I am still near, Watching the smiles I prized on earth, Your converse mild, your blameless mirth.[64
- Date of account
- Late nineteenth-century compilation
- Source
- The Ghost World
- Reference
- The Ghost World · selected passage 171
- Rights
- public_domain
- Language
- English
- Record updated
- 2026-08-24
Record summary
The mysterious apparition of a woman who committed suicide was supposed to haunt Polbreen Mine, Cornwall, locally known as 'Dorcas.' She appeared to take a malicious delight in tormenting the miner when at work, calling him by his name, and enticing him from his duties
Published source text
Read the available text below. Archive transcriptions may contain OCR errors; later context is labelled separately. A recorded claim is not a finding that it happened.
Source passage
Source text · mention onlyThe mysterious apparition of a woman who committed suicide was supposed to haunt Polbreen Mine, Cornwall, locally known as 'Dorcas.' She appeared to take a malicious delight in tormenting the miner when at work, calling him by his name, and enticing him from his duties. This was carried on by her to such an extent that when 'a tributer' had made a poor month, he was commonly asked if he had 'been chasing Dorcas.' On one occasion only, Dorcas is said to have acted kindly. It is stated[234] that two miners, who may be styled Martin and Jacky, were at work in their end, and at the time busily engaged 'beating the borer.' The name of Jack was distinctly uttered between the blows. He stopped and listened--all was still. They proceeded with their task, a blow on the iron rod--'Jacky!' Another blow--'Jacky!' They pause--all is silent. 'Well, thee wert called, Jacky,' said Martin, 'go and see.' Jacky, however, disregarded the sound, work was resumed, and 'Jacky! Jacky! Jacky!' was called more vehemently and distinctly than before. Jacky threw down his hammer, resolved to satisfy himself as to the person who was calling him.
Historical context
Contextual commentary · mention onlyThis material belongs to a folklore tradition. Story type, collector, community, transmission and literary editing matter when comparing it with other sources.
Modern context
Contextual commentary · mention onlyLattice compares motifs and reported features without assuming that a traditional being is a biological species or that similar stories document one external cause.
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