Welsh UFO sightings from 1871. For sightings from other years please click HERE.
PRESS
Spring 1871
Cwmnantddu
Miners were so afraid of an alleged ghost at Cwmnantddu pit they sought alternative employment. After posting watchmen the Company later brought a case against John Carvey, who admitted once slamming a door. The Monmouth Central Advertiser of March 11th 1871 reported:
A STRANGE NOTION. —The men employed at the Sinking Pits, Cwmnantddu, are afraid of a ghost, which they say haunts the place, and makes hideous noises of various kinds. Some have declared that they will never enter the place again. Mr. Joseph Green, mineral agent, is doing all that he can to convince the men of their folly, and has stationed men to watch every night, and these, of course, have failed to hear or see anything unusual. There probably have been heard some sounds produced by natural causes, such as the settling down of strata, or some of the hauliers may have been playing practical jokes with their too credulous comrades. The Western Mail of the same day (March 11th 1871) went into more detail:
SUPERSTITION AMONG MINERS. "WARNINGS" AND COLLIERY EXPLUSIONS.
For two or three months past we have been told that we might expect to hear of some colliery explosions in the neighbourhood, because "warnings" had been manifested in the pits at Cwmnantidu, near Pontypool. The awful calamities in the Rhondda Valley and Ebbw Vale have too sadly verified these predictions. The "warnings," which are said to be still continued in the Sinking Pits at Cwmnantddu, are attributed by the men to supernatural causes, and have caused such fright that some of the miners declare that they will never enter the workings again on account of "the ghost."
At Tredegar, too, a panic prevails in consequence of an old gipsy woman having said that an explosion was likely to take place there! Now, it is quite time that belief in ghosts and fortune-telling had died out. They are inconsistent with common sense and the exercise of reason. But we are not inclined to treat this talk about subterraneous warnings with contempt. Far from it. We rather think that it merits serious consideration and painstaking inquiry. Let us examine it.
One man is said to have seen something covered with a white sheet, and to have hit a hole right through it with his fist! The tom-foolery of this is too obvious, one would think, to need comment, and yet such ridiculous staff is actually believed! We shall continue to endeavour to put an extinguisher on ghosts. What may have been heard is another matter, a has nothing to do with "spirits." The sounds are said to resemble those caused by the rattling of chains, the running of trams, and "boring."
A man named Coleman appears to have been grently led away by his imagination, and has caused a great deal of silly fear by asserting his fanciful experiences. We hope, for his own credit, that the tales have been manufactured for him, and are not his own utterances. Mr. Joseph Green, mineral agent under the Ebow Vale Company, has made a stand (all honour to him for doing so), against the prevalent superstitious "rot," and has placed sensible men as watchers or rather listeners in the Sinking Pits for some nights past. These men bave failed to hear anything extraordinary. But it is not at all unlikely that some have heard sounds that require attention, though they need not excite foolish alarm.
Nature has its throes now and then. When there is an eruption of Vesuvius (which appears to be agitated just now) the effects are felt far away. When Lisbon was almost entirely destroyed by an earthgunke in 1755, the waters of the Hot Wells at Clifton, of Loch Lomond in Scotland, and at other places were disturbed. When large quantities of coal are removed, the strata will naturally settle down, and very likely bad gasses will be forced out from one place and driven into another. The whole of the earth's crust has been convulsed, and tossed, and tumbled, in a manner that makes one shudder to think of, but all has been in obedience to natural laws.
Change is still going on, and the little local displacements and settlings down of strata are only what may be expected. In these, it seems to us, are to be traced the true cause of the the noises that are heard in mines; we believe that in one sense they are "warnings;" warnings of the possible proximity of noxious gases or accumulation of water, forced near by the down settling or ruptures of the strata, and calling for extra care and precautions in working the mines where such noises are heard. But there is certainly nothing supernatural in them. The Western Mail followed up on April 17th:
CATCHING A GHOST. For some time past the miners working in the pits at Abersychan and Cwmnantddu, near Pontypool, have been so terrified by subterranean noises and the stories of extraordinary "sights" told by some, these phenomena being attributed to supernatural agencies, that the matter had assumed a very serious aspect, and the Ebbw Vale Company have lost hundreds of pounds, in consequence of the men positively refusing to work in these pits, and seeking employment elsewhere.
