Ghosts.
I don’t know what the average American’s reaction to the mention of Wigan is, but quite a few thousand readers of occult magazines in the USA will be seeing the name of the “loyal and ancient borough” fairly frequently during the next few weeks. For Wigan has set up a new Transatlantic export trade. This time in ghosts.
About a year ago the manager of a Millgate shop reported “strange disturbances” at his premises. There were mysterious knocking and the sounds of footsteps on the attic floors – even though that portion of the building was completely untenanted and used solely for the storage of stock. There were occasions when, at the busiest shopping hours, stock would “hurl itself” from the shelves on to the floor without the remotest signs of human agency. The manager would often be serving a customer when this happened.
Two “Post” reporters kept an all-night vigil in the premises soon after the first manifestations were announced. The only sounds they heard were “rattlings of chains” in the early hours of the morning. The only thing they saw was the inexplicable movement of an ancient betwood chair from one clothes hook to another in an upstairs room.
Shortly afterwards, officials of a psychical research organisation visited the shop, and a “Post” reporter was present as they carried out their investigations. One of the visitors attempted – in the darkened rooms – to establish contact with what he described as “unhappy spirits.” At the close of the tour it was stated that there would be no further trouble. So far his prediction has proved correct. There are no further reports of untoward happenings.
But where does the USA come in? It so happens that the fame of this Wigan spook, or spooks, reached America via British psychical magazines and attracted the attention of American journalists contributing to that type of periodical.
A Mr Edmund P Gibson, engineer by trade and archaeologist and psychical investigator by hobby, wrote to the “Post” Wigan office asking for additional details. He also contacted the men responsible for the investigation at the premises. The result is that one of America’s leading magazines, “Fate”, which deals mainly with “supernatural happenings” hand has probably given more space to “flying saucer” stories than any other publication, is to give a special write-up, by Mr Gibson, of the Wigan disturbances. Other US periodicals have also expressed interest in the story, and one radio station has shown curiosity.
Bob Richards.
Lancashire Evening Post, 26th May 1953.