The mystery of the
Bell Witch began before America was colonized. The land around the Bell Witch
cave was sacred. The Mississippians were the last Native nation to live in that
area. They buried their dead in stone boxes. They placed the boxes in caves
such as the one where the Bell Witch is reported today. The Bell Witch might protect sacred Native American
graves. But, those stone boxes aren’t her only eerie connection to Native lore.
She appeared to Drewry Bell and his father, John, when they were out hunting
one day in 1817. At first, they thought that it was a huge turkey, and they
shot at it. It started to fly away, and then it seemed to vanish into thin air.
Later, John and Drewry told friends and family that it had looked “like a human.”
But, it didn’t have a face like a human. In fact, it was terrifying. Soon after
the hunting incident, the Bells and their neighbors saw many other strange creatures at the Bell’s farm by the Red River
in Tennessee. One had head of a rabbit but the body of a dog. At least one
person tried to shoot it, but–like the “turkey” they’d shot at earlier–it
vanished. Another time, in the orchard near their house, Drewry and his younger
sister Betsy saw an old woman walking slowly. Since the town was small, they
were puzzled by this unfamiliar visitor. When Betsy started to speak to the old
woman, she disappeared. Then, the situation became worse at the Bell
homestead. Each night, the family heard scratching and chewing noises outside
their home, as if a large animal was trying to get inside. Next, the family
heard odd whispering. Finally the Bell Witch began making sounds inside the
home, like loud swallowing. She pulled the covers off beds when the children
were sleeping. She physically tormented Betsy Bell, leaving ugly, red, stinging
handprints where she’d slapped the child. Around this same time, John Bell
began having difficulty swallowing. Something seemed to be wrong with his jaw
and his tongue. He recovered from these symptoms, but he became sicker
and sicker with new and different symptoms. The Bell Witch seemed to be wearing
him down. Now they say if you say “I hate the bell witch.” 7 times holding a
candle or light in a mirror you’ll see her reflection.
Monday, May 6, 2013
The Bell Witch Legend
The mystery of the
Bell Witch began before America was colonized. The land around the Bell Witch
cave was sacred. The Mississippians were the last Native nation to live in that
area. They buried their dead in stone boxes. They placed the boxes in caves
such as the one where the Bell Witch is reported today. The Bell Witch might protect sacred Native American
graves. But, those stone boxes aren’t her only eerie connection to Native lore.
She appeared to Drewry Bell and his father, John, when they were out hunting
one day in 1817. At first, they thought that it was a huge turkey, and they
shot at it. It started to fly away, and then it seemed to vanish into thin air.
Later, John and Drewry told friends and family that it had looked “like a human.”
But, it didn’t have a face like a human. In fact, it was terrifying. Soon after
the hunting incident, the Bells and their neighbors saw many other strange creatures at the Bell’s farm by the Red River
in Tennessee. One had head of a rabbit but the body of a dog. At least one
person tried to shoot it, but–like the “turkey” they’d shot at earlier–it
vanished. Another time, in the orchard near their house, Drewry and his younger
sister Betsy saw an old woman walking slowly. Since the town was small, they
were puzzled by this unfamiliar visitor. When Betsy started to speak to the old
woman, she disappeared. Then, the situation became worse at the Bell
homestead. Each night, the family heard scratching and chewing noises outside
their home, as if a large animal was trying to get inside. Next, the family
heard odd whispering. Finally the Bell Witch began making sounds inside the
home, like loud swallowing. She pulled the covers off beds when the children
were sleeping. She physically tormented Betsy Bell, leaving ugly, red, stinging
handprints where she’d slapped the child. Around this same time, John Bell
began having difficulty swallowing. Something seemed to be wrong with his jaw
and his tongue. He recovered from these symptoms, but he became sicker
and sicker with new and different symptoms. The Bell Witch seemed to be wearing
him down. Now they say if you say “I hate the bell witch.” 7 times holding a
candle or light in a mirror you’ll see her reflection.