Reasoning with the miners on these matters was altogether useless. It was considered that seme of the noises were of perfectly natural origin, and arose from the settling down of strata and so forth and as to others, a suspicion arose that they were wilfully caused by some waggish or malicious persons employed in the pits. Mr. Joseph Green, the mineral agent, and Mr. Evan Jones, the contractor, set a close watch, and the result is that they have caught the ghost, and brought him alive to the Pontypool police-court on Saturday.
The "ghost" turns out to be a tall, intelligent-looking young man, named John Carvey, a haulier in the employ of Mr. Evan Jones. The singular nature of the matter caused the court to be crowded. The defendant was charged before the Rev. J. C. Lewellin and Mr. C. J. Parkes, with wilfully misconducting himself in his employ on the 17th of February. Mr. Greenway appeared for the prosecutor, and Mr. Gibbs, of Newport, for the defence. On the case being called on, Mr. Gibbs rose, and on behalf of his client, submitted that on one occasion he did slam a door, and tendered a humble apology to the Ebbw Vale Company, and to Mr. Evan Jones, hoping that the case would not be pressed any further.
Mr. Greenway, on behalf of the Company and Mr. Jones, accepted the apology, and asked the permission of the Bench to withdraw the Case, but, at the same time he stated that if one of the doors had been left open, gas might have accumulated, and the lives of all in the pit sacrificed. The Bench allowed the case to be withdrawn, and lectured the defendant on his conduct, and ordered him to pay costs.
PRESS
Febrary 15th 1871
Merthyr Tydfil
The Merthyr Telegraph of February 24th 1871 reported:
A GHOST IN BOOTS STORY.
An Irishman, named James Shea, was brought up, charged with burglariously breaking into the dwelling-house of Richard Matthews, and stealing therefrom a waistcoat, jacket, and coat. Prosecutor, who is known as the Attorney-General of the Unfortunates, said: I am a fish-man, and live at China. On Wednesday night last, about ten o'clock, I locked the door of my house, and went to bed shortly afterwards. Whilst in bed, and between one and two o'clock, I felt something like a hand on me.
Mr Fowler: A ghost, I suppose? (laughter.) Witness: I don't know, sir, but I felt the hand two or three times on me, and I then awoke my little boy, who was sleeping with me. The room was very dark, and I could not see if there was any one there. In a few minutes afterwards I heard a footstep, and I then rose and sat on the bed, and put my hand out once or twice to try if I could feel any one. The second or third time that I put my hand out I was horrified to feel a man's breast (laughter). I then asked him, or it (the ghost) what in the name of God had brought him there? (Continued laughter.) The vision replied, in a very solemn but sepulchral voice, "I have come here to give you warning to be kind to your boy." (Immense laughter—the whole court, as well as their worships, being convulsed for several minutes).
Mr Fowler: What did you say to that? Witness: I replied, "I am kind, sir." (Laughter.) Mr Fowler: Did you say "Sir" to the ghost? (Continued laughter.) Witness: Yes, your Worship; but I now address you as "Sir." I also told him that everything I had the boy received a share of. The vision remained there another few minutes, and then said, I am going, but I shall come back again; my name is 'The Unknown'. (Immense laughter.) It then went down stairs and I began to consider.
Mr Fowler: When he was going down stairs could you say whether it was a man or a woman? Witness: It resembled a man's voice, your Worship, and I thought it might be the ghost of an Irishman, for the words were strongly marked by Irish accent. Down stairs it went, and I said to myself, "If you are a vision, I never before heard or read of one with boots on." (Loud laughter.)
Mr Fowler: Then, with a little reflection you got out of bed? Witness: I got out, sir, and heard him (I say him because I then felt sure that there was flesh and blood there) leaving the house. Mr Fowler: Did you see him again? Witness: I followed him in my night-dress, sir. When I got out of my house, and turned round the corner, I then saw a man going up through the big arch that leads out of China into Pontstorehouse. Mr Fowler: Did you go in your night dress all the way after him? Witness: Yes, sir. Mr Fowler: You must have looked very much like a vision yourself. (Laughter.) Witness: There is no doubt of it, your Worship. He was turning out of the arch when I first saw him.
