1 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: Esther had been trying to spit it out all day, 2 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: but knew only too well how ridiculous it would sound. 3 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:20,239 Speaker 1: Her pained moping about, however, was beginning to get on 4 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:24,479 Speaker 1: Olive's nerves. As Esther forlornly took a seat on the 5 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: kitchen doorstep to peel potatoes, Olive finally snapped, it's about 6 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: that boy, isn't it. No, it's not, Yes it is. 7 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: It's about Bob McNeill. I told you to stay away 8 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: from him. Nothing but trouble that one. It's not, I promise, 9 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: cried Esther. Well what is it then, Esther thought for 10 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: a moment, Then, just as she was about to speak, 11 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: the sound at the front door opening announced the arrival 12 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: of their sister, Jenny, home early from work. The moment 13 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: had gone. Born in eighteen sixty, the eighteen year old 14 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: Esther Coxe was the youngest of her four siblings, and, 15 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: by all accounts, as is often the stigma attached to 16 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: a youngest child, the one considered the most directionless. Along 17 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: with her three sisters and brother, Esther had been raised 18 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: by her grandmother, her mother having died soon after her birth. 19 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: The children's father, perhaps as a result of grief or 20 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: for more selfish reasons, had abandoned the family soon after. 21 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: As such, the siblings had remained close, and by eighteen 22 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: seventy eight had found themselves living together in the home 23 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: of older's sister Olive and her husband Daniel Tede. The house, 24 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: a modest but well kept yellow cottage, was located on 25 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: Princess Street in the small town of Amherst, Nova, Scotia. 26 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: Sharing four bedrooms between them, the cottage was home to Esther, 27 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: along with her twenty two year old sister Jenny, her 28 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: twenty seven year old brother William, and Dan's brother John, 29 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: as well as Olive and Dan's two sons, Willie and George. 30 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: All in all, the arrangement had been surprisingly harmonious, considering 31 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: the relatively cramped conditions. At least that was until that 32 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 1: peculiar late summer of eighteen seventy eight when everything changed. 33 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: What follows is an account of what some claim to 34 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: be one of the most terrifying and credible incidences of 35 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: a poltergeist haunting in Canadian history. You're listening to Unexplained 36 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: and I'm Richard mc lane Smith. Though there may have 37 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: been earlier signs of what was later to come most 38 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: traced the beginnings to a cryptic and disturbing nightmare that 39 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: Esther suffered on the night of August twenty seventh. It 40 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: was the details of the nightmare that put Esther in 41 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: such a sullen mood the following day. It wouldn't be 42 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: until late that night, but she finally plucked up the 43 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: courage to tell Olive what exactly had been on her mind. 44 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: With everyone else having returned to work, Esther joined Olive 45 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: in the parlor as she carried out some clothing repairs. 46 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 1: After making her sister promised not to tell anyone about 47 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: it for fear it might distress them, she proceeded to 48 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: outline the dream. At first, as she explained, she hadn't 49 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 1: realized it was a dream it having been so vivid 50 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: and lifelike, thinking she had woken up and was merely 51 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: walking downstairs to the kitchen. She soon realized that something 52 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: wasn't right. Although it was the same house, everything about 53 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: it was somehow different. For a start, it wasn't yellow 54 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: outside but green, and all the rooms were in slightly 55 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: odd places. Then Olive and Dan had appeared, only instead 56 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: of their usual all faces, they had bears heads with 57 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: large sharp teeth and huge eyes the color of blood. 