New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-31

rs they were net fully identified as being the actual
perpetrators. though It was certain they knew
something more about the matter than they chose TO
acknowledge. .
Another sample Of the ghosts playful WAYS in the
East End of London, was shown by a statement
maze before the magistrate Mt Lambeth Street
police-court. March X, 1898 Ivy n Miss Scales who
deposed that rs she and her sister walking in
LlmehOuSe about haf-paSt i'm the evening ON
coming to Green Dragon Alley they observed some
person standing in an angle IN the passage She
was IN advance OF her sister at the time and inst
she came up to the person, who was euvelopel in
large cloak. he spirited a quantity Of blue flame
night IN her face which deprived her of her sight
and 40 alarmed her, that she instantly dropped to
the ground aud was seized with violent fits which
continued for several hours. This individual was
described rs tall. thin. and Of gentlemanly appear
ance. aud carried In front of him a small lamp sim
lar 70 those used by the police: he did not utter a
word, nor did he attempt to lay hands the young
woman, but wal ked away in an instant.
Not conilnlng himself to the crowded parts Of tho
metropolis, he made the suburbs his hunting
ground. AMI terror1ed both sides of the Thames to
such an extent that but few females would venture
Ont alter dark without sufficient escort. He visited
blackheath m n truly novel and marvellous
manner. Three ladies were crossing the heath at
about O'Clock when tlev suddenly came upon
nonstrous figure before them. and ~ the lamps had
been nc sometime. they had good view of IT.. The
monster they said had n phosphoric ustrc
showed tremendous long ears horns and tail like
tios' 3i bullock. Ono Of the ladies fell down In
ut, and the other two had resort of that potent
weapon IN tho female armorv. good scream which
promptly brought "A policeman 10 their assistance
and on hs bold advance the nppariton throw itself
over his hond and disappeared ON the heath during
whlrh eymnns'lc performance, IL was sld. the
hooks oi sprinrs on his heels were distinctly visible
In pamphlet published M the time. Ne have
preserved to M portrait of the ghost" us be- APP
p'ht'd ~ tins instance. and the representation
even, much loss the reality. ia quito enough 60 upset
the noryos ol any orlnary.miudcd prrsou. lie n
depicted ~ lad In AL the orthodox "details of y
satanic outfit horns. tail ctr with fearful claws on
both hands and feet. tho lnttcr additionally armed
with largo hooks. attached To- the heels. whilst his
touHtHnnnco puts any mollmyal conception "I ne
IA Ia Inc fltt
ladies' are shown AZ suffering an extremity of terror
with thnr months extended 10 their utmost
capacity, presumably screaming
In another tract there Is similar portrait Of this
au-hcud, IT. horrors, being heightened hv being
highly-coorcd. and there he is represented a. ap-
pearng IN q Churchyarl "a two women.
In third booklet he appears in halfarmOr
with helmets otc his neither limbs being clad m a
species of iox-huntng costume. huge cloak adorn-
ing his back
Having alarmed thedwcers on rhe south side of
the Thames nearly 10 deprive them Of thor
@olA'S ne again crossed me wafer ana appeared 10
a party of people near Holloway IN the guI,e of
bear Hero, however, he met with n reception he
hardly contemplated. for there being brIckhcd
handy. the of the party treated hun to a
shower of bricks a mode of treatment whi.h he by
no means relished and which induced him To beat
speedy retreat
one evening. near Lord Hollands gate AT Kcns-
ngton. gaunt figure. accoutred like Don QulXotc
ana covered with spikes. was seen Striding along
the road, and, after staring in the faces of some
!ahorlug men. disappeared IN an instant These
men. II Is sad. went into beer shop IN the vicinity
and then relating what they had seen, they again
went 10 the place where the figure had appeared in
expectation of its return. However. they did not
meet ~. but they saw an uucouth monster. having
the shape OF an enormous babonn. playing it7 antics
beneath some trees which Oyerhung the road. As
they approached the creature sprang up on the
branches and disappeared. Sprl1g-hrecd Jack. of
course, being credited with this mysterious oc-
currence.
Hackney was favored with an extraordinary
vision of tins many-Shaped intruder on the public
peace. for he appeared. 80 the story runs. ir the
d a " ID Is
hands an carrying his ladder between his feet. 10
which was suspended lantern OF LARGE dimensions,
amply lighted And this curious creature. on being
approached. sOmerSaulted so high that those who
saw it were utterly astonIshcl. But this. surely. is
rather more than even the most creduouS ough' 10
be expected 10 swallow. aud the story must have
been manufactured To feed the public taste for the
marvellous
Another glimpse of him was had on the road TO
Woolwich when a bluc flame issued from mis- mouth.
aud girl who witnessed it fell into fits. His dress
on this occasion Is described as that of gentleman.
with the SOmewha startling addition or wldc
strip of scarlet down the back of his coat. Being
pursued. he sprung over the fences usual, and
was ont of sight in an instant Stil! lingering n
Kent he was found the following night at hartford
whore he was clad IN bearskin. and amused HIM
self with the mlschievOus trick OF putting out Inc
town gas and leaving the streets in darkness. The
ubiquity of the fellow was something wonderful
fame. no sooner was he heard of il Kent than he
turned mp at Hampstead Heath. sprnging over the
furZe bushes and sOmersaut ny over the gravel pits.
30 numerous were the tales told of Spring heeled
true: whilst. on the orher hand. great allowance
must be male for credulitv some people not being
content with the marvellous rs they find t. but
being only too happy to Iii thereto. A. a final
specimen of the nousense circulated about his APP
pearance, perhaps the following is the best. \
wonderful sight. n SAID. was witnessed on
Primrose Hill one evening On the summit appeared
a huge figure of man. IN a flame of pale blnc: it
then assumed the hu'k OF p massive elephant. then
of a windmill in full operation. and lastly in lessen
ing its dimensions. it became large ball of snow.
which rolled down the NIL, and escaped further
notice What SprinC-heeled Jack bad to do with
this dreadful appearance Is not at all clear bur 1t
was attributed to him. nevertheless, such was the
hold that he had obtained over the public mind.
Whether too much attention was beginning to he
paid 10 him with view TO his capture. or whether
hi. love OF mischief had died ont cannot be told hut
certain it WAS that nothing was known publicly OF
this singular being after April. N.iS. having kept
London ia a fcrment of excitement and terror Tor
about six months. The foregoing only few of
tho stories ycracous or otherwise, that were re-
lated Of him. space not permitting any mole detailed
account to be given