My Experience in a Haunted House.
The interest aroused a fortnight since by the vagaries of the Gravesend “Coal Heaving Ghost,” has induced a gentleman resident in Ireland to send us two copies of The Droghedean, in which we find an article from his pen giving his experiences in a “Haunted House” in Gravesend. We reproduce the article, assuring our nervous readers that the incidents recorded occurred some 18 years ago, so that there is no occasion for alarm.
Our correspondent says: There are few people who have not heard of a so-called “Haunted House,” whilst very few, indeed, have had the strange experience of being domiciled therein. I am one of the small minority who have suffered the discomforture occasioned by a short term of residence in a “maison” of this description, and it is for the special benefit, edification and instruction of those who have not had a similar experience, but are desirous of the same, that I have been prompted to pen this paper, which having carefully perused, they will then feel more at home should it ever fall to their lot to pass a night in a house with the reputation of the above-named title.
The noble edifice in which the events I am about to relate took place is situated in one of the principal streets in Gravesend, Kent (England), and at the outset I need scarcely inform my readers that they have no occasion to exite their fear from reading this narrative, strange though it may appear. The first singular performance that took place occurred about twelve o’clock at night. Having retired to rest at 11.30 p.m. in a bedroom myself (in close proximity to which the mistress of the house was located, whilst adjoining that bedroom was a smaller one, occupied by a maid servant), I was suddenly startled soon after 12 o’clock by hearing three distinct knocks at my bedroom door, after which the handle began to rattle.
On enquiring who was there, I received no reply, but immediately heard several knocks at the next bedroom door, with a similar rattling of the handle, and likewise at the third bedroom, previous to which I had heard a loud noise, as of a kitchen table being completely overturned. Being, unfortunately, unprovided with matches, I was unable to obtain a light, and so did not venture to solve the mystery.
On entering the kitchen the next morning, the maid servant found the table as it had been previously left; thus the noise had not originated as I had presumed. However, we rather laughed over the matter the next day; but i had decided to invite a stalwart friend of mine to spend the next night with me and endeavour to discover the perpetrator of these outrageous acts. Having passed an enjoyable evening together in the house, we resolved to adjourn to our bedroom at twelve o’clock.
Before doing so, my friend and I went into the kitchen to see that all was safe and the shutters securely fastened. Having satisfied ourselves on this point, even to looking inside the “copper,” we left the room, when immediately a noise as of a large iron bar falling down on the floor was heard. Returning with the determination to find the cause, we were, however, obliged to leave in total ignorance as everything was intact, as we had left it but a few seconds before.
No sooner had we quitted the room again than a repetition of the same sound was heard. Nothing daunted, we returned once more, with the same result as on the previous occasion. After evacuating the apartment for the third time, a similar noise occurred. We however, decided not to return again.
Our next move was to the bedroom situated on the first floor. After bidding goodnight to the lady of the house, who retired, we (my friend and I) remained on the landing in quiet, close conversation, when suddenly a terrific crash was heard, like a cart load of bricks falling on the balustrade in front of us, appearing to come from the top of the house and descending to the lower part.
Being anxious to investigate this mysterious proceeding, my friend descended with a candle, armed with a poker, whilst I remained upstairs as sentry guarding the bedroom, with no less a formidable weapon than a four-foot mahogany curtain-pole. Suddenly I perceived that the light which my friend was carrying had become extinguished, and on enquiry was unable to learn the cause. My companion having retraced his steps found himself once more safely landed outside our bedroom door. Delighted to see him safe, I proceeded to hold a short conference with him, relative to his views on the state of affairs; and in order to enjoy the conversation the more, and to rest my arms, I placed the heavy curtain pole (which I had been carrying about during this time) in a corner immediately behind me. Wishing after a few minutes to continue our discussion in our bedroom, I invited my fellow explorer to enter; but before doing so, he reminded me to bring my curtain pole, as it was the only available one that we could use as a “life-preserver.” Thanking him for his kindly thought, I turned round to recover my “valued friend,” when lo! it had vanished, and that without a sound, whilst I had not moved half a foot from the spot where it had been placed; neither had any bedroom door been opened. Needless to say, my friend was not a little dismayed at this mysterious disappearance.
Having firmly secured the door, we fell into an earnest conversation. Few minutes had thus elapsed when we were suddenly startled by hearing several raps in rapid succession. My stalwart companion being most anxious to discover the “miscreant,” took a large sailor’s knife from his pocket, and having opened the largest blade, prepared for action ; giving me the following instructions of his plan to capture the “enemy:” – “You hold this candle in your left hand, and take the handle of the door in your right: should another knock be heard, immediately open the door as quickly as possible, and I will rush out with this knife at the fellow.” Most obedient to his orders and faithful in their execution, I patiently remained in position and at my post for one or two minutes; at the end of which time a similar rapping occurred. Opening the portal with the dexterity of a West end “shopwalker,” my intrepid adventurer rushed forward into total oblivion, making a desperate thrust with the open weapon at the same moment. Not a sound was heard, nor foot did move. It was therefore clear that he had failed in his endeavour to bring the perpetrator to earth.
