1955-05-21 — Page 7

طریر

~ THE CHINÀ MAIL;, SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1955.

Death on the Road-with a Vengeance

THE PHANTOM

LORRY

LEONARD VIGARS TELLS ONE OF THE WORLD'S STRANGEST STORIES

-T was, on the face of investigators walked the road at it, just another un- night. An authority on psychle research, spent several hours fortunate road acci-. there. Nothing came to light dent in which a man büt a number of theories to had been killed. But the account for what was happen- coroner took his jury to ing were put forward. scene at midnight in attempt to find some planation for what happened.

A

the

an One was that füttering strips ex- of paper attached to the hedge had by the road would be caught in a car's light at night, starte the driver and cause a quick swerve, Another said a revolving wind- will of a well nearby made squealing noise like the sound of the brakes of a heavy vehicle being applied. A third was the coincidence of a sloping hedge and jutting wall whese contours in headlights at night or in the hung mist which frequently about the road during the day might be mistaken for a heavy lorry backing into the road.

For a man had sworn he had seen a lorry backing.out of an opening in the road and that had caused the accident. Only there was no opening at that particular point: and there had been no lorry,

Thus was born the story of the Phantom Lorry of Cheshire.

The expression was first used by the coroner himself, the late Mr Stuart Rodger, a careful and painstaking oficiul.

It was

February, 1930, and he was conduct- ing an inquest on a 29-year- old bus-driver, Charles Ridg. way, of lyde, Cheshire.

Ridgway had been a pillion passenger on "his rousin Alter: Collinson's motorcycle. Early in the morning they had both been found in a heap on the road be tween Hyde and Mottram (part of

Manchester-Sheffield

vt32

ad), Ridgway with fatal in juries and Callinson with a frac- tured skull, No one had seen the. crash.

"Collinson fold the jury that when he approached an open- ing between an inn and a cres. roads o heavy metar-vehicle suddenly appeared on his left, -backing out of the opening.

"No Opening

the

cyclist was thrown over hedge although no vehicle was in the way: a car collided with another although there plenty of room to pass,

was

Two months later still a car driver who knew the road well crashed into the hedxe. He had felt his vehicle veering to the right, he said, and was unable to control it. He could and no fault in the car, „

Police Watch

Two days before Christinas Day, 1930, a young Hyde grocer was found lying beside his bicycle 200 yards from the "phantom lorry" spot. He died in hospital and no one could be found to explain have. happened.

what might

constant The police put watch on the road by motor- cycle patrols. They removed the wall and hedge which were said to resemble the back of a lorry of the busiest, at night,

And there was the police ex- planation. The cause of all the trouble, said the Chief Con- stable, was speeding by motor ists or a slight bend on a road which was one

in the North of England.

lorry

phantom Talk of the died away but was renewed six months later when a new series og accidents occurred near the same spol.

A six-wheeled chassis collided, with lamp-standard; a moter-

Did they lay the phanlem? There are stili accidents on the

Hyde to Mottram road which is little changed from what it was in 1930, but there has again been anything like which happened there a quarter of a century ago.

that

PAOLA MORI: "I know how to cope with Orson."

THE MAN THAT I MARRIED

I

son

by Mrs Orson Welles

UNDERSTAND Or. Mr Welles is in the tub-the what bath, you know. He has just

drowned himself...

The

I know people say about him.

Moody. difficult a genius.

, erratic.

wonderful..

"Act with him." they said "and you'll be sick in bed with liver trouble. He's impossible.". Instead, I married the man. You see, I know how to cope with Orson. You just make everything normal for him. have watched him at work and I know.

I

The only actors who complain are the

actors who haven't really got the spark. They are the ones who shake their heads and give me warnings. All the others find working with Orron a stimulating experience. could make a potato act.

They shout

He

It

WHEN Orson is working he is W tense, When something goes

explode. wrong he has to taices five minutes. I just go out of the room and wait for the to be over. It is explosion

then over

quickly--and there is calm again.

Or else i trouble is brewing them I sit back and knit and watch. Once, while Orgon was fixing up a television deal,! knitted an enormous grey sweater for him.. He said he liked on me, though.

sweat

always

is no trouble.

the temper

off then so there

Orsón talks A lot-wonderful, talk about every place exciting in the world.

But Orson only talks a great deal in public if the people with him 'do not have very much to say".

We understand

RSON and I understand one another so well that when we go out together we can sit restaurant perfectly happy in.

That is con- saying nothing. tentment-not boredom.

I suppose It is because I was sometimes bored with my- self that I became an actress, Playing other people gives you excitement.

in Africa I was born

and moved to Rome. I went later mov to the American college there bit because "I suppose I was wild after Africa and the war.

Then I

I made, a screen test and became an actress. I love acting and I learned a lot when I was acting with Orson in his film "M. Arkadin.

