_To the Editor of "The Times"_
"SIR,--In your issue of the 8th, under the above heading, 'A
Correspondent' tries at some length to describe what he calls a most
impudent imposture. I having lived at B---- for three months in the
autumn of last year as butler to the house, I thought perhaps my
experience of the ghost of B---- might be of interest to many of your
readers, and as the story has now become public property, I shall not
be doing any one an injury by telling what I know of the mystery.
"On July 15, 1896, I was sent by Mr. H----, with two maidservants, to
take charge of B---- from Mr. S----'s agents. I was there three days
before the arrival of any one of the family, and during that time I
heard nothing to disturb me in any way; but on the morning after the
arrival of two of the family, Master and Miss H----, they came down
with long faces, giving accounts of ghostly noises they had heard
during the night, but I tried to dissuade them from such nonsense, as
I then considered it to be; but on the following two or three nights
the same kind of noises were heard by them, and also by the
maidservants, who slept in the rooms above, and they all became
positively frightened. I heard nothing whatever, though the noises, as
they described them, would have been enough to wake any one much
farther away than where I slept, for the noises they heard were made
immediately over my room. I suggested the hot-water pipes or the twigs
of ivy knocking against the windows, but no--nothing would persuade
them but that the house was haunted; but as the noises continued to be
heard nightly, I suggested that I should sit up alone, and without 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 on the service stairs, close to where the water-pipes
passed up the wall, so as to decide once and for all if the sounds
came in any way from the water-pipes.
"I had not long to wait (about twenty minutes) when the knocking
recommenced from the same direction as before, but much louder than
before, followed, after a very short interval, by two distinct
groans, which certainly made me feel very uncomfortable, for it
sounded like some one being stabbed and then falling to the floor.
That was enough for me. I went and asked the two gentlemen who had
just gone to bed if they had heard anything. One said he had heard
five knocks and two groans, the same as I had; while the other (whose
room was much nearer to where the sounds came from) said he had heard
nothing. I then retired to my bed, but not to sleep, for I had not
been in bed three minutes before I experienced the sensation as
before, but instead of being followed by knocking, my bedclothes were
lifted up and let fall again--first at the foot of my bed, but
gradually coming towards my head. I held the clothes around my neck
with my hands, but they were gently lifted in spite of my efforts to
hold them. I then reached around me with my hand, but could feel
nothing. This was immediately followed by my being fanned as though
some bird was flying around my head, and I could distinctly hear and
feel something breathing on me. I then tried to reach some matches
that were on a chair by my bedside, but my hand was held back as if
by some invisible power. Then the thing seemed to retire to the foot
of my bed. Then I suddenly found the foot of my bed lifted up and
carried around towards the window for about three or four feet, then
replaced to its former position. All this did not take, I should
think, more than two or three minutes, although at the time it seemed
hours to me. Just then the clock struck four, and, being tired out
with my long night's watching, I fell asleep. This, Mr. Editor, is
some of my experiences while at B----.
"As to 'A Correspondent's' interviews with local people:--
"As to the old caretaker, she is an old woman, very deaf, and she
always occupied a room on the ground floor, where, during the three
months that I was there, nothing whatever was heard, as my two footmen
slept there, and they did not hear any noises. As to the intelligent
gardener, if it is the same one that was there when I was there, he,
surely, has not forgotten the night he spent with me in my room; he
was nearly frightened out of his wits, and declared he would not
spend another night in my room for any money--a fact that the factor
or steward and others well know.
"There are many other incidents in my experience with the mystery of
B----, but I hope this is sufficient for the purpose I intend
it--namely, for the truth to be known, for I have no other motive in
writing this letter; for I have left the service of the house some
months now. But as to your correspondent's statement that some of the
house were doing it, it is simply absurd; for in turn they were all
away from B---- for a week or fortnight, and still these noises were
heard. Another thing; is it possible for any one to keep up a joke
like that for three months? or, if any one had been doing it, I should
certainly have caught them; and I can assure you that the house were
very much annoyed with it, not only for themselves, but for their
visitors, for I have sat up all night with some of them, who were
afraid to go to their beds: and I think that if 'A Correspondent' had
stayed as long in B---- as I did, and had had some of my experiences,
he would have a very different tale to tell, although up to my going
to B---- I would laugh at any one who told me there were such things
as ghosts; and even now I am not quite convinced; but of one thing I
am certain--that is, that there is something supernatural in the
noises and things that I heard and experienced at B----. Thanking you,
dear sir, in anticipation of your inserting this letter, I remain your
obedient servant,
"HAROLD SANDERS.
"CHIDCOCK, NEAR BRIDPORT, DORSET."