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Ghost Stories: Black Beards Ghost

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:04:07 +0100

Blackbeard's Ghost

A North Carolina Ghost Story

retold by

S. E. Schlosser

The nefarious pirate Blackbeard (who's real name was Edward Teach) was a tall man with a very long black beard that covered most of his face and extended down to his waist. He tied his beard up in pigtails adorned with black ribbons. He wore a bandolier over his shoulders with three braces of pistols and sometimes he would hang two slow-burning cannon fuses from his fur cap that wreathed his head in black smoke. Occasionally, he would set fire to his rum using gunpowder, and he would drink it, flames and all. Many people thought he was the Devil incarnate.

For twenty-seven months, Blackbeard terrorized the sailors of the Atlantic and the Caribbean, ambushing ships and stealing their cargo, killing those who opposed him, often attacking in the dim light of dawn or dusk when his pirate ship was most difficult to see. He would sail under the flag of a country friendly to the nationality of the ship he was attacking, and then hoist his pirate flag at the last moment. When prisoners surrendered willingly, he spared them. When they did not, his magnanimity failed. One man refused to give up a diamond ring he was wearing and the pirate cut the ring off, finger and all. Once Blackbeard blockaded Charleston, South Carolina with his ships, taking many wealthy citizens hostage until the townspeople met his ransom. Later, Blackbeard ran one of his ships - the Queen Anne's Revenge - aground. Some say he did it on purpose because he wanted to break up the pirate fleet and steal the booty for himself.

In November of 1718, Blackbeard retreated to his favorite hideaway -- called Teach's Hole -- off Ocracoke Island. There, he hosted a wild pirate party with drinking, dancing and large bonfires. The party lasted for days, and several North Carolina citizens sent word to Governor Alexander Spotswood of Virginia. Governor Spotswood immediately ordered two sloops, commanded by Lieutenant Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy, to go to Ocracoke and capture the pirate.

On November 21, 1718, Maynard engaged Blackbeard in a terrible battle. One of Maynard's ships were between Blackbeard and freedom. Blackbeard sailed his ship - the Adventure - in towards shore. It looked like the pirate was going to crash his ship, but at the last second the ship eased through a narrow channel. One of the pursuing Navy ships went aground on a sand bar when they tried to pursue the Adventure. Blackbeard fired his cannons at the remaining ship and many of Maynard's men were killed. The rest he ordered below the deck under cover of the gun smoke, hoping to fool the pirates into thinking they had won. When the pirates boarded the ship, Maynard and his men attacked the pirates.

Outnumbered, the pirates put up a bloody fight. Blackbeard and Maynard came face to face. They both shot at each other. Blackbeard's shot missed Maynard, but Maynard's bullet hit the pirate. Blackbeard swung his cutlass and managed to snap off Maynard's sword blade near the hilt. As Blackbeard prepared to deliver the death-blow, one of Maynard's men cut Blackbeard's throat from behind. Blackbeard's blow missed its mark, barely skinning Maynard's knuckles. Infuriated, Blackbeard fought on as the blood spouted from his neck. Maynard and his men rushed the pirate. It took a total of five gunshots and about twenty cuts before Blackbeard fell down dead.

Maynard seemed to think that the only way to ensure that Blackbeard was dead was to remove his head. They hung the head from the bowsprit and threw the pirate's body overboard. As the body hit the water, the head hanging from the bowsprit shouted: "Come on Edward" and the headless body swam three times around the ship before sinking to the bottom.

From that day to this, Blackbeard's ghost has haunted Teach's Hole, forever searching for his missing head. Sometimes, the headless ghost floats on the surface of the water, or swims around and around and around Teach's Hole, glowing just underneath the water. Sometimes, folks see a strange light coming from the shore on the Pamlico Sound side of Ocracoke Island and know that it is "Teach's light". On night's that the ghost light appears, if the wind is blowing inland, you can still hear Blackbeard's ghost tramping up and down and roaring: 'Where's my head?

COMMON SUPERSTITIONS

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:54:51 +0100

What is Superstition?

According to Webster's dictionary, superstition is

n. any belief that is inconsistent with the known laws of science or with what is considered true and rational; esp., such a belief in omens, the supernatural, etc.

Halloween is traditionally the time when common superstitions, folklore, myths and omens carry more weight to those who believe. Superstition origins go back thousands of years ago. Beliefs include good luck charms, amulets, bad luck, fortunes, cures, portents, omens and predictions, fortunes and spells.

Bad superstions far outweigh the good, especially around Halloween when myths run rampant. When it comes right down to it, many people still believe that omens can predict our destiny and misfortune -- particularly for the worse.

Superstitions & Bad Luck Omens

Black Cats
Black cats have long been believed to be a supernatural omen since the witch hunts of the middle ages when cats were thought to be connected to evil. Since then, it is considered bad luck if a black cat crosses your path.

Broken Mirrors
An ancient myth our ancestors believed was that the image in a mirror is our actual soul. A broken mirror represented the soul being astray from your body. To break the spell of misfortune, you must wait seven hours (one for each year of bad luck) before picking up the broken pieces, and bury them outside in the moonlight.

Ladders
In the days before the gallows, criminals were hung from the top rung of a ladder and their spirits were believed to linger underneath. Common folklore has it to be bad luck to walk beneath an open ladder and pass through the triangle of evil ghosts and spirits.

