The Animal (or god?) who stole Xmas
The Red and the Green Stamps
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I only really read about this yesterday, the so called Bell Witch case in South Carolina. Seems to be the "real" Blair Witch, although like her, isn't really a true witch at all, but some kind of "demon" figure. And she's supposed to have prophesied the US Civil Wa & depression + both world wars.
So what's the real story, has it been debunked etc? I'm expecting to see a lot of links, but please throw in a sceptical one or two, the book I was reading was trying to spin a good ghost yarn.
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Tier-Rex
The Red and the Green Stamps
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This one is a Pro-site really. But is interesting reading
The Animal (or god?) who stole Xmas
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
There is certainly one interesting counterpart with other poltergeist encounters, namely the presence of children/adolescents who were attacked during the night...
"In the early 1800s, John Bell, a farmer, moved to Tennessee and bought some land from an old woman named Kate Batts. However, she claimed Bell had cheated her and she swore to get revenge. She died in 1817, and the problems began."
That would seem to be why people thought of the Bell Witch as a witch--they identified it with the deceased Kate Batts. It is stated on http://www.ghosts.org/bell/jackcook.html that the spirit called itself Kate. (Cook's article seems to be a good one, distinguishing between what is said and what was done.) Cook also states that Betsy Bell, the youngest daughter, was the center of the spirit's activity, which makes it sound more like a poltergeist phenomenon.
"One day Bell was checking on his corn and he saw a strange looking bird that had characteristics of a human. Some time later, he saw a creature which resembled a dog and shot at it, however the strange creature completely vanished before his very eyes. Sometimes an old woman no one recognized was seen walking through an orchard. Soon after, there was scratching and knocking. The sounds soon turned to wings flapping and dogs fighting inside the house. These events puzzled the Bells greatly."
As for the problems...
"In 1818 John Bell came down with a strange illness that made chewing and swallowing difficult because it affected his tongue and jaw. A while later, the Bell Witch spoke and made her presence known. She threatened John's life on many occasions.
"People began to become curious and they came to check out the events on the Bell property. Those who stayed the night heard laughter and had the sheets pulled off of them. One man who had a reputation for being 'tough' came and stayed the night believing he could defeat the Bell Witch. However, she yanked off his sheets too, and hit him, screaming at him to give up because he couldn't win a fight with a spirit.
"Andrew Jackson even visited the Bells' home. While on the way to the Bell property, one of Jackson's companions began to talk badly of the witch. The wagon wheels locked up and although the driver tried to get the horses moving, the wheels just wouldn't turn. Then the men heard a voice say "Go on, old General" and the wagon began to move once again. Betsy Bell was tortured all night with the pinching and slapping the witch gave her, Jackson's sheets were repeatedly yanked off and his men slapped and pinched until day break. Jackson and his men left as soon as they could.
"Although the Bell Witch tortured many people including Bell's slaves, she often helped Mrs. Bell. She would sing to her and do her chores when she was sick. Betsy planned to marry a man named Josh Gardner, but the Witch told her not to, and if she did, she'd never be able to rest.
"Again in 1820, John was sticken with the same illness in his tongue and jaw, only this time it was worse. Sometimes, people believed his was getting better, but the Witch insisted that she would kill him. In the last days of his life, he would walk around his land and the Witch would take his shoes off of his feet and trip him. Once, she beat him so badly he needed a doctor and bed-rest. Then Mr. Bell died on December 20.
"In the early weeks of 1821, the Bell Witch said that her work was done and she would leave, but she told that she was to come back in 7 years. She did indeed come back, but there were only scratching noises this time; she hurt no one. She then promised to return in 107 years, which would have been 1935, but no one has come forward to say that any strange events had taken place on the Bell property that year."
The same site states that Native Americans in the area claim that a cave on the property is sacred to spirits, but that sounds so much like so many other ULs that I'm not inclined to believe it.
The Animal (or god?) who stole Xmas
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
Interesting, but I bet someone says she did turn up in 1935... I wonder what happened to the "prophecies" or are they hidden away like Fatima's?
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King of Christmases Past
The Red and the Green Stamps
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quote:Originally posted by The Animal (or god?) who stole Xmas: I only really read about this yesterday, the so called Bell Witch case in South Carolina. Seems to be the "real" Blair Witch, although like her, isn't really a true witch at all, but some kind of "demon" figure. And she's supposed to have prophesied the US Civil Wa & depression + both world wars.
So what's the real story, has it been debunked etc? I'm expecting to see a lot of links, but please throw in a sceptical one or two, the book I was reading was trying to spin a good ghost yarn.
First of all it was in Adams Tennessee. Not South Carolina. Secondly, the Witch's name is Kate. There are many rumors as to what Kate is or was. One story not often mentioned is that John Bell supposedly had a mistress. This mistress showed up on the door step of the Bell home preggers. It is thought that John took the woman in, but Mrs Bell locked her up in a small room, beat her, abused her, and generally made a bad situation out of it. The story says the woman and the child died in birth and the witch than began to haunt the Bell Family. It has been reported that the story of the witch spread like wild fire and that Andrew "By God" Jackson came to see the spectacle for himself. In transit, less than a couple of miles from the Bell Home, the witch supposedly held his carriage in place and spoke to the future President of the USA. The rest of the notes above seem to be accurate.
When I read about this topic - I get cold. Everything else I laugh at. N ot sure if that means anything - just something I noted myself (But by GOD I get the heebeejeebies).
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The Animal (or god?) who stole Xmas
The Red and the Green Stamps
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quote:Originally posted by King of Christmases Past: [QUOTE] Secondly, the Witch's name is Kate. There are many rumors as to what Kate is or was. One story not often mentioned is that John Bell supposedly had a mistress. This mistress showed up on the door step of the Bell home preggers. It is thought that John took the woman in, but Mrs Bell locked her up in a small room, beat her, abused her, and generally made a bad situation out of it. The story says the woman and the child died in birth and the witch than began to haunt the Bell Family. It has been reported that the story of the witch spread like wild fire and that Andrew "By God" Jackson came to see the spectacle for himself. In transit, less than a couple of miles from the Bell Home, the witch supposedly held his carriage in place and spoke to the future President of the USA. The rest of the notes above seem to be accurate.
King Rohan
The versions I heard were 1) There was no Kate, it was just a name the entity assumed, as well as various weird creatures.
2) She was the old owner of Bell's property who had been swindled by him.
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FrozenChosen
The Red and the Green Stamps
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They're making a movie (feel free to chow if it's been covered - I searched but didn't see anything). It's coming out September 24 in a HDTV broadcast along with a concert from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. www.bellwitchthemovie.com
(Very excited - my cousin Vida's band - the Jeff and Vida Band - are on the soundtrack).
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