The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1883-08-25 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

DORSETSIIIRE GHOSTS. In Dorsetshire little if any superstition attaches to Hallow-e'en, the night still sacred to the departed in Scotland and the North of England. Old Christmas-eve is regarded as a day favoured by connection with the supernatural; and it is said that the cows and sheep, whethek in the field or shed, go on their knees and low gently at the sound of the stroke of twelve o'clock. This idea is common to many countries, and has its origin, of course, in the traditional presence of cattle in the Bethlehem stable. The night to be really dreaded, a Dorset rustic thinks, is Midsummer night. Anyone who is anxious to see spirits in a visible form can do so then, provided he will conform Sc' or two conditions. He should eleven o'clock to the nearest church porch. llt is not a sine qua • non that a I goes alone; but if he is in company, b serve the strictest silence, and it is that he should not eV/in look at his con As midnight approaches he will find gradually deprived of all power to rise or When twelve o'dlock strikes " will suddenly become filled with  those of everyone he ever  or dead. They will pass . n into the  happen during the come very slowly at ' the calamity to fallwill oome. This la, awe of the and most beaqtiful night in the year comes England from that North wh.” sun blazes at midnight. and little superstition about _ night of tile South. Bagley House, near Bridport, has very gla legends attaching to it. Tr- 'NI (for stories age traced back to the ' I that Squire Light., who then t I had been hunting one day, and home had gone away again and _ self. His groom had followed him presentiment that something wee arrived at the pond in time to see the tragedy. As he returned he was the spirit of his drowned horsed him. He soon fell . naverrecovered, one of the Ansequemces of illness being that his skin entirely wale-Shortly after Squire Lighte's suicide house was troubled by noisy disturbances, t were at once associated with the deed of self-destruction. It was gested that the spirit should be formally duly " laid "or exorcised. A number of the clergy went, therefore, for that purpose, and succeeded in inducing the ghost to confineitsell to a chimney in the house for a certain number of years, it is not known exactly how long. For many years after this, however, the place remained at peace; but on the expiration of the power ef the charm very much worse disturbances broke out again. Raps would be heard at the front door; steps in the passages and on the stairs ; doors opening and closing. The rustle of ladies dressed in silk was audible in the drawing-room, and from that room the sound was traced to a summer-house in the garden. The crockery would be all violently moved, and at certain rare intervals a male figure, dressed in old-fashioned costume, is said to have made itself visible, and walked about the house. The neighbours say that these extraordinary occur. rences continued for many years. They believe in them most firmly, and are of opinion that as long as the house stands it will be thus troubled. An element worthy of notice in this Istory is the time-honoured faith in the power of the clergy over evil spirits. The high road from Wimborne to Cranborne passes through one of the woods on the St ,estate. the roadside are foUr or five magnificent fir trees, which give the spot a gloomy, shadowy appearance, making it in all respects a fit resort for ghosts. There is a farm which haunts this Owe. They say it is that of a female figure dressed in white, and wearing a hood which covers her face. She pates to and I fro, but as soon as anyone succeeds in coming near her, she makes a wild rush through the hedge. After this there is a crashing sound, like a waggon and horses going fast through a wood, which continues for some minutes. The popular belief is that a murder was committed there in bygone years.