Owls
If an owl looks in your window or if you seeing one in the daylight bad luck and death will bestow you.

Salt
At one time salt was a rare commodity and thought to have magical powers. It was unfortunate to spill salt and said to foretell family disarray and death. To ward off bad luck, throw a pinch over your shoulder and all will be well.

Sparrows
Sparrows are thought to carry the souls of the dead and it is believed to bring bad luck if you kill one.

Unlucky Number #13
The fear of the number 13 is still common today, and avoided in many different ways. Some buildings still do not have an official 13th floor and many people avoid driving or going anywhere on Friday the 13th.

Good Luck Superstitions

Horseshoes
To bring good luck, the horseshoe must lost by a horse and be found by you, with the open end facing your way. You must hang it over the door with the open end up, so the good fortune doesn't spill out.

Four Leaf Clover
Clover is believed to protect humans and animals from evil spells and is thought to be good luck to find a four leaf clover, particularly for the Irish.

Rabbit's Foot
These lucky charms are thought to ward off bad luck and bring good luck. You mush carry the rabbit's foot on a chain around your neck, or in your left back pocket. The older it gets, the more good luck it brings.

Wishbones
Two people are to pull apart a dried breastbone of a turkey or chicken and the one who is left with the longer end will have their wish come true.

Common Superstitions and Myths

If the flame of a candle flickers and then turns blue, there's a spirit in the room.

If a bird flies through your house, it indicates important news. If it can't get out, the news will be death.

If you feel a chill up your spine, someone is walking on your future grave.

A person born on Halloween will have the gift of communicating with the dead.

A bat in the house is a sign of death.

If a bird flies towards you, bad fortune is imminent.

If your palm itches, you will soon receive money. If you itch it, your money will never come.

Crows are viewed as a bad omen, often foretelling death. If they caw, death is very near.

Many Romans wore lucky charms and amulets to avert the "evil eye."

If a person experiences great horror, their hair turns white.

A hat on a bed will bring bad luck.

Eat an apple on Christmas Eve for good health the next year.

The superstition of knocking on wood for good luck originates from pagan beliefs in regards to trees

SUPERSTITIONS ON GHOSTS

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:52:51 +0100

"Ghosts and Fairies in the Middle Ages," ghosts were often thought to be the damned souls of, women who died in childbirth, children who were never baptized, blasphemers, people who were not Christians and those who committed suicide. While their ghosts roamed the Earth, the people themselves were destined for an eternity in Purgatory. In contrast, if someone wanted to bring forth a spirit, they would need to wash a slab of steel in mugwort juice.

Other religions also had superstitions surrounding ghosts and spirits. Eleazar ben Judah of Worms was a Jewish scholar who lived from 1165 to 1230. He wrote that spirits were akin to a flicker of fire. He believed that, when light was seen at cemeteries, it was really spirits talking to one another. Another Jewish ghost figure was called a "dybbuk," a departed soul that clung to a human.

Irish of the Middle Ages believed that the Banshee was a specific ghost that could be heard howling at night. The Banshee was a phantom female who was sometimes called the Angel of Death, according to "Irish Mythology: The Banshee" written by Ciara O'Brien. While some myths thought that she came in the form of a washerwoman or an old crone, others state that she was a wraith with silver hair. When she wailed, it was to warn human beings that they or someone they loved was about to die.

In Iceland, many superstitions regarding ghosts were centered on animals. For example, an owl was synonymous with death and wherever an owl nest was built, a ghost would linger in the area until the bird abandoned its home. Rooster crows were thought to tell ghosts that it was time for them to vanish until night falls again.

According to "Superstitions" written by Stephanie Lechniak-Cumerlato, people during the Middle Ages would put lit candles by the bed to keep spirits away. If a candle suddenly turned blue, that meant that a ghost was lurking nearby. In the days before criminals were hung at the gallows, ladders were used. Because of this, people believed that the ghosts of the condemned lived in the space under open ladders, heaping bad luck on anyone who walked under the ladder

Read more: Ghost Superstitions in the Middle Ages | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8478501_ghost-superstitions-middle-ages.html#ixzz1jZP8OpLd

ALP (GERMAN FOLKLORE)

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:40:39 +0100

An alp is a nightmare creature originating in German folklore.

Not to be mistaken with the similarly named Alp-luachra, the alp is sometimes likened to a vampire, but its behavior is more like that of the incubus. It is unique from both of these creatures in that it wears a magic hat called a Tarnkappe, from which it draws its powers. The word "alp" is a variation on the word "elf". It is also known by the following names: trud, mar, mart, mahr, schrat, and walrider. Many variations of the creature exist in surrounding European areas, such as the Druden and Schratteli.

An alp is typically male, while the mara and mart appear to be more feminine versions of the same creature. Its victims are often females,^[1]^[2] whom it attacks during the night, controlling their dreams and creating horrible nightmares (hence the german word Alptraum ("elf dream"), meaning a nightmare). An alp attack is called an Alpdruck, or often Alpdrücke, which means "elf pressure". Alpdruck is when an alp sits astride a sleeper's chest and becomes heavier until the crushing weight awakens the terrified and breathless dreamer. The victim awakes unable to move under the alp's weight. This may have been an early explanation for sleep apnea and sleep paralysis, as well as night terrors. It may also include lucid dreams.

