Welsh UFO sightings from 1873. For sightings from other years please click HERE.
PRESS
April 1873
Overmonnow
The Monmouth Central Advertiser of April 12th 1873 reported on a ghost rumour doing the rounds:
A LOCAL GHOST. For some six weeks past the superstitious part of the inhabitants of Over-Monnow have kept rolling a wonderful, and, according to them, supernatural appearance, seen about the field known as "Claudee." As usual this rumour has called forth a number of "ghost hunters," but nothing more remarkable has been seen by them than a large black dog, the property of a gentleman living in the neighbourhood which enjoys his "walks abroad" —or rather runs—, "when the shade of night is cast over the earth."
PRESS
Neath
A man was found impersonating a ghost at Gnoll Collieries. The Western Mail of May 5th 1873 reported:
A boiler cleaner who has been impersonating "a ghost from the old working" at the Gnoll Collieries, near Neath, with the object of carrying out a deed of vengaance, has fallen into the hands of the police, and has undergone a preliminary examination before the magistrates of the district. The Monmouth Central Advertiser of May 10th 1873:
CLEVER CAPTURE OF A GHOST AT NEATH. —A few days since some excitement was created in the neighbourhood of Neath, in consequence of a rumour that a "live ghost had been captured at the Gnoll Collieries, having recently escaped from the old workings." On inquiry, however, the facts of the case proved to be as follow:
It appears that two young fellows connected with the works were told off for the purpose of cleaning the boiler flues, when one of the lads finding the place too hot, left the work and complained to the engine-driver that his butty had closed the damper on him, instead of opening it to get more air. The engineman believing the report, naturally felt annoyed, and in no measured words expressed his annoyance to the supposed culprit, who simply returned the compliment with a threat, meaning mischief. A night or two after shots were heard in the vicinity of the pit, and a ghostly apparition, with white beard and other peculiarities, was seen near the engine-house, disappearing almost as soon as observed.
The following night the same visitation occurred, the shots being still most terrifying. Information was then given to Superintendent Phillips, who, the following evening, placed Sergeant Phelps and another officer in ambush. Shortly after the usual hour, viz., midnight, a crash was heard on the engine-house roof, and the officers at once were on the alert. Their appearance was the signal for a chase, one of the men outside calling the officers' attention to the route supposed to be taken by the ghost.
To this Sergeant Phelps demurred, believing the spirit was no other than the fellow who offered to assist in the capture. He was accordingly "laid," and on the 2nd instant the matter was inquired into before Mr. Gregory by Superintendent Phillips, resulting in a complete removal of the ghost and his satellite from the scene of their exploits. Superstitious as miners generally are, the stupid freak might have prejudiced the men engaged in the pits, especially as the old workings of the colliery are reputed to contain unpleasant remains of earlier doings underground.
PRESS
July 1873
The Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser of July 26th 1873 reported:
MIDNIGHT ALARMS IN HOPE-STREET. Two weeks ago, we inserted a paragraph mentioning the fact that certain residents in Hope-street had been disturbed at night by some midnight visitors, whether spiritual or of the world could not be ascertained, and much disquietude and alarm was felt therewith. However, this week the ghost has been laid, to the relief of all interested, and she, for it was a she "ghost", has been found out, and confessed to having been the sole cause of the disturbances and alarms.
PRESS
July 1873
Wrexham
The Cambrian News of August 1st 1873 reported:
On Monday, July 29th, two servants of the Nelson Arms public-house, Wrexham, were summoned for damages done to windows whilst acting the part of a ghost. The police were called in, but could not find the supposed visitant from the other world, but they strongly suspected the two servants who afterwards confessed. It is little to the credit of the people of Wrexham, that there his been a good deal of excitement in the town, owing to the supposed shadowy stone throwers.
The Llangollen Advertiser of August 1st gave more detail:
A WREXHAM GHOST STORY. On Monday, the Wrexham borough magistrates were engaged in solving a ghost story which has for several days been a source of mystery to all and a terror to some of the inhabitants of Wrexham. Three weeks last Saturday night was the time that the mysterious visitor first appeared, and the scene the Nelson Vaults, Hope-street, kept by Mrs. Parsonage. On the Saturday night, about eleven o'clock, after the house had been cleared, Mrs. Parsonage was roused by the noise of a smash in the lower regions, and her two servants came upstairs screaming and shouting that there were two men on the premises.
Of course, she was somewhat alarmed, and sent for a policeman, who came and searched the premises, but found no trace of anyone. A neighbour volunteered to stay up all night, but her watch was fruitless. However, on Monday night there was another crash, but, although diligent search was made, nothing could be found, and everyone began to believe the disturbances were caused by spirits other than those contained in the barrels below in the cellar. Night after night did the noises continue — windows were smashed, brick-bats and stones sent about the rooms, all to the terror of the people of the house, who dreaded the approach of night.
Of course, the police did not incline to the spiritualistic theory, and having also made clear that it was no one outside who was the offender, they carefully watched the inmates of the house, and from what they saw charged the two servants, Ann Lewis, aged 21, and Ann Williams, aged 19, with being the cause. Finding themselves found out, they confessed all, and that it was done for a "lark." Accordingly, they were summoned for malicious damage, and the cases being clearly proved against them, they were each ordered to pay a penalty amounting with costs in the case of Ann Lewis, who WAS the ringleader, to 29s., and in the other case to 16s. The court was crowded during the hearing.
