"Spring Heeled Jack (also Springheel Jack, Spring-heel Jack, etc), is a character from English folklore said to have existed during the Victorian era and able to jump extraordinarily high. The first claimed sighting of Spring Heeled Jack that is known occurred in 1837. Later alleged sightings were reported all over England, from London up to Sheffield and Liverpool, but they were especially prevalent in suburban London and later in the Midlands and Scotland.

Many theories have been proposed to ascertain the nature and identity of Spring Heeled Jack. The urban legend of Spring Heeled Jack gained immense popularity in its time due to the tales of his bizarre appearance and ability to make extraordinary leaps, to the point where he became the topic of several works of fiction.

Spring Heeled Jack was described by people claiming to have seen him as having a terrifying and frightful appearance, with diabolical physiognomy that included clawed hands and eyes that "resembled red balls of fire". One report claimed that, beneath a black cloak, he wore a helmet and a tight-fitting white garment like an "oilskin". Many stories also mention a "Devil-like" aspect. Spring Heeled Jack was said to be tall and thin, with the appearance of a gentleman, and capable of making great leaps. Several reports mention that he could breathe out blue and white flames and that he wore sharp metallic claws at his fingertips. At least two people claimed that he was able to speak comprehensible English."

- Wikipedia



"It appears that some individuals (of, as the writer believes, the highest ranks of life) have laid a wager with a mischievous and foolhardy companion, that he durst not take upon himself the task of visiting many of the villages near London in three different disguises — a ghost, a bear, and a devil; and moreover, that he will not enter a gentleman's gardens for the purpose of alarming the inmates of the house. The wager has, however, been accepted, and the unmanly villain has succeeded in depriving seven ladies of their senses, two of whom are not likely to recover, but to become burdens to their families. At one house the man rang the bell, and on the servant coming to open door, this worse than brute stood in no less dreadful figure than a spectre clad most perfectly. The consequence was that the poor girl immediately swooned, and has never from that moment been in her senses. The affair has now been going on for some time, and, strange to say, the papers are still silent on the subject. The writer has reason to believe that they have the whole history at their finger-ends but, through interested motives, are induced to remain silent."

- anonymous citizen's complaint addressed to Sir John Cowan, Lord Mayor of London, dated January 9, 1838.




"My Lord,

On reading the letter in the papers of this day recieved by your Lordship, I percieve you are not inclined to give credence to the account furnished by your correspondent.

The villain mentioned in it as appearing in the guise of a ghost, bear or devil, has been within the last week or two repeatedly seen at Lewisham and Blackheath. So much, indeed, has he frightened the inhabitants of those peaceful districts that women and children durst not stir out of their houses after dark.

There ought to be a stop put to this, but the police, I am afraid, are frightened of him also. I have the honour to be your Lordship's most obedient servant

JC"

Letter to Lord Mayor, published in The Times Jan 11 1838.






"A gentleman stated to his Lordship that the servant girls about Kensington, and Hammersmith, and Ealing, told dreadful stories of a ghost, or devil, who, on one occasion, was said to have beaten a blacksmith, and torn his flesh with iron claws , and in others to tear clothes from the backs of females . Not one of the injured people had been known to tell the story; perhaps they didn't like to tell it. The Lord Major believed that one of the ladies who had lost their seven senses was his correspondent. He hoped she would do him the favour of a call, and he would have the opportunity of getting from her such a description of the demon as would enable him to catch him, in spite of the paid press and public."

- The Times, January 9, 1838





"Never has credulity or superstition been more strongly exemplified than in the ghost story alluded to by the Lord Mayor at the Mansion-house on Monday last, as having frightened the village of Peckham from its propriety, which has had a wider range of circulation than any previous tale of the kind on record. The following are some particulars of the alleged pranks of the ghost, imp or devil, who, as has been stated, is by many persons believed to be a member of a certain band of aristocrats, who, for a wager, has undertaken to personify a supernatural being. The story had its origin in the neighbourhood of Barnes, Surrey, about four months since, when it was alleged that, in the shape of a large white bull , he attacked several persons, particularly females, many of whom had suffered most severely from the fright, and no respectable female has since left home after dark without a male companion. At East Sheen, in the form of a white bear, the alleged ghost carried on similar pranks. His ghostship then extended his freaks to the salubrious regions inhabited by the celebrated 'maids of honour' , and in the course of a few days afterwards all Richmond teemed with tales of females being frightened to death and children torn to pieces by the supposed unearthly visitant, who was, in consequence, so closely searched after by the local police that he soon thought it prudent to quite the green lanes of that fashionable resort for the quiet and retired villages of Ham and Petersham, where in the image of an imp of the 'Evil One' he nightly reigned supreme, and neither man, woman, nor child durst venture beyond the threshold of their domiciles without a lantern and a thick club stick. From Petersham, Kingston was the next resort of the alleged supernatural visitant; but, as at Richmond, the police of that borough soon rendered his visit most dangerous to his own safety, and he in consequence crossed the water, when Hampton Wick, Hampton Court &c., soon rung with the mighty deeds of an unearthly warrior, clad in armour of polished brass , with spring shoes, and large claw gloves, who, whenever pursued after frightening not only children but those of an older growth, scaled the walls of Bushy Park, and instantly vanished. Teddington, Twickenham, Whitton, and Hounslow were next in succession the scene of stories of a similar description, and many and fearful were the tales of injuries inflicted by him in the Duke of Northumberland's demesne of Sion Park, and other parts of the village of Isleworth. Among other things it was stated that a carpenter named Jones, residing in that village, while returning through 'Cut-throat-lane', on his way home, about 11 o'clock at night, was seized and most unmercifully belaboured by the ghost, who was attired in polished steel armour, with red shoes, &c. Being a powerful man, Jones instantly grappled with his assailant, when two more ghosts came to the assistance of the first one , when Jones's clothes were torn into ribbons, and 'cust to the winds.' Heston, Drayton, Harlington, and the neighbourhood of the town of Uxbridge, were next the scenes of his tricks; when, returning by the Great Western Railway towards the metropolis, he in turn visited Hanwell, Brentford, Ealing, Acton, Hammersmith and Kensington. At Hanwell, Brentford, Ealing and Acton, he has been represented as clad in steel armour, and, in addition to frightening various persons , severely injured a blacksmith residing in the village of Ealing , who, it is stated, has ever since kept his bed in consequence of the fright he sustained. At Hammersmith an itinerant vendor of pies and muffins, it was reported, was attacked while returning home through Sounding-lane by 'the ghost,' and his clothes torn from his back, and one female was stated to have been frightened to death at the idea of meeting him. Even the precincts of the Royal Palace of Kensington have not escaped, children having seen the unearthly being dancing by moonlight on the Palace-green, and ever and anon scaling the walls of the royal forcing gardens , in the direction of the churchyard in Church-street."

