Pondicherry is in a state of great excitement about the mysterious falling of brickbats in a house near Government House. Most of the local officials have made investigations but so far have failed to account for this unaccountable phenomenon which has disturbed the city for five days.
Englishman’s Overland Mail, 6th March 1888.
A Mystery At Pondicherry.
(From our own Correspondent).
Pondicherry, 2nd March.
The good people of Pondicherry have been in a state of much perplexity during the last four days, and such as are in any way superstitiously inclined are ill at rest dreading that some terrible calamity, national or domestic, is about to take place. The fright commenced on Wednesday, the 29th ultimo, and the following are the facts which have been the cause of the alarm.
In a small house situated in the Rue du Gouvernment, and within a stone’s throw of Government House, and the residence of the Mayor, the Ecole gratuite des Jeunes is established, under the management of a directress and two other teachers, all of whom reside on the school premises. On the day in question the ladies belonging to the school were surprised by the occasional falling of pieces of brick in the room in which they were sitting. Notwithstanding an immediate examination of every part of the presmises, no clue to the mystery could be obtained; the throwing of the brick bats continued at irregular intervals, and although the Police closely watched the house, and the Deputy Mayor remained on the spot almost without intermission for twenty-four hours, the phenomena continued.
Matters began to look serious, and as Monsieur Beaujeu, the Deputy Mayor, very reluctantly had to confess himself beaten, it was resolved that the principal officials of the Administration and Municipality should meet at the “haunted” house at an early hour on Friday evening, the 2nd instant, with a view to clear up the mystery, and quiet public excitement. Accordingly, shortly after 5 o’clock, Monsieur Fawtier, le Directeur de l’Interieur, Monsieur Gallois-Montbrun, the Mayor; Monsieur Gaston Pierre, le Procureur de la Republique; Dr Cassien, Chef du Service de Sante; Monsieur Guadart, Conseiller; the Commissaire de Police, and some twenty or thirty other officials of the city assembled at the spot and proceeded to scrutinise every hole and corner of the building, but nothing of a criminating nature was found; all thoroughfares leading to the adjacent houses were inspected, and a police guard was placed at every outlet, and also in the street; even the roofs of the buildings surrounding the dwelling were occupied by watchmen.
Whilst all this was going on the brickbats were quiet, but when the company began to discuss the situation half-a-brick suddenly dropped within a few inches of the Mayor, coming apparently from a westerly direction, but no other pieces were thrown for some time. The Director then left the room, remarking that the D–l would not come where he was, but thereupon a brick dropped on the head of his son who had accompanied him, though without causing any harm; in fact, the mysterious spirits who are conducting the affair are very splendid marksmen. The meeting separated without having arrived at any conclusion upon the proceedings. Meanwhile the whole town is on tip-toe looking for further manifestations.
Later, Saturday P.M. – Notwithstanding a constant and minute enquiry in and around the premises of the “haunted” dwelling, the mystery remains unsolved. There is no abatement in the unearthly proceedings, brickbats and portions of masonry continue to fly about the room in the most reckless manner, dropping generally within a few inches of some on-looker, but although many of the pieces collected weigh fully a pound avoidupois no injury has, as yet, been done to any person.
This evening, at about 8 o’clock, two European gentlemen, the one a merchant and the other a Professor in one of the Pondicherry Colleges, were standing conversing together in the “ghostly” School-room when, all of a sudden, a large piece of brick masonry fell close to the feet of a little girl a few feet distant. These gentlemen had been waiting a long while for something to happen, and were prepared for all sorts of contingencies, and for a thorough investigation and exposition of what they supposed to be a very cleverly arranged, and well carried out trick. But they failed. T
The clergy were applied to by the ladies of the house, and recommended the placing of a brick, bearing a white cross, in the centre of the room. This being duly done, coming events were anxioiusly looked for, and presently a brick of a corresponding size, but bearing a black cross dropped on to the top of the first brick. To-morrow (Sunday) the citizens intend to prosecute their investigations of the mystery, since the authorities have failed to account for the unaccountable phenomenon which has disturbed the city for five days.
Madras Weekly Mail, 7th March 1888.