Mr Fowler: Did you lose sight of him? Witness: Yes, sir, I lost sight of him during the time I was coming from my house up to the big arch but when I turned round the corner I saw the man on Jackson's Bridge. Mr Fowler: What did you say to him? Witness: I got up close to him, for being barefooted he could not hear me running after him, and seeing something under his arm, I asked him what it was. He turned round and looked me full in the face, and without saying a word struck me a terrific blow on the mouth, and then began calling out "police." (Laughter.) The blow he struck me loosened one of my teeth. Prisoner is the man.
Mr Fowler: What had he under his arm? Witness: I cannot inform you, sir. Mr Fowler: Did the police come? Witness: Of course not, sir, they never do but after the prisoner called out "police" he ran away, down the old road, between the canal and the river. I then returned to my house and dressed myself. The clothes (produced) are mine. The old jacket is mine, and I left it that night on the bed, and the little jacket and waistcoat (produced) are my boy's, and they were left down stairs. I missed my old coat when I went back and I afterwards went down to the police station. I examined the door and found that it had been forced open.
Prisoner: I wish to ask you a few questions. Were you drunk going to bed that night? -A. Indeed I was not. Q. Did you drink anything that night? —A. Only one half pint of ale. Q. And you had such a horrid dream? —A. It was not a dream but a reality. Q. You say you saw me on the bridge, will you swear it was me? —A. Yes, I saw your face, for there was a light there.
P.C. Cook was called, and said: On Thursday morning-last the prosecutor came to the station and gave a description of a man who had broken into his house. I went down to China through the arch by the Patriot, and went round the Square, and there I met the prisoner coming from the side of the river. He was wet to his middle and was dressed as he is now. I took him to the prosecutor's house, and asked him if he knew him, and prosecutor immediately replied "That's the man who has been in my house before to-night." It was then about half-past three o'clock. I removed prisoner to the station, and charged him with burglariously breaking into and entering the house of R. Matthews.
He (prisoner) replied: "Well, if I did I must stand to it. I did not do anything of the kind. I came to Merthyr to see the Christy Minstrels, and some two men, one a tall one and the other a short one, threw me into the canal, and that was how I got wet." I then locked him up, and returned to the river side, and after searching in the direction of where the prisoner came from, I found the coat, jacket, and vest (produced). They were concealed under a slate in an old building, belonging to the Dowlais Company, between the river and the canal. I returned to the police station, and, after bringing him from the cell, charged him with stealing those articles of wearing apparel. The prisoner made a statement similar to the first one — about going to the Christy Minstrels, &c. Prisoner appeared to have been drinking.
Prisoner: When you met me, from what direction was I coming? A. From the river. —Q. What did I say to you? A. You asked me to show you the way out of China. -Q. For what reason did I want to get out of there? A. I cannot tell. —Q. Did I not assign a reason? A. No. —Q. Did I not say that two men had thrown me into the canal? A. You said sowething of the kind on the way to the station. —Q. Who was in your company when you met me ? A. Two other constables and a girl. —Q. And a dog? A. Yes. —Q. Where did you go after bringing me to the station? A. I went and searched where you had been. —Q. You did not put the clothes where you found them? A. No, I did not.
Prosecutor was recalled, and in reply to the Bench, said: It is about a hundred yards from my house to the place where I caught the prisoner. He was not running, but walking, when I caught him. I am certain prisoner is the man, for I saw his face when he turned round and struck me. Prisoner did not say anything when he struck me, excepting calling out "police." The prisoner again cross-examined the prosecutor, but without shaking his testimony in the slightest degree. This concluded the evidence, and the prisoner was committed for trial to the assizes.
The Aberdare Times of March 18th 1871 reported on another case of somebody pretending to be a ghost:
A GHOST IN BOOTS! At the Glamorgan Assizes, at Swansea, last week, before Mr. Justice Mellor, James Shae, 36, plumber, who conducted his case with considerable intelligence, was charged with burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Richard Matthias, at Merthyr, on the 15th of February, and stealing therefrom two jackets and a vest, his property.
