Barkston.
Spirit Rapping.
This hitherto quiet village has for the last three weeks been in a most tremendous state of excitement, owing to a report, somewhat extensively circulated, that a supernatural manifestation occurs in one of the houses, every morning between the hours of five and seven. During the time specified, a loud knocking continues, which may be heard for some distance. Crowds of people have been drawn from the surrounding villages, and the universal impression has been that it is “spirit rapping,” and no mistake!
There are various surmises as to the cause of the visitation. Some think it is the spirit of John Knox, – others, that of a defunct auctioneer; (this is rather improbable as the spirit does not seem to be “going” or likely to be “gone.”) Whilst not a few incline to the belief that it is the shade of a departed postman who being crossed in love, and otherwise unhappy, cannot rest without “going his rounds” and knocking.
Our opinion is, that the knocking is produced by a biggish youth enclosed in a large chest standing in the haunted room, which said chest the woman of the house will not allow to be opened. As to the remedy, many suggestions have been thrown out as to “laying the ghost,” or, at least, to get him to “do his spiriting gently.” One man tried the adjuration system demanding “in the name,” etc., etc., that the spirit would state why and wherefore it rapped, but the spirit, happening to know that the questioner had recently issued from the Grantham lock-up, where he had been confined for drunkennness and disorderly conduct, didn’t care a rap, and set it down as Cant. Another, an old veteran toper says “them spirits ain’t no good either ‘cold without,’ or ‘warm with sugar,’ and he’d pull the house down.” Another party think prayer will do it; there can be no harm in that – Prayer’s a good thing any day.
Now for our suggestion: let the owner of the house be placed in durance for disturbing the neighbourhood, let the chest referred to, be opened, and a stick applied to the shoulders of the rapping youth confined therein, and the rapping will cease for ever.
Grantham Journal, 16th February 1856.
Barkston.
The mysterious knocking by which the inhabitants of this village have been disturbed, as stated in our last, has ceased. It is said that one or two individuals have discovered the trick, but with a stupidity that does them no credit, have promised the disturbers of the public peace, not to make known the means by which the noises were produced. All sensible people will consider that those who have detected an imposture, and neglect, or refuse to bring the inventors of it to justice by exposing the contrivances by which it was perpetrated, may be fairly considered to be participes criminis.
Grantham Journal, 23rd February 1856.
Barkston.
Mr Editor. – Respecting the Mysterious Knocking, by which the inhabitants of this village have been disturbed, you stated last week that one or two individuals had discovered the trick. Sir, – As there are many people here very superstitious it would have been better if they had not interfered in the matter, but let the knocking gone on, until some one more honest and honourable than themselves could have found it out and exposed the imposture. We believe, ourselves, that it has not been found out, not that we wish to cast any discredit upon you as the publisher, but we believe you to have been wrongly informed. We, at Barkston, should be pleased if you could get information of the cause and publish it, on account of the superstition of the people. – Scrutator.
Grantham Journal, 1st March 1856.