Country News. Harrogate.
Mysterious Affair.
The village of Hampsthwaite and its neighbourhood, has of late been thrown into a state of considerable excitement, owing to a report that a farm-house in that neighbourhood, occupied by a person of the name of Dalby, is visited by some supernatural being. Indeed, no affair of the kind has ever caused half the consternation and gossip, since the existence of the Collingham ghost.
The inmates of the house have been so much alarmed by this mysterious unwelcome visitor, that they scarcely can persuade themselves to continue upon the premises. A variety of strange unearthly sounds are heard, during the night, in different parts of the house; such as loud thumps on the floor, moving of furniture, flying open of doors, together with other indescribable noises; and, strange to say, no clue can be obtained to lead to the discovery of the cause.
Several individuals, who have been very sceptical concerning this affair, have been permitted to remain upon the premises during the night, and are fully satisfied as to the truth of the report, but utterly unable to find out the cause. The Rev. Mr Shann, of Hampsthwaite, who is the owner of the property, being desirous that the mystery should be plainly solved, appointed two very respectable individuals, of undoubted veracity, to lodge in the house, and investigate the matter, and, if possible, to find out the cause; but all without any effect.
One of the above-named individuals, Mr Robt. Pullan, a respectable druggist in Hampsthwaite, from whom part of this report is obtained, states that when in bed, the noise at one time during the night commenced, as he supposed, at the foot of the bed on which he lay, and proceeded up the middle, between himself and bedfellow, but nothing could be either seen or felt.
At another time, while they were endeavouring to follow the sound in the dark, they were surprised to hear it move from a distance, and proceed from the spot on which they were standing, yet no visible or palpable object could be found.
Thus the whole affair yet remains in mystery; but we are informed the rev. gentleman intends to spare no pains or expense to elucidate the matter. We have heard several scientific and ingenious individuals express a wish to be permitted to stay a night upon the spot, but it is understood that Mr Shann will not permit strangers any longer to satisfy their curiosity, except those whom he himself may appoint. – Correspondent.
York Herald, 16th March 1844.
The Hampsthwaite Ghost.
Perhaps no similar affair, if we except the Collingham ghost, has created greater consternation in the minds of the credulous and superstitious, nor caused more speculative opinions among those more sceptical and better informed than to allow these remains of dark and superstitious ages to take possession of their minds, in this age of reason and refinement, than that of the Hampsthwaite ghost, as mentioned in the Courant of the 14th instant.
It has been the country gossip for many miles round, and numbers have flocked to the place from different neighbouring towns and villages to witness, if possible, its nocturnal peregrinations and internal antics. Some have been so much alarmed by this invisible visitant from the world of spirits, as they supposed, as to declare they would never again, while clothed in matter, seek the society of such an immaterial being.
While others, of stronger nerve, and better judgment, have expressed their opinions that it was not a disembodied spirit, but the work of a biped or quadruped, yet still without being enabled to detect the offender; and the whole matter has been enveloped in the most profound mystery until a few days ago, when we understand the Rev. Mr Shann, who is the owner of the property, and not willing to be persuaded nor easy to be duped by such a strange affair, procured the assistance of an active and ingenious policeman, from Leeds, who by lodging three nights upon the premises, unravelled the whole mystery. And surely a more ingenious contrivance, or better conducted scheme, could not have been put in operation for this purpose than the one referred to.
It is supposed to have been the freaks of the servant girl. She had, in some part of the house, concealed from view, a ball suspended by a string, and to that another string was connected similar to the connections of a bell-wire; this was constructed in such a manner as to allow the ball to come in contact with a thin ceiling, or partition, when pulled by the attached string, which caused the ball to rebound with a greater or less degree of force to suit the caprices of the operator, which by her mechanical skill, in working either by light or strong jerks, made the noise appear either in a remote part of the house or near at hand.
This was the greatest perplexity to those who went for the purpose of discovering the affair; while at one moment it seemed almost lost in the distance, at the next, booming close in the ear. In addition to the above mechanical contrivance, she had also others, it is said, by scratching and thumping on the floor when opportunities offered.
Since the above discoveries, the girl has been dismissed from her situation, and since then this evanescent intruder has discontinued its visits. What can have been the motive of this foolish girl, or whether she has had instigators, we cannot tell, but some of the ultra-suspicious gossips in the neighbourhood, and who love to dwell upon the marvellous, assert that she is possessed of a demoniacal spirit, and that since the commencement of these fantastic freaks, they have discovered an alteration in her general appearance, especially by a strange obliquity of vision.
We understand that she is a native of Kirkby-Overblow, and has been in Dalby’s service three years. Does it not appear strange that this affair should have been so long concealed from the inmates of the house, especially as Miss Dalby, as we are informed, was her sleeping partner?
Correspondent of the York Courant.
Sun (London), 29th March 1844.