The 1883 Dundee Ghost Flap #2: the Hilltown Ghost April 22, 2017
Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern , trackback
Yesterday, Beach introduced the Dundee ghost of 1886. Here is the sequel. All is quiet at Blackness Quarry, but elsewhere in the town evil brews.
Here is the main report
Two or three weeks ago we drew attention the remarkable doings of an individual who the role of a ghost, and disported himself in the neighbourhood of the Blackness Quarry; and now we have to chronicle a series of similar escapades perpetrated over a large area in the northern and eastern parts of the town, and from which some cases it is alleged very serious results have ensued… Within the past week or ten days, however, a series of startling reports have come from the opposite end of the town, from which it would appear that the ‘ghost’ had changed his quarters. The district in which he is now holding his revels extends from Clepington to the Ferry Road, and a large number of reports are given his actings in this area. Judging from these, it seems that he affects the early morning for his manifestations, although his midnight visits are also pretty numerous.
Now what does he look like?
Among other reports, it is stated that a Broughty Perry butcher, while proceeding along the Ferry one dark night last week, was startled by the sudden appearance of a figure clad in white against the wall on the opposite side of the road. Recovering his self possession the butcher crossed the road in the direction of the seeming spectre, which, however, disappeared as suddenly as it had disclosed itself, appearing to the astonished butcher to go through the stone wall. On another occasion it is said that his ghost-ship suddenly appeared to a scavenger who was employed emptying an ashpit in the northern part of the town, by placing his hand heavily on the man’s shoulder. The scavenger, however, being of mettle, promptly adopted a bellicose attitude, which alarmed the ‘ghost’ that, deeming desertion the better part of valour, he beat a hasty retreat.
Clad in white sounds nothing like the big black man. Presumably, then, another faker had taken up duties in another part of Dundee? Though note that this description his contradicted below. The account continues
He was seen by one gentleman in North Wellington Street last week, on one occasion between one and two o’clock. On Thursday night he appeared in Raglan, Kemback, and Craigie Streets and he has been observed taking a constitutional in field to the north of the Arbroath and on the farm of West Craigie. It is also stated that he has visited Lochee, where a young fellow who, recovering from his surprise, determined to know whether apparitions were acquainted with mundane matters, asked him the time of day, but the ‘ghost’ having given a bovine roar as a reply, dashed off at the top of his speed.
However, there were also serious consequences. Here the newspaper writer puts on the school master hat.
It is not to supposed that everyone would take the sudden appearance of even a sham ghost as a natural event. It is therefore not surprising that in a number of cases the consequences have been of a somewhat alarming type. The ‘ghost’ has frequently shown himself in the Maryfield district to servants and to several young boys and girls — most of whom have suffered severely the shock to their nervous systems — and a young lady, who was walking out the Arbroath Road in company with her sweetheart, was thrown into such a state of nervous excitement by the ‘ghost’ making his appearance from behind a tree that she had to be assisted home. A girl is reported to have been assaulted and had some of her clothes destroyed by the ‘ghost’ in Crescent Street and a young lad, employed in one of the works in the east end the town, was so frightened by seeing the ‘ghost’ on coming out of a close, after wakening some persons, one morning last week, that he has been confined to bed ever since through a series of fits.
Here the reporter gives an attempt to describe the ghost, presumably based on witness accounts on the vox populi.
The ‘ghost’ may be described as being rather tall, and is generally seen dressed in a long cloak, although occasionally he suddenly assumes a luminous appearance, supposed to be due to the inside of the cloak being lined with cloth dipped in phosphorus, and exposed to view.
Beach has come across several references to phosphorous ghosts, but the phosphorous lining is a new one.
Several yards of crape are also suspended from his hat, and throughout the east end of the town he is, from the rapidity of his movements, popularly termed ‘Springheels’.
Now there is a name to conjure with!
He is said to belong to various orders of society, some stating that he is student, and others that he belongs to the family of a member of one of the manufacturing firms in town. As an explanation of the affair, it is set forth that the escapade is the result of a bet; but whether this be so, or whether it be carried out as a piece of gratis mischievous folly, all must sincerely desire that the foolish perpetrator should be speedily brought task, as such conduct should not be allowed be indulged in with impunity. On Wednesday last a party of about half-a-dozen young men, thoroughly equipped with all appliances for determining whether the ‘ghost’ was fish, flesh, or fowl, went out on a search expedition, but although they explored a large district they were not successful in their efforts. We understand, however, that they intend to persevere in the search until they run their game to earth.
The ghost may have been one of them, of course. All the signs are that the two ghosts were quite different and this seems to have been implicitly accepted by the press who gave him different names: drbeachcombing At yahoo DOT com
