Extraordinary Rappings at Seedhill.
A deal of excitement, amusement, and even trepidation has been experienced during the week amongst a good number of persons of tolerably respectable standing in the town, in consequence of reported “rappings” of a mysterious character being audible at the residence of Mr. Samuel Routledge, dyer, Seedhill.
It would appear that on Friday night last, about a quarter to eight o’clock, Mr. Routledge’s servant maid heard a vigorous knocking whilst her master was out, and instantly ran to the front door to admit the expected impatient intruder, but no one was to be seen about. She had hardly reached the kitchen ere a like noise was heard in another part of the house, and she immediately opened the kitchen door. Still nobody was to be seen.
The rapping continuing she fancied some one must be playing some pranks about the place, and summoned to her succour the private watchman from the yard. He of course was not to disturbed from his placidity by any obtrusive element: so taking a stern stand, staff in hand, and hat firmly set, in the centre of the passage, the modern representative of Dogberry stood ready to charge and “meddle” with any “prince’s subjects” or otherwise, when “rap, rap” with a loud confused sound came the unquiet disturber – he
Held his whist, / And glowr’d as eerie’s he’d been dusht; / The cudgel in his nieve did shake, / Each bristled hair stood like a stake,
And vowed he would have a “watch” to watch him if he must watch these premises all night! – and each night since two watchmen have mounted guard over the perturbed dye-works. However, in the forcible words of one of the “force” who afterwards heard the strange sound, “its’ a woise boggert, for he ligs to sleep at’neets;” and the sturdy watchers were not incommoded till the next morning.
On Saturday the noise continued at short intervals, none of the auditors agreeing as to whence it proceeded, though occasionally it was loud enough to be heard all over the extensive premises. The various pipes which run round the house, conveying steam, &c., were cautiously examined, but the knocking still went on during the daytime.
Rumours of all sorts spread throughout the town as to the personnel of the supernal wight that haunted Seedhill, and crowds of anxious individuals visited the spot, especially on Monday and Tuesday. The whole of Monday afternoon one large room in the house was devoted to gentlemen, and another to ladies, waiting for the knocking, but alas! his spectreship shrouded himself in mystery, and declined to gratify their curiosity.
In the evenings of the two days named vast numbers of persons collected in the yard of the dye-works, and wandered to and fro about the neighbourhood in wondering expectancy. On Wednesday – being fast day – the disturber fasted from knocking to any great extent, but on Thursday morning the sound was again prevalent, and yet continues to annoy the inmates. Sewers have been searched, goits fathomed, pipes cleared, but all has yet failed to discover the cause of the day-rapper.
We heard the singular phenomenon three times on Thursday, about noon, with some dozen others, distributed in and about the rooms on the ground floor, but none could agree as to where it came from, only that it was loud and indefinite, and produced a pitiful change in the air of some of the listeners yesterday (Friday) the rappings were as loud and frequent as ever, and though many gentlemen of our acquaintance, who are not easily “gulled,” visited the spot, during yesterday especially, they assure us that there is an air of strangeness about these loud, frequent, and imperious rappings which their philosophy cannot solve; and how or by what instrumentality brought about they, in common with Mr. Routledge, are unable to trace.
At the same time we would caution the credulous against placing reliance on the thousand silly rumours afloat, as it is possible that more minute examinations of the premises may tend to make clear what is at present, to say the least, a very mysterious exhibition on behalf of something or other which has so far evaded the vigilance of the thousands who have crowded around the premises at Seedhill during the week.
Huddersfield Chronicle, 24th March 1855.
The Mysterious Rappings at Seed-Hill Dyeworks.
In our last impression we recorded the fact that sounds of a most mysterious character had been heard in the dwelling-house of Mr. Samuel Routledge, immediately adjoining the above works, for some days previously. We also stated that in consequence the premises had been visited by a number of “tolerably” respectable persons, at which accidental form of expression some of our respectable readers, and a few of Mr. Routledge’s select visitors, took exception, for which we feel sorry, though we see no hopes of not this week again falling under somebody’s censure unless we could call our readers around us in our sanctum, and submit our manuscript to their inspection, which would, we fear, only add to our embarrassment.
Therefore, we must “rap” on alone by recording the fact that since last week, up to Thursday evening, the rappings continued, with intervals of varied suspense, from day to day, and have attracted hundreds of respectable, tolerably respectable, and anything but respectable people to the spot, but regardless of each of these the “rappings” continued, and ever and anon the clear, but peculiar and well-defined “rappings” were heard above the mimic imitations which were going on at the time by some curious experimenter, with his knobbed-stick, on the wainscoating of the passage.
