THE STRATHTAY HAUNTED HOUSE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue X, 28 August 1897, Page 314

THE STRATHTAY HAUNTED HOUSE.

Thb Times of a recent date had a long article, entitled * On the Trail of a Ghost,’ from a correspondent who recently visited Ballechin, in Perthshire, «ith the view of investigating the * manifestations ’ that were said to be taking place there. For two or three months past (said the writer) vague rumours have been afloat in London concerning a haunted house somewhere in Scotland belonging to the Marquis of Bute.

It wm described as the most haunted house in Sootland, and as being the abode of some mysterious agency producing sights and sounds of the most portentous and inexplicable character. While many people, some of them bolding high positions in the scientific world, were ready to give general assurances of the awe inspiring nature of these phenomena, it was unfortunately Impossible to obtain precise Information from any one. The most definite impression one could form was that appalling noises were

to be heard, alike by day and by night, in various parts of thia mansion, but more particularly in four rooms. Apparitions were also spoken of, though lees confidently, yet It seemed to be generally agreed that the orthodox gliding figure melting into thin air had been seen by at least one horrified observer.

Inquiries addressed to distinguished members of the Society for Psychical Research—or the S.P.R. as it is affectionately called by its votaries—elicited the information that Lord Bute had taken the house in question for three months, and had placed it at the disposal of the society for the purpose of a thorough investigation. For reasons which are differently stated in London and in Perth, where the agent for the proprietor is to be found. Lord Bute did not take the house in his own name, but in that of Colonel Taylor. The material fact, however, is that he did take it with the object just named, installed a staff of servants, and entrusted the conduct of the of the investigation to a lady well known in connection with the S.P.R., and also for work of a different and much more valuable kind. Lord Bate’s original idea was a good one, bnt it was never properly carried out. Observing that the S.P.R. had made many investigations In a perfunctory and absurd manner by sending somebody to a haunted house for a couple of nights and then writing an utterly worthless report, he desired in this case a continuous investigation extending over a considerable period. He ought, therefore, to have employed a couple of intelligent detectives for the whole term, and thus secured real continuity. As things are, the only continuity is to be found in the presence—itself not entirely continuous—of the lady just mentioned. THE * MOST HAUNTED HOUSE.' Ballechin—the ch is guttural and carries the accent —is a house pleasantly situated in Strathtay, a few miles above Dnnkeld. The house was built in the second decade of the present century, but a wing was added at a much later date, and is the only part of the structure that is free from * manifestations.* Underneath the wing are the present kitchens, to the isolation of which a wholly undue importance is attached as precluding the idea that noises wilfully or accidentally made by the servants can account for the phenomena In the bedrooms. In the centre of the house is the main staircase in a square well, lighted by a cupola and having a gallery which runs right round it, and gives access to the upper part of the main building. At one corner of this gallery is a service staircase, at the top of which is the most haunted bedroom. Adjoining this are the two next in order of phenomenal importance, while at the opposite corner of the gallery, where another staircase leads to the servants’ sleeping rooms above, is the fourth of the haunted rooms. The house has thick walls both Interior and exterior, but their thickness is exaggerated by wood casing which everywhere gives a hollow sound on percussion. The rafters seem to be as flimsy as the walls are substantial, for the floors vibrate on the smallest provocation, and in any of the bedrooms it is quite easy to hold a conversation with another man in the attics. It follows that the house is one huge sounding-board, transmitting, and possibly intensifying, certain kinds of noise. TOSSING FOB POSSESSION. I tossed with another man for possession of No. 3, the most haunted of the rooms, and won. He contented himself with No. 1, which is the second best from an Investigator’s point of view. On one of the two nights that I spent in the room, I slept without disturbance of any kind until 7 o’clock, when I heard a variety of noises floating np the back staircase, and all easily translatable into the early morning activities of the servants. There is a fixed washstand with the nsnal waste ping. This I left open on going to bed. and as the night was windy, a sound which an ardent imagination might have converted into a moan of a soul in pain came from the end of the wastepipe a few feet below, where it overhangs a trap, according to approved sanitary principles. The second night I was very wakeful. I read in bed until past 1 o’clock, and was awake again about 3. My fire had gone out, and the fireplace in cooling down emitted a loud crack after the manner of iron fireplaces in such conditions. A sympathetic observer would doubtless have chronicled that as a ghostly noise. A distinguished psychical researcher told me just before I left town that when one sees a ghost the proper thing is to advance boldly and clasp it. In the hope of such an encounter I went out upon the gallery, bnt I saw nothing and beard nothing except the wind. I went to sleep after that for some three hours, and on awaking heard a pretty loud noise from the washing-basin, which, however, was only the jar of a waterpipe when the water is suddenly turned off. Presently a deep buzzing sound indicated that a servant was drawing more water, Jirobably In the distant wing, and was duly ollowed by another resonant bang, show-

