A Haunted House.
Since the middle of last October a very singular system of persecution has been going on in Kensington, which has hitherto baffled all attempts to discover the author, or the means by which the annoyance complained of is effected. Some years ago it would have been put down to a ghost or perhaps to his Satanic Majesty himself, but since the great spiritualistic bubble of the Brothers Davenport has burst, there is nothing left but to puzzle on till the trick, clever as it may be, is found out. Unfortunately, in the present case, the trick, though clever, is becoming cruel and heartless.
In a small house, about 20 yards from the main road, live an old lady, 84 years of age, and her daughter, with one servant. They had lived in the same house for nearly 20 years without any annoyance; but for the last few months they are being constantly startled by a sharp, loud knocking upon the panel of the street door. Upon opening the door, however quickly, no sign of any one is to be discovered. No sooner are the ladies quietly settled again than rap-rap-rap! comes upon the door. And this is repeated at irregular intervals through the evening.
For some time it was attributed to some young imps of school-boys, who were always ready for mischief, and but little notice was taken of it; but the continuance of what was only annoying became at last a serious nuisance. The most nimble efforts were made without success to “catch” the offenders, but until a few nights ago, the attacks were so arranged as never to take place in the presence of male visitors; consequently the ladies received much pity, but little sympathy, from their friends. After a time they became nervous, and at last really frightened.
On Thursday evening a gentleman, the son of the old lady called, and found them quite ill from nervous excitement, and was comforting them as well as he could, when a quick rap-rap-rap! at the front door made him jump up. In two seconds he was at the door, rushed out, looking in every direction without discovering a sound or a trace of any human being in any of the adjacent roads. Then, for the first time, he was able to understand from what his other and sister had suffered, and set to work to examine the approaches to the door inside and out, and to solve the mystery, if possible.
No sooner had he gone back to the little dining-room and placed a chair in the open doorway with a big stick handy to “trounce” the perpetrator the next time, and begun to discuss what it was, than rap-rap-rap! sent him flying out into the street to the astonishment of a passing cabman, who must have thought a mad-man had just escaped his keeper. This happened four or five times more; in fact, only ceased about a quarter to eleven.
He went round to the police-station and had an officer put on special duty opposite the house for the next day, and spent the following morning in calling upon the neighbours and carefully examining the gardens and walls which abutted upon the “haunted” house. Not a mark of any sort was to be found, and he was quite convinced that by no imaginable device could the door have been reached from any point but right in front from the street. There is no cellar or drain under the house. The more carefully the examination was continued the greater the mystery appeared.
In the evening he took a friend down with him, and two more of his friends looked in later. The ladies were found in a painful state of nervous fright, as the nuisance had already been going on, and the maid-servant was crying. Altogether it was a scene of misery. In the course of conversation the following facts came out. It began on a Friday, the 18th of October, and has never missed a Friday since then. It has never been heard on Sunday, seldom on Saturday. Never before the gas lamps are lit, never after eleven. Just as all were talking at once, rap-rap-rap! In an instant all four gentlemen were in the front garden; the policeman was quietly standing opposite the door; the lady of the house opposite watching the door from her portico, and another gentleman from the leads. All declared that not a living creature had been near the house for at least a quarter of an hour.
The whole thing seems inexplicable, and has created quite a sensation in the neighbourhood. The cruel part of the trick is the effect produced upon the venerable lady, whose age makes a change of residence a serious difficulty, and whose nerves are likely to give way altogether if some means are not discovered to put a stop to the annoyance. The police are doing their best to discover the plot, but hitherto without success.
West London Observer, 1st February 1868.
The Haunted House.
To the Editor.
Sir, – Having this morning been much amused by the account given in your paper of the “Haunted House” at Kensington might I be allowed to suggest that a very careful watch should be kept on all within the house, and that the maid servant should have at least one holiday in the evening, and it might be interesting to observe whether or not the noise occurred on these occasions. Apologising for taking up your valuable time, I am One interested in “the ghost story”. Holloway, Jan. 23.
To the Editor.
Sir, – I have just read the account in your paper of the rapping nuisance at a house in Kensington, and out of compassion for the old lady I will mention that some friends of mine a few years ago suffered from a similar annoyance, and after adopting all sorts of schemes to rid themselves of the rapper they changed all their servants, and then experienced immediate relief. – Your obedient servant, C.N. Jan. 23.
To the Editor.
