Eerie Visitor.
An old-fashioned, but prosaic-looking, house in Victoria-road, Ebbw Vale, is the centre of considerable excitement in the town just at present by reason of talk of mysterious knockings and ghostly visitations.
Mrs Williams, who has lived in the house for many years, says that about six weeks ago she was awakened by a companion, Mrs Watkins, and saw the shape of a shoulder, which was covered with an old black shawl fringed with tassels. The shawl she at once recognised as one regularly worn by Mrs Morris, a former owner of the house, whom Mrs Williams nursed in her last illness before she died some thirteen years ago. She could not see anything else but the shoulder and the shawl, but Mrs Watkins said she saw the whole figure, which was that of a little old woman, whom, from the description, Mrs Williams recognised as being like the deceased woman.
Mrs Williams adds that she saw the shoulder and the shawl move towards the door and pass through it, and then came three taps at the door. One night she was sitting in the room, when she again heard the knocks, and immediately afterwards she saw a shining hand in the air beckoning. Mrs Williams believes that the “ghost” was the spirit of Mrs Morris, the previous occupier, and that she has a message which as yet she is unable to deliver.
Western Mail, 29th April 1913.
An Ebbw Vale Ghost Story.
Ghostly benedictions.
Weird story.
The ordinary, peaceful trend of public life at Ebbw Vale has been rudely upset during the past week by a real piece of sensationalism, which is no other than an amazing ghost story. There is nothing calculated to stir up curiosity in the minds of the people more effectively than incidents connected with spiritualism.
Rumours were afloat that residents of Victoria Road were greatly perturbed over what was alleged to be a haunted house, and the “spirits” which were supposed to be operating in the domicile of a well known inhabitant – were cutting some extraordinary capers – such as to demand investigation. As in most stories connected with ghosts, the rumours were greatly inflated – the original facts being added to at each time of telling – with the result that in a few days so gruesome did the details become, and absolute terror reigned, striking consternation in the minds of the people, while the juvenile portions of the inhabitants were so impressed with the recitals that scarcely any of them could be seen after dusk.
At length so peristent were the stories put into circulation by persons who did not as a rule lend themselves to sensationalism that our Ebbw Vale representative resolved to make an investigation of the facts from those who were directly affected by the visitations. Not feeling particularly keen upon close relationship with the spirit, whose particular characteristic is to appear in the dead of night, the broad daylight of Monday morning was chosen to intrude upon the haunt of the representative of the unseen.
The scene is laid, writes our reporter, practically in the heart of Ebbw Vale, at Victoria Road, a house which one would scarcely associate with a sensational ghost story, and thither I made my way through the drenching rain. With a certain amount of timidity, as well as curiosity, I knocked at the door, and it was not very long before I was ushered into the house of mystery, which certainly did not seem to be the hunting ground of a ghost, so innocent and peceful did the surroundings seem. The occupants of the house, respectable Ebbw Vale inhabitants, were a Mr and Mrs Williams, and after some conversation Mrs Williams was induced to give her narrative, which was indeed startling enough to satisfy any thirst for sensation.
“I have lived,” said Mrs Williams, “in this house for many years, and until lately I have always laughed at the idea of ghosts or of spirits manifesting themselves to the inhabitants of this world. In fact, all my training has been against such things, for I have been taught in the traditional fashion that the spirits of the departed are unable to visit the scenes of their former habitations on earth. About six weeks ago, however, I was sitting in this room about 12 o’clock at night, and was preparing to go to bed (the room is a bed-sitting room). Everybody else had gone to bed, and the house was quite still. Suddenly I seemed to feel cold, and then there came three distinct knocks at the door, followed by a thump, as if the door had been struck by a clenched hand. At that sound my spirits came back, and I thought, although at the same time I knew that no one would have come in without my hearing them, for my room is on the ground floor, and the window looks out on the street, while the room next to me is occupied, I thought that one of my lodgers had come in an dknocked at my door in passing, just to let me know that he had come in. I therefore, called out in jovial tone, “Good night.”
“I received no answer, and I then moved towards the door, when I was again arrested by the four knocks being repeated. I felt, though I knew not how, that there was something uncanny about these knocks, but stretching out my arm, for I was then within arm’s length of the door, I opened it, almost before the sound of the last knock had died away, but though the house was as light as day, from the bessemer light, and I could see the stairs from top to bottom, and every place where any person could possibly hide, there was not a soul to be seen. There was no place where anyone could have hidden, and no possibility of the door being touched from another room.
