Ghost Scare At Shanklin.
The population of Shanklin, says the Southern Echo, have been alarmed during the past week by a peculiar affair, which some of the more imaginative people of the town declare is a spiritual manifestation. For several days, beginning on Wednesday, Mrs Hollis, of Fernlea, in the Station-road, was annoyed by mysterious sounds which arose from under the ground floor; at intervals seemed to shake the walls; and then caused the house to vibrate as if, so it is said, with an earthquake shock. This was accompanied by deep moaning noises as though some one was in a death agony, then with shrieks, and presently with a rattle as of machinery in motion.
Mrs Hollis bore this for several days and nights, and as the visitation did not cease, Mr Withers, house agent, of Sandown, was sent for, and arrived on Wednesday at noon, and, in company with the sergeant of police and the constable stationed at Shanklin, searched the premises thoroughly. While they were so engaged the same unearthly sounds were again plainly heard.
By the afternoon an immense crowd had gathered in the roadway, and on Mr Woodridge, of Sandown, the solicitor to the property, arriving, he was greatly cheered, the crowd apparently imagining that one honest lawyer might be able to scare away an army of ghostly apparitions. Messrs. Wooldridge and Withers, with the police, remained on the premises some time, and although the sounds were again heard, they were quite unsuccessful in finding the “spirit.”
Isle of Wight County Press and South of England Reporter, 16th March 1889.
… Since their visit, however, the mysterious noises have ceased, and the people of Shanklin are anxiously awaiting the next development. The whole scare is probably the result of an undiscovered practical joke We hear that some young ladies are the authors of the mysterious noises. Should they annoy their neighbours again, their names will have to be published.
Isle of Wight Times, 21st March 1889.