Sir, – In your journal of this day’s date I find an account, “under the above heading,” of the cruel and heartless persecution of an old lady and her daughter, at Kensington, by means of repeated knocking at the door after dark. I beg, through your journal, to suggest that if the parties interested, and the police, were to direct their attention to the inside of the house, instead of the outside, I think the author of the annoyance would be discovered. It seems to me likely that the trick is performed by means of dark-coloured string tied to the knocker, and pulled up and down through one of the upper windows, or from the roof. If there is no knocker, then, perhaps, by means of a stone tied to the end of said string, and pulled up at once, so as to be out of sight when the door is opened. – I am, Sir, &c. 17, Francis-terrace, Victoria Park, N.E., Jan. 23.
To the Editor.
Sir, – After reading your description of the supposed trick at Kensington, I am rather inclined to think that the raps are caused by natural means. A pipe with water in will convey sound a long distance; how far it might be used as a means of telegraphing is yet to be tried. As the raps occur never before gas-light, and never after eleven, might not the noise be caused through the pipes by the manipulation at a gas-works, if near to one? If the noise is caused by trickery, a large pea-shooter would cause shots to make a series of raps.
Wishing the opportunity of visiting the haunted house while the raps occur, and hoping these hints may be found useful, I beg to subscribe myself, W.H.M. Jan. 23.
To the Editor.
Sir, – You conclude your notice of the haunted house at Kensington this morning by saying the police have the matter in hand. They may be clever in arresting and unearthing Fenian plots, but I much doubt their ability to unravel matters connected with the spiritual world. Is not this a case more suited to the talents of the gentleman (I forget his name) who did so much good to society at large some time since by elucidating and exposing the Davenport tricks, and who showed himself such an adept in getting out of locked boxes, coffins, &c., that the spiritualists at once rushed to claim him as their own, but were mortified to find he disclaimed spiritual assistance in his extraordinary performances. – I am, Sir, yours obediently, A Traveller. The Farmers’ Club, the Salisbury Hotel, Salisbury-Square, Fleet-street, E.C., Jan 23.
To the Editor.
Sir, – I have just read in your paper an account of two ladies living at Kensington being much alarmed by mysterious knockings which defy detection as to the way in which they are produced. Some time since a gentleman of the name of Addison proved himself a veritable Jonathan Wild by the manner in which he discovered and brought to light all the tricks and deceptions of the Davenport Brothers and other so-called mediums. I am sure if Mr Addison were appealed to he would at once come forward to the rescue of these ladies, and solve the mystery. – Yours, &c., A.F.
To the Editor.
Sir, – I have read the account in to-day’s impression of your paper headed as above. The days have gone for giving credit to supernatural agencies for such proceedings as described – which resemble in some measure the exploits of the Cock-lane ghost. If I were to search for the agent of the noise I should look in the house- for it is probably caused by a mischievous servant, whose hour for going to bed is eleven o’clock. – I am, &c., K.
London Evening Standard, 24th January 1868.
To the Editor.
Sir, – As I observe my name mentioned to-day in connection with the haunted house, I avail myself of your columns to say that if I can in any way elucidate the mystery an effort on my part to that end shall not be wanting. – I am, &c. John H. Addison. 43, Marlbro’-hill, N.W., Jan. 24.
To the Editor.
Sir, – As I “do” your journal every evening, like one of your contributors on an important subject, and having read the account of the annoyance caused to some ladies by an unaccountable “rapping” at the street door, would you kindly permit me through your valuable paper to suggest to those whom it may concern to have every window that commands a view of the street door watched to ascertain if there is an opening sufficient to allow such a thing as a “pea-shooter” or “blow-pipe” to be pushed through? – Yours, &c., Detector. Jan. 23.
To the Editor.
Sir, – I have read your account of “A Haunted House” with great interest, and, without ascribing the phenomenon to spiritual agencies, I think causes other than trickery may be at work to produce sounds or vibrations – such as electric explosions, the shrinking of wood, or, perhaps, sudden changes in temperature. Accepting the facts, as stated by you, to be accurately given, I would suggest noting the following points: –
1. Whether the sound is produced by vibration, that is impact of a solid body upon the door, or whether the tap is only imitated. 2. Recurrency and periodicity; these are very important; for, if ascertained, they must lead to the conclusion of some outside agency, and this may then lead to the discovery of the truth. It would be cruel and unjust to ascribe complicity to the servants without strong proof against them. I enclose my card, and remain, Sir, obediently, Veritas. Jan. 24.
To the Editor.