Sexual attacks by the alp are rare.^[3]

The alp is often associated with vampires because it will drink blood from the nipples of men and young children,^[4] though women are the preferred victim of the invariably male alp, for it favors the taste of breast milk.

Alps also exhibit a tendency for mischief similar to elves, like souring milk and re-diapering a baby; a maid must sign a cross on the diaper or the alp will put the soiled diaper back on her child.^[5] They also enjoy tangling hair into "elfknots" or chewing and twisting horse's tails. They will ride a horse to exhaustion during the night and may sometimes crush smaller farm animals such as geese to death during a pressing attack. Alps are also similarly blamed for minor illnesses and milking cows dry, for they enjoy the taste of cow's milk as well.

The alp is best known for its shape-shifting abilities, similar to the creatures from werewolf lore. It may change into a cat, pig, dog, snake or a small white butterfly.^[4] It has also been said that it can fly like a bird and ride a horse. The alp always wears a hat, giving it an almost comical appearance.^[1]^[4]^[3] The hat is known as a Tarnkappe^[4] (the literal translation being "camouflage cap" or "cap of concealment") which is simply a hat (or less commonly a veil) that gives the alp magic powers and the ability to turn invisible while worn (see also cloak of invisibility). The hat is visible no matter what shape the alp takes. An alp who has lost this hat will offer a great reward for its safe return.^[1] The alp also possesses an "evil eye" whose gaze will inflict illness and misfortune. Removing or damaging this eye also removes the alp's malicious intentions.

Protections against an alp include laying a broomstick under a pillow, iron horseshoes hung from the bedpost, placing shoes against the bed with the toes pointing toward the door, or placing a mirror on the chest. Steel and crosses are also used. If awoken by the alp and finding him still there, one can address him by asking him to return in the morning to borrow something or have coffee. The alp will dash away at once, arriving in the morning either in his "true" form, or else in the form of a human with eyebrows that meet to receive his gifts. The creature can be convinced to leave the victim alone at this time, but the alp will beg pitifully and at length not to be turned away. Plugging up any holes, specifically keyholes, before a visitation will keep the alp out. Plugging them during a visitation will invariably seal it inside the room, as they can leave only through their original entrance. A light kept constantly on during the night will also effectively ward off an alp. A sentry may also be employed to wait and watch for the alp to attack the helpless sleeper, the alp may be driven away if caught by someone not under the alp's influence. Similar to the German Neuntoter, alps are weakened or immobilized by shoving a lemon in its mouth should it be caught resting during the day. The alp appears all but impossible to kill, and sometimes even after being turned away it may reappear years later in a worse mood.^[4]

The alp's history originated in the mountainous regions of Germany and Austria. The alp's Tarnkappe, as well as its demeanor and abilities, suggest that the dwarf king Alberich from the Teutonic epic poem Nibelungenlied is the source of inspiration for much of the alp's mythology.^[6] In Teutonic myth and folklore, alps were considered friendly elf-like beings which lived in the mountains, but eventually turned more negative and malevolent. The characteristic magic hat the alps possess also bear the creature much resemblance to the Kobold, particularly Hodekin.

The alp, in many cases, is considered a demon, but there have been some instances in which the alp is created from the spirits of recently dead relatives, more akin to a spirit or ghost. Children may become an alp if a woman bites a horse collar to ease the pain during an extremely long and tortuous childbirth. Also, a child born with a caul or hair on the palms may become an alp. If a woman who is pregnant is frightened by an animal, the child may be born an alp. Stillborn infants are also suspected to return from the grave as alps and torment their family. People who have eyebrows that meet are suspected to be alps.^[7] As with the case of werewolves, sometimes a normal human or animal may become an alp during the night. They are typically unaware of their nocturnal activities and are invariably in disguise while doing so. Finding an alp while it is not active simply requires injuring or otherwise marking it during one of its attacks, and seeking out the being with a similar mark during the day. The person can then be cured if it is found out who sent them the curse, or how they became cursed to begin with. Witchcraft is often the prime suspect in this case.^[2]

Sometimes an alp is a spirit summoned by a witch or an evil person wishing harm on another, and sent to torment them. Tricking an alp may lead a person to its master. It may also have been expelled by the breath of the horerczy, a German demon which exhales vampiric butterflies

(once again Thanks WIKIPEDIA :D )

DUTCH FORKLORE

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:35:49 +0100

Karel ende Elegast (Dutch for Charlemagne and Elegast, or more simply Charles and Elegast) is an original Dutch poem that some scholars think was written end of the 12th century, otherwise in the 13th century. It is a Frankish romance of Charlemagne ("Karel") as an exemplary Christian king and his friend Elegast, whose name means "elf spirit" or "elf guest." Elegast has supernatural powers such as ability to talk to animals and may be an Elf. He lives in the forest as a thief. The two go out on an adventure and uncover and do away with Eggeric, as a traitor to Charlemagne.^[5]

De Reis van Sint Brandaen (Dutch for The Voyage of Saint Brandan) is a sort of a Christianized Odyssey, written in the 12th century that describes the legend of Sint Brandaen, a monk from Galway, and his voyage around the world for nine years. Scholars believe the Dutch legend derived from a now lost middle High German text combined with Celtic elements from Ireland and combines Christian and fairy tale elements. The journey was begun as a punishment by an angel. The angel saw Brandaen did not believe the truth of a book on the miracles of creation and saw Brandaen throw it into the fire. The angel tells him that truth has been destroyed. On his journeys Brandaen encounters the wonders and horrors of the world, people in distant lands with swine heads, dog legs and wolf teeth carrying bows and arrows, and an enormous fish that encircles the ship by holding its tail in its mouth. The English poem Life of Saint Brandan is an English derivative

(thanks Wikipedia!)