Richard Matthias, the prosecutor, said he was a fishmonger, residing at Merthyr Tydvil. About ten o'clock on the night of the 15th of February he went to bed, accompanied by a boy who is in his employ. He fell asleep, and was awoke by a hand or something being laid on his breast. He said, What's that?" A voice answered, "I have been sent on a mission to you." He asked the voice what that mission was, when the voice replied, "My mission is to tell you to be kind to the boy." He assured the voice that he was kind to the boy, and informed it that when he had a bit of victuals the boy had share of it, and if he hadn't it they both went without.
The voice then said, "I am going now, but I shall come again." He asked the voice who he was, when the voice replied, "My name is unknown." (Laughter.) His Lordship: 'Did he say his name was unknown, or the Unknown?' —Witness: 'He said his name was unknown, my lord.' His Lordship (looking over the depositions) 'Was anything said about a vision?' —Witness: 'No, my lord, there was not. But when the party, whoever he was, walked away, he made a noise with his boots on the stairs. So I says to myself, says I, you may be a vision, or you may be unknown, but I never heard tell of a vision or an unknown wearing boots (laughter).
His Lordship: 'Oh, that's it. Well?' Witness: 'Well, my lord, I jumped out of my bed in my night-dress, and followed the unknown; didn't even stop to put on my boots. I followed him out into the street up to the bridge. It was a tallish man, and he had something under his arm. I asked him what he had got under his arm, when he turned round and gave me a smack over my mouth and loosened two of my teeth. My mouth filled with blood. The vision then began to call out "Police" as loud as he could, and ran away as fast as he could. It was not far from the gas light, and I could distinguish the man's face very well. It was the prisoner. I then went back home. When I first went to bed I locked the door. When I came down after the vision the door was open. It must have been opened with a second key.
Prisoner (in cross-examination). 'What part of Merthyr do you live in?' —Witness (deliberately) 'I live in a place called China, and I've lived there for 35 years.'
Prisoner: 'Are you known by any other name than Richard Matthias?' —Witness: 'They call me just what they please, and you may do the same.' Prisoner: 'Are you called by any other name than Richard Matthias?' —Witness (looking significantly at the prisoner: 'Many men have more than one name, I can tell you' (laughter). Prisoner: 'Do they call you by any other name than Richard Matthias?' -Witness: 'They may call me what they like.'
His Lordship: 'They may call you what they like, but the prisoner wants to know whether they do call you by any other name.' —Witness: 'Well, my lord, it's just in this way. I have a nickname, but my own mother gave it to me (laughter).' His Lordship: 'How was that?' —Witness: 'Well, my lord, you know, I've been fatherless now for a matter of forty years, and when I was aboy, my mother, being a widow, and being desirous of getting an honest living, made tarts - yes, tarts, my lord. Well, my lord, I longed for one of those tarts, and, boy-like, I took one. Out my mother comes after me, calling out, "Dick, yer thief, bring that tart back," which I didn't, and ever since then, my lord, they've called me Dick the Thief (loud laughter, in which his lordship heartily I joined). I never did a dishonest act in my life, my lord, and get an honest living by selling fish (renewed laughter). His lordship: So much to your credit, and much to your credit that you get an honest living by selling fish.
Prisoner: 'Were you drunk when you went to bed?' —Witness: 'I was never drunk in my life. I drank a glass of ale, it is true, and that is all - me and the boy.' His Lordship: 'Are you quite sure all this was not a dream - a fancy?' —Witness: 'Fancy, my lord? No, not a bit of it. Considering that I remember him saying to me that he came to me on a mission about the boy; considering that he said he would come again; considering that he said he was unknown and considering that I heard him going down staira with his boots on; considering all these things, I don't thiuk there was much fancy about it. No, my lord, it was no vision, or fancy either.
Prisoner: 'Didn't you consider it was a spirit?' —Witness (contemptuously): 'Consider it was a spirit? Why, I didn't see you man. How could I consider it a spirit when I never saw anything ? (laughter).' Prisoner: 'Didn't you think you were conversing with a spirit?' —Witness: 'Well, if you are a spirit, I was conversing with one (renewed laughter).' Prisoner: 'Didn't you think it was a ghost?' —Witness: 'I didn't know whether it was a ghost or not, and didn't care.' Prisoner: 'Weren't you frightened?' —Witness: 'Frightened? I should think not.' Prisoner: 'And you didn't think it was a ghost?' — Witness: 'How could I think it was a ghost, when I put my hand against you and felt you were flesh and blood. Ghost, indeed!'
