DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0094
7b THE HAMMERSMITH GHOSTS.
of the circumstances some months preceding this cata-,
strophe, containing the particulars of the persons engaged
in the imposition, and an impartial description of these dis-
turbers of the public peace.
So far back as October last, it is well known, that the
first rumours of a ghost were in circulation in the neigh-
bourhood, near the church; which is thus accounted for:
It was then reported, that a mad woman was in the
habit of disturbing the neighbours, by perambulating the
church-yard and other walks, in strange and uncouth
dresses, which, after a little time, was discovered by Mr.
Moody, of the Six Bells, who well knew his face, to be
nothing more than a youth belonging to Mr. Kilberton, a
neighbouring butcher, who, by way of frolic, and to plague
the maid his fellow-servant, had dressed himself in her’
clothes, in which he frequently appeared in the church-
yard and other places. Being reprimanded by Mr. Moody
and others, and the ill consequences which might attend it,
pointed out, he desisted from the practice altogether.—
Notwithstanding, another supposed phantom soon sprung
up, and was seen all in white, at various places. This
ghost also was so clever and nimble in its retreats, that
they could never be traced, till one evening, when one
Brazier, a chimney sweeper, going through the lower
part of Church-lane, and the night being very dark, be
was in his turn alarmed at the appearance of this supposed
spectre; ana as he related the story the next morning, it
seems he stood still some moments before he durst proceed.
However, having a stick in his hand, he extended it at
arm’s length, ana advancing towards a tree, against which
he saw the object, he was induced to exclaim—Ghost! or
whatever you may be, pray be civil.—But as he still con-
tinued advancing with a slow pace, instead of penetrating
a body of thin air, he found his stick in contact with the
clothes of a female, who proved to be a Miss G-, a
voung
of the circumstances some months preceding this cata-,
strophe, containing the particulars of the persons engaged
in the imposition, and an impartial description of these dis-
turbers of the public peace.
So far back as October last, it is well known, that the
first rumours of a ghost were in circulation in the neigh-
bourhood, near the church; which is thus accounted for:
It was then reported, that a mad woman was in the
habit of disturbing the neighbours, by perambulating the
church-yard and other walks, in strange and uncouth
dresses, which, after a little time, was discovered by Mr.
Moody, of the Six Bells, who well knew his face, to be
nothing more than a youth belonging to Mr. Kilberton, a
neighbouring butcher, who, by way of frolic, and to plague
the maid his fellow-servant, had dressed himself in her’
clothes, in which he frequently appeared in the church-
yard and other places. Being reprimanded by Mr. Moody
and others, and the ill consequences which might attend it,
pointed out, he desisted from the practice altogether.—
Notwithstanding, another supposed phantom soon sprung
up, and was seen all in white, at various places. This
ghost also was so clever and nimble in its retreats, that
they could never be traced, till one evening, when one
Brazier, a chimney sweeper, going through the lower
part of Church-lane, and the night being very dark, be
was in his turn alarmed at the appearance of this supposed
spectre; ana as he related the story the next morning, it
seems he stood still some moments before he durst proceed.
However, having a stick in his hand, he extended it at
arm’s length, ana advancing towards a tree, against which
he saw the object, he was induced to exclaim—Ghost! or
whatever you may be, pray be civil.—But as he still con-
tinued advancing with a slow pace, instead of penetrating
a body of thin air, he found his stick in contact with the
clothes of a female, who proved to be a Miss G-, a
voung