58 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: Moments later, Jenny, William and John, and even the little 59 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: ones Willie and George had appeared, all of them with 60 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,799 Speaker 1: the same bears heads on their shoulders. Together they turned 61 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 1: and growled menacingly at Esther, when she was distracted by 62 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: another sound coming from beyond the front door. Venturing outside 63 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: to investigate, she saw a vast stampede of bulls in 64 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: the distance, racing toward the house. As they drew nearer, 65 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: she could see that their eyes were a bright electric blue, 66 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: and their mouths were dripping with blood. And on the 67 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: ground where their hoofs kicked up the dirt, terrific berths 68 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 1: of fire roared up from underneath them. On and on 69 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,679 Speaker 1: they came with a cacophonous roar, until finally they smashed 70 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: through the front fence and pummeled into the house. Esther 71 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: had staggered back in terror, only to wake up seconds 72 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: later on a cold wooden floor, having seemingly fallen out 73 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: of bed. What do you think it means, she asked Olive, hopefully, 74 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 1: Seeing that it had clearly been of great concern to 75 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: her young sister, Olive suggested she try to forget it, 76 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 1: telling her that as long as she kept to reading 77 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:25,039 Speaker 1: her Bible, she would have nothing to worry about. After all, 78 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: God is more powerful than the devil, she insisted, and 79 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: he will always protect her. Later that evening, after dinner, 80 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: Esther took a seat on the front step of the 81 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: house and gazed at the stars while she waited for 82 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: Bob McNeill to show up. McNeill, who was a local shoemaker, 83 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: had been courting Esther for a number of weeks. Recently, however, 84 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: he had made a habit of arranging to meet her 85 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: only to then fail to turn up. So it was 86 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: with barely contained glee when Esther spied the young man's 87 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: horse and buggy approaching from the top of the road. 88 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: Pulling up outside the house at just past eight. McNeill 89 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: apologized for missing Esther the previous night, but promised to 90 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: make it up to her. Flashing a smile, he invited 91 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: her into the buggy to join him for an evening 92 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: ride into the countryside. It was a little more than 93 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: two hours later back at the cottage, as Jenny was 94 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 1: heading up to bed when it clearly distrought Esther threw 95 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: open the front door and ran straight to her room. 96 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: Without looking back. For the next week, Esther would cry 97 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: herself to sleep every night, refusing to give any information 98 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 1: about what exactly had happened with Bob McNeill. It was 99 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 1: a few days later, on the evening of September fourth, 100 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: that a thick fog rolled into the town of Amherst. 101 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: With the entire household fast asleep, Esther, who shared a 102 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 1: bed with her sister Jenny, began to stir snapping. Suddenly 103 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: awake with a scream, she leapt out of the bed. 104 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: What's going on, snapped Jenny. Something touched me, said Esther, 105 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: shivering with fright. I can hear it rustling in the bed. 106 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: Fearing it might be a mouse, Jenny jumped out too, 107 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: and hurriedly lit the bedside lamp. With the room now 108 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: bathed in its soft, flickering light, Jenny looked about the 109 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: floor and then peered under the bed, but there was 110 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: nothing to be found save for a small green box 111 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: where they kept sewing materials. Pulling back the bed covers, 112 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: Jenny gasped at the sight of something moving within the 113 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: mattress there. She said, it must be trapped inside. The 114 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: women watched for a moment at the sight of what 115 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: appeared to be a small creature moving through the straw mattress. 116 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: Satisfied they had found the culprit and knowing that there 117 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: was little harm it could do from in there, the 118 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: sisters returned to bed. The following night, however, the rustling 119 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: sound came again. Leaping out of bed once more, the 120 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: sisters again searched underneath for any sign of a culprit, 121 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: realizing that this time the noise was coming from inside 122 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: the small green box. Placing the lamp on the floor, 123 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: Jenny squeezed herself under the bed frame and reached in 124 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 1: to retrieve it, cautious not to let it spill as 125 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: she pulled it out, Jenny pushed it to the middle 126 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: of the room, bracing themselves for the mouse to reveal 127 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: itself at any moment. The sisters sat back, staring expectantly 128 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: at the box as the flickering light of the lamp 129 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: cast ominous shadows on the wall. When suddenly, the entire 130 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: box jumped straight up into the air, landing on its side. 131 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: Esther reeled back with alarm in expectation of a fleeing mouse. 