Many as were the imitations essayed in our presence, yet there was no mistaking the real “rapper” from his counterfeits. If not the “observed of all observers” the noise produced a total cessation of all imitations, as by general consent, so soon as it commenced, and it became obvious to us from many careful experiments, that the sounds produced in the majority of instances were much louder, and in all cases markedly different, from those which were essayed in imitation by a number of gentlemen who, from day to day, evinced a laudable curiosity to unravel the mystery.
Nor was Mr. Routledge less desirous to solve the matter, notwithstanding the many idle rumours set on foot to the contrary. He thoroughly cleared out all the gas and water pipes about the premises, and we believe that every drain either directly or remotely connected with the house has been opened, and thoroughly cleansed. None of these expedients, however, produced any change, and, to Mr. Routledge’s still greater surprise, on his return from Bradford market, on Thursday night, he found the commotion greater than ever, and was informed that not only had the “rappings” increased in their intensity during his absence, but that during the evening a portion of the bedding and bed clothes had come down stairs, helter skelter, of its own accord, into the front passage!
This circumstance first roused suspicion in the mind of Mr. Routledge and his friends in reference to an Irish nurse girl in the house, named Catherine Hayley, not more than thirteen years of age, and she was closely interrogated, but denied all “rapping” propensities.
During the evening a clairvoyante was again brought into the house, thrown into the mesmeric state, and performed some strange antics over and under the bed and among the bed clothes, but to no purpose. In the meantime Mr. Routledge sent the nurse-girl to bed, and the “rapping” ceased for the night. This was data to work upon, and accordingly Mr. Routledge and his friends commenced a series of experimental “rappings” on doors, panels, &c. in the apartments to which this said Irish nurse girl had chief access, but still the peculiar sound was not produced until they arrived at a washing machine in the kitchen, when “rap, rap” was made thereon, and lo, all declared that this was the precise sound which had scared their wits for now nearly ten days. This led to a closer inspection of the machine, the end of which showed a series of bruises and indentations, leaving but little doubt that here the “rapper” had carried on its work.
Thus far satisfied Mr. Routledge retired for the night, and early the next morning he charged the nurse girl with having been the operator on the washing machine in question. For some time she stoutly denied the soft impeachment, but on Superintendent Thomas being sent for she first admitted that she had made part of the rappings with a stick on the said washing machine, and she subsequently confessed that the whole of these “rappings” had been made by her on it, and on a door in the best kitchen, on which latter she “rapped” with a small sandstone. She also admitted that on the previous night she seized a favourable moment, took off her clogs, ran upstairs, threw down the bed linen, returned and put on her clogs, and then gave the alarm to a gentleman who had mounted guard in the front parlour!
This, and much more she revealed, showing an amount of deception and cunning in one so young, as has, for some ten days past, “struck dumb the timid and amazed the wise,” but which has clearly proved that she alone was the evil genius, for since her removal from the premises, yesterday morning, the “rappings” have ceased, Mr. Routledge’s residence has assumed its wonted privacy, and what was deemed as something supernatural by the many has proved to have been the mere device of one very ignorant, though very cunning little Irish girl.
Verily, what great events from little cause spring! We think it right to add that the girl has made a full confession of the modus operandi by which she has so successfully gulled the public, and has admitted that none other than herself was in any way privy to the deceptions she has so successfully, and with so much sang froid, carried on for several days.
We need scarcely add, that Mr. Routledge has dispensed with her services, but we hear, with some surprise, that a few foolish people are attempting to make a “lioness” of her, which we feel certain sensible people will not countenance.
Huddersfield Chronicle, 31st March 1855.
The Capture of the Ghost.
Our readers will remember that we had last week to chronicle the excitement, alarms and curiosity, produced by the mysterious knockings at Seed-hill, on the premises of Mr Samuel Routledge. The noises have continued in a most energetic and alarming style, during the past week.
On Saturday last, the “ghost” was very boisterous and active, and continued its vagaries in order to amuse or frighten magistrates and gentlemen, connected with the world of letters. It was not contented with its usual manifestations, but took to ringing the bells violently, so that some of the inmates were much alarmed, and others puzzled and annoyed. It appears that Mr Routledge had an idea that it was caused by some kind of air rushing in the numerous gas-pipes, steam-pipes or water-pipes, in or around the dwelling. But drains and pipes were examined in vain.
On the Thursday, in addition to the bells being rung, the pillows and bed clothes began to travel about the house, and altogether, suspicion seems to have fallen upon a girl about eleven or twelve years old, employed as servant or nurse. On Thursday night, the house was tolerably full of visitors attracted by curiosity, credulity, or scepticism, and after they had nearly all departed, a general search was made through the place. Mr Routledge and Mr Henry Brook, at length found in the kitchen indications that the noises proceeded from that quarter. Mr Brook found behind the kitchen door a washing machine, which on being struck with a stick that stood by its side, produced the exact noise usually produced by the ghost. This hint was followed up industriously, and on examining the washing machine, it was found to be indented in all directions with the numerous blows that her ghostship had inflicted upon it. The kitchen door was also sadly battered from the same cause, and on further examination, nearly every door on the ground-floor of the house was found to bear these material marks of the ghost.