Sir, – I must confess to having had a hearty laugh over the paragraph in your paper relating to the above. I would suggest that some one should station himself one evening against the door at which the attack takes place, having his head or hand resting on the knocker. This, I am inclined to think, would be calculated to discomfit the visitor; and should no friend of the family be willing to undertake the duty, if communicated with I shall be happy to do so. – I am, Sir, your obedient servant, A Christian, Jan. 23.
To the Editor.
Sir, – Having just read the account of the “Haunted House” in your paper, I beg to say that a similar trick was played in this city, many years ago, by some wild boys. They got on the roof of the opposite houses and tied a string to the knocker. If I knew the address of the parties annoyed I would send this note to them, for inserting it in your paper would only be putting it into other boys’ heads to do the same, and also depriving the offenders of the castigation they so richly deserve. I must leave it in your hands to communicate the information in whatever way you may think fit, and remain, Sir, yours, &c., A.B. 60, Pulteney-street, Bath, Jan.23.
To the Editor.
Sir, – Having seen an article in your columns under the head of “A Haunted House,” it has struck me that the annoyance may possibly be caused by electricity. A small wire, leading under the door, and having connection with an electric battery in one of the houses either opposite or adjacent, would be sufficient. I merely offer this as a suggestion, and apologising for encroaching on your space, I remain, Sir, yours, &c., – E.W. Bath, Jan. 23.
To the Editor.
Sir, – Having seen in your paper this morning an account of a “Haunted House at Kensington,” I wish to inform you that when I was residing at Glasgow, about three years ago, I was persecuted in a similar manner. I was living at the time in one of the principal streets, and shortly after dark the door-bell was violently rung, but on going to it no one was to be seen, and hardly had one got back to one’s room when the same thing was repeated, and continued frequently until eleven or twelve at night.
It became so annoying that I reported the circumstance to the police authorities, who placed a detective at my disposal. For several nights we sat in the hall, and rushed out the instant the bell sounded. However, we quite failed in finding out the culprit. I then had several of the detective force about the street and in front of the house, but they were obliged to give in at last, as nothing could be found out about the affair. They also inspected the bell wires, &c., but without any result.
This continued almost nightly for about a month, and ceased in the same mysterious manner as it commenced; and to the best of my memory the only day in the week on which we were exempt from the annoyance was on a Sunday. The trick is certainly a clever one, but not at all pleasant; so there fore I must sign myself A Sympathiser, Jan. 23. P.S. I enclose my card, but not for publication.
To the Editor.
Sir, – Seeing that the “Ghost” never troubles anybody until “the gas-lamps are lit,” I strongly recommend all parties concerned to examine the knocker, to see whether any string is connected with it, and if so, that not only they but all other persons may treasure the extraordinary fact in their memories for use on future occasions; especially as the clue of the string, if followed would probably, as a fishing-line is said to do, lead to a —- at the other end. – Yours, faithfully, Argus. Bolton, Jan. 23. P.S. – I am afraid the knockings will cease after the appearance of this letter.
London Evening Standard, 25th January 1868.
Apropos of this strange story a whole string of suggestions are made in the same paper of Saturday as to the manner in which the nocturnal knocking of the door, without any visible cause, may have originated, and how it may be checked. The general feeling which these correspondents appear to hold is that it is caused by agency from within, not without, the house. One of the writers states that a few years ago some of her friends suffered from a precisely similar annoyance till they changed their servants.Another seems to have the idea that the mysterious rapping is produce dby means of a volley of shot blown through a pea-shooter, – a very impossible hypothesis indeed. A third accounts for it by an elaborate and unnatural supposition, the gist of which is that the noise is caused through pipes, by the manipulation at a gasworks.
As we have hinted before, the general upshot of the correspondence is that the invisible agent who produces so much noise is a malicious servant – or perhaps two or three – whose hour of going to bed is eleven o’clock, – an explanation in the correctness of which we are decidedly disposed to acquiesce.
Shepton Mallet Journal, 31st January 1868.
The Haunted House at Kensington.
To the Editor.
Sir, – As a constant reader of your journal may I ask, through the medium of your columns, whether the mysterious rapping at the house of an elderly lady at Kensington has yet been discovered? – I am, Sir, yours obliged, K.K. Feb. 3.
In answer to the foregoing letter, and to numerous other inquiries on the same subject, for which we cannot find room, we have to state that no solution of the mystery has yet been discovered. But a correspondent informs us that the dwellers in the “haunted house” have been so inconvenienced by the mysterious rappings and by the noisy crowds that assembled nightly to lay the ghost, that they have vacated the premises and placed them in charge of a policeman and his wife. Whether the policeman has been able to solve the mystery we have not yet heard.
London Evening Standard, 5th February 1868.