132 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: Only strangely, nothing came out. Jenny moved in for a 133 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: closer look. Tipping the box back over, she peered into it, 134 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: but found only the collection of sewing materials inside. That's odd, 135 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,959 Speaker 1: she thought, as she poked inside the box. She was 136 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: just about to say as much to Esther when the 137 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: box again jumped almost an entire foot into the air. 138 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 1: Dan and Olive were startled awake by the screams coming 139 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: from Esther and Jenny's room. Moments later, they found the 140 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: two women carrying together on the bed, pointing toward the 141 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 1: small box on the floor and claiming that it had 142 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: just leapt into the air completely of its own accord. 143 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: Dan could barely hide his irritation as he told them 144 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: both to stop messing about and get back to bed. 145 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: Having reluctantly got back under the covers, the two sisters 146 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 1: would spend the rest of the night anxiously listening for 147 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: any more peculiar noises, and though Dan had little time 148 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: for whatever it was the two women had witnessed, there 149 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: would soon be little doubt that something inexplicable had crept 150 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: into their home. Are you always taking care of your family? 151 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: Do you often take care of others and not yourself? 152 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: Now it's time to take care of yourself. To make 153 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:29,079 Speaker 1: time for you you deserve it. Teledoc gives you access 154 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: to a licensed therapist to help you get back to 155 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:36,079 Speaker 1: feeling your best, to feeling like yourself again. With teledoc, 156 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: you can speak to a licensed therapist by phone or video. 157 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: Therapy appointments are available seven days a week from seven 158 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: am to nine pm local time. If you feel overwhelmed 159 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: sometimes maybe you feel stressed or anxious, depressed or lonely, 160 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: or you might be struggling with a personal or family issue, 161 00:10:55,280 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: teledoc can help. Teledoc is committed to facilitating great therapeutic matches, 162 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: so they make it easy to change counselors if needed. 163 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 1: For free. Teledoc therapy is available through most insurance or employers. 164 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: Download the app or visit teledoc dot com Forward slash 165 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: Unexplained podcast Today to get started. That's teladoc dot com 166 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: slash Unexplained podcast. The following evening, having seemed fine all day, 167 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: Esther became suddenly unwell seeing her sister, so pale Olive 168 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 1: suggested she head straight to bed, where she was joined 169 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: soon after by Jenny. Having just got to sleep, Jenny 170 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:47,839 Speaker 1: was shocked awake by a series of horrific screams Jenny 171 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 1: hurriedly lit the lamp and held it toward the middle 172 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: of the room, nearly dropping it at the sight of 173 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 1: her sister, who was now yelling for all her life 174 00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 1: that she was dying. Jenny could barely recognize the distressed 175 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 1: vigor stood before her, the face flushed with blood and 176 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: eyes bulging out. Esther's hair was also changed, appearing as 177 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 1: if it were standing on end. As her entire body trembled, 178 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:16,959 Speaker 1: Esther grabbed the back of a chair to steady herself, 179 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: digging her nails into its soft wood. Having woken up 180 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 1: the entire house, Dan and Olive arrived moments later and 181 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 1: quickly helped Esther back into bed, but Esther seemed only 182 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 1: to deteriorate, screaming suddenly that she felt as though she 183 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 1: were about to burst. Dan held a lamp over her 184 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: face and reeled back at the horrific sight of her 185 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: now completely swollen body, her skin appearing as though it 186 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: might rip apart at any moment. Esther writhed about in agony, 187 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 1: grinding her teeth as spittle bubbled up at the sides 188 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: of her mouth, When suddenly, a monumental clap of thunder 189 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: reverberated around the room, bringing everyone to a complete stop. 190 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: Thinking that the house had been struck by lightning, A 191 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: terrified Olive brushed to check on her son's only to 192 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: find them sleeping soundly in their beds. Returning to Esther 193 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: and Jenny's room, Olive then pulled open the curtain and 194 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: