Previous
Events Embroiling Company Members
"Encounters with the Theosophical Society" at Skipton, August 1899
Previous
Events Embroiling Company Members
 Arriving at the Station |
A few days after the Glorious Twelfth Lord Buffington invited us all to Skipton to examine a scrap of paper found by Mrs Michaels and later confirmed as part of a lost prophecy of Mother Shipton. We assembled on the Friday evening at the Woolly Sheep Inn, where we awaited our host, Lord Buffington. Fortunately his father, the Earl of Hothfield, was on hand to greet us, and it even transpired that he had once witnessed Buffy's fabled comic sketch! | |
| Our pleasantries were interrupted by the arrival of Mr Cross, who had not been invited so had drawn his own invitation. Secondly my brother Hector appeared, on the run from the law (again). He had with him a suitcase a friend had given him, which when later examined contained various strange things, including a severed hand. I believe Reverend Michaels will think twice before saying "Don't come and fetch me unless it contains a severed limb" in future! Finally Miss Catt, a new addition to our company, arrived, having been attacked on the train. |
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 The Inspector & Reverend discuss theunusual contents of Squiffy's vallice. |
Others in the Company had seen her assailants jump off the train near Keighley! Though Lord Brockett's claims that they were Indians who had tried to take Mrs Michaels with them were later found to be somewhat exaggerated. The prophecy pointed to nearby Bolton Abbey, so the Company caught the steam train there the next morning, alas I elected to bring along the picnic in Buffy's new motorcar, never again! |
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| Everything seemed much quieter in the morning and even the addition of the Astronomer Royal on the train failed to alert us to what might befall the Company, and myself, later! We were met at Bolton Abbey by Viscount Burlington and the local vicar, Reverend Paine. Reverend Paine commented on a striking meteor shower that had taken place a few days ago. He also showed the Company to where people had been seen acting suspiciously the previous night. |
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There we found a leather folder containing the full prophecy. Alas it suggested something awful would happen at Skipton that very night! After another strange occurrence at the station, where Hector acquired a hood in a rather pleasant shade of red, and a mask we spent the afternoon quite pleasantly at a tea party hosted by Lord and Lady Hothfield. |
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was there, in between some quite competitive croquet, that the Company first
encountered Father Gregorii Rasputin. Though I must say he seemed quite
a charming fellow…those eyes, that hair, that voice… After a while
Lord and Lady Hothfield and their guests retired to dress for dinner, while
we took advantage of the privacy afforded by the Vinery to share our information
and talk of angels, airships and theosophists. All were interrupted by a poacher in the castle grounds. While others chased the young lady in question, Jackson protected the body of a man found in the poacher's wake. However the man woke up and pointing a gun at Jackson, made good his escape. Next a lunatic, who had escaped from Skipton asylum attacked poor Jackson, claiming that his teddy bear was the fabled Comte de St Germain. Fortunately Jackson was able to overpower the man and lock him in a strong room in Skipton castle until the authorities could be summoned. |
 Father Gregori Rasputin - Big Scarry Russian |
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Finally we encountered one more visitor, Hector's friend Squiffy, who was found attempting to dig up a grave at Holy Trinity Church. On questioning, rather forcefully I thought, Squiffy revealed to Reverend Michaels that he was a member of the Theosophical Society and that the ritual tonight was by a group of Theosophists hoping to bring the 'Fallen Ones' back to Earth, where they would impart great wisdom. The Company, unsure as to whether the ritual was to enlighten the world or spell our doom, decided to infiltrate it. |
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| When the time drew near Hector bravely donned his mask, hood and amulet and went to appointed site. My poor brother did not remember much afterwards, save that Father Gregorii conducted the ritual in what Hector believed to be Russian, and it involved those hideous hands of glory. The Reverend and the Professor searched the site and found a box of strange rocks, which were hot to the touch. The next day is somewhat a blur to me. |
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 Mrs. Michaels gazes stunned at the unsubtle table arrangement, taken from the Theosophists |
I
had retired early the previous night and do not remember much beyond the
Major and Dr Staunton waking me in the grounds of the castle the next morning.
I was terribly hungry and seemed to have spilt something dreadful on my
dress. Nevertheless Hector informs me that I had been walking in my sleep
and the others had come to find me. On arrival at the castle they found it had was full of theosophists. A fierce gun battle ensued and Father Gregorii walked through it all unscathed. |
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 Hector and the others storm the castle gates at Skipton in an attempt to rescue his sister |
After I had recovered myself we met a rather upset Mrs Michaels who claimed to have seen two gentlemen dressed in black and wearing smoked glasses back at the Castle. |
 Hector reloads c/0 the timely arrival of Jackson while Miss. Montgomery gives cover |
| Returning to the castle we were met by Lord Hothfield. A rather dangerous gas leak meant that we had to leave the castle at once. Retiring to a tea shop we discovered that Elayne had already left to pack for an impending trip to Russia, the Professor had been dreadfully injured and I had received a letter delivered by a small girl" |
 Men in Dark Glasses? |
 The ladies provide valuable cover with theeir umberellas in order to rush the enermy |
| Extract from The Occult Diary of a Victorian Lady, edited by Hector Agnew. Available from Past Times and National Trust book shops. Watch out for other Occult Diary merchandise: address books, napkin rings and after dinner chocolates. | ||
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