There was no doubt as to the delinquent, and on the following morning (Friday), Mr Routledge called the girl into a room apart and taxed her with being the cause of all the uproar. After some denials she at length confessed, and Superintendent Thomas was sent for, to take her up to the police station. She is a simple looking Irish girl, named Catherine Haley, and has been in the employ of Mr Samuel Routledge for eight or nine months. On arriving at the police-station she acknowledged that her only object was to frighten the inhabitants of the house, and that no one else knew of it but herself.
After the departure of the girl another instrument was discovered. Under the pillow of a sofa close to the door of the large kitchen, was found a flat sand stone, and on examining the door it was found to have been used against the door frame so that a space of three or four inches square was completely battered, the grains of sand still adhering shewing by what means the indentations had been produced.
We understand that a clairvoyant was on the premises on Thursday night, and after many guesses in which quicksilver, a woman with black hair, and like unto a ministering angel, were mixed up with other stories and fancies, while at twenty minutes past seven on the Friday morning, he stated there would be a grand commotion. Whether this referred to the capture of the ghost which took place about that time, we must leave our readers to determine.
It appears altogether, that Mr Routledge and those interested in discovering the trick, expected to find the solution of the mystery in an approved philosophical style and not in a simple and obvious human agency. Hence they overlooked the necessary precautions and gave the girl abundant opportunities for carrying on her deception while they were busy in every quarter but the right one. We had several times heard it averred, that if the family would only allow three or four policemen to have exclusive possession, they would hear no more of the ghost, and particularly if they would only call to their help the two Hillhouse celebrities who caught the Birkby ghost in the shape of a “billy-goat.”
We had forgotten to say, that on Thursday night a bailiff on the premises stopped in bed as long as he dared, in consequence of finding the bed clothes dragged away from above him, a trick which was like the other played by the little Irish ghost – Catherine Haley. So great a celebrity has she become that a photographer has given her a portrait in order to obtain one of her, by way of adding to his gallery of portraits that of the Seed-hill ghost. As there was no charge brought against the girl, she was sent away after she had got a good fright for frightening others.
Huddersfield and Holmfirth Examiner, 31st March 1855.
Capture of a Ghost.
As mentioned in our last, the residence of Mr S. Routledge, dyer, Seed-hill, had, during the whole of the preceding week, been haunted by strange and unaccountable noises, but which always appeared to be in and about the passage. Numerous rumours detrimental to Mr R. and his family were rife in every quarter, and every one explained the extraordinary circumstance in his own way.
While conjecture was thus kept on the tip-toe, Mr Routledge was unremitting in his exertions to discover the cause. Steam, gas, and water pipes innumerable were emptied and explored; sinks, drains, &c., ripped up, but all to no purpose, as his ghostship did not choose to descend to such lowness. An extra watchman was engaged, and up to Thursday night kept watch and ward.
A joiner was engaged to thoroughly examine the house, to ascertain if any mechanical apparatus had been fixed, whereby, with the aid of galvanism or other scientific means, the strange unearthly sounds might be produced; but all was in vain, for, notwithstanding these exertions, the invisible one still continued its “rappings.”
On Sunday it took another shape, and the bells were continually rung, but no explanation offered itself as to the cause. The rappings were again renewed, and the same took place on Monday.
The services of Miss Challand, who has “got her name up” as a faithful clairvoyante (since the discovery of the body of the missing female from Marsden), were put into requisition; but, after being placed in the required state, nothing could be elicited from her, inasmuch as, not having heard the ghost perform his operations, she could discover nothing to detect his whereabout, or the means he employed to effect such startling sounds.
On Tuesday the knockings were not so violent, and the operator confined his freaks to the daytime. Still no suspicion was entertained by any of the family that the ghost was an inmate of the house, this idea being the farthest from their thoughts.
On Thursday, however, the pranks of the undiscovered visitant took another range. The bell being silent, from the fact of the wires being unhooked, it took it into its head to enter the bedrooms, and, denuding the beds of their coverings, pillows, &c., dragged them down the stairs to the landing, and there left them. This was done several times, and notwithstanding the fact that, whenever there was a loud knocking or bell ringing, an Irish servant girl was sure to appear the only one really frightened, no one for a moment thought that she could be capable of playing such extraordinary tricks, so successfully as she had done; and had she continued to confine her duties to the “rapping,” in all probability the mystery would have still remained undiscovered.