stared at the sky in utter amusement. There was not 195 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 1: a cloud in it. The thunder, it seemed, had come 196 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: from inside the bedroom. Just then, three loud bangs rang out, 197 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: causing the entire room to shake. Jenny looked Olive in 198 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: utter amazement. The bangs had come from underneath the bed. 199 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: Passing the lamp to his wife, Dan took a look 200 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: under it, but there was nothing to be seen. With 201 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: calm being slowly restored, Jenny noticed that Esther had now 202 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: fallen asleep and was returned to her usual size. Satisfied 203 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: that she had recovered from whatever had been ailing her, 204 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: the others returned to the following morning. Esther, who remembered 205 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: little of the previous night, appeared to have completely recovered 206 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: her health. Four days later, however, whatever it was was 207 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: back that night, Esther's screams once again brought Olive and 208 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: Dan rushing to her aid, only to find Jenny lying 209 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: completely unconscious next to her, and the bed covers in 210 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: a pile at the far end of the room. Esther, 211 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: once again swollen and feverish, lay completely still on the bed, 212 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: petrified of what she had apparently just witnessed. Something pulled 213 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: the sheet off the bed. She cried Jenny had fainted 214 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: at the sight of it. Having no idea what to 215 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: make of it all, Dan checked on Jenny, who had 216 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: started to come round as Olive gathered the covers from 217 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: the floor, laying them back on of Esther and Jenny, 218 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: before of them watched on in horror as seconds later 219 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: they were again pulled clean off the bed and flung 220 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: to the far end of the room. A pillow was 221 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: then launched by something unseen, striking John, who had just 222 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: joined them in the faith. It was followed by another 223 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: cacophony of loud banging, coming again from underneath the bed. 224 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: After another restless night, the following morning, calm had again 225 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: been restored and Esther appeared once more to have recovered 226 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: her health. Though wary of what other people might think 227 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: of it all, Olive and Dan sought the help of 228 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: a local doctor, if not to stop the strange phenomena, then, 229 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: at least to find a cure for Esther's sudden bouts 230 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: of mania. It was all the forty eight year old 231 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: doctor Careite could do not to laugh at the hapless 232 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: couple's ludicrous account of the past few days. A committed 233 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: man of science, especially during a time of such great 234 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: scientific advance, Careit was not prone to nonsense and superstition. However, 235 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: believing there was some serious cause for concern regarding Esther's health, 236 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: the doctor agreed to take a look at her. So 237 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 1: it was with some astonishment when late that evening, Doctor 238 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: Careit and the others watched as Esther's pillow again appeared 239 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: to be pulled out from under her head by an 240 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: invisible hand. Moments later, a steady succession of loud bangs 241 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: sent the doctor running toward the door, each bang seeming 242 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: to chase him along the floor, feeling for all the 243 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: world as if something vast and unseen were in that 244 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: room with them. They could only watch with terror and 245 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: disbelief as again the covers flew from the bed into 246 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: the far wall, But this time it was followed by 247 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: something new, A sound like the scratching of claws. Had 248 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: the group, turning toward the top end of the bed 249 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: and gasping in collective horror. There written on the wall 250 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: just above it were the words Esther Cox, you are 251 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:12,120 Speaker 1: mine to kill. A short time later, a flying lump 252 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 1: of plaster that nearly struck the doctor on the head 253 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,959 Speaker 1: was followed by another series of bangs, as all about 254 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 1: the room rattled from the strength of them, all the 255 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: while Esther lay perfectly still in abject terror at what 256 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: seemed to be occurring all around. By morning, with doctor 257 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: Carete having returned to check on her, Esther seemed once 258 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: again to be in good health. Later that day, grateful 259 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 1: for the distraction of helping Olive with the housework, Esther 260 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: was sent down to the cellar to collect some milk. 261 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: Stopping at the top of the steps, she had the 262 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: sudden sense that something was lurking in the darkness below. 