- The Morning Chronicle, January 10 1838



"SPRING JACK. - We find by some proceedings that have taken place before the Lord Mayor, that this nonentity is supposed to have taken up his abode elsewhere then Greenwich for the present. From all that can be learnt upon the subject, we have not the least doubt, that it is a gross species of humbug. No one has seen Spring Jack, though all have heard of him; of course, as on all occasions of this kind, feats far exceeding all probability have been ascribed to him! Hopping upon one leg over the Surrey Canal, bridge and all at one hop, is amongst the number, as also is diving into the canal when the police were upon him, and staying there for an hour or two, till they went away. It is said that the wager according to which Spring John plays his pranks, runs that he is to kill six females with fright. Six hundred are nearly dead at the idea of it already."

- West Kent Guardian, January 13 1838


"Miss Jane Alsop, a young lady 18 years of age, stated that at about a quarter to nine o'clock on the preceding night she heard a violent ringing at the gate at the front of the house, and on going to the door to see what was the matter, she saw a man standing outside, of whom she enquired what was the matter, and requested he would not ring so loud. The person instantly replied that he was a policeman, and said 'For God's sake, bring me a light, for we have caught Spring-heeled Jack here in the lane.' She returned into the house and brought a candle, and handed it to the person, who appeared enveloped in a long cloak, and whom she at first really believed to be a policeman. The instant she had done so, however, he threw off his outer garment, and applying the lighted candle to his breast, presented a most hideous and frightful appearance, and vomited forth a quantity of blue and white flames from his mouth, and his eyes resembled red balls of fire. From the hasty glance which her fright enabled her to get of his person, she observed that he wore a large helmet, and his dress, which appeared to fit him very tight, seemed to her to resemble white oil skin. Without uttering a sentence, he darted at her, and catching her partly by her dress and the back part of her neck, placed her head under one of his arms, and commenced tearing her gown with his claws, which she was certain were of some metallic substance. She screamed out as loud as she could for assistance, and by considerable exertion got away from him, and ran towards the house to get in. Her assailant, however, followed her, and caught her on the steps leading to the half-door, when he again used considerable 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 his grasp by one of her sisters. Miss Alsop added, that she had suffered considerably all night from the shock she had sustained, and was then in extreme pain, both from the injury done to her arm, and the wounds and scratches inflicted by the miscreant about her shoulders and neck with his claws or hands.

Miss Mary Alsop, a younger sister, said, that on hearing the screams of her sister Jane, she went to the door, and saw a figure as above described ill-using her sister. She was so alarmed at his appearance, that she was afraid to approach or render any assistance. Mrs Harrison said, that hearing the screams of both her sisters, first of Jane, and then of Mary, she ran to the door, and found the person before described in the act of dragging her sister Jane down the stone steps from the door with considerable violence. She (Mrs Harrison) got hold of her sister, and by some means or other, which she could scarcely describe, succeeded in getting her inside the door, and closing it. At this time her sister's dress was nearly torn off her, both her combs dragged out of her head, as well as a quantity of her hair torn away. The fellow, notwithstanding the outrage he had committed, knocked loudly two or three times at the door and it was only on their calling loudly for the police from the upper windows that he left the place. Mr. Alsop, who appears very feeble, said that he and Mrs. Alsop have been laid up for several week with a rheumatic affection, so as to be scarcely able to get out of bed, but such was the alarm on the night before, that they both got out bed, and he managed to get downstairs, and found his daughter Susan with her clothes torn, and having all appearance of receiving the most serious personal violence. Mr. Alsop also said, it was perfectly clear that there was more than one ruffian connected with the outrage, as the fellow who committed the violence did not return for his cloak, but scampered across the fields, so that there must have been some person with him to pick it up. In conclusion, Mr. Alsop said, he would most willingly give a reward of 10 guineas for the apprehension of the miscreant. Mr. Hardwick expressed his surprise and abhorrence of the outrage, and said that no pains should be spared to bring its miscreant perpetrators to justice."

- The Times, February 22 1838











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