A Ghost-haunted Railway Station.
A Chorley correspondent writes:-
For the past week or ten days considerable alarm has been created among the railway employes of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, at Chorley, in consequence of certain strange phenomena that have been manifested about a large engine shed a short distance from the passenger station.
Some few months ago a most shocking suicide occurred close to the shed, and latterly strange sounds have been noticed by the engine cleaners, supposed to arise from that circumstance. Added to this alarming phenomenon, large stones have been thrown by some unexplained agency at the workmen throughout several nights, and this became so serious that several of the workmen have actually left their employment.
Watch has been kept, under the impression that somebody has been playing a practical joke, but although the stones were occasionally thrown as usual, no one could be discovered as the agent. Yesterday an official investigation was held by the railway company’s detectives, but without any apparent result.
Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 30th November 1876. (and many other papers)
A Mystery at the Railway Station.
The great spiritualistic mediums have now an opportunity of displaying their penetrative powers by solving the strange mystery which surrounds certain “phenomena” that have been recently manifested in the vicinity of the railway engine-house, near to the Stump Bridge. The “phenomena” are principally comprised in the disagreeable and dangerous element of stones and pieces of iron which descend upon the engine-house from unknown quarters, and occasionally are violently thrown into the interior either by the door or the ventilators in the roof, much to the alarm of the engine cleaners engaged at their work.
So frequently disagreeable had the practice become that two or three of the cleaners actually left their employment in consequence; and although efforts were made to discover the origin of the mysterious visitation of stones, they have hitherto proved futile.
On Thursday morning, about two o’clock, the stone-throwing was repeated, and became somewhat exciting to the extra guards that were on duty, but all their vigilance failed to detect whence the missiles came.
Since the matter has obtained publicity, several wild theories have been broached, and timid people thereby alarmed unnecessarily. An official investigation by the railway company’s detectives was held on Tuesday, but nothing was elicited that is likely to lead to the solution of the mysterious problem. It is, however, hoped that if the dangerous joker is caught he will receive the meritorious reward of his ingenuity.
Chorley Standard and District Advertiser, 2nd December 1876.
A Lancashire Ghost Story.
A large railway-engine shed a short distance from the passenger station at Chorley, in Lancashire, is said to be decidedly haunted. For the past week or ten days the strange phenomena that have been manifested about this structure have created considerable alarm among the servants of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. Some few months ago a shocking suicide occurred close to the shed, which is supposed to account for its present unsettled condition.
Lately the engine-cleaners have been much disturbed by strange sounds, which can be accounted for only, it is said, on the assumption that they proceed from a ghost. Had the ghost confined itself merely to moaning and groaning no steps would in all probability have been taken to put a stop to its proceedings; but it has of late shown symptoms of becoming extremely violent and offensive; large stones had been hurled by “some unexplained agency” at the workmen throughout several nights, and some of them have in consequence left their employment.
On Monday last an official investigation was held by the railway company’s detectives, but without any apparent result. If the ghost is caught by the detectives, it is hoped that the magistrates before whom it is brought will not remand it on bail, or will, at least, insist on the bail being substantial. A small ghost will no doubt be leniently dealt with on account of its “extreme youth,” but an old ghost who throws stones ought to be severely dealt with.
Edinburgh Evening News, 4th December 1876.
Terror prevails at Chorley, a station on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, in consequence of certain ghostly manifestations, which consist principally of throwing stones. Some wise-headed detectives who have arrived on the spot have come to the conclusion that the ghost which heaves these stones is that of a person who, a few weeks ago, suicided in the goods shed. This is unlikely. The ghost is more probably that of a passenger killed on the Lancashire and Yorkshire through the notorious mismanagement of the line. If all the ghosts of slain passengers were to take to this novel practice, there would very soon be no stones available, without detection by the attempt to utilise the same missiles over again.
Sporting Chronicle, 5th December 1876.
The Station Ghost.
We all have read of “family ghosts,” Who come with chains and fetters, At midnight doomed to clank about, Because of old vendettas.
We all have heard of dismal groans And spectres wan and sheeted, And tales of skulls and grisly bones Are commonly repeated.
But such a ghost as we have here At this our Chorley Station, He puzzles all the wise men’s heads, And stumps the whole creation!
In ruined castles, abbeys grey, We might expect such dwellers, But what on earth have ghosts to do With simple railway “fellers?”
And why the deuce a ghost should take To throwing stones like school-boy, Is past the comprehension quite Of any but a fool, boy!
Is it the shade of some poor wight Smashed up in a collision, Who thus would move directors’ hearts To something like contrition?
Is it an engine-driver’s wraith, Who died of over-working? Or phantom pointsmen near the scene Of past insomnia lurking?
Whoe’er it be, if proverbs are Worth ghosts’ consideration, Glass houses he ought not to haunt, This ghost of Chorley Station.
And anyhow, he’s out of place – At least he seems to me, sir. Where only things of time and sense Have any right to be, sir.
I mean the proper haunt for ghosts Is in some old world ruin, And not where railroads mock the past, And trains each hour are due in.
So, Mister Ghost, whoe’er you are, Please shunt to other quarters, And plague no more men plagued enough – Our pointsmen and our porters!
DELTA. December 4th, 1876.
Chorley Standard and District Advertiser, 9th December 1876.
A Determined Suicide.
About half-past one o’clock on Tuesday afternoon a shocking case of suicide took place outside the Chorley Station. Mr. John Ashton, a saddler, occupying a shop at the corner of Union-street, left his home about one o’clock, and proceeded towards the Stump railway bridge, at the top of Hollinshead-street. He was seen by a platelayer named Samuel Slater walking on the line, and when the train from Preston came up at about 29 minutes past one he saw Ashton throw himself across the rails when the advancing train was only about ten yards from him. Joseph Green, signalman, also saw the act. The poor fellow was horribly mutilated, one leg and arm were found at considerable distances away from his body, which was dragged about 100 yards, and was completely disemboweled. It is said that deceased had been drinking lately, and that a case of affiliation was pending against him, which preyed on his mind. He was 27 years of age. The mutilated body was carried to the Railway Hotel to await the inquest.
Blackburn Standard, 12th February 1876.
Shocking Suicide on a Railway.
A most determined and shocking case of suicide took place near the Chorley Railway Inn on Tuesday. Mr John Ashton, a master saddler, walked on to the railway, and when a passenger train from Preston was about 10 yards from him he placed his hands together and threw himself on the line. His body was horribly mutilated, and his heart and lungs were found some distance from the remainder of the body. He was only 27 years of age, and was unmarried.
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 12th February 1876.