“I was naturally a little shaken, and thought it must be imagination and went to bed. The next night I was sleeping with a Mrs Watkins in the same room. We heard the knocks again, and once more the door was opened, but no one was to be seen. I then went to sleep, but shortly after 12 o’clock I was awakened by Mrs Watkins, who seemed to be in great terror, and who whispered to me ‘For God’s sake, look who’s looking at you.’ Half awake, and half asleep, I raised myself on my elbow in bed, and there was no light in the room, but the room was like day from the light of the works, and I saw the shape of a shoulder, which was covered with an old black fringed shawl with tassels. I at once recognised the shawl as one which was worn by a Mrs Morris, the former occupant of this place, and whom I had lived with and nursed during her last illness, and who died in this room about 13 years ago. I could see nothing but the shoulder and the shawl, but Mrs Watkins said she saw the whole figure, which she said was of a little old woman, and who, from her description of her, I recognised as being Mrs Morris. The peculiar thing about it is that at this time Mrs Watkins recognised, or saw the whole figure, but I saw only the shoulder and the shawl. It then seemed to move towards the door, and the three raps and the thump were again heard, but more vehement this time, as if to say “Why don’t you speak; why don’t you understand.” I felt cold all through, for now I felt that it must be a spirit, and before I knew anything Mrs Watkins and myself were on our knees praying to God to help us.
“The knocking continued every night, but never unless the door was shut, and although we set watches we could never see how they were given, though they were never given unless in the dark. One night I was sitting in the room again, in company with my husband, when I again heard the knocking, and immediately I saw a hand in the air. I could only see it by the light of the works, but it seemed to shine with a beautiful radiance. It was a lovely hand, and beckoned me to follow it, and then pointed to the cupboard in the corner of the room. (This cupboard is of the old fashioned corner cupboard shape, very seldom seen today).
“I spoke to the hand in English, and in the name of God asked it for any message it had to deliver. There was no audible reply, but the hand ceased beckoning and pointed steadily at my breast. My husband then spoke to it in Welsh, and again in the name of God and the trinity asked if there was any message the spirit had to deliver. Again the hand beckoned me, and then the forefinger pointed at me, as if to show, and whatever message there was, it was only for me. My husband saw the hand as well as myself.
“Some nights afterwards (proceeded Mrs Williams), my husband, myself, and others were sitting in the room, this time waiting for the spirit to manifest itself. We were all in the dark, but there was enough light from the works to see by. Once more came the knocking at the door, and then the hand appeared and hovered in the air towards me, and beckoning towards the cupboard. We all of us prayed to God and I then again asked the spirit to deliver its message. As I prayed, I saw more and more of the spirit, until at last I recognised Mrs Morris, who died in the room 12 or 13 years ago. She floated towards me and passed her hand over my head as if in benediction, and then passed on to my husband, and laid its hand on his head.
“It then seemed to become impatient, either because it was unable to make itself understood or at our being unable to understand it, and it waved its arms. Immediately some of the ornaments on the mantelpiece fell to the ground, some being smashed to pieces. In my agony of mind at seeing my little treasured knick-knacks destroyed in this way, I cried out to the spirit, ‘In the name of God, don’t break my poor things.’ Again the hand appeared to be beckoning, but from that time no other articles were broken, as if the spirit was kindly towards me, and wished no harm.
“It seemed to me,” concluded Mrs Williams, “that the spirit is that of Mrs Morris, the previous occupant and owner of this house, and that she has a message for me, which, as yet, she is unable to deliver. What it is, of course, I have no idea, but naturally I am anxious to know the meaning of it all.”
Mrs Watkins, the woman who slept with Mrs Williams on the first night the spirit appeared, bore out Mrs Williams’ statements. She did not see the shawl, but she saw the figure, which was of a little old woman with a small head. It seemed too real to be ghostlike, but moved without sound, and glided rather than walked. After this night, however, she never saw the complete form again, but repeatedly saw the beckoning hand.
Mr Williams, the husband, said he could not explain the manifestations at all. Like his wife, he had never believed in apparitions, and had never until now seen anything supernatural. He had seen the beckoning hand, described by his wife, and had felt it rpessing on his head. H ehad also seen the hand touch his wife on the chest, and seem to pluck at her clothing as if asking her to follow it. Several of his friends had sat up and had seen portions of a form, but no one had seen it complete except Mrs Williams and Mrs Watkins.
