Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-10-02

doorsteps where he again used consider
able violence, tore her neck and arms
with his claws, as well as a quantity of
hair from her head; but she was at
length rescued from him by one Of her
sisters. Her story was fully corroborated
by her parents and sisters, and her inju-
RES, which were very considerable, bore
unmistakable testimony to the truth OF
the assault. Subsequently in Bow Fair
Fields Jack narrowly escaped capture by
some WOrkmen, and 1t was only by his
extreme agility and intimate knowledge
Of the locality that he got clear of. Two
men were arrested as being concerned
IN this aHalr-One a master brlck-layer
and the other carpenter-but after
very long and searching investigation at
Lambeth Street Police Court they were
discharged, as they were not fully Iden-
titled as being the actual perpetrators,
though it was certain they knew more
about the matter than they chose to &C
knowledge.
Another sample Of the ghosts playful
ways in the East end of London, was
shown by statement made before the
magistrate at the Lambeth street police
court, March 8, 1888. by a Miss Scales
who depOsed that as she and her sister
Were walking in Limestone about $3.50 IN
the evening, on coming to Green Dragon
alley they observed a person standing in
angle in the passage. She was IN ad
vance Of her sister at the time, and Just
as she came up to the person, who was
enVelOped in a large cloak, he squirted a
quantity Of blue flame right in her face,
which deprived her Of her sight, and so
alarmed her that she instantly to the
ground, and was seized with violent fits,
which continued for several hours. This
individual was described as tall, thin,
and of gentlemanly appearance, and car
ried in front of him a small lamp, similar
to those used by the police; he did not
utter a word. nor did he attempt to lay
hands on the young woman, but walked
away In an instant.
Not cOnfning himself to the crowded
parts of the metropolis, he made the
suburbs his hunting place, and terroriZed
both sides OF the Thames to such an eX-
tent that but few females would venture
out after dark without sufficient escort
He visited Blackheath in a truly novel
and marvellous manner. Three ladies
were crossing the heath at about six
o'clock, when they suddenly came upon
q mOnstrOus figure be. ore them, and as
the lamps had been lit for some time,
they had a good view of 1t. The monster,
they said, had a phOsphOrlc lustre, showed
tremendous long ears, horns and tail like
those Of a bullock. One Of the ladies
fell down IN q fit, and the other two had
resort to that potent weapon in the te-
male armOry, a good scream, which
promptly brought policeman to their
assistance, and on = his bold advance the
apparitiOn threw itself over his head
and disappeared on the heath, during
which gymnastic performance, it was
said, the hooks or springs on his heels
were distinctly visible.
In a pamphlet published at the time,
we have preserved to us a portrait of the
ghost" as he appeared in this instance,
and the representation even, much less
the reality, is quite enough to upset the
nerves of any ordinary person.
He is depicted as clad in all the orthodox
details of a Satanic outfit, horns, tail, etc,
with fearful claws on both hands and
feet, the latter additionally armed with
large hooks attached to the heels, whilst
his cOuntenance puts any medieval con-
ceptiOn of the Evil One quite to the
blush. No wonder, then, the ladies are
shown as suffering an extremity of ter
rOr, with their mouths extended to their
utmost capacity, presumably screaming.
In another tract there is another pOr-
trait of this man-hend, its horrors being
heightened by being highly COlOred, and
there is represented as appearing in
churchyard to two women.
In 2 third booklet he appears as in
halEarmOr, with helmets, etc, his neither
limbs being clad in a species of fOx-hunt-
ing costume, a huge cloak adjoining his
back.
Having alarmed the jewellers on the
south side of the Thames, so as nearly
to deprive them of their senses, he again
! crossed the water, and appeared to par
ty of people near Holloway in the guise
/ Of a bear. Here, however, he met with
Q = .4r1A-a
/ there being a brick field handy, the men
/ treated him to a shower of bricks, a
mode of treatment which he by no
/ means relished, and which induced him
to beat a speedy retreat.
! One evening, near Lord Hollands gate
/ at Kensing tOn, a gaunt figure, aCcOutred
| like Don Quixote, and covered with
/ spikes, was seen stTiding along the road,
and. after staring in the faces of some
| labOring men, disappeared in an instant.
/ These men, 1t is said, went into a beer
shop in the vicinity, and then relating
what they had seen, they again went to
| the place where the figure had appeared,
/ in expectation Of is return. However,
they did not meet it, but they saw an
unCOuth monster, having the shape Of
| an enormous babOOn, playing its antics
! beneath some trees which Overhung the
| road. As they approached the creature
! sprang upon the branches and disap-
! peared. Spring heeled Jack, Of course,
/ being credited with this mysterious OC-
/ cuTrenCe.
Hackney was favored with an ex-
| traOrdinary vision of this many shaped
intruder on the public peace, for he ap-
.peared, so the story runs, in the shape Of
a lamp-lighter walking on his head and
hands, and carrying his ladder between
his feet, to which was suspended a Ian
tern of large dimensions, amply lighted
And the curious creature, on being ap-
preached, sOmersaulted so high, thai
those who saw it were utterly astOnish-