Chapter I: Front Matter

TWENTY YEARS’ EXPERIENCE AS A
GHOST HUNTER

Twenty Years’ Experience
as a Ghost Hunter

BY

ELLIOT O’DONNELL

AUTHOR OF “THE SORCERY CLUB,” “WERWOLVES,”
“SOME HAUNTED HOUSES OF ENGLAND AND WALES,”
“HAUNTED HIGHWAYS,” ETC., ETC.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY
PHYLLIS VERE CAMPBELL
AND
H. C. BEVAN-PETMAN

HEATH, CRANTON, LTD.
FLEET LANE, LONDON

_First Published, November, 1916._

_Second Edition, February, 1917._

AUTHOR’S NOTE

In presenting this volume of ghostly reminiscences to the Public I would lay stress on the fact that, in order to avoid the danger of incurring an action for slander or libel, I have—save where expressedly stated to the contrary—resorted to the use of fictitious names for all persons and houses. For the reproduction of one or two articles I am indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Ralph Shirley.

ELLIOT O’DONNELL.

1916.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. I COMMENCE MY GHOSTLY INVESTIGATIONS IN DUBLIN 11

II. I AM PURSUED BY PHANTOM FOOTSTEPS 23

III. SOME STRANGE CASES IN SCOTLAND 34

IV. I TRAVEL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND DO SOME GHOST
HUNTING IN SAN FRANCISCO 49

V. A HAUNTED OFFICE IN DENVER 58

VI. CASES OF HAUNTINGS IN ST. LOUIS, NEW YORK, AND CHICAGO 69

VII. A HAUNTED WOOD, AND A HAUNTED QUARRY IN CANADA 86

VIII. HAUNTINGS IN THE EAST END 105

IX. NIGHT RAMBLINGS ON WIMBLEDON COMMON AND HOUNSLOW HEATH 122

X. MY VIEWS ON A FUTURE LIFE FOR THE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE
WORLDS 136

XI. A HAUNTING IN REGENT’S PARK, AND MY FURTHER VIEWS WITH
REGARD TO SPIRITUALISM 148

XII. A HAUNTED MINE IN WALES 159

XIII. THE POOL IN WALES THAT LURES PEOPLE TO DEATH 169

XIV. I GO ON WITH THE HISTORY OF MY LIFE, AND NARRATE A
GHOSTLY HAPPENING IN LIVERPOOL 183

XV. SOME STRANGE CASES IN BIRMINGHAM, HARROGATE, SUSSEX AND
NEWCASTLE 194

XVI. WAR GHOSTS 206

XVII. A CASE FROM JAPAN 223

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING
PAGE

1 “WE BOTH LOOKED IN THE DIRECTION HE INDICATED” 39

2 “WHO IS THAT TALL, GOOD-LOOKING GIRL, STELLA, THAT I’VE
SEEN FOLLOWING YOU INTO THE BUILDING....” 63

3 “BUT THERE ARE OTHER GHOSTS—IF YOU LIKE TO TERM THEM
SO—THAT ARE MORE TROUBLESOME” 82

4 “I LOOKED UP, JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE GIRL FLASH ME A LOOK
OF SUBTLE WARNING” 94

5 “THE THING CAME RIGHT UP TO THE WINDOW, AND THEN RAISED ITS
FACE” 101

6 “WHAT GIVES ME THE WORST FRIGHT IS A TREE....” 141

7 “MY GOD! THERE’S DICK! HE’S JUST BEHIND YOU” 167

8 “I SUDDENLY CAUGHT SIGHT OF A LARGE EYE” 205

Twenty Years’ Experience
as a Ghost Hunter