Whatever may be the explanation of the above story, which was told to our Ebbw Vale representative, it is difficult to know, but one thing is very obvious, and that is that it has caused a stir and sensation in this district, and the story is on the lips of all persons one might meet. It was with a deal of satisfaction that I emerged from this mysterious habitation, and found myself once again breathing the pure air.
Interest has by no means abated in the sensational ghost story from Ebbw Vale, and, indeed, matters are assuming a very remarkable turn, and in all probability an investigation into the whole matter will be forthcoming. The story is undoubtedly a most incredible one to the casual observer, but those who have had anything to do with the investigation of affairs so far, cannot but be impressed with the great sincerity with which the persons directly affected tell their story.
I am (writes our Ebbw vale correspondent) an unbeliever in such matters, but during th elast few days some remarkable facts have been brought to my notice which cannot but stimulate a deep interest in the matter. Naturally, I have tried to investigate the whole of the issues which arise, and while I have been able to gather a deal of valuable information, I have failed utterly to get to the bottom of the story. It would be an easy matter to explain it away were it only that the occupants of the house had seen this supernatural happening, but outside evidence has been brought to me, by respectable people, whom I know do not believe in these things, that I have been forced to the conclusion that there must be something in it. I do not suggest that a ghost exists, but there is certainly something very remarkable about the whole story.
As the result of the publicity that has been given to the story, the following letter has been addressed to the press, and which we have been asked to insert: –
“Whatever may be the version of the outsider, your paper has given it a place that whoever will read may do so, of what, to some, is a positive fact. It is so to those persons who never gave a thought, much less make a study, that such things are unusual. True, manifestations are rare, and because such, should be, at least, investigated. To the man in the street all things which he is not aware of, or has been brought into contact, is “bosh,” “twaddle,” and incredulous. This phenomena now gives an opportunity for the ministers of the town to test the words of men of repute, such as the late Dr Parker, and Mr W.T. Stead, and many other gentlemen who are prepared to state what others, not knowing, term incredible, “that the spirit doth return,” and if this opportunity be seized, I believe someone will benefit who may be surviving relatives. I would suggest that the surviving executor of the will of the late Mrs Morris, who is a minister in the town, should at least investigate to find if there be any message that (possibly of the late Mrs Morris) may be conveyed to the relatives for their benefit.
“If any person or persons will write you offering their presence and time to investigate the phenomena, I shall be glad to have their names, and will form a committee, and report to the general public through your columns. – Yours faithfully, VALIAN.”
Should this committee be formed, I feel sure that their results would be eagerly looked forward to. Mr and Mrs Williams, who are greatly affected by the occurrence, are now quite prepared for such an inquiry to take place.
On Wednesday the rumours of the haunted house at Victoria Road were more persistent than ever, and during the day some mfurther remarkable stories have been forthcoming. A particular gentleman who is entirely disinterested in the matter sat up one night, and admitted he saw something, but was of the opinion that it was caused by the reflection of something in the light of the Bessemer. However, on being pressed, he admitted that he had seen something.
A very different story, however, comes from Beaufort, by a man named Lt. Jenkins, who certainly holds a different opinion. He, too is entirely independent, and his version is as follows: – “I myself do not, and have not, believed in anything that lends itself to the supernatural, but during one night I stayed with Mr and Mrs Williams, and I distinctly saw a hand in the air. It was quite white, and the forefinger seemed to be beckoning for Mrs Williams.”
Since the facts of the whole affair have become public, the house has been made a perfect haunt of visitors, who all seem anxious to render assistance to the occupants of the house. Up to the present, although every assistance has been given, no solution of the mystery is forthcoming. Seen on Wednesday by our Ebbw Vale representative, Mrs Williams stated that she was pleased she had given the matter full publicity.
“Only once since Friday have I heard the knocking, and it then seemed fainter than before, as if the spirit was satisfied that all was being done to try and understand it.”
There has been some surprise expressed locally that Mrs Williams has not searched the cupboard to which the hand seemed to point, and on this question being put to Mrs Williams, she assured me that a thorough search of the cupboard has been made, but nothing was found. The wall behind it is of solid stone and brick, so that nothing can be found. Mrs Williams assured me that she was entirely worn out with the whole affair, and would welcome any investigation in order to set the matter right.
Our representative was informed of a very amusing incident that has occurred. Since the matter has become public property several persons have applied to Mrs Williams for permission to investigate the mystery, on condition that they would be allowed to bring revolvers with them. They also generously offered to even provide their own refreshments if permission was given.
Merthyr Express, 3rd May 1913.