I want to gu on acting of course. Maybe with my husband.

be exciting. It will Always will always be the unexpected

It

I have developed a special the What-Shall-We-Do-Next? It is not that Orson ab- way of dealing with people who telephone Orson. Sometimes normal-he is just supernormal. they sound in a temper. They The secret is Anding out how! he is underneath the normal shout: "Orson must play this" Or, "Orson must go there and do super. I know that the man an that." the phone will upset Orson, O I say into the phone

SATURDAY SHORT STORY

**Sorry,

Parla Mori

IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS

S he walked across

the levelled bombsite towards the Church

Hall David looked much like and I slipped and fell. any other kid of the dis he kicked me when trict, though cleaner than down."

Police and members of the most. That is, from a dis- Sury,. whe knew the placetance.

agreed there

of

2

By HAROLD

Then boys I was

Closer inspection "What started the fight, Why would have revealed a differ- anyway?" asked the minis- and police said they had no evidence a lorry being on the ence, which lay in his fea- ter. Collinson was adamant. tures, for, unusual for

thirteen year - old,

David bore scars on his face the pass' sort of scars which rightly belong only to manhood.

spol.. He definitely remembered seeing "the jagged edge of the lorry."

"Something happened." he said, "I don't know what."

This remark impressed Mr Rodger. "It must have been a phantom lorry," he said.

One gash, just above the boy's right eyebrow, not

"He called you — 'Angel-

and said we were

Sunday School Sissies' and and Padre, he said there was no God!"

KOPS

who attended Sunday Then David made to strike and School Bully though the lad Pepper came at him, head down, flaying. Neatly, David was. as the Padre said, a hard arms worker, and no doubt his non side-stepped and his left fist appearance was due to the fact drove cruelly upwards to the that he was helping his father bully's mouth, sell fruit from his borrow. When his father had cre of his frequent drinking bouts Pepper virtually ran the business.

ward to catch the words and what he heard made him smile.

Slowly, the mumbling con Linued. In the dead silence the words could just be heard.

"For Thine is the Power, the Kingdom and the Glory," said David.

"For Thine is the Power, the Kingdom and the Glory," re- peated Pepper Malone.

said and ever." "For ever

more emphati-

"For ever "and ever," re- peated Pepper.

"Amen," said David and ceased now the sobbing had

It was a strange scene that met the eyes of the Padre that afternoon, as he walked past the bombed site. Not that there David had almost forgotten was anything strange in a circle David, a little

two boys cally. boys around his bumiliating experience at of the hands of the bully. His stats fighting rot in that district had blended in nicely and his anyhow. No, what was strange eyes were clear. Competently was that these lads were so wielding a cricket bat on the quiet. There were none of the yells of encouragement bombed sile, some three weeks usual after his talk with Padre, Mike, Only a dead silence. he was just another happy boy again, the biggest in his gang and proud of his leadership.

The game

progressing satisfactorily with the usual "in" "Wait for me after the "out" arguments,

Then 22 months the healthy skin around it. lessons; David," he said, David hit a six.

cidents Further to mar the clear-cut involving cars, louries, features was lingering evi as he turned to enter the

pedestrians,

For a few moments, the

Had something really 10-

yet completely healed, still man was silent as he studied An- the face of the youth be peared on the rod that dark.streaked a livid red.

Then he placed wel winter's morning? For the other, on the right cheek, fore him. accident was by no means the had healed more rapidly and a hand on his shoulder.

first at that fatal spot,

In the previous there had been 16 there.

motor-cycles and

סנני!

now nearly toned in with

for which (in the corner's dence of two recently ac- words)

equired black eyes. satisfactory planation could be given." Three people had been Killed, 25 in- jured and 18 vehicles badly damped.

It was an almost straight road and had a good surface.

Added to this there was the curious evidence of a resident there who had told of footsteps outside the house at night. He had a dog which would tackle a man, I was sent

But nothing in the "boy's

face or carriage as he walk-

Hall..

was

As the man neared the circle, of the he was seen by some boys on the outer edge. Res- pectfully, they doffed their capas and made way for him. None

For a six, the ball had to fall clear over the gutter on the spoke.

It far side of the road. If smashed a window of one of the near dwellings facing the road, then it counter twelve, but the bateman had to do the

Later that afternoon, explaining!

ed revealed that his soul, Sunday School over, David

too,

had

been scarred.

4.

The man's intentions were to march right through the throng immediate end to and put an the proceedings. But when he saw the combatants; he stopped dead in his tracks.

Now, as the ball scared over. an armchair in the boundary, there appearet. sat in He held his head high; Vicarage, cup of tea in hand, as from nowhere, Pepper were two his stride was purposeful, while the Padre paced, the Marae. Expertly he caught it.

room and spoke.

manly.

The man standing in the ott uten doorway of the Hall watch the footsteps were heard, but ed his approach, his fea returned howling and terrified, tures breaking into a wel

The story of "the road, which coming smile as the boy

soon spread came up to him,

its special and to Hyde the man who heard the foot- stops,

Gratton; Mr. William licensee of the inn near where took of the accidents many place, was. cross-examined thoroughly.

hated motorists" Fleet Street sent

correspondents

Footsteps

"Hello David." he said. "Good afternoon, Padre," the boy said, respectfully. "Been in the wars?"

