PHANTOM SAILOR.

Shannon News, 5 November 1926, Page 2

PHANTOM SAILOR.

AX ISLAND BAY GHOST. THE SPOOK INTERVIEWED. A ghost in a house in Island Bay sounds improbable. In an ancient English castle it is natural perhaps to expect a phantom knight in armour or even a glibbering skeleton, but in a modern country like New Zealand and in an unromantic street in Island Bay a ghost seems to be an anomaly; and yet, if the following stofy can be believed (and it is attested to by the principal of the living characters), Island Bay does (or did a week or two ago) possess an orthodox ghost of its own.

The haunted house is one of many similar buildings —an unpretentious five-rdomed dwelling of no great age, in an ordinary street of ordinary houses. The supernatural happenings, if such they were, began about four weeks ago when the family of two adults and two children, a girl and boy fourteen and twelve year s of age, were startled by peculiar sounds coming apparently from the roof or ceiling. At first these noises were put down to the wind, but when they were subsequently repeated on a calm night birds or cats were alternative suggestions as to their origin. Then, the noises, described as a curious shuffling and rapping, increased in volume and varied in location, sometimes seeming to come from above the living-room and sometimes from a corner. Investigation of the structure revealed no apparent cause, no loose spouting or boards. A friend who was present one evening suggested answering the** noises and the establishment if possible of a code with the disembodied spirit, if such indeed was the cause of the disturbance. This, suggestion-—according to the story—was acted upon with somewhat startling results. The noises increased greatly in volume, appearing to come from all over the place, a latched door was ,flung open without human aid, and in strict accordance with ghostly precedent, a draught of cold air swept the room where the occupants were Hitting.' These manifestations were too much for the owner and his wife; that' night the hospitable roof of a friendly neighbour gave them shelter, and the spook was left to his own devices. Ghost Talked To. ' And now follows the most extraordinary part of the story, a part which unfortunately cannot be corroborated, as the rest can, by any witnesses, as there was only one participant living on this plane. Sending his wife and family away to relatives in the* country,' the owner, who works as clerk in the city was advised to enlist the aid of a clairvoyant visitor from New Plymouth—a lady reputed to be possessed of powers to deal with such intangible things as ghosts. A seance in the haunted house was arranged and the clairvoyant stated that she had obtained contact with the disturber of the peace. The latter said that he was a sailor, giving his name as George H'enslow, who had been drowned off the coast at Island Bay in 1539, early in the year, owing to the capsize of a whaling boat. Further information wa s elicited to the effect that he was worried about a lady of the naifie of Mabel or Mary—he was uncertain which—with whom he had left a bundle. George apparently gave no further evidence of identification, neither did he explain if he expected to find the lady still in the land of the living. But the heart-to-heart talk seems to have eased his mind, for since then, and that is about three weeks ago, his presence has not been made manifest either audibly or visibly. . Will the Ghost Return? The owner Of the house has his suspicions about George and thinks that it is just possible he may return in his quest for the missing lady and bundle. Anyway he prefers to be on the safe side, and to* run no more risk of being the victim of nautical pranks. Having found a tenant willing to take the house —possible spook and all—the owner is content to live in another part of Island Bay.