A Burnley Mystery.
Nocturnal Knocking on House Wall. Believed Due to Practical Joker.
A mystery that has as yet baffled solution, and which is arousing considerable curiosity, is reported from Raglan-road. This mystery – it can be called a mystery, seeing that after five weeks of ceaseless puzzling over it a solution is no nearer – has cropped up at the home of Mr Fred Ford, a clogger and boot repairer.
During the last five weeks mysterious knockings have been heard at night, and all manner of questions have been answered. Interviewed yesterday by an “Express” representative, Mr Ford confessed that he was entirely at a loss to explain the mystery. The knockings first commenced about five weeks ago, and have always occurred at night. The house occupied by Mr Ford is a gable-end one, and the front portion he uses as a shop. The knockings have occurred on the inner wall of the gable-end, just above the bottom of the staircase, and it was a peculiar thing that only Mr Ford’s house in that row is affected. He has lived there seven years, but has never experienced anything like it before.
He is inclined to think that it is the work of some practical joker, who has contrived a mechanical appliance – of what nature he has not the slightest idea – and also believes it is somebody who can see persons going into the house, judging from the answers given to questions as to how many people have been in the house.
“I have had some practical jokes played on me in France, and have also taken part in some good ones,” added Mr Ford, “but this is exceedingly smart. It is a peculiar fact that the knocks do not start until my children have gone to bed. We were suspicious of the youngsters at one period, but it has happened when they have been fast asleep. We have gone from one theory to another, and tested the whole of them, but have had to discard the lot. I feel it is a big nuisance, and if it does not stop I shall report the matter to the police. Even a practical joke can be carried too far. On one occasion about ten of us went outside, and kept observation on the house from all angles, but the only result was that the knocking came with greater intensity than before. If you say you cannot hear the knocks they immediately become louder.”
Becoming A Nuisance
In reply to a question as to what the significance of the knocks were Mr Ford said that one knock signified “Yes” and two knocks meant “No.” One young fellow, a few weeks ago, asked the question, “Are you a ghost?” The answer was “No”. It has generally commenced when there has been company – latterly, of course, Mr Ford has had considerable company all anxious to probe the mystery – in the house and they have started laughing.
In whatever low tones Mr and Mrs Ford have conversed they have been overheard and this, naturally, Mr Ford resents. He has himself searched all parts of the house, but, as stated before, without success.
Burnley’s Cup Chances
Amongst the questions answered have been some respecting ages of persons in the house and four out of eight answers one night were correct. Others were only a year or two out. One question put was as to how Burnley would fare in their Cup match to-day with Cardiff? When asked how many goals Cardiff would score, two knocks were given on the wall, and in reply as to how many Burnley would score the answer was four knocks. To this prophecy, however, Mr Ford attaches no weight, seeing that in the previous Burnley v. Cardiff match Cardiff were prophesied to win 5-2, whereas Burnley won 3-2. All manner of questions, ridiculous or otherwise, are answered. It is stated that the cat will not settle anywhere at night.
There is one end of a wireless aerial attached to the chimney of Mr Ford’s house, and, though he does not think this is in any way connected with the occurrence, he is having it taken down.
Weird Experience.
Last night, to test the mystery, an “Express” representative paid a visit to Mr Ford’s residence. The knocking did not commence until the last of the children had gone to bed. Amongst numerous questions put by Mr Ford were the following (including some written on a piece of paper by our representative and handed to Mr Ford):-
How many males are in this room?- Twelve knocks were given (this was two out). How many females? – Three knocks (this was correct). Is there a reporter present? – One knock (signifying “Yes”). Is he on the “Burnley Express?” – One knock (“Yes.”) Is he single? – Two knocks (“No.” This was correct). What time is it? – Ten knocks (for ten o’clock. This was correct). How many weeks have you been doing this? – Five knocks. How many rounds are Burnley going to get through in the Cup? – Two knocks. In reply to the request “Give us one, two, three, or five knocks,” the requisite number was given.
“Hello” was followed by two knocks, and when a scale passage was played on a piano there was a quick succession of knocks in imitation.
The mystery is creating a sensation in the district.
Burnley Express, 9th January 1926.
Mysterious Knocks
Follow Girl’s Movements
When there was a lull
The mysterious knockings at the home of Mr Fred Ford, clogger and boot repairer, of Raglan-road, Burnley, have been the theme of much controversy and speculation this week since they were first made public by the announcement in the “Burnley Express.” As the knocks have not been quite so consistent this week as previously, it is believed that they will cease as suddenly as they began.
The “Burnley Express” representative, who has visited the home of the Fords on three or four occasions and made tests, is of the opinion that the mystery centres round the daughter of Mr Ford. The knockings did not seem to begin until she had gone to bed, but it would seem impossible for her to have heard the whispered questions to which accurate knockings were give. The bedroom door was shut, and whilst the “Express” representative was in the room he heard no movements on the part of the girl, yet the knockings went on. At first the girl was unaware of his presence.
Tuesday night’s tests seemed to establish the theory previously held, that the girl was, in some peculiar way, either consciously or unconsciously, concerned in the knockings.
There are three bedrooms. Prior to Tuesday the knockings had been confined to the middle bedroom. Heard from close at hand, they were of a metallic character. The bedstead used by the girl is of the iron type, with a copper wire mattress, and the knocks, which first appeared to come from the gable-end wall of the house appeared later to hover round this bed. On Tuesday night the bed was placed in the back bedroom, and, as previously, the knockings did not begin until the girl had retired to bed. The knocks only came when the room was in darkness. If there was a light none were heard, but immediately it was switched off they re-commenced.