PRESS
October 1873
Holyhead
Rumours of a ghost at Holyhead were reported in the North Wales Chronicle of November 8th 1873:
HOLYHEAD. A MODERN GHOST. —Notwithstanding the fact that ghostly visits are nowadays as few and far between as angelic ones, it is stated that a certain neighbourhood in Holyhead is at the present time stirred up by a ghost story, which, to say the least, cannot be very conducive to a good night's rest.
The rumour current is that a workman proeeding homewards "by the darkness befriended", was well nigh startled out of his wits by the appearance of a "spirit," veiled in white, which, of course, is the modern ghostly fashion. He had not sufficient courage to hold converse with the "spiritual," so, in a state of great terror, he hurried home to meditate upon what he had seen and felt. To express an opinion upou such matters would, perhaps, be treading too freely upon the bounds of "Spiritualism," but the most rational belief is that the "ghost" in question would vanish or surrender before a row of "white buttons," and if our police feel inclined to capture a "spirit" they may be recommended to keep a sly night's watch.
PRESS
Machynlleth
A girl was arrested for stone throwing after crowds of people gathered to see the alleged poltergeist. The Cambrian News of November 7th 1873 reported:
A REAL GHOST STORY. (By a Correspondent.)
There is, as I have before observed, a quiet market town in Montgomeryshire, celebrated for nothing in particular, if you leave out the mud, the rain, and the dilapidated cottages. It is very seldom that anything excites even a passing interest, but the other night news reached the town that a house about a mile and a half distant, called Plas-y frge, celebrated as the birthplace of the wife of the late Mr Richard Cobden, the famous free trader, was haunted.
The house is now occupied by Mr Edward Jones, who sent in great haste to the town for assistance to apprehend something or other which was disturbing his peace by breaking his windows. The officer was soon on the spot, and commenced a strict search, but, could see nobody; and if it had not been for the crashing of the panes of glass, he would doubtless have treated the whole affair as a mistake. Having procured a lantern, he proceeded to make a more minute search, and in his anxiety not to miss anything, lost his footing and fell into the river, but escaped without having his ardour damped, though his clothes were very wet, and an application of "spirits" was necessary to keep the cold out.
He then ensconced himself under the window, but failed to discover the cause of the rapidly-breaking glass, for stone after stone came "wizzing" through the darkness, apparently without any human agency. Having kept watch until four o'clock on Sunday morning, he suspended operations, and the large crowd which had congregated slowly dispersed. This crowd the policeman had tried to utilize by placing them around the house, but, poor creatures, they were afraid of the ghost, and followed the officer wherever he went.
During the Sunday everything was very quiet, but as soon as the evening came, the ghost came with it, bringing a large supply of stones and a few potatoes. Again a demand was made for a policeman, but no one man would venture to fetch him, but at last three of them went in company, and very soon there were about 400 people on the ground, and the excitement and the mystery grew apace. So awful was the visitation considered that some pious people thought a prayer meeting would perhaps be more efficacious than any number of policemen, and a prayer meeting was accordingly held, and while the praying was going on the stone throwing stopped, but soon after the prayers were over, and just as they thought they had settled the unearthly visitant, a stone came crashing through the glass, and one good old superstitious man fervently exclaimed, "The Lord have imercy upon us," and crept as far into the chimney corner as was possible.
The feeling of horror was now very oppressive, as it was rendered plain that the ghost cared no more for prayers than it did for policemen. The stones seemed to be coming from the clouds and the holders of ithe prayer meeting were not quite so sure that they "had done it," as they at first had boasted to the policemen. All through Sunday and part of Monday the mystery refused to be solved, and one woman was so overcome that she fainted. and was carried away. It was observed on the Sunday evening that a little girl had left the prayer meeting very quietly, and the officers watched her closely, and eventually she was seen to pick up a stone, and throw it, and in a short time she was apprehended.
Truly the nineteenth century is a most unfortunate period in the world's history for ghosts, and my readers will, I think, agree with me that fools — awful fools — are far more numerous than ghosts, especially in the neighbourhood of Machynlleth. If it had not been for one or two matter-of-fact policemen the girl would not have been caught, and the magistrates would not have had the opportunity of stultifying themselves by a stupid penalty of ONE SHILLING and costs. The believers in ghosts may at any rate congratulate themselves on the fact, that they are quite as wise as the magistrates, and that is not saying much for the believers in ghosts.
The November 14th edition of the Cambrian followed up on the story:
THE GHOST AT MACHYNLLETH. As soon as I had read the account of the ghost story at Machynlleth I at once went to that town, or rather to be more correct, I went there as soon as there was a train to take me. When I got there, however, I found that the people had thrown the ghost overboard, and were discussing the effect of planting trees in the business part of the town. Of course the inhabitants grumbled in whispers, but they are awfully savage, and if the trees are planted before places of business there will be a good deal of quiet murmuring. The pegs are down, and the trees are to follow.
What I say is, if the people of Machynlleth do not like trees let them speak out like men, and say so, that is what my family have always done, and they have never been any the worse for it. Cry out and don't be afraid of your pockets: it doesn't do to make martyrs of people nowadays. I only wish somebody would make a martyr of me. I would turn the persecution to good account, depend upon it. Will somebody please persecute me, for nothing pays better, and I should really like to be a martyr.
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