A "HAUNTED HOUSE" AT GREENWICH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2698, 26 October 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

A "HAUNTED HOUSE" AT GREENWICH.

A bemarkaule " ghost story comes from Greenwich. It appears that Mr Peter Bothwick, in the employ of the South Metropolitan Gas Company, had resided for three years with his family at 14, Horaeferry-road, Greenwich, a feurroomed house. Mrs Bothwick had been troubled by hearing inexplicable noises, which her husband tried to explain away. The previous tenant, who occupied the house ior 29 years states that he never heard any noises, but his wife often complained to him that she often heard sounds like children falling out of bed. About two years ago thn Bothwicks were away from home, and a neighbour states that during their absence he heard loud rapping in the house. Twelve months later, in July, ISSI, Mr Bothwick was in the country for a holiday, and on the 25th there were in the house Mrs Bothwick, Mrs Stedmau, and Mrs Lloyd. At ten minutes to eleven these three were in the back sitting-room, which is divided from the passage by a wooden partition running to the top of the house, when they heard three hard blows as of a man's fist on the cellar door. Much alarmed, they rushed off to bed, and heard no more that night. On Mr Bothwick's return ho put a new floor to the cellar, making it even with the passage. All went well until July 2o of the present year, the anniversary of the former manifestation. At twenty minutes to ten at night there were in the house Mrs Bothwick and Mr and Mrs Lloyd, while a Mrs Parkinson was ill tho next house adjoining the passage. The three persons first named heard loud raps on the partition, and Mr Lloyd went out, but saw no one, and searched the cellor with similar resnlt. The rapping continued, sometimes appearing to be on the partition and sometimes under the stairs. It turned out that Mrs Parkinson was not the person rapping, and on Mr Lloyd giving , a rap ou the wall, he was startled by hearing at the cellar door, close to his elbow, three knocks which shook the partition, nnd were almost sufficient to knock the cellar door down. He opened th.idoor on the instant, and searched the cellar, but found nothing. Ho knocked airaiu, and ia reply there came three terifie knocks on the cellar door, which Mr Lloyd had just closed. Ho immediately opened it again, and nothing could be socd, although the lamp in the passage shone into the cellar. Shortly afterwards, Mr Bothwiok and Mr Parkinson, who had been out together, rturned home. The knocking continuing, they made a careful inspection of both houses, but found nothing unusual. Half an hour Inter two police officers arrived, and stayed some time. The knocking continued as before, at one time on the collar door, at another on the stairs or at different, pnrt-i of thn partition. The people who wero in the house also state that they distinctly hoard footsteps on the floor above the passage, but on going up could sco no out. The [ police considered tho matter n practical i joke, but could not suggest how it was \ done. Meanwhile the knoking, which I could be pliiiuli heard on the other side J of the road, had attracted » largo crowd, I and one of the men volunteered to com- \ municate with tho " spirit," A convernaj tion somewhat to the following effeat 1 ensued ; Aro you a man ? No answer. Are you English ? Three raps, supposed to moan jes. Are you n woman ? Throo I raps. Are yon in great trouble ? Three raps. Have tho people in this house ■ harmed you]?—No answer. You me troubling this house a deal?— Throe raps. : Did your friends harm you ?—Three raps. i Did they kill you ?—Three tremendous J raps. Mrs Bothwick here exclaimed, " For gracious sake, let the man go away." He remained, however, at Mr Bothwick's wish, and continued the questioning, with the result that the j interrogator pronounced that a woman was troubling the house on account of some crimo committed mauy yenr.s ago. The " ghost" would not answer any frivolous questions, such as " Will you come out and have a drink with mo r" About midnight the knocking began to I subsido, and the crowd dispersed ; but tho j Bothwick family would not go to bed. Mrs Bothwich lay on the bed for an. hour or so with her clothes on, nnd Mr Bothwick sat on a couch till ho went to work at six next morning, aud two young men stayed with him. The rapping gradually died away, and ceased altogether !if one o'clock. Tho Bothwiok'.s determined not to remain in the house, an 1 on tho following Tuesday removed to ILiddt; nfivi:! , ., sitting up on nearly all the interventing days until miduight. Two ladies, who appeared to he interested in (he subject of spiritualism, called before they removed, and said they should have liked to hear the rappings. Ono of them said ;>he did not suppose tbo "spirit" would trouble anyone till next year, but it might as it. had been spoken to.