World Folklore: Garlic...Superstitions And Fact

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:28:21 +0100

Garlic: Superstitions, Folklore and Fact

GARLIC SUPERSTITIONS & FOLKLORE

According to Pliny, garlic and onions were invoked as deities by the Egyptians at the taking of oaths. The inhabitants of Pelusium in lower Egypt, who worshipped the onion, are said to have held both it and garlic in aversion as food.
Egyptian slaves were given a daily ration of garlic, as it was believed to ward off illness and to increase strength and endurance. As indicated in ancient Egyptian records, the pyramid builders were given beer, flatbread, raw garlic and onions as their meager food ration. Upon threatening to abandon the pyramids leaving them unfinished, they were given more garlic. It cost the Pharaoh today's equivalent of 2 million dollars to keep the Cheops pyramid builders supplied with garlic.
During the reign of King Tut, fifteen pounds of garlic would buy a healthy male slave. Indeed, when King Tut's tomb was excavated, there were bulbs of garlic found scattered throughout the rooms.
When Moses led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt (around 1,200BC), they complained of missing the finer things in life - fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.
The Koreans of old ate pickled garlic before passing through a mountain path, believing that tigers disliked it.
In Mohammed's writings, he equates garlic with Satan when he describes the feet of the Devil as he was cast out of the Garden of Eden. Where his left foot touched the earth, garlic sprang up, while onion emerged from the footprint of his right foot.
In Palestinian tradition, if the bridegroom wears a clove of garlic in his buttonhole, he is assured a successful wedding night. Among practitioners of Auryvedic medicine, garlic is held in high regard as an aphrodisiac and for its ability to increase semen.
Garlic was placed by the ancient Greeks on the piles of stones at cross-roads, as a supper for Hecate -- a goddess of the wilderness and childbirth, or for protection from demons. The garlic was supposed to the evil spirits and cause them to lose their way.
Greek athletes would take copious amounts of garlic before competition, and Greek soldiers would consume garlic before going into battle.
It became custom for Greek midwives to hang garlic cloves in birthing rooms to keep the evil spirits away. As the centuries passed, this ancient custom became commonplace in most European homes.
Roman soldiers ate garlic to inspire them and give them courage. Because the Roman generals believed that garlic gave their armies courage, they planted fields of garlic in the countries they conquered, believing that courage was transferred to the battlefield.
Homer reported that Ulysses owed his escape from Circe to "yellow garlic".
The herbalist Culpepper linked garlic with the planet Mars, a fiery planet also connected with blood.
European folklore gives garlic the ability to ward off the "evil eye". Central European folk beliefs considered garlic a powerful ward against devils, werewolves, and vampires. To ward off vampires, garlic could be worn on one's person, hung in windows, or rubbed on chimneys and keyholes. When diseases caused by mosquito bites were considered "The touch of the vampire," garlic came in handy as a mosquito repellent.
Alexander Neckam, a writer of the 12th century, recommends garlic as a palliative of the heat of the sun in field labor.
Dreaming that there is "garlic in the house" is supposedly lucky; to dream about eating garlic means you will discover hidden secrets.
This old Welsh saying may indeed have merit as a health remedy: "Eat leeks in March and garlic in May, Then the rest of the year, your doctor can play."

