Spring-Heeled Jack - 19th Century Enigma
Created | Updated Apr 7, 2012
In thought still half absorbed, and chilled with cold;
When lo! an object frightful to behold,
A grisly Spectre, clothed in silver grey.
Around whose feet the wavering shadows play,
Stands in his path!
Stands, too, as huge and hideous as if all the ghosts
of all the bullocks, sheep and pigs and poultry, he
had slaughtered had been rolled into one, and
now shrieked out, like Shakespeare's sprites,
The Butcher is come!
The fierce, the cruel butcher,
who stabbed us in the shop
at Upminster!-Unknown
In the 19th century it was not wise to walk the streets alone at night for many reasons. One of these was the enigma commonly labelled 'Spring-Heeled Jack'.'Jack' was described by those unlucky enough to meet him as tall, thin and powerful. He was usually seen wearing a black cloak and it was claimed he could jump 20 to 30 feet high. He had large pointy ears and nose, with red glowing eyes and in some accounts was able to blow blue fire from his mouth.
Theories abound as to the identity of 'Spring-Heeled Jack' with everything from creature to alien to suited and spring-wearing prankster having been suggested. As he was never caught, the mystery remains unsolved.
He wore a large helmet and a sort of tight-fitting costume that felt like oilskin. But the cape was just like the ones worn by the local policemen. His hands were as cold as ice and like powerful claws. But the most frightening thing about him was his eyes. They shone like balls of fire.
- Jane Alsop in a statement made to the police.
Throughout the 19th century 'Jack' was reported appearing all over England with the last reported sighting in Liverpool in 1904.
Despite concerned citizens forming vigilante committees to
try and track him down, at one point including the
Duke of Wellington, and Admiral Codrington, he was never formally identified.
It is commonly believed however that 'Jack' was an Irish nobleman named The Marquis of Waterford, well known for his sadistic taste in practical jokes and his scorn for women.
In the book "The Legend and Bizarre Crimes of
Spring-Heeled Jack" by Peter Haining, the idea is put forward that Waterford's idea for the character of Jack
was inspired by a humiliating experience with a woman and a police
officer whilst he was travelling abroad. Haining believes that Waterford and his
rich friends thought up the idea as a prank to get even with the
police and women in general.