Prisoner: 'And you say that you didn't think it was a spirit or a ghost, because you heard it walk down stairs?' —Witness: 'Of course; I never heard of either a spirit or a ghost that wore boots. Did you?' Prisoner: 'Did you ever see a ghost barefooted?' — Witness: 'I never saw a ghost at all, but I don't think any of them wear boots.' The prisoner then addressed the jury at considerable length, and with much intelligence, arguing that the prosecutor must have had a dream and dreamt it all. The jury acquitted the prisoner, and he was discharged from custody. The case created considerable amusement, the Court being at times convulsed with laughter, in which his lordship appeared irresistibly compelled to join.
PRESS
April 1871
Llwydcoed
The Cardiff Times of June 3rd 1871 reported on the alleged ghost sighting by the witness in a potential murder trial:
THE ALLEGED MURDER AT LLWYDCOED FOUR YEARS AGO.
The two men, John Price and James Davis, brothers-in-law, were brought up at the police-court on Saturday, on remand, charged with the murder of Thomas Davies, at Llwydeoed, four years ago. The principal witness against them was the old fortune-telling woman, who said they had made the confession of the murder, which they denied.
She said since the last examination before the Bench she had been "troubled with a ghost." She had met a ghost in boots, a ghost in trousers, a ghost in a shirt only, and it was a laughing grinning ghost that gave her no peace night or day, and she believed it was the ghost of the murdered man. Other witnesses were examined, but the evidence as a whole was of such an inconclusive character that the Bench declined to commit upon it, and discharged both the prisoners.
The Monmouthshire Merlin of June 2nd clarifies it wasn't the fortune teller who saw the ghost:
THE LLWYDCOED MURDER. At the Merthyr police-court, on Saturday, (before Messrs. J. C. Fowler and E. J. Davis), the charge against the two men John Price and James Davies, for the murder of Thomas Davies, at Llwydcoed, in April, 1369, was again proceeded with. The hearing occupied the attention of the Court for several hours. Mr Lewis again prosecuted, and Mr Plews defended. Morris Phillips was recalled, and his former evidence read over. His examination now was simply a repetition of former evidence.
John Willians, now a constable in the Pembrokeshire police force, said he was at the time now in question an officer in the Glamorganshire police force, and stationed at Llwydcoed. Remembered the fair in that year, from which he came home with Policesergeant Thorney about two o'clock in the morning. Was sent for next day to go to the pit, where there was a number of persons assembled. The pit was boarded around, and one board was knocked off on the south-east side. Witness got through the open part and found a worsted stocking. The witness here corroborated other testimony as to the state of the deceased when found.
Martha Jones and Emma Davies were called. The former gave evidence as to receiving certain of the the deceased's clothing, and the latter corroborated evidence already given. Thomas Davies was going home to Llwydcoed on the night in question, between eleven and twelve o'clock, in the company of his young woman, and whilst engaged talking to her saw prisoner Price pass. Whilst going home saw a man lying down near the company's shop. Witness became frightened, and ran into his house-close at hand. Upon getting upstairs called his father's attention to the man.
Evan Richards, a collier, deposed to seeing deceased on the night in question about 10 o'clock, at the top of the Gadlys tip. Saw him subsequently on the road near the railway bridge, about 26 yards from the pit. Persons named Davies and Price (prisoners), as also Phillips, and Rogers, and a young woman, were in company together. Deceased was being taken home by Davies and Benjamin Evans, and, being very drunk, he obstinately refused to go, striking Davies twice. Upon being about to strike a third time, Davies knocked deceased down. The whole party then walked away.
Jeanette Beales was recalled, and her former testimony read over to her. This was the witness who deposed to hearing cries of murder, and upon going out saw prisoner Price run and kick deceased in the head. She now said that there were houses close by the spot where the affray took place; Betsy and James Treharne lived in one, and must have heard the noise, unless they stopped their ears. The witness was here cross-examined at length as to having been troubled by ghosts. She at first prevaricated, but upon being pressed by the Bench, said she had seen a ghost dressed in black, that always grinned at her. One evening, upon going to Mr. Greenslade's house, she met the ghost and fell down in a fit. (Laughter.)
