Welsh UFO sightings from 1874. For sightings from other years please click HERE.
PRESS
January 1874
Aberdare
Rumours of a ghost was attracting a nightly crowd of hundreds - four drunken men were arrested after they caused a riotous disturbance, claiming they could 'lay' the ghost. The Western Mail of January 7th 1874 reported:
EXPELLING A GHOST - Four men, named williams, Morgan, Davies, and Walker, were charged with being drunk and riotous, under the following circumstances: - Mr. Phillips, solicitor, who prosecuted, said he appeared on behalf of Mr. Hill, contractor, who some time since purchased an old building, known as the old hospital, which he razed to the ground, and erected dwellings on the site.
A fortnight ago some foolish rumour was circulated to the effect that the house was haunted by a ghost, consequently some 500 superstitious people collected around the locality to the annoyance of the neighbourhood, especially Mr. Hill and his tenants, for an aged lady occupying the house in question had suffered much from the unwarrantable conduct of her would-be benefactors, who had sworn vengence on the ghost.
On Monday evening the four defendanta had primed themselves up for the ghastly tank by an excessive quantity of liquor, and again a supersitious crowd watched the process of ejectment. They kicked the walls and doors of the house, subsequently entering the building and going upstairs, challenging the hidden spirit to come forth. The defendants evidently viewed their mission as a proper one, for one of them serlouly assured his Worship that he had successfully expelled ghosts hitherto. Mr. de Butzen appropriately lectured the offenders upon the stupidity of their conduct, and dismissed them upon payment of a fine of 5s. each and the costs.
The Merthyr Telegraph of January 9th 1874 reported on men who were arrested at a gathering formed around a ghost rumour:
LAYING THE GHOST (NOT HAMLET'S FATHER'S).— John Williams, haulier, Edward Morgan, collier, John Walters, tailor, and John Evans, collier, were brought up charged with being drunk and disorderly in Gadlys- road, the previous night. Mr Phillips, who watched the case on behalf of Mr Hill, contractor, informed the Bench that his client had built a number of new and substantial houses on the site of what was once an old hospital, at Dover-place. Ever since the dwellings had become tenanted, a rumour had gone abroad that they were haunted, and this had created such a feeling that every night a large number of persons congregated and committed all sorts of ridiculous things under the pretence of "laying the ghost." These proceedings had been the source of great annoyance, especially to the tenants' female relations. Officers Gambling and Purchae were called in corroboration of this statement, and detailed the share taken by the defendants in the proceedings. One of them gravely informed the last named official that he had lived in a similar house before, and he was possessed of the formula for giving his ghostship a quietus. The Bench, after strongly advising them not to play such for the future, imposed a fine of 5s and the costs upon each.
The Aberdare Leader of January 10th 1874 also reported on the case:
CATCHING "THE GHOST" - John Williams, Edward Morgan, and John Evans, were charged with being drunk and riotous and making a disturbance in Gadlys-road. Mr Phillips prosecuted on behalf of Mr James Hill. He stated that of late people have had an idea that one of the houses recently erected by Mr Hill, in Gadlys road, was haunted, and this occasioned much excitement in the neighbourhood. On Saturday-night last between 400 and 500 people assembled near the spot for the purpose of "catching the ghost." The defendants were amongst the number and were very drunk. John Williams said he had the power to send away the evil spirit, and that he he had done so before. P.C. Gamblyn arrested Williams whilst kicking at the front door. The others were arrested by P.C. Pnrchase, who had secreted himself in the house. The men were roaring about the house and said they were "looking for the ghost." They were all taken to the station. They were fined 5s. and costs each.
An amusing letter equivalent to angry people in local newspapers today about the state of the road from the Cambrian News of August 28th 1874:
A GHOST ALLEGED TO BE AT DINAS MAWDDWY. SIR,—Ghosts do not the credit of visiting us in these days as often as formerly. They prefer to pay their visits like angels - beg pardon, road surveyors - "few and far between." A ghost, however, is said to have visited here lately, and to have assumed a form different from the generality of these ethereal beings. He, she, or it, was actually seen with a scavenger, in broad daylight, measuring the road from Dinas towards the Railway station.
Some will have it to be that this Being was no other than a road surveyor hailing from the neighbourhood of a village hard by, endeavouring to form an estimate for putting the road in a decent state. But judging from the awe-struck air with which the Being was gazed upon by the astounded natives, and the benighted travellers of the road, this was evidently a mistake, for it is almost beyond the memory of man when the road was last repaired, or a surveyor condescended to visit the place, the official believing, no doubt, like Campbell:
"'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, And robes the mountain in its azure hue."
Hence others argue that it must have been a ghost, and that the idea of repairing the road was all "moonshine," or that "the wish was the father to the thought." Ey! Mr Editor, if I were a spirit-rapper wouldn't I make a road surveyor dance on our filthy dirty, slushy, villanous roads, a few days after our intermittent wet season has set in. School children as well as "children of bigger growth" would regard it as a supernatural "visit of surprise," though a most agreeable one, for "a trip on the light fantastic toe" by our surveyor amidst such difficulties and obstacles must have the desired effect, viz. putting our roads into repair. Believe me, sir, that a road surveyor is looked upon as rare as an ichthyosaurus, or anv other reptilia fossils.- I am, &c, THUNDERSTRUCK
0 comments:
Post a Comment