263 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 1: Telling herself not to be so stupid, she promptly lit 264 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:04,239 Speaker 1: a lamp, holding it out in front of her as 265 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: she cautiously made her way down, pushing back the dark 266 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: with each advancing step. Having seen the milkern at the 267 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: back of the room, she had just taken another step 268 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: toward it when she heard something moving about behind it. 269 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:25,360 Speaker 1: Esther slowly lifted the lamp and squinted at the darkness beyond, 270 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: when a plank of wood came flying out of it, 271 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: landing at her feet and sending her scurrying back to 272 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: the dining room. Having been waiting in there at the time. 273 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: Doctor Careit scrambled down immediately to investigate for himself, but 274 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: found the room completely deserted. Careit then invited Esther to 275 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 1: come and see that it was only her imagination playing 276 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: tricks on her. Moments later, having joined the doctor in 277 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 1: the cellar, a hail of potato shot out from the 278 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 1: back of the room, narrowly missing them both and leaving 279 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: the doctor in little doubt the desk had not been 280 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: mistaken after all. Later that night, the doctor returned to 281 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,399 Speaker 1: administer a sedative to the young woman, who by now 282 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,160 Speaker 1: was once again in agony and bedridden, complaining that her 283 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 1: body felt as if electricity were surging through it. The 284 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: bangings had commenced again soon after, and so it would 285 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 1: continue for the next three weeks until one night there 286 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 1: came a startling revelation, with the family once again gathered 287 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: around Esther's bed to help calm her as the doctor 288 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: administered his medicine, the banging started once more. Suddenly Esther 289 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 1: was momentarily gripped by seizure before becoming completely still. Then, 290 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: as if in a hypnotic state, she started to talk 291 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: and slowly but surely began to reveal what exactly had 292 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: occurred on that fateful night with Bob mc neill. As 293 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 1: she went on to explain, shortly after he'd arrived to 294 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:09,880 Speaker 1: pick her up, they had proceeded to take a ride 295 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: into the country, just as they had planned. Having made 296 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,199 Speaker 1: it to the outskirts of Amherst, mc neill suggested they 297 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: take a quiet back road towards some nearby marshes. Soon after, 298 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 1: while making their way through a local forest, mc neille 299 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: pulled the horse to a stop and leapt from the carriage. 300 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: Taking a revolver from his pocket, he pointed it at Esther, 301 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: demanding she get out immediately. As the heavy rain began 302 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:45,159 Speaker 1: to fall. The courageous Esther steadfastly refused. Terrified at what 303 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:47,679 Speaker 1: had suddenly come over the man she assumed to be 304 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,639 Speaker 1: her sweetheart, she screamed for him to take her home, immediately, 305 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: becoming more enraged as the rain pelted down ever harder 306 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 1: mc neill attempted to grab Esther from the car when 307 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: the sound of wheels were heard approaching from further up 308 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: the road. Sensing his opportunity for whatever it was he 309 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,640 Speaker 1: had planned to do was now gone, McNeill jumped back 310 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: into the carriage, and within seconds they were thundering through 311 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: the forest back towards town. Having finally arrived home, Esther 312 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: jumped straight from the buggy and ran inside. McNeill was 313 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: never heard from again. A moment later, Esther appeared to 314 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: come around from her peculiar state, with no recollection of 315 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: what she had just said. On being told, she burst 316 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: immediately into tears and confirmed that it had all been true. This, 317 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 1: at least is the version of events as recounted by Esther. 