The Apparitions and Miracles at Knock; also, the Official Depositions of the Eye-witnesses

57
eminence, and signalised our approach to Knock. The
modest cottage of the parish priest, Archdeacon Cavanagh,
lies in the intervening hollow; but before reaching it the
traveller passes a thatched and whitewashed dwelling-house,
bearing the distinguishing mark of a police-barrack. One of
the stalwart members of the " Royal Irish " chanced to be
standing in the road as we drove up, and him Canon Bourke
introduced as a witness worth hearing.
The Policeman!s Story.
The policeman cheerfully came round to my side of the
car and told his story, in effect as follows : —" On a certain
night (5th January, or morning of 6th—Epiphany), about
twelve o'clock, I and a comrade set out on patrol, our road
taking us past the chapel. When opposite the building we
saw people, and heard the sound of praying, so we went in
to look around and ascertain that all was right. Down to
that time, though others professed to have witnessed the Ap
paritions, we had not. On going round to the east gable
some one cried, 'There's the light,' and then both I and my
comrade saw the end of the church covered with a rosy sort of
brightness, through which what seemed to be stars appeared.
I saw no figures, nor did my comrade ; but some women, who
were praying there, declared that they beheld the Blessed
Virgin, and one went nearly frantic in consequence. We
stood and watched the light for some time before starting
again on our rounds." " How do you explain the light ?"
" I can't explain it." " Did you look around to see where it
came from ?" "I did ; but everything was dark. There
was no light anywhere, except on the gable." Thus the
policeman, who offered to produce his comrade in corrobo
ration.
S~