Alarm in the Tower.
For some weeks past a family residing in the Tower of London have been very much annoyed and disturbed by a variety of unpleasant and strange noises heard in different parts of the house, during the night; and the sentries on duty at the door of the Royal Regalia, to which this house belongs, have frequently been disturbed by the most violent knocking, and (according to their account) even deep and hollow groans have been heard; and the feeling of superstition having spread very much among the soldiery, with whom the ghost is now a cant phrase, an additional sentry has lately been placed on the rampart immediately over the mysterious spot, and every possible exertion used by the occupier of the house, towards elucidating the cause of the disturbance.
Officers of the garrison have watched for whole nights; nothing but a continuance of the noise was heard, but no visible cause discovered, until late on the night of Thursday last, the inhabitants of the Tower were thrown into the greatest possible confusion, by the screaming and roaring of the sentry stationed at the door of the Regalia depot, and the turning out of the guard, which, upon repairing to the spot, found the soldier extended on the pavement in a senseless state. He was immediately carried off to the guard room, and when sufficiently restored to his senses, positively affirmed, that whilst upon duty, a small figure crept from under the door at which he was stationed, and gradually made its approach to him, at the same time changing its appearance to that of a human being, and afterwards into that of a dog. These sudden transformations so completely affrighted the soldier, that after alarming the whole neighbourhood with his bellowing, he fell down senseless.
Nothing was seen by the soldier placed on the rampart, and the most rational conclusion is, that imbecility of mind has in this case been worked upon by the ridiculous and absurd tales of the ghost, with which, most probably, the poor fellow’s weak brain has been crammed; and certainly no rational person can say, that doubling the sentries for such reasons as in this case, tends much to assure the uneducated mind of such fallacies, as it appears this soldier has fallen a martyr to.
At the same time it is absolutely necessary that proper methods should be resorted to, to clear up the mystery with which it is at present enveloped; although there is very little doubt but that in a building so ancient as the one in question, containing innumerable passages and blocked up apartments, loop-holes, and crevices, Boreas occasionally gives a concert, in which he is most musically accompanied by all the bats, and consequently many cats of the garrison.
Commercial Chronicle (London), 16th January 1816.
Notices, Etc. for History. Domestic.
Supposed Supernatural Appearances at the Tower.
One of those incidents that have frequently shewn the necessity of cultivating the mind as well as drilling the body of the soldier, has occurred during the last fortnight at the Tower of London, at present garrisoned by tried veterans of the stoutest hearts; as was the case sometimes since with the Guards, over against Queen-square, in St. James’s Park. Spectres have been seen there!!
That this is produced either
1. By an illusion from light and shade arising from variations of the atmosphere:-
2. By some animal, as dog or cat taking its nightly strolls; or in some instances sounds reverberating at a distance; or what is worse, some thief using means to drive the sentry from watchfulness; or,
3. Worse than all, some idler amusing himself with optical deceptions: there cannot be the least dout.
In the lonely silence of the night, on a solitary post, nothing is more common than these appearances, and nothing more disagreeable, if not dangerous: we therefore take occasion to offer advice to our honest comrades on duty, with the assurance that having ourselves experienced precisely the same thing several times, it is what we have ourselves always adopted, and never without full effect.
On whatever part of your post, Soldier, the object appears, halt, and fix your eyes stedfastly upon it, as you would on the position of the enemy; it will vary, perhaps; follow it up; look at every glass window, or other reflecting substance, see whether you can’t trace the light of some star glimmering in the opposite direction; or some light-coloured object in the direction to which your notice is attracted. Go as close as you can get at it (with ported arms if you will); and the great probability is that you will heartily laugh as we have done, at finding it arise from the first of the causes we have stated.
Apparent footsteps, or groans will almost invariably turn out to arise from the first of the second causes, animals; but great precaution as well as steadiness, is requisite in this case, that no thief may effect his object.
Thirdly, as may be seen all optical experiments in the common Philosophical Exhibitions, it is possible for an individual concealed, to cause any appearance he pleases in a particular spot, as was the case in the Park; vigilance will, in this case, be certain to discover the illusion, and in all probability the criminal idler himself; in which latter case we would heartily recommend his seizure, and that when the patrole shall take him to the guard, they let him accidentally slip into any dirty pool by the way, or if they cannot help it, into the ditch, or the Thames!
A person so unworthily employed deserves the most severe punishment of a Court-Marial. He who would attempt, through the impressions of his religion, to affect the nerves of a veteran who never did, or of a young soldier who never would, tremble at a battery, or a breach, is guilty of the most abominable of crimes. The great Marshal Turenne, once attempted to be frightened by a French Prince at night, sternly warned him that he might have endangered his character for courage by it – “and then, Prince,” said the veteran, “your life should have been the forfeit!” Who does not remember the effect of omens on the armies of the Ancients?
It is not for a soldier to interfere with the doctrines of religion, but thus much we may safely say, and the soldier be confident, that whatever mysteries may be essential to it, in these days, they are not reduced to ordinary occasions like the present; and that the soldier who is steady and attentive to his duty will never be disturbed by any supernatural means.
Military Register, 17th January 1816.