Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-29
GBcsTS At SCOTTISH MANSIONS
Some Of the Castles in the Land OF
the Thistle that Are Haunted.
CThe Gentleman.

tlne Nentlcman.l
Scotland. the land Of deep enthusiasm
and poetic feeling. f. essentially land of
superstition, Witness the firm belief
Of the peasantry in the wierd traditions
OF the west and the Highlands In the
uncanny appartions. foreboders Of evil
to the family TO whom they belong. and
their avoidance Of the sO-called abodes Of
ghosts and evil spirits. Nor do they
stand alone in their beliefs: among the
upper class credence is given to much
that is supernatural. and not without
cause, as the history Of the ancient Cas-
tie Of Glamis In Forfarshire relates. Al
though the whole house abounds I'm mys-
ferrous noises and ghostly visitors. one
chamber IN particular is known as the
haunted ROOM" and access 10 this fear
some place IS only known 10 Lord Strath-
more. his heir and the factor
There is no doubt whatever about the
noises; one night when they were more
weird and uneartbly than usual. the
present earl. with several chosen COM
pan0ns determined 70 investigate the
cause. and went to the room. Hardly
had HIS lordship opened the door when
he fell back swooning Nor could he
ever be persuaded TO tell what he saw.
or even mention the subject one old
story is that during a feud between the
Lindseys and Ocilvies. some of the lat
ter clan, in fight from their enemies.
besought hospitality from the owner Of
CLAIMS. He gaze them shelter In this
room, but, under plea Of hiding them.
left them there 10 starve. II may have
been the sight Of the CHASTITY remains
rtrfrf
II was Is still a secret. Another story
is that OF Earl Pate" celebrated for
many vices. but above all for that Of
gambling. He played continually hob
nobbng with his humblest servitor. could
he not obtain another partner. However,
one Lords day. no one could be per
suaded 10 play with him. The chaplain
heaped anath-mas on the head OF any
one who dared to desecrate the saw
bath" By touching the "leeyirs buiks."
as he designated cards.
Earl Pate. rather than Dee thwartei
In his desire, invoking the 'fOui ieni'
10 be his partner, locked himself into his
room The "deiw came and then the
fun was fast and furious: curses oaths.
and shrleks terrified the inmates and the
butler, Drawer than the rest. putting his
eye 10 the keyh0le, had IL s0rely sc0rch-
ed FOR his curiosity. The earl. coming out
for a minute TO get he wherewithal 20
settle up, returned only to find the room
empty. and nowhere could any trace OF
his ghosty comrade he found. After his
death, five years later, the same noises
were constantly heard issuing from the
room and along the corridors.
Alanbank, the seat OF the Stuarts. 4
haunted by the ghost Of "pearlin Jean"
She was the wife Of the first baronet, and
a FrenchwOman. whom he married I'm
Paris and deserted. When returning 20
his native land. she appeared at the las
moment 10 bid him goodbye, and stood
on the foreWheel II the coach TO address
him. Much annoyed. he bade the position
drive on; the lady fell and the wheels.
going over her head killed her on h's
arrival home, when driving under the
archcd entrance gateway. ST Rooert s5N
"Pearlin Jean" sitting on the top her
head and shoulders covered with bloot,
and for years the rustic or SILK and pat
ter of Louis XIV. heels were head along
the passages
Trer. le. perhaps. no more notorious
ghost than the "Airlie Drummer: his
haunt u an ancient stronghold, COrtaCny
Castle belonging - the Farls Of Alrlie
Whenever his drum is heard. those around
take 1t as sure token of the speedy
death OF one Of the Oglvie family. The
origin Of the story Is that the Jealousy
Of a former Lord OF Airlle was reused
either by the drummer or the officer
whose messenger he was. In rage ne
thrust the man into his drum, and flung
him out Of the window Of the tower 600
which the music Is usually heard The
to haunt the family. and he has been as
good. or rather as bad. as his word. The
music II the hapless drummer has often
been heard. and quite recently, within
the memory Of those liying-ln 1874. before
the death Of Lady Airlle, and IN lSD be-
fore the death OF the ninth earl.
Spedlins tower. now q ruined border
fortress. was long haunted By the spirit
Of a miller named Porteous, who. being
suspected OF arson, was ncarcerated ~
the dungeon by Sir Alexander Jariine
Having occasion 30 go away from home
he forgot all about bis prisoner, who per
shed OF hunger. NO sooner was NJ dead
than his ghost began 10 torment the fam
iIy. and gave them no rest night or day
At last. by the aid OF several ministers
the demon was exercised, ana 4 Bible
was placed In a niche In his cell. Years
after IL was thought necessary 90 have
the bible rebound Accordingly 10 was
sent q Edinburgh for that purpose "
had not been long on IT'S way before the
ghost left his dungeon. fed over the
river TO the new home 10 winch the
family had recently removed. hauled the
baronat and his wife out Of bed, causing
much terror and disturbance. Only
through returning the Bible 10 its niche
I'm its old condition was Porteous's re-
Woodhouse Lee. the seat Of the Fraser
Tytlers Is visited by the spirit OF Lady
Hamilton. OF Bothwellhaugh. Her hus-
Regent Murray at I.inlithgow. In 1863
and surely no assassin had ever greater
provOcatiOn. Knowing Hamilton was
frn~1 horp The Regent seized his house,
turned his wife and child out naked into
the he.ds; before morn she was a raying
maniac, her infant dead, probably muir
dered. and now her restless spirit haunts
the abode of her former happiness Part
OF the masonry Of the old building was
used for the present mansion, which Is
built On the Pentland hills, four miles dis
tant from the scene OF the tragedy; ana
but few years ago the dOmestics were
terrified by the apparition OF a lady robed
IN white holding a child in her arms
which shows the spectre is still faithful
10 her old home.
The Inveraray ghost Is another we'll
authenticated story the hearse OF which
drives up 10 the door OF the castle bcfore
the decease Of any member OF the Argyll
family. IL Is said, during the illness OF the
late Duchess. that two OF the servants nj
lnyeraray, while resting In the gloanling
heard the noise Of wheels, unbarred the
great door OF the entrance hall and an
opening il. found nothing there shortly
afterward they heard OF the death OF
their mistress.
Dunyegan. the home Of the Macleods
the oldest inhabited castle In Scotland. Is
visited by those delightful spirits--fairies
There Is still the fairy flag. given centu-
rles ago 10 the CHIEF OF Macleod by the
fairies, and which always brought them
victory when they took II To battle 4
room In the tower IL devoted to them
music and dancing are often heard but