Victorian England, the ninteenth century was home to one of the biggest mysteries, Springheel Jack. September 1837 was when he first apeared, but not the last time.
It started out to be a rumor, but then in September of 1837 Rumor turned to horrible legend. After four attacks, three of them on women, people finally realized the terror was real. Polly Adams, one of the victims had the top of her dress ripped off and her belly sctatched with iron like fingers.
By early 1838 The Lord Mayor of London , Sir John Cowan had declared Springheel Jack a public menace and formed a vigilance committee in an attempt to bring this rather strange criminal to justice .Although they tried to catch him Springheel Jack had the incredible ability to leap great distances from roof to roof , making it impossible to catch him.
In February of 1838 18 year old Jane Alsop of London answered a violent knocking at her door and found what she thought was a law enforcement officer who said " For Gods sake bring me a light , for we have caught Springheel Jack in the Lane " . Excited by the prospect of seeing the legendary Springheel Jack , Jane grabbed a lighted candle and ran outside . She handed the candle to a man that was standing at the gate . The man threw off his cloak and spew forth blue and white flames from his mouth . He tore at Janes dress and body , his eyes resembling red balls of fire . She tried to pull away but he grabbed her by the hair and clawed face and neck . Janes sister hearing her screams ran out into the street and cried out for help . Before anybody could help Jack would leap away.
Jane would later describe her otherworldly attacker to the authorities "He was wearing a kind of helmet and a tight fitting white costume like an oilskin . His face was hideous and his eyes were like balls of fire . His hands had great claws and he vomited blue and white flames".
Sporadic attacks would continue throughout 1839 . Attacks would also be reported in 1843 , 1845 and throughout the 1850's and 60's . In the 1870's the army would set a trap for him after frightened sentries reported a man dashing out of the darkness and slapping their faces with an icy cold hand and then springing onto the roof of their sentry boxes.
In 1877 angry townspeople shot at Jack in the streets one night . A sentrywho fired at him claimed that he hit Springheel Jack but the bullet went right through seemingly doing no damage whatsoever . Early on their were rumors that Jack was in fact Henry the Marquis Of Waterford , an Irish nobleman . However those rumors were put to rest in 1859 with the passing of The Marquis . The last sighting of Springheel Jack was more than 60 years after the initial sighting . It was 1904 and there was panic in the streets as Springheel Jack was seen for the last time leaping from rooftop to cobblestone and back . This sighting was in liverpool where Jack would vanish into the darkness never to be seen again
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