The Alleged Haunting of B---- House | Page 9

a light, outside their bedroom doors,
where the footsteps and other rustling noises were heard. I think one
other member of the family, or two young gentlemen, had arrived at
this time, and they had also heard the noises. I told them of my
intention to sit up alone, for as one of them had a revolver I did not
want to run the risk of being shot for a ghost. However, I took my post
on the landing at 11.30 and kept watch, I am certain, until half-past one;
then I must have fallen asleep, for about two o'clock Master H----,
hearing the knocking as usual, came out of his room to hear if I had
seen or heard anything, but found me fast asleep on the floor, which
gave him a greater fright than the knocking, for he supposed for the
moment that I had been slain by the ghost.
"This kind of thing went on nightly, and for three weeks I heard
nothing, although nearly every one in the house heard these noises
except myself; but my turn had yet to come, although I firmly held the

opinion during that time that it was the hot-water pipes, and I only
laughed at the others for their absurd nonsense, as I then considered it
to be; but my first experience was that of being awakened three
successive nights, or rather mornings, at about 3.30. I heard nothing,
but seemed to be wide awake in an instant, as though some one had
touched me. I would stay awake for some little time and then go to
sleep again; but on the fourth night, on being awakened as before, and
lying awake for perhaps two minutes, I heard tremendous thumping
just outside my door. I jumped out of bed quickly, and opened my door,
and called out in a loud voice, 'Who is there?' but got no answer. I
ascended the stairs and listened for a few minutes, but heard no further
knocking. I then went back to my room, but did not sleep again that
morning.
"I may mention that my room was the one described by 'A
Correspondent' as the butler's room under No. 3, the room where most
noises were heard, and the staircase was the service one, and as there is
a door at the top, if any one had come there to make the noise I should
certainly have heard them beating a retreat.
"The same thing happened with variations almost nightly for the
succeeding two months that I was there, and every visitor that came to
the house was disturbed in the same manner. One gentleman (a colonel)
told me he was awakened on several occasions with the feeling that
some one was pulling the bedclothes off him; sometimes heavy
footsteps were heard, at others like the rustling of a lady's dress; and
sometimes groans were heard, but nearly always accompanied with
heavy knocking; sometimes the whole house would be aroused. One
night I remember five gentlemen meeting at the top of the stairs in their
night-suits, some with sticks or pokers, one had a revolver, vowing
vengeance on the disturbers of their sleep. During the two months after
I first heard the noises I kept watch altogether about twelve times in
various parts of the house, mostly unknown to others (at the time), and
have heard the noises in the wing as well as other parts.
"When watching I always experienced a peculiar sensation a few
minutes before hearing any noise. I can only describe it as like

suddenly entering an ice-house, and a feeling that some one was
present and about to speak to me. On three different nights I was
awakened by my bedclothes being pulled off my feet. But the worst
night I had at B---- was one night about the second week in September,
and I shall never forget it as long as I live. I had been keeping watch
with two gentlemen--one a visitor, the other one of the house. We were
sitting in room No. 2, and heard the noises that I have described about
half-past two. Both gentlemen were very much alarmed; but we
searched everywhere, but could not find any trace of the ghost or cause
of the noises, although they came this time from an unoccupied room.
(I may mention that the noises were never heard in the daytime, as
stated by 'A Correspondent,' but always between twelve, midnight, and
four in the morning, generally between two and four o'clock.) After a
thorough search the two gentlemen went to bed sadder, but not wiser
men, for we had discovered nothing. I then went to my room, but not to
bed, for I was not satisfied, and decided to continue the watch alone. So
I seated myself