The Paranormal Guide Investigation Team headed out to Troubridge Island after learning of the many tragedies that had taken place there.
We had not heard of any paranormal activity taking place on the island, but soon after arriving that all changed, as the team set in for two nights of investigations.
We had not heard of any paranormal activity taking place on the island, but soon after arriving that all changed, as the team set in for two nights of investigations.
Going in Raw
Troubridge Island, our home for that weekend. Here are some of the teams experiences from our Troubridge Island investigation. We organised the investigation there solely based on the fact that there had been many ship wrecks around the location which necessitated the construction of the Troubridge Lighthouse in the 1850's. We had not heard of any stories of hauntings there, but figured we would go have a look anyway.
We booked the island for two nights and made the journey – a matter of travelling from Adelaide to Edithburgh, SA, then a quick boat ride to the location. The islands leasee told us of a few of the deaths that have taken place at the lighthouse, or the near vicinity (ship wrecks, suicide, possible murder, a boat load of people going missing etc) but I will save those stories for a post solely on the history and haunts of the island.
We booked the island for two nights and made the journey – a matter of travelling from Adelaide to Edithburgh, SA, then a quick boat ride to the location. The islands leasee told us of a few of the deaths that have taken place at the lighthouse, or the near vicinity (ship wrecks, suicide, possible murder, a boat load of people going missing etc) but I will save those stories for a post solely on the history and haunts of the island.
Up close. On arrival we unpacked, and while the rest of the team started to settle in and sort out equipment etc, myself and Tash went into the disused second residence to see if Tash happened to pick up on any presences. She soon started to pick up on several, however it was an area near an old bathroom, hallway and kitchen that seemed not to be so positive. This was taken note of, and we went back to the other house.
We discovered a stack of guest books that had comments by previous people who have stayed on the island. Wondering if any of the names were familiar, we started to look through the books. We soon discovered that many, many people, perhaps one group in five, had made comment of strange experiences on the island, especially in the disused second residence. Many made mention of the bathroom, hallway and kitchen in that building, which at least validated some of what Tash had felt.
After dinner that night, we set in for some work.
We discovered a stack of guest books that had comments by previous people who have stayed on the island. Wondering if any of the names were familiar, we started to look through the books. We soon discovered that many, many people, perhaps one group in five, had made comment of strange experiences on the island, especially in the disused second residence. Many made mention of the bathroom, hallway and kitchen in that building, which at least validated some of what Tash had felt.
After dinner that night, we set in for some work.
Investigating
The second building is the old cottage. The investigation started with a walk around of the old, disused second lighthouse keeper’s cottage. As mentioned, this was where the teams sensitive Tash had picked up on a number of presences, especially around the bathroom and kitchen. These areas were later found to be areas where many previous guests had had their own experiences as was evident in the notes left in the guest books.
Two cameras were set up, one a static camera looking over the kitchen table where we decided to hold the session, and another mobile cam that would be held by one of the team to further record the session from another angle.
Earlier in the day Paul (the teams tech manager) had set up an EM pump and left it running, as theory states that such a device can 'charge' the environment, potentially allowing spirits to easier manifest activity.
Several other devices were set up in the vicinity of the kitchen, though it was the ouija board that would form the focus of the nights (and the following nights) activities and experiences.
Two cameras were set up, one a static camera looking over the kitchen table where we decided to hold the session, and another mobile cam that would be held by one of the team to further record the session from another angle.
Earlier in the day Paul (the teams tech manager) had set up an EM pump and left it running, as theory states that such a device can 'charge' the environment, potentially allowing spirits to easier manifest activity.
Several other devices were set up in the vicinity of the kitchen, though it was the ouija board that would form the focus of the nights (and the following nights) activities and experiences.
Not from our ouija session, but they tend to all look similar. Everyone sat around the table, the doors to the hallway and bathroom were left open and the session began. I will focus now just on the board session, as that provided the most interesting experiences, though at times different pieces of equipment did present with readings.
Four placed their hands on the planchette, after those who chose to protect themselves did so, while others went in raw. After about twenty minutes of asking questions and attempting to illicit a response from the board, the planchette finally began to move.
