Extraordinary Occurrences Near Londonderry.
The inhabitants of a place called Ochill, in the county of Derry, and within a few miles of this city, have for some days past been driven to their wit’s end by occurrences of an extraordinary, though not unprecedented character.
The habitation of a small farmer, together with his goods and chattels, has been under the influence of what is known in many parts of Ireland as the “spell.” The case is exactly that of the “Tillymoan Ghost,” whose doings in the county Tyrone some time ago created a widespread sensation.
The distinctive features of the Ochill seance are the pelting of stones, and nightly indications of animation in the furniture and house utensils. The other evening, when darkness had set in, the people of the district, gathered in large numbers to witness the working of the “spell.” The constabulary attended in the hope of detecting the cause of the strange disturbances. A cordon was formed by the people, and the police set about their investigation.
Their efforts were not attended with success, and their mission proved a luckless one in a more annoying and painful way still, as some of their party were subjected to a severe pelting of stones, or other missiles equally effective in securing their retreat.
So the matter rests, like other cases of the kind, creating much astonishment, and presenting no clue to the source of the mysterious movements of the things inanimate that every night become so greatly disturbed. – Correspondent.
Derry Journal, 9th March 1870.