Enmore Stone-throwing.
To the Editor.
Sir, – The Enmore stone-throwing mystery recalls an incident of a similar nature which happened in the house of a friend of mine in a Moffusil [rural] town in India, and will no doubt interest any of your readers who are seeking some explanation of this affair in our matter of fact town of Sydney. It is very rarely people can be led to admit any belief in supernatural agencies, but in the absence of a reasonable cause for such strange open-air seances, I think we must credit the spiritual world with some of these unexplained performances.
The town I refer to is on the west coast of India, and has a population of about 2000 – a few high European officials occupying bungalows on the high ground adjacent. During the absence of Mr W– on an official tour his family took the precaution of having a special police guard stationed on the premises, and so there was very little fear of any of the native villagers trying any practical jokes on the inhabitants, as the house, being entirely isolated, could not be approached by anyone without being seen.
One night the family were aroused by a heavy shower of stones on the roof, which lasted with intervals until daybreak, and this was repeated for several nights in succession. On one occasion, whilst all doors and windows were closed, a large stone entered through the fanlight over the door leading from the hall to the diningroom, and smashed a hanging lamp. Bright moonlight nights were selected as a rule by these unknown performers, and the stones were thrown repeatedly whilst the police and servants were watching from all sides, and from the turrets of the house itself. This nuisance lasted at longer intervals for months, and for all I know it still continued.
Adjacent to this house there is avalley which by native tradition is the abode of a devil, and the place is therefore much feared by the villagers, and they solemnly asserted that if anyone ventured to throw stones down this valley, this devil would retaliate. One of the young ladies who heard this tale resolved on the sly to test it, and one day whilst out walking threw some large stones down the valley. That same night the stones were showered on the house as stated, and being afraid of being called to task, she said nothing about her little prank till some time after.
I can vouch for the correctness of this story, and shoudl like to know the solution of it. At present I think there is something supernatural about it, and so does everyone acquainted with the facts – Yours, etc., R. Stevenson. Pitt-street, May 14.
The Daily Telegraph, 18th May 1894.