Book Clipping of the Day

This following story of...astral projection? appears in John Tregortha's "News of the Invisible World," (1813)

John Thomas, of St. Just, in Cornwall. is about sixty-two years of age, and has been a notorious drunkard the greatest part of his life. He told me that on Sunday, 21st December 1783, about 7 o'clock in the evening, he left San Crete (now spelt Sancreed) in order to go to St. Just. As it was dark he missed his way, and about midnight fell into a pit about five fathoms deep. On being missing his friends made diligent search for him, but to no purpose.

The next Sabbath day, as one of his neighbours was going to seek his sheep, he saw, at some distance, the appearance of a man sitting on the bank. On drawing near he saw the apparition go round to the other side of the bank. When he came to the place he could see no one; but heard a human voice in the bottom of the pit. Thinking that some smugglers had got down to hide their liquors, he went on; but coming back the same way again he heard the voice. He now listened more attentively, and as he could hear one voice he concluded it was John Thomas who was missing, and on calling to him, he found that he was not mistaken in this. He went and got help, and soon got him out of the pit. But as he had been there near eight days he was very low when he was got out; but is now in a fair way to do well. In the bottom of the pit he found a small current of water; which he drank freely of. This, in all likelihood, was the means of keeping him alive.

It is said that several other persons saw the apparition, but took no notice of it.

As I am not fond of crediting stories of this kind on common report, I resolved to get the account from his own mouth.

W. Moore, Redruth, Jan. 22, 1784