GARLIC FACTS

The ancient Greek name for garlic was scorodon. According to Fulder and Blackwood, French physician Henri Leclerc derived this from skaion rodon which he translated as rose puante, or "stinking rose".
Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. Sanskrit records show its medicinal use about 5,000 years ago, and it has been used for at least 3,000 years in Chinese medicine. The Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans used garlic for healing purposes. In 1858, Pasteur noted garlic's antibacterial activity.
Historically, garlic has been used around the world to treat many conditions, including hypertension, infections, and snakebites, and some cultures have used it to ward off evil spirits. Currently, garlic is used for reducing cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk, as well as for its antineoplastic and antimicrobial properties.
There is a long history of using garlic to get rid of many insects, from slug to mosquito. In particular garlic has a reputation for protecting people from mosquito bites.
Hippocrates (300BC) recommended garlic for infections, wounds, cancer, leprosy, and digestive disorders. Dioscorides praised it for its use in treating heart problems, and Pliny listed the plant in 61 remedies for a wide variety of ailments ranging from the common cold to leprosy, epilepsy and tapeworm.
During World War 1, the Russian army used garlic to treat wounds incurred by soldiers on the Front Line. Although Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin in 1928 largely replaced garlic at home, the war effort overwhelmed the capacity of most antibiotics, and garlic was again the antibiotic of choice. The Red Army physicians relied so heavily on garlic that it became known as the "Russian Penicillin".
Today, garlic is used by herbalists for a wide variety of illnesses including high cholesterol, colds, flu, coughs, bronchitis, fever, ringworm and intestinal worms, and liver, gallbladder, and digestive problems. Several scientific papers have been published in the last two years which strongly indicate that garlic is highly efficient in preventing heart disease and cancer, and even reducing the severity of established cancer.
Garlic Caution: Olive oil infused with fresh, raw garlic should not be left at room temperature to cure. While it may produce an awesome flavor, botulism threatens its safety. Garlic infused vinegar, on the other hand, is safe because the high acidic level of vinegar prevents spores of botulinum bacteria from incubating.
Italians apply poultices of garlic to alleviate stomachaches. During the early 20th century they sent their children to school wearing necklaces made of cloves of garlic to prevent them from catching colds. Though this practice made them rather unpopular, it did keep them healthy.
Dramatic results in treating animals infested with ticks showed that garlic was able to effectively kill the ticks within 30 minutes, while garlic proved to be a repellant toward new infestations. Garlic was also successful in treating cattle with hoof and mouth disease.
In a study conducted in Russia in 1955, garlic extract used therapeutically was found to bind with heavy metals in the body, aiding their elimination. Workers suffering from chronic lead poisoning while working in industrial plants were given daily doses of garlic extract and saw a decrease in their symptoms. Other experiments that took place in Japan using mercury and cadmium also found that garlic bound with the heavy metals.

West Virginia Folklore: Screaming Jenny

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:15:48 +0100

Screaming Jenny

A West Virginia Ghost Story

retold by

S.E. Schlosser

The old storage sheds along the tracks were abandoned shortly after the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was built, and it wasn't long before the poor folk of the area moved in. The sheds provided shelter - of a sort - although the winter wind still pierced through every crevice, and the small fireplaces that the poor constructed did little to keep the cold at bay.

A gentle, kindly woman named Jenny lived alone in one of the smaller sheds. She had fallen on hard times, and with no family to protect her, she was forced to find work where she could and take whatever shelter was available to someone with little money. Jenny never had enough to eat and in winter her tiny fire barely kept her alive during the cold months. Still, she kept her spirits up and tried to help other folks when they took sick or needed food, sometimes going without herself so that another could eat.

One cold evening in late autumn, Jenny sat shivering over her fire, drinking broth out of a wooden bowl, when a spark flew from the fire and lit her skirts on fire. Intent on filling her aching stomach, Jenny did not notice her flaming clothes until the fire had burnt through the heavy wool of her skirt and began to scorch her skin. Leaping up in terror, Jenny threw her broth over the licking flames but the fluid did nothing to douse the fire. In terror, Jenny fled from the shack and ran along the tracks, screaming for help as the flames engulfed her body.

The station was not far away, and instinctively Jenny made for it, hoping to find someone to aid her. Within moments, her body was a glowing inferno and Jenny was overwhelmed by pain. Her screams grew more horrible as her steps slowed. She staggered blindly onto the tracks just west of the station, a ball of fire that barely looked human. In her agony, she did not see the glowing headlight of the train rounding the curve, or hear the screech of the breaks as the engineer spotted her fire-eaten figure and tried to stop. A moment later, her terrible screams broke off as the train mowed her down.

Alerted by the whistle, the crew from the station came running as the engineer halted the train and ran back down the tracks toward poor dead Jenny, who was still burning. The men doused the fire and carried her body back to the station. She was given a pauper's funeral and buried in an unmarked grave in the local churchyard. Within a few days, another poverty-stricken family had moved into her shack, and Jenny was forgotten.

Forgotten that is, until a month later when a train rounding the bend west of the station was confronted by a screaming ball of fire. Too late to stop, the engineer plowed over the glowing figure before he could bring the train to a screeching halt. Leaping from the engine, he ran back down the tracks to search for a mangled, burning body, but there was nothing there. Shaken, he brought his train into the station and reported the incident to the stationmaster. After hearing his tale, the stationmaster remembered poor, dead Jenny and realized that her ghost had returned to haunt the tracks where she had died.

To this day, the phantom of Screaming Jenny still appears on the tracks on the anniversary of the day she died. Many an engineer has rounded the curve just west of the station and found himself face to face with the burning ghost of Screaming Jenny, as once more she makes her deadly run towards the Harpers Ferry station, seeking in vain for someone to save her.

You can read more West Virigina folktales in Spooky South by S.E. Schlosser.

West Virginia Folklore: John Henry

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:14:01 +0100

John Henry: The Steel Driving Man

A West Virginia Legend

retold by

S.E. Schlosser

Now John Henry was a mighty man, yes sir. He was born a slave in the 1840's but was freed after the war. He went to work as a steel-driver for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, don't ya know. And John Henry was the strongest, the most powerful man working the rails.

John Henry, he would spend his day's drilling holes by hitting thick steel spikes into rocks with his faithful shaker crouching close to the hole, turning the drill after each mighty blow. There was no one who could match him, though many tried.

Well, the new railroad was moving along right quick, thanks in no little part to the mighty John Henry. But looming right smack in its path was a mighty enemy - the Big Bend Mountain. Now the big bosses at the C&O Railroad decided that they couldn't go around the mile and a quarter thick mountain. No sir, the men of the C&O were going to go through it - drilling right into the heart of the mountain.

