SPRING-HEELED JACK

Hawera Star, Volume L, 17 May 1930, Page 11

SPRING-HEELED JACK

rpji [•; mysterious attacks- .011 women and children which have given rise to- a reign of terror in the -German town of Dusscldorf, remind us that these events happen from time to time (says a writer in “This and That”). 'Forty years ago Jack -the Ripper terrorised Whitechapel, . and- still further hack, in the year that Queen Victoria came- to the throne, a mysterious person who was known as L heeled .Tack,” made a great stir, although he did not. go to the extent of killing anybody. His first appearance was at Barnes in December, 3-83-7, ninety-two year/s ago. There he is said to have appeared as “,a large -white bull.” Next, he was seen at East Sheen as “a white bear” and later at Kingston Richmond, and Hampton, where, we arc told', he was “clad in brass armour, with large, claw-like gloves.” Other riverside towns were visited, and- he was des--cribed as wearing “Iste-cl armour.” Gradually 110 made his way nearer to Lond-on and at Hammersmith was seen “in the form of a. huge babo-on.” The matter became so serious -that a committee was iformcd at the Mansion Houscf -to receive -subscriptions and organise means of capturing Spring-heeled Jack. He now made his way to the East End of London, and we find in the “ Times,” of February 23, that a gentleman named- Alsop, living at B-ow, appeared before the Thames police magistrate, accompanied-, by his three daughters, one of whom stated that at about a quarter to nine on the evening of February 21, she heard- a violent ringing at the front gate of the house,

Man Who Terrified London

ami on going to the door to see the c-auso, beheld a. man standing outside. He said he was a policeman, and' exclaimed: '“'For iQod’s sake bring me a light, for we have caught' iSpringheeled .lack here in the lane! iShe went into the house and ‘brought out a candle, which she handed- t the stranger, who thereupon threw oft the large cloak which he was wearing, applied the lighted candle to his breast, and as she declared, “presented a most hideous and frightful, appearance, vomiting forth blue and white flame from his .mouth, his eves resembling red bails of fire.” He was wearing a. large helmet, and! his clothes, which fitted him tightly, appeared: to be made of white oilskin.

Without uttering a word, lie seized her by the neck and dress, placed' her head under one of his arms, and commenced to tear her clothes with his claws, which, she was certain, were made of metal. She Screamed and struggled, and after a, time managed to get loose; but her assailant followed her and caught her on the doorstep again tearing her with violence. All this, might isoem like the imaginings of a hysterical woman, hut the state of her clothes and the injuries to her head, arms, and neck, proved that she had actually been attacked.

All London- was now in a ferment. I For about five months the man kept the female element of the population in a state of terror, but now, fortunately, thinking that the -chase was getting too hot. Spring-heeled Jack ceased "his escapades and no more was hoard of him. Who ho was will never bo known.