The letters the planchette indicated were as follows:
E K U L I M A 91 K C A B
Then it was drawn to 'Goodbye'. I was recording the letters as they presented themselves, but figured it was complete garbage, as they seemed to present in a random order. Just after the session finished, Tash and Lyn both began to feel some soreness to their heads – not a headache but more of an outer pain. Footsteps were heard to travel towards the kitchen and up the hall from the bathroom, before ceasing.
Four placed their hands on the planchette, after those who chose to protect themselves did so, while others went in raw. After about twenty minutes of asking questions and attempting to illicit a response from the board, the planchette finally began to move.
The letters the planchette indicated were as follows:
E K U L I M A 91 K C A B
Then it was drawn to 'Goodbye'. I was recording the letters as they presented themselves, but figured it was complete garbage, as they seemed to present in a random order. Just after the session finished, Tash and Lyn both began to feel some soreness to their heads – not a headache but more of an outer pain. Footsteps were heard to travel towards the kitchen and up the hall from the bathroom, before ceasing.
Backwards Writing Ghosts?
One of the past residents... not a great smile. It was at this point Wes, who had been thinking on the words, said 'The only thing I can think of is K C A B could be 'Back' written backwards'. It was then that Ash made the realisation and came up with what the words could read:
'BACK 19 AM I LUKE (it should be noted that the numbers presented after asking for the agents age).
It was decided to try some other techniques, so we turned on another piece of equipment that many may feel to be controversial – the Ghost Box. This device scans past radio stations, never locking onto a station and continually travels past the different bands. It is thought that the voices that present themselves amongst the white noise may be that of a spirit. Many believe it is just radio chatter being picked up, so will let you decide.
Immediately, after turning it on, four words presented – "Luke" "Fuck" "Paul" "Why/Hi". Paul had in fact asked it to say his name, the other words were not in response to a question.
'BACK 19 AM I LUKE (it should be noted that the numbers presented after asking for the agents age).
It was decided to try some other techniques, so we turned on another piece of equipment that many may feel to be controversial – the Ghost Box. This device scans past radio stations, never locking onto a station and continually travels past the different bands. It is thought that the voices that present themselves amongst the white noise may be that of a spirit. Many believe it is just radio chatter being picked up, so will let you decide.
Immediately, after turning it on, four words presented – "Luke" "Fuck" "Paul" "Why/Hi". Paul had in fact asked it to say his name, the other words were not in response to a question.
Other past keepers and helpers. At this point, banging was heard from the chairs left in the bathroom hall, followed by Wes’ chair being 'kicked' sufficiently hard enough for us all to hear the bang and to see Wes be jolted. The ghost box was then turned off, and we tried some sensory deprivation work which presented some strange experiences, but the fact we were denying some of our senses may have caused those senses still free of being dumb down, to have overcompensated.
At about 1am, after 6 hours of work, we called it a night. We still had a full day and a second night of investigation, so decided it best not to wear ourselves out early. The lights were turned off, and we left the residence to return to our accommodation next door. However, at about 2am it was noticed that the kitchen light in house two was back on, Lyn believing it to be an invitation.
An interesting first night, but night two was when it became really interesting....
At about 1am, after 6 hours of work, we called it a night. We still had a full day and a second night of investigation, so decided it best not to wear ourselves out early. The lights were turned off, and we left the residence to return to our accommodation next door. However, at about 2am it was noticed that the kitchen light in house two was back on, Lyn believing it to be an invitation.
An interesting first night, but night two was when it became really interesting....
The Second Night
Troubridge Island in 1930. The day was spent relaxing, though a few daylight sessions with various equipment were conducted in house two. Wes and Tash ran another ghost box session, where they heard "Backwards" repeated twice but that was about it.
At 8:15pm we returned to house two for our final nights investigation, and although not the whole group was keen on the idea, we had another session with the board. Once again, after about twenty minutes, the planchette started to move.
