Ghost, Burglar or Mischievous Fun.
It may not be generally known that in part of Penzance yclept Bread-street, better known, perhaps, as Back-lane, for a year or more a series of meetings have been held in a little sanctuary under the auspices of a body of students and inquirers after occult sciences, who call themselves Spiritualists. To such the following may be interesting information. The Spiritualists’ meeting-room is so close as to be almost adjoining the premises of our kind-hearted and respected townsman, Mr J.H. Beare, butcher, and on this neighbourliness hangs a tale.
We had heard on Saturday of strange proceedings in the premises of Mr Beare. Rumour stated that on the night of Thursday his stables had been carefully secured, his horses (of which there were three) attended to, and the proprietor had sought his well-earned repose. During the night, however, the doors of the premises had been unfastened, the horses were to be heard prancing in terrified haste up and down the lane, and everything pointed to some mischievous imp being at work, while peaceful slumbers closed the eyes of the inmates of the disturbed premises.
Friday night again found the premises duly bolted and barred, while men, with nerves as strong as the iron bolts on the doors kept careful watch for ‘Mr Burglar.’ But, even as they watched in the dead hours of the night, the doors flew open, regardless of bolt or lock! Evidently this time some supernatural agency was at work. Matters now began to look awe-ful, as well as mysterious.
Midday Saturday found that son of Vulcan Mr Joseph Scoble, busy in the preparation of bolts, screws, burrs, &c. The thumbscrews were for the bolts – not the culprit. But oh! horror! even at this hour of the day the spiritualistic influences were at work; and, ere the staples could be driven for the bolt, back flew the doors again! Now fires were seen beneath the carts, sheltered in the stables. Back-lane, Penzance, was now considered under the influence of Lucifer himself.
Under these circumstances of course no stone was to be left unturned to discover the wicked fairy or exorcise the ghost. No bundle of hay, or even a hay-band, was to be left above, where these mysterious proceedings took place. Saturday afternoon then found ready and willing hands to remove the cattle-provender from the haunted place. We did hear that a certain photographer was perched on the house-top at this juncture, but we were not informed whether that artist secured his elevated position for the purpose of arresting the Evil Spirit – or for that of taking his likeness. However, though hay was cleared out and every cranny of the loft searched, nothing was found to give the slightest clue to the perpetrator of the outrage. Nothing remains then but to wait for midnight and a return of Mr Mischief-Maker from earthly hiding-place or dim spirit-world.
Behold us then at about eleven – braving the cold east wind that went searching up the lane, in the company of some scores of others waiting the course of events. The public houses being duly closed the Spirits began to assemble, and some of them brought very ardent ones with them indeed. We should mention that Messrs. Garton keep a large stock of good ales for which they are famed near the spot, but we are not aware that there are any spirits stored here. Nevertheless spirits came there. These had entered in, and taken possession. We – shivering waiters on the ghost – are now made aware of the fact that inside yonder doors, each armed with two revolvers, there are three lusty butchers, who are ready to ‘do to death’ any intruder who has the temerity to meddle with the bolts tonight. Human watchers are supplemented by a ferocious dog. Of course these jolly butchers do not pretend to shoot spirits – except into their own stomachs.
And now all is quiet until a terrific crash is heard. ‘The Ghost has come!’ But his ghostship is higher up the lane and has taken the shape of an intoxicated gentleman, who wants to fight any man in the company. In his attempt to put himself in position he has fallen prone against a back door and into a passage! Of course no other ghost comes. The spirits never do – when they know dogs and bullets are awaiting them. If we wish to see the real visitor from spirit-land we must wait! And having done so we return home at midnight – cooler if not wiser men; by no means believing the superstition and stupidity that invented a bit of mischief with so much exaggeration; with much sympathies for Mr Beare and his household, who have been made the victims of practical jokes; and hoping that in future people will catch their ghost before they advertise him for exhibition.
Cornishman, 19th January 1888.
“The Bread-street Ghost” bids fair to become as famous in the annals of Penzance as its predecessor of Cock-lane notoriety once was in those of the Metropolis. For several nights in succession Mr Beare’s premises have been besieged by an excited and credulous crowd, all eager to catch a glimpse of the mysterious visitor who is alleged to have taken up his quarters in a stable. This is surely something new in supernatural records. We have heard of haunted houses, haunted castles, haunted churches, but of haunted stables never.
Mr Myers and his colleagues of the Psychic Research Society should be informed of this ghostly new departure without delay, and might even think it worth while to despatch a deputation to investigate the proceedings of this eccentric sprite.
The Cornish Telegraph, 19th January 1888.
Strange Proceedings At Penzance.
A series of mysterious and ghost-like occurrences have alarmed the family of Mr J.H. Beare, Market-Jew-terrace, Penzance. Some occult visitant has taken possession of a stable and loft at the rear of his premises, and, like some of the Irish, declines to be evicted. However securely doors were fastened they were found open, in spite of vigilant watchfulness. A valuable horse was removed for fear of harm. This made no difference. Some tons of hay were taken from the loft, and the trusses and the unstocked apartment narrowly examined, but with no explanation of the mystery.
On Friday night a new and massive belt was affixed to the back door leading to the stable, and so secured with nuts and burrs that it was thought “Old Nick” himself could not remove it. In a short time it was removed! Hundreds visit the place by day; as many shun it by night. Up to Sunday afternoon this new prank-player was undiscovered.
It is said that Spiritualists occupied an adjacent apartment, and that the spirits they called from “the vasty deep” like the climate of Penzance so well, especially when they contrast it with that from which they escaped, that they are loth to return.
Royal Cornwall Gazette, 20th January 1888.