Spiritualistic manifestations at Wick.
There has been a considerable amount of excitement here for the last few days, especially in the Coach Road and neighbourhood, by the alleged outbreak of a series of spiritualistic manifestations in a house in that street, similar to those which occurred in a house in Aukengill some fifty years ago, when the services of the worthy Independent minister were sought to lay the spirits. The house, which has on this occasion been honoured with a visit from the spiritualistic fraternity, is inhabited by one Jamieson, a basketmaker, rather well known here and elsewhere, and the manifestations commenced on an evening last week, and have been pretty well confined to the peats put on the fire, with an occasional application to the use of a stone or other available missile.
Of course, a great deal more has been reported as having occurred than has really taken place; but there has been quite sufficient to awaken curiosity among the intelligent, and quite a different feeling among the superstitious of the district, some of whom would sooner think of entering into the jaws of a lion than even daring to pass the haunted house after night.
As we have hinted, the phenomenon consists chiefly of the sudden flight from one position to another of peats, stones, &c., generally when Jamieson’s girl is in the house. The peats do not move till after being put on the fire, and the few stones that have made their appearance have certainly come from very queer quarters. The peats, after being deposited on the fire and getting a touch of the spiritualistic influence, are suddenly projected from the fire into various parts of the room.
No voices have as yet been heard, nor has there been the slightest indication of the cause of the phenomena. However, there are suspicions that they are quite susceptible of explanation apart from spiritual considerations, and we have a pretty strong idea that those explanations are not far from being given. Meanwhile, the district is in a state of excitement, the house is frequently visited, but nobody has been struck, and the sight of flying peats has only been seen by a few, some of whom, however, are respectable people. – Northern Ensign.
Dundee Courier, 10th March 1876.