Full Version: bell witch
have you heard of the bell witch ???????
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_witch
The movie 'An American Haunting' is apparently based on this story.
An interesting story. Although I don't know all the details, I know the death that happened is the only one ever attributed to a ghost.
According to Colin Wilson's Poltergeist!: A Study in Destructive Haunting the Bell family was tormented by an exceptionally mischievous and harmful poltergeist.
It was the only case known by me that the poltergeist actually continuously and purposely harmed the members of the family (John Bell, the father, and his oldest son being the spirit's main points of interest), and in result supposedly killed the father by offering him a poison to drink.
The witch, in conclusion, was the folks' way of naming the terror or the doer behind it, since the Bell family was secretive and living in the outskirts of the town, no one ever had a chance to get a full report on what was really happening there.
That's how stories are being born, in result of lack of information.
The witch having a woman's face - this can be explained by the exhausting nature of day-to-day dealing with the poltergeist, which left all family members looking tremendously tired and ill. There were at least two daughters living in the house, the youngest Betsy Bell supposedly being the cause of the spirit's appearance (at that time being a disturbed, compulsive child in puberty). The sight of her or any other Bell's girl, emaciated and panic-stricken, could possibly have developed the story of the Bell Witch.
Little I know myself about the case from outside of the cited book and few others, but I have a lot of respect for the author, and I'm fairly sure that his study of it is as comprehensive and close to the truth as one can possibly get on the basis of (unfortunately) too few facts that remained.
It was the only case known by me that the poltergeist actually continuously and purposely harmed the members of the family (John Bell, the father, and his oldest son being the spirit's main points of interest), and in result supposedly killed the father by offering him a poison to drink.
The witch, in conclusion, was the folks' way of naming the terror or the doer behind it, since the Bell family was secretive and living in the outskirts of the town, no one ever had a chance to get a full report on what was really happening there.
That's how stories are being born, in result of lack of information.
The witch having a woman's face - this can be explained by the exhausting nature of day-to-day dealing with the poltergeist, which left all family members looking tremendously tired and ill. There were at least two daughters living in the house, the youngest Betsy Bell supposedly being the cause of the spirit's appearance (at that time being a disturbed, compulsive child in puberty). The sight of her or any other Bell's girl, emaciated and panic-stricken, could possibly have developed the story of the Bell Witch.
Little I know myself about the case from outside of the cited book and few others, but I have a lot of respect for the author, and I'm fairly sure that his study of it is as comprehensive and close to the truth as one can possibly get on the basis of (unfortunately) too few facts that remained.
QUOTE (Curious @ Feb 20 2009, 06:12 PM) 
An interesting story. Although I don't know all the details, I know the death that happened is the only one ever attributed to a ghost.
she haunted the bell family
QUOTE (Chupa @ Feb 20 2009, 06:31 PM)
According to Colin Wilson's Poltergeist!: A Study in Destructive Haunting the Bell family was tormented by an exceptionally mischievous and harmful poltergeist.
It was the only case known by me that the poltergeist actually continuously and purposely harmed the members of the family (John Bell, the father, and his oldest son being the spirit's main points of interest), and in result supposedly killed the father by offering him a poison to drink.
The witch, in conclusion, was the folks' way of naming the terror or the doer behind it, since the Bell family was secretive and living in the outskirts of the town, no one ever had a chance to get a full report on what was really happening there.
That's how stories are being born, in result of lack of information.
The witch having a woman's face - this can be explained by the exhausting nature of day-to-day dealing with the poltergeist, which left all family members looking tremendously tired and ill. There were at least two daughters living in the house, the youngest Betsy Bell supposedly being the cause of the spirit's appearance (at that time being a disturbed, compulsive child in puberty). The sight of her or any other Bell's girl, emaciated and panic-stricken, could possibly have developed the story of the Bell Witch.
Little I know myself about the case from outside of the cited book and few others, but I have a lot of respect for the author, and I'm fairly sure that his study of it is as comprehensive and close to the truth as one can possibly get on the basis of (unfortunately) too few facts that remained.
It was the only case known by me that the poltergeist actually continuously and purposely harmed the members of the family (John Bell, the father, and his oldest son being the spirit's main points of interest), and in result supposedly killed the father by offering him a poison to drink.
The witch, in conclusion, was the folks' way of naming the terror or the doer behind it, since the Bell family was secretive and living in the outskirts of the town, no one ever had a chance to get a full report on what was really happening there.
That's how stories are being born, in result of lack of information.
The witch having a woman's face - this can be explained by the exhausting nature of day-to-day dealing with the poltergeist, which left all family members looking tremendously tired and ill. There were at least two daughters living in the house, the youngest Betsy Bell supposedly being the cause of the spirit's appearance (at that time being a disturbed, compulsive child in puberty). The sight of her or any other Bell's girl, emaciated and panic-stricken, could possibly have developed the story of the Bell Witch.