Mrs. Greenslade, re-called, admitted being a fortune-teller. She was examined at length by Mr. Plews. She persisted in her former statement as to having been at James Davies's not only twice, but scores of time, and that in Davies's "confession" it was said that the boards were not put up again. (Witness in former evidence distinctly and repeatedly stated that the boards were put up again.)
Mrs. Rees (mother to Jeanette Beales) corroborated her daughter's evidence as to leaving the house upon hearing cries of "Murder." Police-sergeant Thorney was re-called. Daniel James proved assisting prisoner Price upstairs when partly intoxicated, at eleven o'clock on the evening in question. These were all the witnesses examined. The Bench, in disposing of the case, said the only evidence against the prisoners was that tendered by Beales and Greenslade. Being certain that no jury would ever convict upon such evidence, the prisoners must be dismissed from the charge.
There is a more detailed report from the Merthyr Telegraph of the same day. The relevant ghost related passages read:
Mr Plews: You have been sadly troubled of late? No trouble at all, though I— Q. Have you not been troubled with hobgoblins and ghosts? No, sir. - Q. Have you never said that the ghosts have troubled you lately, and that you could not keep it any longer? If I have said that I can prove it. Q. But have you? That is my business.
Mr Fowler: It is very desirable that the Court should know as well.
Witness: I have said that I have seen ghosts.
By Mr Plews: I have said that ghosts have troubled me so much lately that I could not keep it any longer. Have you not said also that an ugly grinning? It goes about following you wherever you go, and that it is the ghost of the man that was thrown in the pit two years ago and that you could not keep it secret any, longer? I have not mentioned two years at all. I have seen a ghost within the last mouth, and it was an ugly grinning thing. The first time that I saw it was a month to last night. The ugly grinning thing showed its teeth to me also. I saw it first on the street at night-time. It never said anything, but simply grinned.
The Bench: What was it like - a man, woman, or animal? It was like a man, and dressed in black clothes, and grinning. The witness was cross-examined at some length in reference to "the ugly grinning thing," which she said was sometimes dressed in black clothes, and at other times in the same manner as the man who was brought out of the pit. All the answers were given with apparent sincerity, and the witness did not seem to like the way in which Mr Plews referred to her visitor. As would be expected the questions and answers caused much laughter in Court, though neither the witness nor her fortune-telling friend, Mrs Greenslade, seemed to think it was a matter to be joked with.
PRESS
June 5th 1871
Merthyr
The Merthyr Telegraph of June 16th 1871 reported on a case of criminal damage committed in the hope of scaring a mother-in-law...
A "GHOST" AMONG THE CABBAGES. John Collins was summoned for wilfully damaging and destroying vegetables, the property of Morris Connelly. Mr Plews appeared for the complainant, who said he resided near the defendant's house. On Monday evening, the 5th inst., witness and his wife were in a neighbour's, their two children being in the house alone. About half-past eleven one of the children came to him, and, in consequence of what was told him, he went into his own house, and from there into the garden, where he found the defendant standing among the cabbages.
He asked him what he wanted there, but he made no reply. Witness repeated the question twice and then defendant said he was only larking with his mother-in-law, but he did not believe him, and was of opinion that he came into the house "ghost like" to frighten the children, who were there by themselves. He examined the garden the following morning, and found that five cabbages had been pulled up, whilst several others were broken. Several of the garden beds were also trampled over, and a good deal of damage done; he had seen the garden a few hours previous to finding the defendant there, and it was all right then.
Cross-examined by the defendant: I ran over the garden myself, and I did as much damage as you (defendant) did I was not drunk; you did say when I caught you there, Hush! it is only a bit of fun to frighten my mother-in-law, who is cutting grass in the next garden." Defendant stated that he had no intention of frightening the children as had been alleged, for when he passed through complainant's house he had the white sheet under his arm, and he did not put it over him until he got to the top of the garden; his object in doing so was to have a lark, and frighten his mother-in- aw, and another person who were in the adjoing garden cutting grass for the donkey.