A thousand men would lose their lives before the great enemy was conquered. It took three long years, and before it was done the ground outside the mountain was filled with makeshift, sandy graves. The new tunnels were filled with smoke and dust. Ya couldn't see no-how and could hardly breathe. But John Henry, he worked tirelessly, drilling with a 14-pound hammer, and going 10 to 12 feet in one workday. No one else could match him.

Then one day a salesman came along to the camp. He had a steam-powered drill and claimed it could out-drill any man. Well, they set up a contest then and there between John Henry and that there drill. The foreman ran that newfangled steam-drill. John Henry, he just pulled out two 20-pound hammers, one in each hand. They drilled and drilled, dust rising everywhere. The men were howling and cheering. At the end of 35 minutes, John Henry had drilled two seven foot holes - a total of fourteen feet, while the steam drill had only drilled one nine-foot hole.

John Henry held up his hammers in triumph! The men shouted and cheered. The noise was so loud, it took a moment for the men to realize that John Henry was tottering. Exhausted, the mighty man crashed to the ground, the hammer's rolling from his grasp. The crowd went silent as the foreman rushed to his side. But it was too late. A blood vessel had burst in his brain. The greatest driller in the C&O Railroad was dead.

Some folks say that John Henry's likeness is carved right into the rock inside the Big Bend Tunnel. And if you walk to the edge of the blackness of the tunnel, sometimes you can hear the sound of two 20-pound hammers drilling their way to victory over the machine.

You can read more West Virigina folktales in Spooky South by S.E. Schlosser.

Is Paranormal Investigating.....Safe?

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:29:23 +0100

Is investigating the paranormal potentially dangerous? Until recently, I would have said "No," particularly if you are not a sensitive. Since I fall somewhere in between true sensitives and those who are psychic as a brick, I routinely use psychic shielding methods before I begin any investigation or similar type work. I know others on the R.I.P. team also employ their own rituals. However, I've now witnessed something that has me convinced that everyone - sensitive or not - needs to be aware of the possible dangers of ghost hunting and take precautions before investigating.

Last year, a new paranormal investigator visited a popular and reputedly "haunted" site and captured several EVPs. Over a period of several months, she became obsessed with capturing EVPs and she began to collect more and more of them, not only at haunted sites, but in her own home. Eventually, she began hearing the voices with her physical ears, rather than merely when she played back her recordings. She would hear them everywhere and they started to insult and berate her. She began to go out less and less, cutting off contact with family and friends. She would stay up most of the night, talking to her new disembodied "friends," fascinated with this unique form of communication in spite of the insults. Being a compassionate person, this investigator was drawn in by the story one entity told to her and she felt great sympathy for him, to the point of volunteering to act as a liaison between the entity and his supposed family still living on the physical plane. Whenever anyone cautioned her to tread carefully with this entity - or warn her that he might not be what he seems - she would brush off this advice. Finally, she cut off all contact - personal, phone, and email - with people who had been trying to help her. Without her cooperation, there was nothing more that anyone could do. It's a sad story and I don't know how it will end. I only hope her family is able to get her the help she needs.

But what was the cause of this breakdown? Was it a pre-existing mental illness, newly discovered psychic abilities, an obsessive personality, or an evil entity? Could it be a combination of all of these? We'll probably never know. It's a side of paranormal investigating that gets swept under the rug frequently because many people don't want to talk about it. But I believe that the paranormal community has a responsibility to discuss these cases and warn others, particularly young people and investigators-in-training, about what can and does sometimes happen.

The Southern California Paranormal Research Society (SOCALPRS) is trying to do just that with its "Dangers of the Paranormal" project. In their words:

WARNING:

Investigating the paranormal can be hazardous to your health.

It can follow you home and destroy your life.

TV doesn’t tell you that. So we will.

http://www.DangersoftheParanormal.com

Paranormal hazards mentioned include both physical and non-physical problems, such as:

DANGERS AT THE LOCATION/ENVIRONMENT: This covers extremes of temperature, long hours without proper food and water, living on a fast food diet, too much coffee, and even falling asleep at the wheel during long drives home. Their advice is to dress appropriately, wear proper shoes (no flip-flops - an R.I.P. rule!), bring protein bars, and plenty of water. Always have a first aid kit handy. Be aware of the possibility of animal attacks and do not put yourself in danger. NEVER investigate abandoned buildings where floors could be unstable and substances such as asbestos could be a completely unknown hazard. Never scout or investigate alone. Always carry your license and health insurance card. Do not hang out in cemeteries at night - you may encounter local gang members and they can be a lot scarier than any ghost! And don't drive when you need sleep. Get a hotel room and start out fresh a few hours later.

