RyanX
The Living Force
Here's a little more I found after researching the paranormal history of Bridgend. These excerpts are from the book Folk-lore and folk-stories of Wales by Marie Trevelyan.
This part has to do with "corpse-candles". Apparently these are lights that were known to hover over or near a place where a person was soon expected to die.
[quote author=p179]Colliers in various parts of Wales even in the present day believe in corpse-candles, and amongst the aged of that class the story about St. David and his omen was formerly prevalent. Before one of the great explosions at Llandbradach people declared corpse-candles without number were seen hovering around the mouth of the pit. At Glyncorrwg, near Bridgend, Glamorgan, "hundreds" were seen before an explosion. At the mouth of the Ogmore River two lights were seen hovering for many weeks along the sands. Later on two brothers, who attempted to cross at low tide, were drowned.
Many people attempt to account for the phenomena by saying that the corpse-candle is the product of noxious gasses, and the vapour of swampy places, where the mysterious lights are known as jack-o'-lantern, or will-o'-the-wisp. A disinct difference is made between the later and the corpse-candle, which is often seen in the house and sometimes in the room...[/quote]
This part has to do with the stories about the "devil on the Crack", as it's called:
[quote author=p162-164]Crack Hill, on the high-road leading from Bridgend to Cowbridge. Glamorgan, is credited with peculiar and uncanny associations. An aged Welshman related his personal experiences, and he was a native of the district. The second narrative was proffered by an Englishman, a stranger to the neighbourhood, and he did not know anything about the story told by the Welshman. The former told me he wen to Bridgend for some goods which could not be obtained on that day, and he had to come home without them. He assured me that he did not indulge in "pipe and pot," and he was perfectly cheerful when leaving Bridgend in the late autumn twilight. He walked briskly until he reached the foot of the Crack, and then began the ascent. As he went upward he found walking unusually heavy work. Yet the road was dry and hard, and particularly agreeable for walking. He thereform thought that either he was more tired than usual or lazy; so he tried to adopt a better place, but could not. To make matters worse, night was approaching. When half-way up the hill something, he knew not what, seemed to spring upon his back, and afterwards pressed heavily between his shoulders. In the starlight he looked over his right shoulder, and saw a shape clinging closely to him. Being a strong man, he promptly endeavoured to shake it off, but it pressed heavier than ever. He felt a great difficulty in proceeding on his journey, and the effort brought a "heavy sweat" to his forehead and face. When just at the top of the hill he groaned with agony, and so great was his distress that he cried aloud: "O Lord, I pray Thee, deliver me of this burden!" While uttering these words he crossed his arms upon his breast. Instantly he was relieved of his load. Turning round to see if anybody had been playing a practical joke on him, he saw in the starlight a huge shape, which looked like a "great bundle" or a "fat, short man" enveloped in a dark wrap. The shape rolled rapidly down, and fell into a disused quarry at the foot of the hill. Immediately afterwards the sound of a loud explosion was heard, and from the depths of the quarry sparks of the fire shot up and were scattered across the road. He hastened home, and when he related his experiences to an aged neighbour, the latter said he remembered his father telling a similar story of the "devil on the Crack."
The second version of this story was told by a civil engineer, who had never heard the above narrative. He said he had engaged a horse and trap at a Bridgend hotel to convey him to Cowbridge, when the Taff Vale Railway extension was being made into a last-named town. Unaccompanied, he started rather late in the evening, and it was quite dark when he reached the food of the Crack Hill. The sky was obscured, but occasionally the moon shone through cloud-rifts. The carriage-lamps were lighted, and he was in a very cheerful state of mind. Soon after beginning the ascent the horse became very restless, and snorted vigorously from time to time. By-and-by somebody or something appeared to be thrown into the back of the trap. Thinking it to be an intrusive traveler, he called out, but there was no response. He whipped his horse, but the animal was hardly able to struggle upward, and toiled as if under a very heavy weight. Nearing the top of the hill, the horse made a desperate effort, and then stood still. The civil engineer descended from his seat and to his amazement, he found the horse quivering, as if panic-stricken. Looking down the hill, he saw in the fitful moonlight a monstrous bundle rolling downhill where it fell into the quarry. It was followed by a loud explosion and sparks that were scattered across the road. The civil engineer had never heard the old story, and was much interested when, in 1896, I related the Welshman's account of his experiences with the "devil on the Crack."[/quote]
There might be more interesting anecdotes from the book, this is just a couple parts I could gleam from the google preview.
