AN APPARITION IN HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume IX, Issue 503, 10 August 1875, Page 2

AN APPARITION IN HAMILTON.

Ghost-seeing is a subject on which thoro has always been considerable controversy. Notwithstanding the obstinate scepticism maintained by lnsn. of scienc3, however, ' there are many singular instances on recorif of apparitions having under circumstances which leave no room to doubt # tho veracity of the witnesses. Robert DaleOwen's " Footfalls on the Boundary of^ Another "World," supplies some romarkable accounts of apparitions. The author merely \ collectsan overwhelming mass of testimony, without attempting, to draw any conclusions,, but leaving the reader to form his own opinions. Modern spiritualism has revived in a now form the beliefs of former ages with regard to the visits to earth o£ these strange beings of another world. Wo find apparitions frequently mentions^ in Scripture, and in history generally. Shakespeare, who derived the materials of hi* dramas.^rom traditions and historical records Sfctant in his day, introduces ghosts in many .of his plots, especially in Macbeth, Hamlet, and Julius Caesar. One of the most remarkable instances we remember o£ an apparition in modern times occurred i during the Crimean war. An officer in the Guards, who was engaged to a beautiful and accomplished English lady, was serving before Sebastopol with his regiment. The lady was at a ball in London, and amidst the dance she suddenly stopped, and gazingaffrightedly to the floor, pointed to someobject which appftired to manifest itself to her eyesight, though nothing- was seen by the other guests. In answer to the anxious inquiries of hor friends, she said shs-^ had seen her affianced, the officer in the Guards, lying on the floor, dying from tfifa effects of r gunskpt wound, the exact situation of which she described. Medical attendance was at once procured, but the physicians pronounced the young lady perfectly sane, and in excellent bodily health. The nftair caused much excitement, and S3m<i reference to it appeared in the "Times' 1 of the following morning. The extraordinary occurrence thus became the talk of thecity. Some days afterwards accounts were " received from the Crimea of a sortb by theRussians, in which the officer was mortally wounded exactly as the lady had described. The date, however, as received -by the War Office, did not correspond with that on which the lady perceived the apparition, and further inquiries were instituted. From further correspondence it transpired rt\» the officer was shot at the exatfM/^^ which the lady stopped in thc^tol^^^ pointed ( to the floor ! There are many-atheP* equally- remarkable instances on record^ which vve have not space to mention. It will surprise many of our reader to learn that an apparition wag seen ri few 1 days ago. in Hamilton., We are aware that there are many who will smile at thiaXannonncemenb,.but after careful incju Wy w» see no reason to doubt the- genuineness of" the account which has reached us, j^We*/ can vouch for the vesppctabiiity sud ctedibilitv of the witness, and we are.WQyjac.edi

that he could have no possible reason to invent the story which he tells. We trust, however, that the facts he narrates will not seriously shake the nerves of our readers We believe that the phenomena of spiritual manifestations are capable of explanation upon a perfectly natural basis, and we see no reason to regard the subject with t!;at 'egree of superstitious awe and horror 'hieh it commonly excites. Bat we will How our correspondent to speak for himv?ov ?o the Editor of the Times . Sir,— l ih to put on record through your columns hat I regard as one of the most remarkable jugs that has come under my observation an ring my, lifetime. I m;iy say that I have never been a very strong believer in alleged ghost cases. Ordinarily I attributed them to a diseased imagination, to some optical delusion, some accident il combination of refraction of the atmosphere ( such as that in Ul3 Hartz Mountains) of the sun or moon, or artificial lights; and I am free to confess that, in a good many instances, I have considered alleged spirit-soeing to be traceable to over-indulgence in spirituous liquors, or to practical joking. But a day or two ago a circumstance- occuned which completely altered my opinions on the subject, and which completely bafHes any natural explanation. I was in a certain building in Hamilton, when suddenly I ob- : served the familiar figure of a certain soli- , citor formerly well-known in this township, sitting in hi* accustomed place. There was nothing remu'kable in his appearance. JTu was dressed as I remembered him, an.l looked exactly the sams. Indeed, I assure yon, Air Editor, I had no idea but that it was the gentleman himself sitting there in the flesh. I left the building and remarked to a friend whom I met at that moment, •' Well, 1 see is back again." He replied, ''Why, when did ho arrive '? I have not seen him." We then both went to where I had seen the gentleman, but to my great astonishment he had disappeared. Now, sir, he could not have walked out without my seeing him, for he must have made his egress by the same door as myself, and I must have seen him. But, sir, guess my ainazenuenfc when I received news from Auckland next day that the gentleman whom I supposed I had seen, was dead ; and, sir, picture to yourself what were my feelings when upon compari son of the time, 1 found that his death took place almost at the precise moment when the apparition — for f am now convinced that the figure was not human — appeared to me sitting just as the solicitor used to pit when alive, and as I often saw him. >Sir, I leave these facts to speak for themselves, merely observing that the gentleman whom I met at the time, is prepared to come forward and vouch for the fact that 1 mentioned the ciicumstance to him. In deference to the feelings of the deceased gentleman's relatives 1 have suppressed the name, but I need haivlly tell you that it has produced an impression upon me which will never be removed as long as I live.I am, etc., Veritas.