A Ghost at Hope.
– A correspondent sends us the following, of which we give his own version: – “A few days since or rather nights, a very singular circumstance occurred at one of the villager’s residence at Hope, viz., of a woman, who relates the following that she heard one night of last week after being in bed; her husband, a hard working labourer, fast asleep, in bed with her; a very strange noise below stairs, she being a strong nerve woman immediately struck light, proceeded down to see what it was; never heard such extraordinary noise before, like everything breaking in pieces, but saw nothing; came up, went in bed again after making out the light, soon after which hear the same remarkable noise; again struck light, down again but could see nothing in the house. All right, up and light out, in to bed again ,when after which, not long after, she saw a man, it being moon light, enter her room, and come over before her bed, the countenance of which she knew; it frightened her into a fit, and she remained so for nearly an hour. They say a person formerly, who was drowned, lived there, who was a fisherman, belonging to Hope; we only add much is said about it in the neighbourhood, many of whom believe it to be something very remarkable; the woman declares it to be true, and of course was frightened; it might have perhaps been permitted for some ends we cannot say.”
Western Times, 2nd October 1858.
The Ghost at Hope – Further Particulars.
To the Editor of the Western Times.
Sir, – On looking over your paper of last week, I there saw an account of a ghost at Hope. Now the foundation of the story is true we perfectly admit, for persons in the neighbourhood of the highest respectability, one of whom a minister, believe the fact of extraordinary noises being heard, and has been the talk for many years past the noises, having been heard then by many different persons, at different periods, but one circumstance stated respecting it, on your paper last week of a fisherman, who formerly lived there, and was drowned, parties genearlly say it could have no reference to him, for the noises were heard long before his death, and rather suppose that for numbers of years ago that some unfortunate one might have been robbed and murdered near there, the spirit not at rest having something to communicate.
The noise is said to proceed from under the stairs, and the woman in question we are informed who had made up her mind being so disturbed by these strange noises to see the outs of it, and as your paper stated last week a strong nerve woman, had made up her mind to speak to it; who after going down twice, in the kitchen, from which she both times returned to her room, being in bed leaning upon her elbow on the pillow, the moon shining very bright into the room, heard the sound like a man’s footstep advancing up the stairs step by step, till it came to the top of the stairs,
when it sprea out its arms, and advanced to the foot of her bed, having caught her eye, it had something bright on its breast; but her courage failed her, for speaking to it as she had made up her mind at first to do, and she was frightened with all her nerve and courage into a fit, which woke her husband and a young woman, a lodger, who slept in an adjoining room, and who on the following day left her terrified place of abode.
The old people imagine that it may continue to come till some one be it in the shape of a Church Parson or some other Divine or intelligent personage should have resolution and confidence to speak to it, when it is supposed it will reveal or relate its mission to this unfortunate residence, it being said the children are terrified by day at the terrible sounds heard in the house, and which marvelous sounds or noises have been more or less heard for many years past, in this house by former residents, where the sound proceeds from
and the persons who have been residents at the other two houses all of one row, at the commencement of the court have all heard for years past these wonderful noises, and many persons are quite afraid to pass that way alone after the shades of night have set in, and the people around Hope and Yalmpton, quite appear to believe in the story of the woman, Mrs Wood, and of her nocturnal visitor.
Remaining your obedient servant, A WORKING MAN.
Western Times, 9th October 1858.