.jpg "\"Spring-Heeled Jack\" by Christine Graves via Leonardo AI")
Though I grew up in Rural Nebraska, I loved the stories of Old England. As an ancient history fanatic, I read all I could about characters such as Boudicca, Queen Maeve, King Arthur, Merlin, and many others. However, I also have a fascination with Victorian London. I can't explain it, but I feel as though I was supposed to be there during that time.
I've probably read every story about Jack the Ripper produced up to the mid-1980s. I was obsessed. As I read a few of those tales, I came across a legend about an individual called Spring-Heeled Jack. He wasn't as popular as Jack the Ripper, but he was a lot more mysterious.
A few of the things I read claimed that they were one and the same. I find that difficult to believe as the events happened 50 years apart. However, if you subscribe to the theory that he was more than just a man, I guess it could happen.
I hadn't thought of this story for quite some time, then he suddenly leapt into my brain. I decided that I'd let Spring-Heeled Jack lead the way for my first real post. So, here's what I've learned.
The Legend of Spring-Heeled Jack
In the autumn of 1837, a London businessman claimed to have been confronted by a sinister individual dressed in a long cloak with malicious intent. It was said the individual had the ability to leap great distances, had glowing red eyes, and claws for hands.
Within only a few months, several incidents were to be attributed to Spring-Heeled Jack. Young women were beginning to report that he had attacked them in the night, tearing at their clothes and clawing at their bellies. There were even some reports that claimed he would spray a blue liquid from his mouth onto his victims.
In early 1838, the mayor of London formally recognized the growing concern in his city. Though he may not have believed every story that came across his desk, he did read a letter during a public session that claimed to have known the possible identity of the individual known as Spring-Heeled Jack.
The letter described a group of friends who were virtually daring their most adventurous member, to create as much havoc as possible. He was said to have dressed as a bear, a ghost, and even the devil himself. However, from there, the legend grew.
Stories of Spring-Heeled Jack grew more and more exaggerated as time went by. He was said to have been seen throughout the British Isles, including Scotland. There was even some speculation that the gentleman may have been an Irish nobleman who was known for his drunken escapades.
Though the actual events took place in the early 19th century, stories of Spring-Heeled Jack continued well into the 20th century. He was thought to be everything from a demon to an alien, and even possibly one of the fae folk. He became the monster parents would tell their children about when trying to get them to behave.
As I read through some of the stories of Spring-Heeled Jack, I couldn't help but wonder if Robert Louis Stevenson got the idea of Mr. Hyde from some of these stories. Maybe that's just my more modern outlook and the fact that I thought The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen had the best Mr. Hyde, EVER!!!
Though I've always been a lover of ancient tales, there's something to be said for modern mythologies. They remind us that we still believe in dark forces, we still fear monsters, and we still get scared at the things that go bump in the night.
Now that's something to sleep on.
Until next time,
Christine Graves--AKA--The Librarian
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Christine Graves has been writing for more than 30 years. She runs several blogs including Priestess of Words, Collected Keepsakes, and Mystic Realms, all of which are part of her company, Graves Publications. She also writes for a platform called Medium.com, in which she runs a few publications.
Christine is also an avid crafter and multi-media artist. She runs two online stores. Prairied Treasures is where she showcases her handmade greeting cards and other multi-media art, and Pathways through the Past is where she sells her AI art creations on a wide variety of products.
If you'd like to stay up to date with everything she's got going on, you can sign up for her Graves Publications newsletter.
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