This time as it moved, there was a lot of pressure, making a horrible, almost screeching sound from the planchette scraping against the board. The letters it spelt:
T S O H M A I H T I W T O N E K U L
Instantly, when we realised what it had said, although we did not fully understand it, an almost disturbing atmosphere set in for most of the group. Tash felt sick and Lyn read out what it had said backwards:
LUKE NOT WITH I AM HOST
Host is not necessarily a bad thing, but many uses of the word have a negative connotation. Noises were once again heard about the room, the hall and the bathroom. We asked it to move the planchette to "goodbye" but instead it went to "no". At this, we ourselves moved the planchette to goodbye and closed the session. As the board was packed away, a 'hiss' was heard.
Tash wanted to leave the area, as it did not feel right in the kitchen, Lyn joined her as they both left the house completely, leaving Wes, Paul and Ash to investigate... we did not stay long.
The ghost box was turned back on and "Thankyou" "For this" was heard. It was then we noticed torchlight streaming in the window. At first it was ignored, as we thought it was Lyn and Tash walking by, but soon Paul bursts out with "Outside, Now!"
We made our way outside, with a little urgency in our step, to find Lyn in an aggravated state and Tash very concerned. What we did not realise was that Lyn had been yelling at us through the window to leave the building... we could not hear her at all. Lyn had felt something was extremely wrong with what was happening and did not feet comfortable with us staying in the location and preferred we did not return.
We finished for the night, only returning an hour or so later to retrieve the equipment, and start packing up to leave the next day. However, when we returned to the kitchen we asked Lyn to repeat her actions of trying to draw our attention... this time we could hear her clearly, even over the ghost box. Why we could not hear her originally, we do not know.
At 8:15pm we returned to house two for our final nights investigation, and although not the whole group was keen on the idea, we had another session with the board. Once again, after about twenty minutes, the planchette started to move.
This time as it moved, there was a lot of pressure, making a horrible, almost screeching sound from the planchette scraping against the board. The letters it spelt:
T S O H M A I H T I W T O N E K U L
Instantly, when we realised what it had said, although we did not fully understand it, an almost disturbing atmosphere set in for most of the group. Tash felt sick and Lyn read out what it had said backwards:
LUKE NOT WITH I AM HOST
Host is not necessarily a bad thing, but many uses of the word have a negative connotation. Noises were once again heard about the room, the hall and the bathroom. We asked it to move the planchette to "goodbye" but instead it went to "no". At this, we ourselves moved the planchette to goodbye and closed the session. As the board was packed away, a 'hiss' was heard.
Tash wanted to leave the area, as it did not feel right in the kitchen, Lyn joined her as they both left the house completely, leaving Wes, Paul and Ash to investigate... we did not stay long.
The ghost box was turned back on and "Thankyou" "For this" was heard. It was then we noticed torchlight streaming in the window. At first it was ignored, as we thought it was Lyn and Tash walking by, but soon Paul bursts out with "Outside, Now!"
We made our way outside, with a little urgency in our step, to find Lyn in an aggravated state and Tash very concerned. What we did not realise was that Lyn had been yelling at us through the window to leave the building... we could not hear her at all. Lyn had felt something was extremely wrong with what was happening and did not feet comfortable with us staying in the location and preferred we did not return.
We finished for the night, only returning an hour or so later to retrieve the equipment, and start packing up to leave the next day. However, when we returned to the kitchen we asked Lyn to repeat her actions of trying to draw our attention... this time we could hear her clearly, even over the ghost box. Why we could not hear her originally, we do not know.
So There You Go!
Welcome! All up an interesting weekend, with many interesting experiences. We are now left with quite a few questions:
When reading the letters from the sessions backwards, are we getting the right words or should we be breaking them up differently?
If we are correct, who is 'Luke'?
Who is 'Host'?
Or was it all just a coincidence, ideomotor responses, and expectations causing the planchette to move at our own hands?
At the time of writing, we have a lot of video, audio and photographic review to undertake, and maybe one or more of these questions will be answered. I will let you know of any further developments.
When reading the letters from the sessions backwards, are we getting the right words or should we be breaking them up differently?
If we are correct, who is 'Luke'?
Who is 'Host'?
Or was it all just a coincidence, ideomotor responses, and expectations causing the planchette to move at our own hands?
At the time of writing, we have a lot of video, audio and photographic review to undertake, and maybe one or more of these questions will be answered. I will let you know of any further developments.
Ashley Hall 2013
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