Covenanters Prison,
Second Visit 24th April 2003
Due to the results
of the previous visit when all the action seemed to take place
during the tour, when there were a lot of people in the Black
Mausoleum, we had decided to invite along some students so
that we could try and raise the energy level in the Mausoleum
and the Prison itself. We encouraged the students to take
the tour first so they would have the same kind of energy
that was in the Mausoleum when we witnessed the collapses
on the Tuesday night. We had also arranged with the tour guide
that we would already be in the tomb awaiting the arrival
of the tour so that we could record all events as they happened.
We set up our thermometers all around the Black mausoleum
above head height so that they wouldn't be messed with by
the crowd (see diagram).
1.
Main unit strapped to door.
2. Remote 1. Strapped to left hand pier.
3. Remote 2. Strapped to rear left hand support.
4. Remote 3. Strapped to right hand pier.Initial readings were:1.
N/A
2. 9.1 degrees
3. 10 degrees
4. 9 degrees
(All temperatures are in degrees centigrade)
Taking up positions so that we wouldn't be seen until the tour
entered the tomb (they had been warned of our presence) we waited.
We started to record as soon as the tour arrived but unfortunately
no action this time. Once the tour had finished and everyone
had left the prison we gathered outside with our volunteers
and stressed to them that they were doing this of there own
free will and at there own risk. They were also told that if
for any reason any member of the team became unhappy with the
way things were going the night's activities would be stopped.
The
first experiment of the night was to be a simple EVP session
in the Black Mausoleum. As the group entered the Mausoleum several
things worth mentioning happened. One of the guests commented
to one of the team that she could see "a black mass"
in the rear corner of the Mausoleum, interestingly the EMF showed
a large rise in activity but only in the area where the mass
was seen. When the guest said she could no longer see it the
readings dropped back to normal. It should also be noted that
a temperature rise was also noted in the same corner as the
mass. A separate team member was also approached at this time
and told by another guest that she had been touched on the back
of the neck however no one was behind her at the time. Another
guest mentioned that he was experiencing numbness in his feet
and pins and needles down one side, and yet another reported
seeing "rapidly moving lights" on the wall behind
the open gate of the Mausoleum. The EVP experiment continued
from this point with our standard EVP questions being asked
with a suitable gap left on the recording for any answers:
"We
are here this evening to gather information and would very much
like to talk with you and ask you some questions. If you find
it difficult to speak then please let us know you are here by
tapping.
1. What is your
name?
2. Can you tell us what year it is?
3. Are you alone here?
4. How many others are with you?
5. Do you interact with the others here?
6. Are they all from the same time as you?
7. Are you aware of your state of existence?
8. Are you happy?
9. Are you happy for us to be here with you at this time?
10. Is there anything you would like tell us?
11. How long have you been here?
12. Thank you for talking with us, is there anything we can
do for you?"
After
checking the recording we have discovered a voice that if it
is a genuine EVP (we have our doubts) could well be the best
and most relevant answer we have ever had. It comes just before
the session itself and after Scotty has explained to the guests
what is about to happen. Scotty says "starting…………..now",
and immediately after another voice, much softer replies. I
won't tell you what we think it says, as I don't want to influence
your judgment as to what you think it says, See EVP1. Unfortunately
we got no replies to any of the actual questions.
One
of our guests was a spiritualist and tarot reader who claimed
the ability to channel energy. She pointed out to Scotty that
she could feel some energy emanating from an open monument further
down the prison, so it was decided that we would repeat the
EVP experiment at that location. After the standard questions
had been asked (again no responses) we gave our guest the opportunity
to ask a few questions of there own. At this point Scotty heard
a sound from behind him coming from the gate of a locked Mausoleum
(This sound was caught on tape). He informed another team member
that he had heard something and was going to have a look. He
looked through the gate into the Mausoleum but could see no
one, a picture was taken and it was noted that the gate was
shut. While Scotty was walking over to investigate another one
of our guests approached Louise and asked her if Scotty was
going to investigate the figure he had just seen. He told her
that he had seen a human shaped figure move from our side of
the prison across the grass and into the tomb Scotty was investigating.