CLIENTS: SOCALPRS points out that clients can also be hazardous to your health and they add that many people claiming to be experiencing paranormal activity may be susceptible to mental illness, drug addiction, alcoholism, or other factors. They may have guns or other weapons. R.I.P. has encountered weapons and loose ammunition in private residences. Always film your activities at the client's home and, before doing anything, ensure that they have completed and signed a Permission to Investigate/Liability Waiver form. Be aware that if you do not find anything to substantiate their claims, they could become angry or even violent. Paranormal investigators have been physically attacked on some investigations by their own clients. In some cases, the police could be called and, remember, it's your word against the client's, unless you have videotaped all activities. At R.I.P., we strive to have multiple screening conversations with clients but sometimes even that is not enough. More than once, one of our Lead Investigators has said during the pre-investigation get-together: "Remember, if I give the word, we all leave immediately!" We're fortunate to have a Lead Investigator who is also a law enforcement official; he is equally empowered to order us to "Get out now!" and we will do so with no questions asked.

OTHER INVESTIGATORS: As the SOCALPRS website points out, people who are attracted to this field may have obsessions, fantasies, or delusions. Some, like the situation cited earlier, can become obsessed with an aspect of the paranormal. Others may have dabbled in the occult or Wicca without proper knowledge or training. Some "armchair" demonologists can actually stir up activity, instead of stopping it. We've all heard the saying, "He knows just enough to be dangerous." And some, unfortunately, may have deliberately chosen to travel down the "left hand path" (no offense to southpaws, that's merely the traditional term) - think you'll be able to spot them and eliminate them? Think again. They're often the most personable and charming. After all, if they presented a demonic appearance, most people would shy away from them. And most have neglected to tatoo "I think it would be way cool to summon a demon" across their foreheads in order to warn you about them.

EVPs: The SOCALPRS site advises that paranormal investigators tread carefully with EVPs. They claim that EVPs can open a path into the spirit world and you have to be extremely cautious about who you invite to walk through that door. According to SOCALPRS, playing back the recordings can set up a vibration that attracts even more spirits who could then form attachments. For that reason, they recommend waiting until you're home before playing back your recordings. When leaving any location, each investigator should state that they do not give permission for any spirits to follow them home. It is also good to do this as a group and to "ground" in a group setting.

PROVOKING: SOCALPRS warns against the popular practice of "provoking" and I agree. I've always thought that spirits should be approached with respect. Most spirits are not negative. Any "positive" spirits that may be around are not going to respond to provoking; instead, they are simply going to remove themselves from your vicinity until you pack up and leave. They can always wait you out - guaranteed, you'll get tired before they do. And why would you want to hear from a "negative" spirit?

DEMONIC OR INHUMAN HAUNTINGS: According to the SOCALPRS site, many investigators who find themselves victims of a spirit attachment begin by collecting impressive EVP evidence - the theory is that the spirits somehow "allow" themselves to be recorded. SOCALPRS says that this usually ends badly with a spirit or even demonic attachment (see my cautionary tale above). They recommend that, at the first sign of any problems, ask for help. Do NOT try to pretend that everything is normal and this isn't really happening. Many experienced paranormal groups have contacts with mediums, exorcists, demonologists, clergy, and psychologists who can be of assistance. If your team finds any reason to suspect that the activity you've encountered could be demonic or inhuman, leave immediately. As SOCALPRS says, "It's never worth the evidence when it destroys everything that you consider valuable in your life."

Blog Courtesy Of: Paranormal Examiner

Signs You May've Encountered A........GHOST!!!

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:49:55 +0100

101 Signs You’ve Encountered A Ghost.....

Hello to all friends and visitors. The other day I was just web surfing and I came across this amusing/interesting little article that wanted to share with you all. So, without anymore waiting here it is.....enjoy lol:

Recently I posted the top five signs that your house may be haunted. Now, let's take it one step further. How do you know if you've encountered a ghost? Are there certain things that happen? Things that other people have already experienced? You bet there are. I've composed a list of 101 ways to tell that you've been in contact with a ghost. These aren't in any particular order.

Let me know if you've had any of these things happen to you. I came up with this list from my own experience and from discussions that I've had with other people about their paranormal experiences. It's always a good idea to rule out a logical, non-paranormal source for any of these items before attributing it to a paranormal occurrence. For example, scratching behind a wall could be a mouse or other animal but if an exterminator has been called, found no evidence of animals in the wall and you have other paranormal events going on then it would be considered paranormal.

101 Signs That You've Encountered A Ghost

1. You feel like you're being watched from a ceiling corner of the room.
2. You see unexplained lights in houses when no one is home.
3. Your dog freaks out over something you can't see, cowers and runs from the room, or refuses to enter the room.
4. Your cat stares at a certain spot, his hair raises, he hisses and bolts from the room.
5. You see a transparent human form walking around.
6. You feel a weight on your bed, as if someone is sitting there but no one is.
7. You hear someone shout your name.
8. You find physical evidence of footprints that can't be explained.
9. Electrical devices start operating by themselves.
10. A child's toy starts moving on its own or if it's electronic, starts making noise.
11. You see a light colored mist form into any shape and the origin of the mist is unknown.
12. You hear crying of an unknown origin.

