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Overview and Evidence[]
Spring-Heeled Jack was a malevolent humanoid figure blamed for a rash of bizarre attacks that plagued a large portion of England throughout the 19th century. Beginning in 1837, Spring-Heeled Jack quickly became an infamous figure in local folklore and evolved into a bogeyman-like figure.[1]
Spring-Heeled Jack was described by most eyewitnesses as a tall humanoid figure with a frightening appearance. Clad in a form-fitting silvery suit and swathed in a long black cape, the goblin-like entity reportedly displayed an aggressive yet playful attitude as though avidly enjoying the terror he allegedly caused. Jack was said to be a very gaunt individual who wore a black pointed helmet that obscured any hair he might have had, and his most distinguishing facial feature was his luminous red eyes. Numerous reports mention the presence of long metallic claws on his fingers and the ability to exhale blue flames from his mouth. However, Spring-Heeled Jack's most well-known power, and the source of his moniker, was his ability to leap incredible heights and distances.
The entity's modus operandi usually involved leaping out at passersby from the darkness and frightening them with its flaming breath and terrifying face before abruptly fleeing back into the night just as suddenly. Occasionally, Jack would reportedly ring the doorbells of unsuspecting townsfolk only to give them a scare when they opened the door. True to form, Jack would usually be leaping away by the time any authorities could be alerted.
Today, skeptics tend to regard the stories as mere urban legends. Soon after the sightings began, John Cowan, Lord Mayor of London, publicly addressed the sightings by blaming them on a group of pranksters. Other more modern skeptics have suggested that the entire phenomenon was nothing more than mass hysteria, perhaps inspired by and spiraled out of a more mundane mugging or two. A popular theory at the time blamed Henry de La Poer Beresford, 3rd Marquess of Waterford, for the attacks, primarily due to his reckless behavior and negative views of women. Paranormal enthusiasts, on the other hand, have suggested extraterrestrial, interdimensional, and mystical origins for the creature.
Alleged Sightings[]
Third-Person Accounts[]
In February of 1838, one Jane Alsop answered her front door after hearing frantic pounding and the screams of a man claiming that he had captured Spring-Heeled Jack. Upon opening the door, Alsop was shocked to see Jack himself standing at the door. He reportedly breathed blue flames in her face and physically assaulted her with his claws. She fled back inside and was only saved when Alsop's sister came to her rescue and forced Jack to retreat.[2]
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