318 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:52,199 Speaker 1: Some have speculated, however, that there is a part to 319 00:21:52,240 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: the story that she did not wish to recount. With 320 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:06,400 Speaker 1: gossip running rife among the townspeople and local newspapers even 321 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 1: beginning to pick up the story, focus inevitably turned to 322 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: the family. Few in that newly enlightened age, having only 323 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,440 Speaker 1: so recently been presented with such wonders as Darwin's theory 324 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: of evolution and Edison's phonograph, were prepared to believe that 325 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:26,680 Speaker 1: that Little Yellow House had really been taken over by spirits, 326 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:32,360 Speaker 1: amongst them local Baptist clergyman, doctor Edwin Clay, having been 327 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: especially troubled by reports that the family might be orchestrating 328 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: the entire thing, decided to investigate for himself, But after 329 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: spending only a few hours in Esther's presence, Clay was 330 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 1: soon convinced that the reports had been entirely genuine. However, 331 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: as a man of the church but also of science, Clay, 332 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: just as doctor Carrete had begun to suspect, was unconvinced 333 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:01,119 Speaker 1: that spirits were to blame. It was his belief that 334 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: perhaps Esther had been so affected by Bob McNeill's horrific 335 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 1: actions that it had somehow unleashed a mysterious power within her. 336 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: Soon after, Reverend Temple, another local pastor, also claimed to 337 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 1: have witnessed a number of peculiar events for himself, and, 338 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: together with doctor Clay, wasted no time in vouching for 339 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: the integrity of the Ted and Cox family to his 340 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:30,239 Speaker 1: local congregation. Before long, half the town had turned up 341 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 1: at the Little Yellow Cottage to witness the spectacle for themselves, 342 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: and so it would continue on and off for the 343 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:41,920 Speaker 1: next year, as an increasing array of strange occurrences appeared 344 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 1: to coalesce around Esther. When fires started breaking out in 345 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: the house seemingly without reason, she was sent to live 346 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 1: with a series of neighbors in the hope that it 347 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: might put an end to it all, only for the 348 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: trouble to follow her wherever she went. After hearing of 349 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:03,960 Speaker 1: the extra ordinary events, actor Walter Hubble traveled to Amherst 350 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: to interview the family and stay with them in the 351 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:12,640 Speaker 1: hope of observing the bizarre phenomena for himself. Hubble published 352 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,239 Speaker 1: his full account of the family story and what he 353 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 1: himself witnessed, of which much of this account was taken 354 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 1: in eighteen seventy nine, titling it The Haunted House, a 355 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 1: True Ghost Story. Published alongside it were a number of 356 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:33,160 Speaker 1: letters and sworn Athor David's from all involved, including fifteen 357 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:38,960 Speaker 1: separate townspeople, doctor Kvite, and county court clerk Arthur Davison, 358 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 1: attesting to the peculiar events they had seen. At one point, 359 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: when Esther had been working for Arthur Davison, a fire 360 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: had broken out in his barn, burning it to the ground. 361 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: Esther was accused of arson and sentenced to four months 362 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: in prison. Davison noted later, though he was in little 363 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:02,360 Speaker 1: doubt that Esther had started the fire, she had done 364 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:08,639 Speaker 1: so by some extraordinary and mysterious means. Esther was released 365 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: from prison, having only spent a month in custody, after 366 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:16,679 Speaker 1: which all the strange phenomena ceased. Little is known of 367 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,680 Speaker 1: what became of Esther's later life, aside from her being 368 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: twice married and having two children of her own, dying 369 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: in Brockton, Massachusetts, in November nineteen twelve at the age 370 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 1: of fifty two. If you enjoy listening to Unexplained and 371 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: would like to help supporters, you can now go to 372 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: Unexplained podcast dot com forward slash support. All donations, no 373 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: matter how large or small, are massively appreciated. All elements 374 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 1: have Unexplained are produced by me Richard McClain smith. Please 375 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,680 Speaker 1: subscribe and rate the show on iTunes, and feel free 376 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 1: to get in touch with any thoughts or ideas regarding 377 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: the stories you've heard on the show. Perhaps you have 378 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:08,119 Speaker 1: an explanation of your own you'd like to share. You 379 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:12,200 Speaker 1: can reach us online at Unexplained podcast dot com or 380 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: Twitter at Unexplained pod and Facebook at Facebook dot com. 381 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: Forward slash Unexplained. Now, it's time to take care of yourself, 382 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: to make time for you. 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