same unaccountable thing happened again – down came the fittings. In some instances the blocks were forced clear of the walls, the screws being dragged from their moorings. Some of the brackets were badly bent, and the composition leaden pipes protruded from the walls, twisted into grotesque shapes, and snapped off cleanly, bringing the plaster with them.
Our representative was able to inspect every fitting. There is not a gas-bracket left in its place in the house and the family are reduced to the use of lamps and candles, the main supply having been cut off to prevent explosions. Some of the pipes were twisted cork-screw fashion.
Naturally, Mr and Mrs Heafield have had a great many visitors anxious to satisfy their curiosity, give all sorts of advice, and propound theories innumerable. The idea of subsidence is disposed of at once, for not a crack appears in the ceilings or walls except where the gas pipes have forced their way out. Someone has suggested that it may be due to human agency, but that falls to the ground. No human being could twist gas pipes into corkscrews without the use of tools, and when those pipes are plaster covered, the impossibility of the notion reaches the point of absurdity.
Has the sudden change in the weather had any effect on the metal? Is there anything in the metal alloy which would be susceptible very quickly to such a change? What is the cause of the phenomena? No other house in the town is similarly affected and presumably most are supplied with fittings which do not differ very much. The house in question has been built eight years, and this is the first time anything unusual has happened. Portions of the piping have been taken away for examination in the hope of throwing some light on the matter.
Mrs Heafield, with whom the “Observer” man had a conversation, does not accept the theory that supernatural forces are in operation, although she said that one of her visitors had been a spiritualist. At the same time, she hinted that she would not be actively hostile should any people of this persuasion be desirous of holding a “seance” on the subject.
Burton Observer and Chronicle, 19th November 1921.
An Unseen Hand.
Water pours through gas pipes.
An Ashby-de-la-Zouch telegram states: – Weird happenings are daily taking place at the house of George Heafield, a well-known and respected Ashby-de-la-Zouch resident. The whole of the gas brackets in the house have through an unknown agency been violently wrenched from the walls and water poured through the brackets, flooding the house. The gas meter has had to be taken out. The house is besieged with visitors to view the damage, but the mystery remains unsolved.
Larne Times, 19th November 1921.
Through some unknown agency the whole of the gas brackets in the house of Mr George Heafield, Leicester-road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, have been wrenched from the walls and water has poured through the burners. The pictures show the house, and a bracket and lead piping torn from the walls. Plumbers and officials from the gas company have visited the house, but have failed to explain the mystery. The damage has been done during the day. Mr Heafield has not seen a bracket drop, but he declares he has seen the brackets revolve slowly.
Leicester Chronicle, 19th November 1921.