Long before the Tinonee Ghost came to public attention in the 1920s, another ghost haunted the nearby region of Bungay. In 1887 an apparition suddenly appeared over a period of months scaring horses and gentlemen alike. The ghost was in the form of a man dressed in black, wearing a high hat and riding a black horse.
In December 1887, Mr R Cameron, a highly respected resident of Bungay, was riding home from Wingham one evening when this ghost in black rode up to him and gave a groan. Mr Cameron was worried and asked the man ‘Who is getting murdered?’ The apparition then gave another loud groan before disappearing over a precipice on his horse. Mr Cameron’s horse bolted through the bush.
Three nights later Mr R Cameron’s son, J Cameron, was riding home along the same road when a similar experience occurred causing J Cameron’s horse to also bolt. It seems the horses would not go past this haunted spot. The next day the Camerons went to inspect the spot where the ghost disappeared over the cliff but no traces of the man or his horse were found. Residents who knew Mr Cameron were amazed at this story because he was too well known to concoct such a story and too sensible to be frightened by ghostly spirits.1
Author: Janine Roberts
References:
1 Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 5 Jan 1888, 5.