This part has to do with "corpse-candles". Apparently these are lights that were known to hover over or near a place where a person was soon expected to die.
[quote author=p179]Colliers in various parts of Wales even in the present day believe in corpse-candles, and amongst the aged of that class the story about St. David and his omen was formerly prevalent. Before one of the great explosions at Llandbradach people declared corpse-candles without number were seen hovering around the mouth of the pit. At Glyncorrwg, near Bridgend, Glamorgan, "hundreds" were seen before an explosion. At the mouth of the Ogmore River two lights were seen hovering for many weeks along the sands. Later on two brothers, who attempted to cross at low tide, were drowned.
Many people attempt to account for the phenomena by saying that the corpse-candle is the product of noxious gasses, and the vapour of swampy places, where the mysterious lights are known as jack-o'-lantern, or will-o'-the-wisp. A disinct difference is made between the later and the corpse-candle, which is often seen in the house and sometimes in the room...[/quote]
This part has to do with the stories about the "devil on the Crack", as it's called:
[quote author=p162-164]Crack Hill, on the high-road leading from Bridgend to Cowbridge. Glamorgan, is credited with peculiar and uncanny associations. An aged Welshman related his personal experiences, and he was a native of the district. The second narrative was proffered by an Englishman, a stranger to the neighbourhood, and he did not know anything about the story told by the Welshman. The former told me he wen to Bridgend for some goods which could not be obtained on that day, and he had to come home without them. He assured me that he did not indulge in "pipe and pot," and he was perfectly cheerful when leaving Bridgend in the late autumn twilight. He walked briskly until he reached the foot of the Crack, and then began the ascent. As he went upward he found walking unusually heavy work. Yet the road was dry and hard, and particularly agreeable for walking. He thereform thought that either he was more tired than usual or lazy; so he tried to adopt a better place, but could not. To make matters worse, night was approaching. When half-way up the hill something, he knew not what, seemed to spring upon his back, and afterwards pressed heavily between his shoulders. In the starlight he looked over his right shoulder, and saw a shape clinging closely to him. Being a strong man, he promptly endeavoured to shake it off, but it pressed heavier than ever. He felt a great difficulty in proceeding on his journey, and the effort brought a "heavy sweat" to his forehead and face. When just at the top of the hill he groaned with agony, and so great was his distress that he cried aloud: "O Lord, I pray Thee, deliver me of this burden!" While uttering these words he crossed his arms upon his breast. Instantly he was relieved of his load. Turning round to see if anybody had been playing a practical joke on him, he saw in the starlight a huge shape, which looked like a "great bundle" or a "fat, short man" enveloped in a dark wrap. The shape rolled rapidly down, and fell into a disused quarry at the foot of the hill. Immediately afterwards the sound of a loud explosion was heard, and from the depths of the quarry sparks of the fire shot up and were scattered across the road. He hastened home, and when he related his experiences to an aged neighbour, the latter said he remembered his father telling a similar story of the "devil on the Crack."
The second version of this story was told by a civil engineer, who had never heard the above narrative. He said he had engaged a horse and trap at a Bridgend hotel to convey him to Cowbridge, when the Taff Vale Railway extension was being made into a last-named town. Unaccompanied, he started rather late in the evening, and it was quite dark when he reached the food of the Crack Hill. The sky was obscured, but occasionally the moon shone through cloud-rifts. The carriage-lamps were lighted, and he was in a very cheerful state of mind. Soon after beginning the ascent the horse became very restless, and snorted vigorously from time to time. By-and-by somebody or something appeared to be thrown into the back of the trap. Thinking it to be an intrusive traveler, he called out, but there was no response. He whipped his horse, but the animal was hardly able to struggle upward, and toiled as if under a very heavy weight. Nearing the top of the hill, the horse made a desperate effort, and then stood still. The civil engineer descended from his seat and to his amazement, he found the horse quivering, as if panic-stricken. Looking down the hill, he saw in the fitful moonlight a monstrous bundle rolling downhill where it fell into the quarry. It was followed by a loud explosion and sparks that were scattered across the road. The civil engineer had never heard the old story, and was much interested when, in 1896, I related the Welshman's account of his experiences with the "devil on the Crack."[/quote]
There might be more interesting anecdotes from the book, this is just a couple parts I could gleam from the google preview.