ing that the Thomson patent tap had not been fitted to the Ballechin pipes. These were all the noises I heard in the most haunted room of * the most haunted house In Scotland.’ A GROSS IMPOSTUBB. After giving the results of his inquiries into the traditions connected with the house, the writer concludes:— * Lord Bute’s confidence has been grossly abused by some one, and, what he will probably regret even more, he has been unwittingly led to do an appreciable injury to the owners of Ballechin. It wm represented to him by some one that he was taking the * most haunted house in Scotland,* a house with an old and established reputation for mysterious, if not supernatural, disturbances. What be hM got Is a house with no reputation whatever of that kind, with no history, with nothing germane to bls purpose beyond a cloud of baseless rumours produced during the iMt twelve months. Who is responsible for the imposture it is not my business to know or to inquire, but that it is an imposture of the roost shallow and impudent kind there can be no manner of doubtu* LORD BUTE ‘INTERVIEWED.* A representative of the Morning Leader, who interviewed the Marquis of Bute m to the Ballechin spook-hunting project, writes M follows:— * You are fortunate,’ began bls Lordship, ‘for not only have you caught me, but also the lady who hM charge of the house, Miss X ’ * Yes, I’m Miss ,’ broke in the

lady ; • but if yon mention me, please do so only aa “ Mira X," for that is the name by which Lam beet known.’ ‘Let me say at once,* continued the Marquis, after we were seated, • that what annoys me most is that the name of the house has been given away. It was never intended it should be. I first heard of this house’s strange noises in 1893. Whatever their cause, their commencement last year is absurd. It is true the Heavenses were a little larky. They were Spaniards. Apparently when the noises aid not appear some of the young fellows made believe. But it is a fact that they paid £9OO for a year’s shooting, and left at the end of seven weeks. Moreover, we have written testimony that these noises have been heard in the house for eighteen years. * Was nothing ever seen 1’ I inquired. * Well, yes I there is one very distinct testimony of an apparition.* * Why,’ said his Lordship, with a smile, ' the toughest thing that I ever experienced was the apparition of the ’ * Perhaps, my lord,’ quickly interrupted Miss X., • it will (if I may have your lordship’s parmission to say so) be our best way with the reporter to keep to the point. _ I was going to say that we intend to publish a complete account of our investigation, and that it will contain some striking testimony. Unfortunately, we were unable to solve the difficulty.’ * We invited down all the first English scientists,’ went on his lordship, * but unfortunately they could not come at the time, and the proprietor would not renew onr lease. We also asked Maskelyne, the conjurer, to come, bnt be was busy with his Jubilee stand.’ * The secretary of the S.P.R. came down, continued Miss X., * and brought with him Miss , a medium, but her discoveries were of no value. We had hoped to have been able to use the phonograph, but could not, because we never knew in which way to direct the receiver. We had also intended to use seismetrical instruments, as it was suggested that the house had a sort of earthquake. Unfortunately it is now too late.’ * And your published account will contain many remarkable stories ?’ * Indeed, it certainly will,’ replied the Marquis. • For Instance ’ * My lord, with your lordship’s permis

sion.’ Miss X. once broke in, *it would perhaps be better to keep them for the publication.’ ' But let me add,* continued bis lordship, * that it was our intention from the first in publishing our report to entirely disguise not only the bouse but even the district, so as to save injury to the property.’