As
we had noted a dramatic rise in temperature on our earlier visit
and had wondered if it was anything to do with Scotty entering
Bloody McKenzie's tomb, we had decided that we would re-enter
the tomb, and this time keep a close eye on the thermometers
in the Black Mausoleum. So Scotty and a few of the volunteers
went back to visit with George and his friends, staying in touch
with the others in the Black Mausoleum via walkie-talkie. A
very small rise in temperature was noted on the thermometers
in the Black Mausoleum:
1.
10.5 degrees
2. 10.5 degrees
3. 10.6 degrees
4. 10.6 degrees
(All temperatures are in degrees centigrade)
Some of the guests told us that they could feel a column of
warmer air situated in the entrance to the Mausoleum. This was
recorded on the thermometer that was placed at that point and
lasted for several minutes giving all present the chance to
feel and move through it. There were approx. 7 people in the
Mausoleum at the time the column was noted, but others who had
been outside soon joined them. Interestingly, when we had recorded
the temperature rise on the previous visit the highest rise
was recorded in the corner nearest to where the thermometer
was now. The temperatures had remained stable all night apart
from the earlier rise mentioned above. Scotty reports that as
he started down the steps into McKenzie's crypt the batteries
in his camera drained completely. Also walkie-talkie communication
was not possible at this point but this is to be expected in
a solid stone tomb.
Everyone
returned to the Black Mausoleum for a final channeling session
with the help of the spiritualist. The session got underway
and all but Sam joined the circle, she stayed outside of the
group to monitor the thermometers and carried a Dictaphone with
her as she did so. No anomalies were apparent on the thermometers
but when we listen to the recording on the Dictaphone two possible
voices were found. At this point we have no idea what they are
saying. It should be stressed that it was dead quiet in the
mausoleum during the channeling session and if anyone had spoken
it would have been heard by Sam. Sam also reports being scratched
by something across her right hand, but inside her clothes,
not through them! Her sister also notes that at that point Sam
looked very pale. Once the channeling session came to an end
Sam also reported that she was feeling very unwell, this feeling
persisted as we packed up our gear ready to leave for the night,
but once outside the prison gates it stopped.
An
interesting night was had by all we think that all our guests
left happy that they had been part of the experience, we would
to extend our thanks to all who took part and Jan Henderson
of City Of The Dead Tours for allowing as such fantastic access
to the Covenanters Prison, we have every intention of returning
next year for a longer investigation with a larger team.
Some Important Notes.
There are a couple
of important points that I would like to make before I finish.
There are other possible reasons for the strange things occurring
at the Covenanters Prison apart from a ghostly one. Jan Henderson
and the tour guides from the City Of The Dead Tours have the
theory that the "poltergeist" is nothing more than
charged pheromones, which are added to daily by the amount
of scared people that enter the Black Mausoleum. They believe
that this started due to the amount of charged emotion (fear)
that was released when the tramp met the caretaker coming
out of McKenzie's tomb. Whilst I don't necessarily agree that
it could be pheromones I do think it's possible that it is
a man made phenomena created at the time of the caretaker's
care. That is one possible explanation and one that holds
with a paranormal view. However it should be noted that the
ground under Greyfriars is mud rock to a depth of approximately
300 feet when it becomes sandstone. Now it is possible that
the pores in the sandstone could become saturated with mineral
electrolytes creating a huge battery, which under the right
circumstances could discharge creating an electrical field,
which would cause certain reactions in people as it causes
minor seizures to certain parts of the brain. It should also
be noted that backing onto the Black Mausoleum is Edinburgh
Universities Artificial Intelligence Unit. Now surely a department
that deals in AI would have to have a large amount of electrical
equipment, which could account for the EMF fluctuations recorded
in the mausoleum and indeed the surrounding area.
* Due to an attack
of a recurring knee complaint Mike Driscoll was unable to
attend.
