A Cambridge Mystery.
Attributed to supernatural agency.
A scare has been created in one of the poorer parts of Cambridge by a supposed supernatural visitation, which has caused a family to hastily vacate the house in which they lived. Night after night mysterious muffled knockings have been heard proceeding apparently from a certain spot in the ceiling of the living room, and all efforts to account for the noises have failed.
Neighbours, who have become almost as frightened as the occupants of the house, have been called in in a vain endeavour to elucidate the mystery, and boards of the floor in the bedroom have been raised above the spot whence the noises proceed, but nothing has been found.
Three of the four nights in succession the knockings were heard at regular intervals, and the family vacated the house for a few nights. On their return the sounds were again heard, and they once more left their home, declaring that nothing would induce them to return until the mystery was solved. Neighbours declare that they have distinctly heard the hammering, and some are in a state of panic, alleging that a supernatural agency is at work.
Leicester Daily Post, 7th September 1907.
A Haunted Child.
The muffled rappings heard in a cottage at Cambridge are still unexplained. Neighbours noticed that as soon as the family deserted the house the mysterious knockings ceased, and they are firmly of opinion that while a pale-faced girl named Rosie is kept away their sleep will not be disturbed.
Rosie herself is terrified at her past experiences, and begs that she may not sleep in the house again.
Several nights in succession, about half an hour after Rosie had fallen asleep, the muffled thump, thump, thump was heard, coming apparently from the neighbourhood of the child’s bed. Sometimes, it is stated, the girl was in such a dead sleep that she was roused with difficulty.
Upon other occasions, after the noises had been heard, she was found sitting up in bed screaming piteously.
Upon one occasiont she was laid to rest upon the sofa in the living room, and watched by an uncle, who, having his arms around the child, declares that he felt the sofa distinctly heave when the raps were heard. Meanwhile the child was fast asleep.
Many independent witnesses in the neighbourhood vouch for having heard the noises, and although Rosie has been taken away, crowds await patiently for hours outside the house expecting the return of the at present unexplained noises.
North Down Herald and County Down Independent, 13th September 1907.
Anything that smacks of the mysterious or supernatural has a strange fascination for some people, and there has been quite a stir in the Barnwell district of Cambridge over a ghost story which has now found its way into the London papers. It is declared that in a little two-roomed cottage at frequent intervals during the night mysterious noises have been heard in the ceiling of the living room and the floor of the bedroom above, and the tenants were so alarmed that they hastily left the premises and refused to sleep there again.
The noises, it is alleged, were only noticed near the bed of a child eight years of age. They are said to be persistent raps – one, two, three, and then a long pause; and they only go on when the children are in bed. The mother brought the children downstairs and let them sleep on the sofa, but this “ghost” was up to that sort of move and in a little while the knockings went on again, this time underneath the sofa, and an uncle who had come in to watch the child as it slept, declares that he distinctly felt the sofa heaving! The sofa must have had what is known as “a fit of the nerves” at the strange presence – or was it the uncle who was affected?
We are not told how these weird rappings and bed rockings are produced, but it is declared on the word of some of the neighbours, who have been called in for whispered consultations in the dead of the night, that they are real. It seems to be of no use talking about natural causes here, because the neighbours are convinced.
People have tried to reproduce the noises by shaking the bed, stamping on the floor, striking the wall, and other devices, but all have failed. They have even taken the floor boards up, and found nothing! But the “ghost” goes merrily on with his thumping. Whether he is using a hammer to deliver his message or is playfully snapping his fingers, is of no consequence – there are the proper number of knocks – the one! two! three! which any brother would give if he wished to gain admittance to his Lodge.
As I understand two local journalists have made an effort to get on business terms with the “ghost” with a view to publishing an interview. They spent half the night in th ehouse, but had to come away with non satisfactory result. The spook was taking a holiday and refused to thump. That is as far as the affair has got at present, but it has provided a rare sensation for Barnwell.
Cambridge Independent Press, 13th September 1907.
“Ghost” With A Hammer.
Weird Rappings and Bed-rocking in Cambridge.
A supposed “ghost” is troubling the peace of mind of the residents in a poor district in Cambridge, and the nocturnal doings have so alarmed the occupants of the cottage to which the ghost has shown attachment that they have taken their departure in alarm. The cottage is a two-room structure, and the “ghost” is declared to display its presence by persistent raps on the ceiling of the lower room – one! two! three! and then a long pause.
The most curious – and from a sceptic’s point of view perhaps the most significant – fact is that the knocking always takes place at the same spot – near the bed of a child eight years of age. One of the child’s relatives, who with neighbours has been playing the part of ghost-layer – declares that he has distinctly felt the bed rock simultaneously with the rappings.
One watcher states that the raps resemble a sound such as would be produced by a muffled instrument striking a hollow spot. And who knows but that in this description lies the true explanation of the mystery? At any rate, the neighbours profess themselves to be completely baffled, and the occupants of the cottage have been so unnerved that they have vacated the premises.
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser, 14th September 1907.