He had offered to settle the affair with the prosecutor several times, and pay him the damage he claimed, 7s. The prosecutor was recalled, and on being interrogated by Mr Plews, said he could not estimate the damage that the defendant had done. He admitted, in reply to questions from the Bench, that the persons named by the defendant were in the next garden, and also that Collins had offered to pay the amount of damage claimed. The Bench and Mr Plews strongly ad- vised the parties to settle the case amongst themselves, and after a good deal of persuasion the complainant left the court for that purpose, but soon returned, having failed to agree. The case was then adjourned to Saturday, in order that they might have another opportunity of settling.
PRESS
August 1871
Holywell
Excitement swept through the town at rumours of a ghost but cold water - quite literally - was soon poured upon it. The Flintshire Observer of September 1st 1871 reported:
Holywell. A Ghost Story. There was no little commotion towards the witching hour on Sunday night last, before the establishment of one of our principal tradesmen in our chief thoroughfare, after the news had spread that a spectral form of unearthly hue and shape had made its appearance at one of the windows that front the street. Scores of persons had assembled to witness the apparition, but none were found who could muster heart and courage enough to beard the visitor from the unknown world, or who would undertake to drive it back to the fastness from which it had escaped. It was well known that the proprietor of the establishment was fcom home at the time, and rumour was very rife in a superstitious way, but it was soon dispelled by the "ghost" revealing its humanity in driving away the crowd by giving them a good sousing in cold water. The act was neatly enough done, but we fancy the actor in the water exploit would have had occasion to repent it had he tallen into the clutches of those upon whom it fell.
PRESS
November 1871
Crumlin
An old labourer, known for his enjoyment of a drink, claimed he had been visited by the ghost of a former workmate. The ghost carried him through the air, asking him to dispose of a gun that had laid concealed since the Monmouth rebellion of 1839. The Western Mail of November 25th 1871 reported:
EXTRAORDINARY WELSH GHOST STORY.
br /> A correspondent writes as follows: "The peaceful town of Crumiin was, a few days ago, thrown into a state of general excitement: the ghost of an old inhabitant having thought it advisable to pay a visit to his native land, and thus cast a shadow of fear and surprise over the whole neighbourhood. It appears that an aged haulier, or labourer, who lives near Croespenmain, who, it is said, much rather prefers two glasses of beer than one glass of water, and who oftener sleeps in a barn than in a bed, was, a few nighte ago, while wrapt in a pacific slumber on his pallet of straw, summoned to awake, and lo! a ghost stood before him!
It was about two o'clock; and the following conversation, in Welsh, is said to have ensued: 'John,' said the ghost, 'You must come with me.' 'Go thy way, and let me alone to sleep,' was John's reply. 'You must come,' said the ghost. 'I will not — I cannot,' replied John. 'You must come, and come willingly; otherwise I will tear thee to pieces,' said the ghost. 'You may depend I will not; I cannot; I don't know thee,' said John in a rage, when suddenly the apparition disappeared; but returning in a few seconds stood again before John, who, to his great astonishment, recognised in his mysterious visitant a fellow labour, who used, years ago, to work with him on the Risca Tramroad.
John now consented to accompany, him, the ghost giving him the preference of being conveyed by 'Uch wynt,' or 'is wynt,' that is to say, either through the air or along the road. John said he had never been through the air, and that he would not mind trying it. They went together, and proceeded, according to John's statement, as far as Risca-bridge, a distance of seven miles, or, rather, six miles in a direct line through the air. Here John was put down, and had to throw into the Sirhowy River an old gun, which had been concealed there since the time of the rebellion in Monmouthshire at the close of 1839.
Having done this, he was taken back, en route 'uch wynt,' and as gently placed on his bed of straw. It is stated that John manifested a great deal of serenity throughout, and was rather reluctant to part with his 'uch wynt' companion. The above statement is generally believed here, and I have heard respectable tradesman asserting it to be a fact. Those, of course, who are disposed to give credence to this story are at liberty to endorse the opinion of Lewis Morris (not Lewis Morris, Môn) and others, that Gymraeg is the language of Paradise."
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