Then Mr Ford carried his daughter into the bed in the front room, and shortly after he had gone downstairs the knocks were repeated, this time in the front bedroom. There was, however, a difference in the knocking, those coming from the front room not being characterised by the distinct sound heard from the middle and the back bedrooms. Immediately the girl returned to her own bed, in the back room, the knocks once more emanated from that room. The “Express” representative had hold of the side of the bed on one or two occasions when the knocks came, and his experience was that of a tremor passing through the framework of the bed.
As a still further test, he suggested to Mr Ford that the girl should be allowed to sleep one night away from home, and this was done on Wednesday night, the girl being taken to her grandmother’s home. No knocks were heard that night at Mr. Ford’s home. There were no questions asked that night and no rapping on the table to receive replies.
It is stated that there was no knocking heard at the house where the girl slept.
Burnley Express, 16th January 1926.
Prize Joke Competition. We offer each week a prize of Five Shillings to the sender of the Best Joke to the Editor of the “Express.” Local Jokes and Stories will receive preference (other things being equal). The Prize this week is awarded to E. Shuttleworth, 5 Lindsay-street, Burnley, for the joke entitled: “No Mystery.”
In St James’s-street, on Saturday morning, an unemployed man, after glancing at the “Express,” turned to his pals and remarked: “It looks a queer do about the mysterious knocking that’s going on at that Burnley house.” “Aw see nowt to be surprised about,” said one of his pals. “Yo’ want to be in our house of a Friday neet and hear the knocking that goes on. But we never bother, we just keep quiet and listen, and it ceases after a while.” “Oh, and have yo’ no idea at all what is the cause of it?” chimed in another. “Aye, a good idea,” came the reply. “What?” asked the others, in one voice. “Debtors!” said their friend.
Burnley Express, 16th January 1926.
Mysterious Knocks
Still continuing at Burnley home. No solution yet.
The exclusive announcement in Saturday’s “Express” of mysterious knockings at the home of Mr Fred Ford, clogger and boot repairer, Raglan-road, Burnley, created a sensation in the town, and during the week-end hundreds of people, out of sheer curiosity congregated in the vicinity of the house. There was nothing to see, and almost needless to say they left disappointed. In fact, so curious have some persons been that they have made monetary offers to be allowed to listen to the knocking. Mr Ford and his wife have been caused considerable annoyance by people coming to the house, and they wish it to be understood that under no pretext whatever will people be allowed inside. Naturally, they do not want their home converting into a kind of museum. They have also suffered annoyance through gangs of young hooligans kicking at or knocking stones on the outside of the gable end wall. Such conduct is reprehensible, as the Ford family have had sufficient annoyance from the knockings which have so far been unexplained.
Despite further exhaustive attempts to probe the mystery, no progress has been made, and if anything the result of the keen searches, both in the bedrooms and in the roof has been to still further mystify the searchers. When the “Express” representative visited the house on Monday night, he found that the wireless aerial, one end of which had been attached to the chimney of Mr Ford’s home, had been taken down during the week-end. At first there was a remote suspicion that this was in some way connected with the uncanny knocking, but the fact that a considerable amount of knocking was heard on Monday clearly proves that it comes from some source.
The ridiculous answers given to some of the questions on Monday lend colour to the supposition that some human agency, with the aid of a clever mechanical contrivance, is finding a weird sort of enjoyment.
By now, of course, the knockings have become a positive nuisance, and Mr Ford is keenly anxious to get to the bottom of the mystery. There are three bedrooms in the house, and the knockings sound loudest in the vicinity of the middle room, which is built partly over the staircase. The knockings, if any description can be applied to them, sound to be of a metallic character, and appear to come from the floor of the middle bedroom. Downstairs, of course they sound overhead. Whatever instrument is being used it is one that can pick up the slightest sound – excepting whispers – for the greeting “Good morning,” spoken in very low tones, is followed by three rapid knocks.
Whoever is responsible for the “joke,” if it can be classed as such, is fairly conversant with music for the “Express” representative made a pretty test with the piano. Commencing with hymns he drifted on to songs and portions of classical pieces but all came alike to the unknown “knocker”, who followed them with rhythmic taps on the wall. Whenever the piano was handled quietly the knocks were always of a subdued character, but immediately any crescendo was made in the music the knocking came with a much greater force, to die away again in imitation of the piano.
An uncanny part of the whole business is that whenever anyone goes upstairs no knocks are received, making it appear almost as though the movements of every person in the house are being observed.
On Monday night a search was made of the manhole and the bedrooms but nothing was discovered, neither were any knocks heard whilst three men were upstairs. Immediately, however, they set foot downstairs there was a rapid succession of knocks on the wall as though in derision of the attempts at solution.
Burnley Express, 13th January 1926
Prize Joke Competition. The Prize this week is awarded to L. Cryer, 121, Lyndhurst-road, Burnley.
Solved. – Overheard outside a local mill the other dinner-time: “Has ta heard abeawt the mysterious knockings up yonder?” asked one weaver of another. “Aye, does ta know what it is?” asked the other. “Now,” replied the first weaver, “what is it?” “Well,” said his pal, “it’s nobbut t’ colliers what’s getten a bit too heigh up!”
Burnley Express, 23rd January 1926