The continued knocking, together with the abstraction of the bed clothes, so terrified the housekeeper that she left the house in the afternoon of Thursday, and refused to return till after the discovery. The man left in possession was so worked upon by his feelings that although he remained in the house he dared not close his eyes.
Mr R., having returned from Bradford, was informed of the whole circumstances, when it at once occurred to him that some person in the house might have been the cause of the annoyance and considerable expense he had been put to. He, therefore, in company with a few friends, took a stick and proceeded to try, by sounding the walls, &c., to discover anything which would produce the same dolorous sound, when, after spending some time in the examination, his son accidentally struck the end of the barrel of a large washing-machine standing in the back kitchen, and like magic the sounds were at once explained, and on the outer end being examined hundreds of indentations were discovered.
At an early hour the next morning, the servant girl, who had been taken into the house nine months ago by Mr R. from motives of charity, and whose name is Catherine Haley, was closely questioned as to her knowledge of the “rappings.” Her reply was, “Shure, she knew nothing about it at all at all,” but subsequently she admitted she had “knocked a little.”
On being taken to the police office, she, during the forenoon, further admitted to our reporter that she had “done it all.” Could not tell how she had done it; and added, that no one told her to do it, and she could not tell why she had so acted.
Subsequently she stated it was done to “frighten” the housekeeper, whom she did not like; then she said she had done it first for a “bit of fun,” but finding so many people come about the place she had continued it for the purpose of driving them away.
On further examining the premises te whole of the room doors leading into the passage were found to be in a state of indentation produced by the little urchin’s “rappings,” and under the pillow of a sofa was found a good-sized stone, which had been “rapped” against the inside of the kitchen door, which upon examination bore visible marks of the effect produced.
Thus at length the formidable ghost of Seed-hill has been discovered, and turns out to be nothing more than the vicious freaks of an Irish girl. No doubt the circumstance will be food for the gossips of the country for many a day to come. – Halifax Guardian.
Morning Chronicle, 6th April 1855.
The Yorkshire Ghost.
During the whole of the past week the neighbourhood of Seed-hill, and in fact the whole of the “lower region” of the town of Huddersfield, has been in a state of extraordinary excitement owing to the most alarming “noises” made in the house of Mr Samuel Routledge, an extensive dyer, at Seed-hill. Mr Routledge first called the attention of the police and the public to the matter last Saturday, declaring that the noises resembled the “striking of a door or a table-top with a stick or switcher with all one’s might;” that these noises were very frequent, and had frightened all his servants, and even the cat from the house, and that he was thus left in awful solitude.
The rumour spread rapidly, and every day since the house has been regularly besieged by crowds of people, all anxious to see and hear for themselves the marvellous doings of the ghost.
On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, several policemen were stationed inside the house. The ghost, however, was not to be intimidated, either by the crowd or the police – “bang, switch, bang, switch, bang, switch,” – continued at intervals to echo through the corridors and rooms of the building. Impudent and cunning ghost! He is quite a ventriloquist; when you are seated in the dining-room the sound appears to come from the front door; and when you at the front door, the sound appears to proceed from the dining-room. A policeman was therefore placed at each of these places, determined to catch the ghost.
“Bang, switch,” echoes once more; each policeman rushes from his post to catch the fugitive; they meet in the passage, and a terrific collision takes place, each knocking the other down, and in the melee the ghost escapes! These watchings continued until Wednesday evening, when the police, fairly baffled, raised the siege, and left the ghost in undisputed possession of the fortress.
On Thursday night it was suggested by a gentleman that a number of them should go on a tour of inspection through the house, by applying their walking sticks to different articles of furniture and washing utensils, see whether it was possible to produce a sound at all corresponding with that produced by the “ghost.” Accordingly they went, and a short time succeeded in gaining a clue to the affair.
One gentleman having brought his stick to bear upon the washing machine, the result was most conclusive, and upon interrogating a little Irish girl of about 12 years of age, named Catherine Heeley, who was employed as a maid-of-all-work by Mr Routledge, she confessed to being guilty, and was forthwith taken into custody. What motive could have prompted so young a girl to such an act, and by what means she has been able so long and so successfully to baffle the investigations of at least half the people of Huddersfield, is at present shrouded in mystery. – Sheffield Examiner.
Morning Advertiser, 9th April 1855.
Rappings.
The unaccountable rappings which were recently heard in a house at Huddersfield, and which have been followed by the ringing of bells and by the dragging of the coverings from off the beds, have been found to have been caused by an Irish girl, who was taken into the house as a servant from motives of charity nine months ago.
Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser, 14th April 1855.