13. You smell a fragrance in your home that you don't own.
14. A picture flying (not falling) off the wall and into the room.
15. You hear the sound of footsteps when no one is there.
16. You see someone who looks as real as you do but as you watch they disappear.
17. You're physically touched by someone that isn't there – your shirt or hair is tugged, someone brushes by or lays a hand on your shoulder.
18. More elevated – you're slapped, pushed or shoved by something you can't see.
19. A foul odor comes from nowhere and then disappears.
20. Furniture is rearranged – even heavy furniture.
21. Water is turned on or off by itself.
22. You hear music from an unknown source.
23. Lights turning on an off by themselves.
24. More elevated – you see the light switch move when no one is touching it.
25. Unexplained writing appears on a wall, mirror or piece of paper.
26. Objects are missing from a locked box or safe and show up later outside of the secured place.
27. Your doorbell rings but no one is there.
28. You hear doors or cabinets opening and closing by themselves.
29. You SEE a door or cabinet open or close when no one is near it.
30. More elevated – doors or cabinets slamming shut with extreme force.
31. A child tells you they see someone that you can't. (Children and animals are very sensitive to the paranormal)
32. Faces appearing within inanimate objects and then disappear.
33. You feel a cold spot when there isn't a reason for it to be cold in that area.
34. You find handprints of unexplained origin.
35. You hear hushed whispers but can't find the source of the sound.
36. Items disappear and then reappear in an unexpected place.
37. You see a shadow of someone in your peripheral vision.
38. You look into a mirror and see someone else reflected there but when you look into the room where they should be standing no one is there.
39. You see balls of unexplained light.
40. You get a sudden sick feeling in the pit of your stomach and Goosebumps on your arms or a prickly feeling on the back of your neck all at the same time.
41. You get sudden cold chills accompanied by a sense of fear.
42. You feel uneasy in certain areas of your home like the basement or attic.
43. You feel a sudden warm or hot spot in your home.
44. You feel a breeze inside the house when the windows are closed.
45. A spirit orb appears in a photo you've taken.
46. A musical instrument plays by itself (piano etc.)
47. A sudden feeling of nausea in a particular room when you're not sick.
48. You have thoughts that don't fit your personality when in a particular area.
49. Laughter without a source.
50. You hear sounds of pain, like moaning, but there isn't anyone there.
51. You hear sounds or smell a certain fragrance or odor at the same time every day.
52. You see unusual things reflected in glass objects.
53. You record voices of people who weren't present on a tape or digital recording device.
54. You answer your phone and the voice of someone you know that has died speaks to you.
55. Small, flashing lights zigzag around the room.
56. The television set goes berserk for no apparent reason.
57. Light bulbs blow out on a regular basis.
58. The phone rings with a different ringtone that it's not programmed for.
59. Abrupt mood swings or changes in a person's character only in specific areas or in places thought to be haunted.
60. You feel frozen to the spot for a short amount of time.
61. Visitors to your home often complain that they feel uncomfortable, couldn't sleep well or heard and saw things they couldn't explain.
62. People in your family are consistently having nightmares.
63. You hear tapping on the walls.
64. You've seen what appear to be red eyes in the darkness.
65. You've awakened to see misty people standing around your bed.
66. There's blood running down the walls.
67. Unexplained whistling.
68. You have visions of how someone died as you're falling asleep.
69. If you have a rocking chair, it rocks by itself.
70. An entity tries to harm you by holding a pillow over your face.
71. You hear pages of books or newspapers turning.
72. You're filming a family event and an apparition appears in the footage.
73. A ghostly voice threatens you.
74. You feel someone breathing on your shoulder or neck.
75. You wake up to find odd marks or scratches on your body that wasn't there when you went to sleep.
76. Black marks suddenly appear on the walls of your home.
77. You're alone in the house, and you hear a door slam in another part of the house.
78. You hear scratching sounds from behind the walls.
79. A candle is suddenly blown out when no one is near it.
80. You're driving down the road, see someone walking on the side but when you look back at them in your rearview mirror, no one is there.
81. You've seen objects levitating in the air.
82. You've been levitated into the air.
83. You've woken up because your bed is violently shaking.
84. Papers are jerked out of your hands when no one is near you.
85. A glowing cloud hovers in the room.
86. The air in certain areas of your house may feel heavy or stagnant even though you try to freshen it up.
87. You become sick with an illness that the doctor can't diagnosis or treat.
88. You lock a door or window only to find it unlocked or vice versa.
89. You see apparitions while touring a battleground or graveyard.
90. You're shopping and turn to look at a person nearby you and discover they don't have a face. You blink, look again and they're gone or they disappear right in front of you.
91. A woman or man walks up to you in a public place, gives you what seems like a message and then disappears.
92. You look up at a house from street level and see someone standing in a doorway or window when you know that no one is home or the home is empty or abandoned.
93. You see a single light and hear a train coming down the tracks when the tracks are no longer in use and the train never really goes by.
94. You hear someone breathing in an empty room.
95. The radio in your car turns on or off by itself.
96. You hear screams or ghostly activity at specific times every day – usually at night.
97. A "lady in white" is seen walking down your hall or steps.
98. You see a dark colored mist that forms inside and takes the shape of a person.
99. The batteries in your flashlights, cameras, phones etc drain very quickly when in areas that are thought to be haunted.
100. You wake and feel a pressure on your chest that doesn't have a medical reason.
101. You sit down in a chair and it feels like you just sat in someone's lap – but the chair is empty.

Well ok there you have it lol this article was posted by the Examiner.com out of Philadelphia. So has anyone had any experiences like this? lol There is a few that I have!!! Well you all take care and hope you liked the little read up. Shout out to us anytime!!!