Like all other daring explorers, he believed in the motto “Try again,” and therefore conceived another course by which he imagined he would be sure to obtain success. He accordingly issued further commands to me as follows: “I will lie down on the floor, just outside the room, in the darkness, knife in hand, and you remain inside with the door closed, in the same position as on the previous occasino: then, if I call out, you can come to my assistance.” Demurring at first, at the idea of abandoning my faithful protector in such a perilous position, I eventually consented, almost with fear and trembling, to his bold and extremely courageous suggestion. Having both of us put ourselves in readiness for an attack, we waited in profound silence the moment for mortal combat.
It was not long, however, before the opportunity arose, for similar unwelcome sounds at the door were heard; on opening which, I peered into the gloomy darkness by the aid of the candle, and found my brave comrade in position on the floor; he informing me that he had also heard the knocks, but had not seen or heard anything else, nor anybody. We returned to our apartment and remained in conversation until four o’clock in the morning, when being daylight we returned to rest, thoroughly dissatisfied and vexed that this “nocturnal visitor” had baffled all our attempts and devices to discover him.
The following morning we debated over our experiences of the past night, being much puzzled as to the origin. Our determination to solve the mystery was so great that it was again four o’clock the next morning before we entered our beds: the interim having been utilised as on the former occasion, with similar marvellous experiences and unsatisfactory results.
Referring to the curtain-pole, I may state that it was found the next day on the bed of the lady of the house.
The next wonderful and almost incredible performance that took place is one which many people will scarcely believe, but the strict veracity of which I can vouch for, as of my own existence. The simple facts are these: Being seated one day, about ten o’clock in the morning, at the piano, on the top of which a hat brush with a wooden back was standing, I was engaged in manipulating the instrument, when suddenly the brush darted, with almost the rapidity of lightning, before my face, and alighted on the wooden music rest of the piano, and that without a sound.
Not a little surprised at this miraculous feat of an inanimate object, I ventured to replace the article in its former position, and kept my eyes retained on it from the moment I released my hand. Recommencing to play, I did so, with my eyes fixed on the brush, not having removed my gaze, as has just been stated, for one moment. Remaining in that steadfast position for one or two minutes, my astonishment at seeing the brush move with electrical speed, and descend to that spot on the music rest which it had previously occupied in its first flight, and that again without the slightest sound, can be easily imagined. Our scientists will probably be able to explain how these two pieces of wood came in contact with each other at such a rapid pace and noiselessly.
Soon after this occurrence, and turning round from the piano, I observed that the ebony dining room clock, had apparently relinquished the “lease” of the mantelshelf on its own responsibility, without any notice of its intention, and taken up quarters in the centre of the dining-table. Sitting motionless, with my eyes fixed immovably on this nomadic time-piece, only a short space of time had elapsed before it executed some military manoeuvres by turning “Right Face” once or twice, to my mingled astonishment and amusement. But a place for everything, and everything in its place. Therefore, reinstating this restless piece of furniture to its usual position, it was not long before its bad influence was manifested in the smaller ornaments ranged on both sides of it, for silently they had piled themselves conspicuously in gymnastic form on the top of the before-mentioned clock. My hilarity was increased at the sight of this extraordinary performance. Being afraid that these China pieces might fall, I carefully took them down and replaced them.
Having occasion in the course of the day to ascend to my bedroom, I observed that a large wooden box (about 3ft. 6in. by 18in.) and contents had disappeared. Immediately informing the lady of the house of my loass, she accompanied me in a thorough search through the house. Inspecting every apartment and examining all the cupboards, beds (avoe and below), even to opening the small trap door leading to the roof, we failed to discover the whereabouts of the missing property. The following day, Sunday, on going to my room after breakfast, I found that the box had returned, but was placed on the opposite side to which it stood the previous day.
Then again on one or two occasions I heard the whole set of bells ring together, and at the tea-table it has happened that the plate has jumped into my lap and the spoon “taken leave” of the saucer for a little exercise.
Eventually, paying a visit to Mr Berry, Superintendent of the Police, and informing him of my experiences, he kindly offered to send a detective to examine the house with me. I accepted his offer, and in a short time an officer in plain clothes arrived, and asked me to accompany him over the premises. We carefully examined every part, even inspecting the roof of the house, but of course our expedition proved fruitless, as no clue was found and the mystery was not solved; but the officer stated that he had visited houses where similar noises and proceedings had taken place, but the cause he was unable to explain, comforting me, however, with the information that “there is nothing to be afraid of.”
Should it ever fall to anyone to be placed in similar circumstances to those which I have thus briefly described, let him remember the words of the polite officer, and he will find them, like Epps’ Cocoa, “grateful and comforting.”
In conclusion, I trust not to have wearied the patience of my intelligent readers by the perusal of this somewhat lengthy paper; but, on the contrary, that my endeavour to afford some little interest has not been in vain.
A.J.S.
Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser, 2nd October 1897.