The Bell Witch of Tennessee
The Bell family haunting is a famous paranormal phenomenon in American history. It began in the year 1817 when a rather prosperous farmer named John Bell began to see bizarre animals on his property, such as dogs with strange heads and gigantic birds. He shot at these creatures with his shotgun, but to no effect. For more than a year a poltergeist plagued John and Lucy Bell, as well as their eight children. It began as loud rapping noises and scraping sounds outside of their home. Inside the house, it sounded as if a gigantic animal was gnawing on their walls and scratching on the floor. Sheets flew off of the beds, and sleeping occupants had their hair pulled or were slapped awake by invisible hands. Many times the beds themselves would shake violently as if in the midst of an earthquake. Most of the spectral activity centered on young Betsy Bell. Some theorize that she resented her father and thus became a vessel for the poltergeist.
The hauntings slowly escalated, in the beginning they could hear strange whistles, then words spoken by a womans voice. At first the voice claimed to be "from everywhere, Heaven, Hell and the Earth. I am in the air, in houses, any place at any time. I've been created millions of years. That is all I will tell you." Later the specter announced that she was "old Kate Batts, witch, and I'm determined to haunt and torment old Jack Bell as long as he lives." According to one story, Kate had been swindled in a business deal by John Bell, and thus was seeking revenge.
There are also reports that the Bell Witch made predictions, of the forthcoming American Civil War, and both world wars of the twentieth century. As tales of her deeds spread, so did her fame, and so President Andrew Jackson visited the Bell farm with an exorcist. After many signs of the poltergeists presence, including voices, the apparition of Kate materialized. The witch slayer tried to shoot her with a silver bullet, and was subsequently witch slapped by unseen forces, his limbs twitching violently in all directions, and he quickly fled the scene. The Bell Witch seemed particularly interested in John Bell, but when Betsy began to date a young man named Josh Gardner, she was again singled out for special treatment. Events culminated in December of 1820 when, after a series of illnesses for with Kate claimed credit, John Bell slipped into a coma that he never recovered from. After his death the hauntings diminished, that is until Betsy announced her engagement to Gardner. Renewed attacks caused Betsy to break off the engagement and eventually marry another man.
Suddenly one evening Kate declared that she would disappear for seven years. As promised, she stayed away from the Bells for seven years and returned. But her return was kept a secret from the Bells neighbors, and after two weeks the manifestations ceased. Apparently, Kate loved the fame, but tired of the game when her activity was kept a secret. Even so, to this day there are reports of strange goings on in the area, particulary around a cave on the old Bell property. What makes this case so unique is the large number of reliable witnesses who claimed to have observed the haunting.
