Strange Story of a Haunted House.
A strange story of a haunted house in the Whitmore Reans district of the town of Wolverhampton is going the round and vouched for as true fact. Some time ago the two heads of a somewhat large family left the town for the seaside, leaving three daughters and two sons to guard the premises.
The three daughters slept together in one room, and on the first night of their parents’ departure they were awakened by hearing a strange voice in the room. It talked quite rationally for a time, and gave the girls – who were shivering in bed with apprehension – strict injunctions and certain advice as to their future lives. The voice faded away with the dawn, and in the morning the girls informed their brothers of the peculiar experience they had gone through the previous night.
Of course as brothers will, they pooh-poohed the idea, and the girls were so abashed that they decided to occupy the same room that night. Again the three were awakened by the same voice, which told them that he (or she) would be with them on Saturday night. This was more than flesh and blood could stand, and the girls left their bed and went to another one.
Next morning the brothers were again told of the strange voice, and with the true spirit of bravado they notified their intention of sleeping in the room which their sisters had occupied. The night came, and with it the voice borne on a heavy silence. The brothers jumped with fright, but searched and found nothing. They left the room, and it was empty until the father and mother returned from their holidays.
The experiences were related to the couple who, like the brothers, laughed heartily at an idea so absurd. They decided to give the room a trial. Lights were put out, and for a time the house remained as silent as the grave. The nerves of the couple were at high tension, and when the voice suddenly cut the air, when it was least expected, the state of mind of the two can be conjectured. The bed shook, and they slipped out quaking at the knees. Next day the house was “To Let.”
Cornubian and Redruth Times, 10th October 1902.