.

and his voice was strong.

But Pepper hesitated and ence more there was a thud, as his head bumped the ground.

"I want

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Then, "Amen," said Pepper. Die Stamping

to

David sighed as if with a great relief and rose. He made to give Pepper his hand,

up. help him

But Pepper could not rise. He was out- cold.

J

☆

But a bucket of water, which from nowhere, soon circle appeared In the centre of the

Only when he boys. On his back, revived him lay a bloody-faced Pepper saw the boy rise, did the head bowed, strangely humbled. with midrift,

his Taken aback at the sudden. Malone and, sitting astride his Padre walk slowly away.

Later that afternoon, from a Pepper's and appearance of the bully, the Pepper's biceps "You know, David," he was boys for a few moments were head in his hands, was David dialance, he saw David bowl-

to a ing

brudsed Pepper saying, "It has been said that silect. The silence was somehow furthest Then one,

Strangely enough, while Pep- Malone and the bail soar for a when a man fights another he ominous.

defiance six.

knees

becomes two men-a big man away from the bully, shouted, per still grimaced

Amazing, be thought-truly (call him Hate or Anger if you not very courageously, "Give us through the blood on his face,

and a little man (call hira ar ball"

David, his face unmarked, was science or Pity).

each time that He works in mysterious ways sobbing. And Now if

Pepper failed to mumble after

Beserved. The the man who fights has the beating of the other man, as he

him, David banged his head on All Rights

characters and incidents. In this beats him, the big man in him

the ground.

story are entirely fictious, NO Intended to slowly gets smaller while

But what was being said, the reference, little man grows bigger,, tatil the little man is big enough to the others. That is, all except man wondered. He craned for any persons, living or dead.

the

"Yes, Padre." The boy cry 'Stop and then the beating

||

smiled.

He had heard footsteps in his yard so frequently that he had ceased to be alarmed,

1

but

was

""M. Fighting with Pep woman living next door terrified and had awakened per Malone, eh? Tell streaming

Ceases. You follow?"

"Yes, Padre,"

"Well, unfortunately, in some men the little man never does get big enough to assert himself

of

the sounds why did you let him beat or when were heard Mine

*

"Give us Our ball echoed

David, who just stood, bat in hand, and glared at Pepper.

But Pepper only leant against a wall and grinned, tossing the ball from hand to hand making no move to part with It.

Eventually Pepper laughed, as

and stop the larger man. Such if to himself. "If you want your men are the beasts of the world ball back let's see you pray for -they don't know the meaning it!" he shouted derisively.

word pity. Pepper Host de- you like that?" The man Malone may grow up to be scribed them as "exactly like a measured the boy's build the Lord works in mysterious shouted again.

10. allowed rather heavily bullt man walk with his eyes, "You're

to perform ing up to the back door, hesitat-manly enough, my lad," and well, we'll see, Per- Still there was no response. ing and walking away again."

door he added, almost reprov- sonally, I believe there's quite But now the boy at the "wicket"

He had Bung open the again and again but had seeningly.

zothing,

Lately, he added, he noticed

the sound was almost invariably the warring of an impending

that it

he is

his wonders

The boys made no response.'

But

"Go on, pray for it!" the bully

lot of good in Malone, Rean old Bower-box-placed end- works hard and helps his father up-laid his bat on the ground. deliberately, He "I took pity on

him, all he can. Anyhow, if you are slowly and

Then, face Ever forced to fight again, just sighed deeply. Padre," the boy defended let the little man in you stay grimly set, he walked towards

and there was an eager little until you've finally won the bully. ness on his voice and an Alright?"

crasti

appeal in his eyes. "Honest, yes, Padre," grinned David. More reports of previous ac- cidents and unusual happenings Padre," he went on, “I had

"Right Now let's say our

was averred, the driver bad des had it! Then, well, somean and boy knelt down and.

"The other boys S'RAPHAEL

followed.

"Give me that: ball, David demanded.

"Come and get it," mered Pepper.

at the spot came to light. him licked one more favourite prayer, together, shall

Pedestrians had been rus punch and he would have wer down and on every occasion, it clared the victims were invisible how I couldn't let it go. His intoned the Lord's Prayer. Then to him

It was too late to nose was bleeding and his the stripling took his leave and ayold them. Mr Gratton kept hip was cut and and I went home. first-aid equipment in his house, felt sorry for him. I hesi For Somme time,

Motorista began passing. the spot with caution. Parties of tated and he hit me instead we was not seen by the over the other, serious and taim.

Camill

A few seconds in the two lads stood glaring at each other like two fighting cocks, the fifteen-year-old Pepper, grin- ning unkempt buying a slight advantage in height, and reach

11

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