Allegedly first hand account

The Banshee - A Rather Strange Experience.

To the Editor of the Weekly Irish Times.

 Dear Sir, -- Referring to this very interesting subject which I now see fully discussed in the columns of the Weekly Irish Times, I wish to make a few remarks, and give to the reader what I consider is a rather stranger experience, though perhaps not bearing directly on the above subject, but which is strictly true in all its details. Who has not heard of the "banshee", and of the many stories associated with it? How it follows some families (principally old ones) in Ireland? You have heard it assumes different forms, sometimes that of an old shrivelled hag, and at other times the form of a beautiful female, with long flowing tresses. How it is sent to be the forerunner of some disaster to the particular family which it follows, which it foretells by a mournful wail or moan. It is of this class of experience I wish to write. I reside close to a family who are reputed to be followed by a banshee. One night a succession of piercing shrieks awakened many of the inhabitants residing in the same street as I. The shrieks then gave place to a long low moan passing by the doors, and dying off in the distance, and then all was silent. Many of the people got up to try and find out what had happened or where the sounds proceeded from; but no trace of any creature could be found on the street. A telegram was received next morning by the family I referred to, acquainting them of the murder of one who was a member of that family but a short time previous, and who left home and father and mother to become the wife of him who murdered her. The murderer committed suicide. Some years after this I was retiring to bed one night - it wanted but a few minutes of midnight. I had just wound my watch, and was in the act of leaving it down when suddenly there arose a sound which I shall never, never forget - a cry, louder than the cry that any human being could give utterance to. It seemed to me like the cry of a soul in torment. It rose high and loud on the midnight air, then sank into a long, low moan, thrice in quick succession, then died away into the night. The sound proceeded from the street, yet the room in which I stood was filled with the cry as if it was close at hand. I crept into bed; a hundred thoughts hunted each other through my brain. What was it? Then I thought of the "banshee," and of the occurrence years before, but I tried to laugh at the thought, but could not banish it from my mind. Next morning the first news I heard was that old Mr. M--- was dead! And people spoke in whispers of the dread cry heard the previous night. If any reader of the instances I have related have ever had a similar experience I would wish to hear it, as I am deeply interested in this matter. Stories of the "banshee" have often been related to me by father and mother - their own experiences - which I believe implicitly. Indeed I know many people who firmly believe in the "banshee." -- Yours, &c., R.I.N.B.  

Weekly Irish Times, 4th July 1891.