Spring-Heeled Jack | by Anonymous
“Enchanted by that dark and mist-blown strawberry spring, and by the shadow of violent death that walked through it on those nights eight years ago. The shadow of Springheel Jack.” – Stephen King | Strawberry Spring
England (Various Locations)–Victorian England, a time of cultural and economic prosperity, was also home to murderous figures who stalked the streets. Jack the Ripper was one such serial killer who killed and mutilated multiple women near White Chapel. However, his story is both plausible and true–it actually occurred. Nonetheless, some stories require a bit more fantasy. Spring-Heeled Jack, the Leaping Terror of Victorian England, for instance, is this sort of fantasy, as he bounded over walls and attacked people on his way through London.
Victorian England
Name and Factors
Before the story of Spring-Heeled Jack, let’s discuss the years between 1837 and 1901. Historians know this timeframe as the Victorian Era, as Queen Victoria reigned supreme during this time. In this age of decadence, the high society of Britain was doing extremely well. They enjoyed a booming economy and a rich culture. Many people voted and two-thirds the working class made up the empire.
Some key factors that contributed to this economic prosperity included the Industrial Revolution, imperial control, and scientific innovation. Meanwhile, in the arts, Charles Dickens, the Bronte sisters, and Oscar Wilde contributed literature that would shape the writing world. Pretty much, from top to bottom, the country was alive with economic and cultural movement in a positive direction.
The Price of the Era
But such resplendence often comes at a price: industrializing countries have many issues, including child labor, poor working conditions, and wealth inequality. This was also true in England. If you weren’t working in any of the factories that dotted the city, then you were working as a railway worker, or you worked at the docks, or you and your children spent time in the coal mines. Additionally, social class kept a separation between the upper aristocracy and the lower poor. There was very little in the way of upward mobility. If you were born in the poor slums of England, then you died in the poor slums of England.
A Focus on Morality
Similarly, the morality of the era focused on modesty. The fixation on modesty contributed to high society considering some topics “improper.” The morality kept under check included “sexual proprietary, hard work, honesty, thrift,” and a “sense of duty and responsibility toward the less well off” (2).
Artists of the era took note, and some even faced ostracism. Aurhorities removed Oscar Wilde, playwright and novelist, from his high-status life due to homosexual acts. Wilde once wrote: “The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.” Often, in the pursuit of modesty, those perceived as immodest are unduly punished.
The Anatomy of Spring-Heeled Jack
Yet, within these prosperous confines, smoky streets, and industrialized neighborhoods, murderers lurked. They included Jack the Ripper, Mary Ann Cotton, Amerlia Dyer, and the titular Spring-Heeled Jack.
While Spring-Heeled Jack’s appearance varies from account to account, the basic values are as follows:
- Devilish, with clawed hands.
- Eyes: Glowing red eyes
- Clothing: Wore a black cloak, oilskin suit, helmet.
- Abilities: Able to leap great heights and exhale blue flames.
Appearances of Jack and Timeline
The spectral, supernatural figure of Spring-Heeled Jack first appeared in the early 1830s. Author Karl Bell stated that local villages began reporting a “phantom bull or bear,” around their communities. Then, the more actualized appearance of Spring-Heeled Jack came into focus. He was “a tall, dark, cloaked figure who pounced upon individuals, predominantly women” (3).
One of these earlier accounts included a woman by the name of Mary Stevens. She claimed to have seen Spring-Heeled Jack in London around 1837. He attacked her but then sprang away from her scream. Similarly, in 1838, a woman by the name of Jane Alsop stated that a policeman knocked on her door. When she answered, he attacked her with claws and spat blue fire at her before leaping away.
Later, in the 1870s and 1880s, Spring-Heeled Jack was spotted again, and even though he was fired upon by soldiers, he escaped unscathed. In time, Spring-Heeled Jack faded away into history, but his lore still lives on.
The Identity of Spring-Heeled Jack?
There have been a variety of assertions as to Spring-Heel Jack’s personage. Some are convinced it was the Marques of Waterford, who started the story for his own amusement. If we consider the idea of “modesty” during this age then it stands to reason that it would indeed be improper of a Marques committed the evil acts of Spring-Heeled Jack.
Others claim that it was similar to both the werewolf phenomena and the Dancing Plague of Medieval England. That is to say, mass hysteria took hold. Considering it was a chaotic age of evolution and technology, there was still the spirits of violence stalking the corridors. The aforementioned Jack the Ripper murdered and terrorized the city. Spring-Heeled Jack, too, could just as easily manipulate his way into the human psyche through hysterical attitudes.
Finally, more theological and conspiratorial minds state that he was in fact some kind of Devil or an alien from a distant planet here to spring-heel his way through England. These connections are more tenuous, but the church’s prominent role in Victorian England could lend itself to demonic accusations. As for aliens, the endless fascination of outer space and visitors from other worlds lends itself to an errant, galactic invader.
Conclusion
In a similar vein to other folkloric creatures like the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot, Spring-Heeled Jack lives in myth. He has been sighted by some (mostly country dwellers). His legend thrives on fragmented reports, sensational newspaper articles, and the Victorian fascination with the supernatural.
Meanwhile, the police accounts for Spring-Heeled Jack seem pieced together and based on speculation. They read very similar to how the police handle investigations today, while trying to get ahead of public hearsay. That is to say, a common murderer can be turned into a 20-foot tall beast on a dime based on the victim’s account.
Either way, unlike more supernatural creatures from England, Spring-Heeled Jack will live on as a real threat for his fearful demeanor, violent actions, and association with the age of decadence in England.
