from Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research, 1905-7

(page 106)

From Mr. J. J., of D________, Merionethshire. The original account, which I received in January, 1905, is in Welsh; I give here a translation of it:

In reference to the fire concerning which you wrote to me. There are several here who have seen it in varying forms — sometimes near Chapel Egryn, sometimes on the roof thereof, and sometimes some halt mile or more from the place. When I saw it, it was about half a mile from the chapel and about a mile from where I stood. That was about 5 o'clock in the evening. The first form in which it appeared to me was that of a pillar of clear fire quite perpendicular. It was about 2 feet wide and about 3 yards in height. Suddenly another small fire began by its side some 2 yards distant from the first pillar. It rapidly increased until it assumed the same measurement and form as the first. Then another small fire suddenly arose on the other side of the first pillar, and increased rapidly until it assumed the same size and form as the other two columns. So there were three pillars of the same size and form. And as I gazed upon them I saw two arms of fire extending upwards from the top of each of the pillars.

The three pillars and their arms assumed exactly the same shape and remained so for about a minute or two. As I looked towards the sky I saw smoke ascending from the pillars, and immediately they began to disappear. Their disappearance was equally swift with their growth. It was a gradual disappearance: the fire became small and went out.

I thought they were natural fire, but it was a very wonderful fire. I never saw fire the same as it in my life — three pillars or columns of the same measure and of exactly the same shape and equidistant from each other. I do not propose to offer any kind of explanation. I leave that to you.