The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-11-28

6hostkJ Joho Coutiuucu W Dt aL
Thinking, perhaps, that he had don't
as much harm as he desired In the
other parts of London, for whole month
Spring g-heeled Jack devoted himself to dis
turbing the peace Of mi nd Of the dwellers Ct
the east end Of the metropolis, the neighbor
hood Of Bow being particularly patronizee
by him. One gross outrage came before tn.
police magistrate at Lambeth street, ane
caused considerable attention.
A young lady named Alsop, living with
her parents in the vicinity of Bow, stated
that at about quarter to o'clock ON the
evening Of Feb. 81, 1888, she heard violent
ringing at the front gate Of the house, and or
going to the door to see what was the
cause, she saw a man standing on the out
side, of whom she inquired what was lhs
matter. The person instantly replied that
he was policeman, and said: "For Gods
sake, bring me light, for we have caught
Spring g-heeled Jack here in the lane" Sh.
returned into the house, and brought can
die and handed 1t to the man, who was en-
veloped in large cloak. The instant shs
had done so, however, he threw Off his outer
garment, and applying the lighted candle te
frightful appearance, and vomited forth 9
4uoheieJ Va biuo "hitc udtuo IIOm Nh
mouth, his eyes resembling big balls Of fire.
From the hasty glances which her fright
enabled her to get at his person, she observed
that he wore large helmet, and his dress,
which appeared to fit him very tight, seemed
to her to resemble white oilskin. Without
uttering a sentence he darted at her. and
catching her partly by the dress and the
back part Of her neck, placed her head under
pf his and taar h,.
clothes with bis claws, which she was certain
We're made Of some metallic substance. She
screamed out as loud as she could for assist
ance, and by considerable exertion got away
from him, and ran toward the house to get
in. Her assailant, however, followed, and
caught her on the doorstep, when he again
used considerable violence, tore her neck and
arm 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 injuries, which were
very considerable, bore unmistakable testi-
mony to the truth of the assault.
Subsequently in Bow Fair Fields Jack mar
rowly escaped capture by some workmen,
and it was only by his extreme agility, and
intimate knowledge of the locality, that he
Bot Gicdf ou. 1"O IKtu WeIt dTTBSUeu as
being concerned in this affair-one master
bricklayer, and the other a carpenter; but
after very long and searching investiga-
tion at Lambeth Street police court they
were discharged as they were not fully iden-
titled as being the actual perpetrators,
though 1t 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 statement made before the magistrate
nc Lambeth Street police court, March 3,
1888, by Miss Scales, who deposed that as
she and her sister were walking In Lime
house about $50 in the evening, ON
coming to Green Dragon alley they observed
some person standing in an angle in the pass
age She was In advance Of her sister at the
time, and just as she came up to the person,
who was enveloped In o large cloak, he
spirited quantity of blue fame right in her
face, which deprived her Of her sight, and 80
alarmed her that she instantly dropped to
the ground and was seized with violent fits,
which continued for several hours This in
dividual was described as tall, thin, and of
gentlemany appearance and carried 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 ground, and terrorized both sides of
the Thames to such an extent that but few
females would venture out after dark with
out sufficient escort He visited Blackheath
in truly novel and marvellous manner.
Three ladies were crossing the heath at about
6 o'clock, when they came suddenly came
upon monstrous figure before them, and as
the lamps had been Lit some time, they had
a good view of II. The monster they said,
had phosphoric lustre, showed tremendous
long ears, horns and tail like those Of bull
lock. One of the ladies fell down in fit,
and the other two had resort Of that potent
weapon in the female 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 pamphlet, published at the time, we
have preserved to us 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 Or
dinary-minded person. He is depicted as
clad in all the orthodox details of 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 me-
dieval conception Of the evil one quite to the
blush. No wonder, then, the ladies are
shown as suffering an extremity Of terror,
with their mouths extended to their utmost
capacity, presumably screaming.
In another tract there Is a similar portrait
Of this man-fend, its horror being heightened
by being highly colored, ana there he Is rep
represented as appearing in q churchyard to
In a third booklet be appears as in half
armor, with helmets, ETC., his neither limbs
being clad in species of fox hunting COS
tune, q huge cloak adorning his back
Having alarmed the dwellers Of the south
side Of the Thames, SO as nearly to deprive
them of their senses, he again crossed the
water and appeared to party OF people near
Holloway in the guise Of a bear. Here, how
ever, he met with reception he hardly con-
templated, for there being brickfield handy
the men Of the party treated him to a shower
of bricks, q mode Of treatment which he by
no means relished, and which induced him to
heat q speedy retreat.
Kensington, gaunt figure accoutred like
Don Quixote, and covered with spikes, was
seen striding along the road, and, after star
ing In the faces of some laboring men, disap-
peared in an instant. These men, it is said,
went into beer-shop in the vicinity, and
then relating what they had seen, they again
went to the place where the figure had ap-
peared, in expectation Of its return. How
ever, they did not meet it, but they saw an
uncouth monster, having the shape CT an
enormous baboon, playing its antics beneath
some trees which overhung the road. As
they approached the creature sprang up on
the branches and disappeared. Spring -heeled
Jack, Of course, being credited with this
mysterious occurrence.
ary vision Of this many y-shaped Intruder on
the public peace, for be appeared, so the
story runs, in the shape Of q lamp-Eghter
walking on his head and hands, and carry
ing his ladder between his feet, to which
was suspended q lantern Of large dimen-
ions, amply lighted. And this curious
creature. on peing approached. somersaulted
astonished, But this, surely, is rather more
than even the most eredulous ought to be
expected to swallow, and the story must have
been manufactured to feed the public taste
for the marvellous
Another glimpse Of him was had ON the
road to Woolw1ch, when blue fame issued
from his mouth, and girl who witnessed
1t fell into dts. His dress ON this occasion Is
described as that Of gentleman, with the
somewhat startling addition Of wide strip
of scarlet down the back Of hi3 coat Being
pursued, he sprung over tho fences as usual,
and was out Of sight In an instant. Still
lingering In Kent, he was found the follow
ing night 1t Dartford, where he was clad In
beerskin, and amused himself with the