Little I know myself about the case from outside of the cited book and few others, but I have a lot of respect for the author, and I'm fairly sure that his study of it is as comprehensive and close to the truth as one can possibly get on the basis of (unfortunately) too few facts that remained.
well the bell witch haunted the bell famly were attacked by the bell witch like the ghost pulling their hair, throwing chairs, slapping, pushed and they have this huge tunnel that you can spend the night in and some people have and ran out of the tunnel screaming and also saying that they heard moaning and they have john bells diary and the story is true
Yes, it was indeed a remarkably violent spirit there.
I never heard about the tunnel though - are you referring to something that's within the borders of the former Bell family property?
I'd say that as for the story being quite old, there was surprisingly enough evidence found to support the claim that there is far more to the case than a folklore myth.
Unfortunately, as with majority of similar cases, there's always not enough evidence to have it approved by a scientific society.
Hell, even with the Enfield poltergeist case, a most remarkable one because of the number of recorded evidence and abundance of witnesses, it has never been accepted as a fact.
I never heard about the tunnel though - are you referring to something that's within the borders of the former Bell family property?
I'd say that as for the story being quite old, there was surprisingly enough evidence found to support the claim that there is far more to the case than a folklore myth.
Unfortunately, as with majority of similar cases, there's always not enough evidence to have it approved by a scientific society.
Hell, even with the Enfield poltergeist case, a most remarkable one because of the number of recorded evidence and abundance of witnesses, it has never been accepted as a fact.
QUOTE (Chupa @ Feb 21 2009, 06:00 PM)
Yes, it was indeed a remarkably violent spirit there.
I never heard about the tunnel though - are you referring to something that's within the borders of the former Bell family property?
I'd say that as for the story being quite old, there was surprisingly enough evidence found to support the claim that there is far more to the case than a folklore myth.
Unfortunately, as with majority of similar cases, there's always not enough evidence to have it approved by a scientific society.
Hell, even with the Enfield poltergeist case, a most remarkable one because of the number of recorded evidence and abundance of witnesses, it has never been accepted as a fact.
I never heard about the tunnel though - are you referring to something that's within the borders of the former Bell family property?
I'd say that as for the story being quite old, there was surprisingly enough evidence found to support the claim that there is far more to the case than a folklore myth.
Unfortunately, as with majority of similar cases, there's always not enough evidence to have it approved by a scientific society.
Hell, even with the Enfield poltergeist case, a most remarkable one because of the number of recorded evidence and abundance of witnesses, it has never been accepted as a fact.
john bells diary holds enough evidence
Well, yes, it might be enough for me, you and many others who believe or simply hold an open mind.
But, if it was that simple, parapsychology wouldn't still be a minor and impaired domain.
The problem is that structurally amongst both believers in paranormal and in the scientific community there are those who reject open-mindedness and fall for doctrine, as one would call devout religious people.
And what it often results in is that the believers may take any possible evidence, as John Bell's diary, as granted and reject any natural explanations that might as well be valid,
while "scientific devouts" would reject whatever is not measurable or cannot be proved in the laboratory conditions.
It's been a vicious circle, unfortunately.
But, if it was that simple, parapsychology wouldn't still be a minor and impaired domain.
The problem is that structurally amongst both believers in paranormal and in the scientific community there are those who reject open-mindedness and fall for doctrine, as one would call devout religious people.
And what it often results in is that the believers may take any possible evidence, as John Bell's diary, as granted and reject any natural explanations that might as well be valid,
while "scientific devouts" would reject whatever is not measurable or cannot be proved in the laboratory conditions.
It's been a vicious circle, unfortunately.
QUOTE (Chupa @ Feb 21 2009, 07:29 PM)
Well, yes, it might be enough for me, you and many others who believe or simply hold an open mind.
But, if it was that simple, parapsychology wouldn't still be a minor and impaired domain.
The problem is that structurally amongst both believers in paranormal and in the scientific community there are those who reject open-mindedness and fall for doctrine, as one would call devout religious people.
And what it often results in is that the believers may take any possible evidence, as John Bell's diary, as granted and reject any natural explanations that might as well be valid,
while "scientific devouts" would reject whatever is not measurable or cannot be proved in the laboratory conditions.
It's been a vicious circle, unfortunately.
But, if it was that simple, parapsychology wouldn't still be a minor and impaired domain.
The problem is that structurally amongst both believers in paranormal and in the scientific community there are those who reject open-mindedness and fall for doctrine, as one would call devout religious people.
And what it often results in is that the believers may take any possible evidence, as John Bell's diary, as granted and reject any natural explanations that might as well be valid,
while "scientific devouts" would reject whatever is not measurable or cannot be proved in the laboratory conditions.
It's been a vicious circle, unfortunately.
it is a TRUE ghost story and it really happened
Heey, no need to get mad 
I'm not saying that it did or did not happen.
I only read about it but never had any piece of evidence to look at myself, so I cannot judge on it in any way.
But I do believe it might have happened.
I was only stating the fact that parapsychology tends to be discriminated, that's all.
And I prolly got off-topic too - I'm sorry.
I'm not saying that it did or did not happen.
I only read about it but never had any piece of evidence to look at myself, so I cannot judge on it in any way.
But I do believe it might have happened.
I was only stating the fact that parapsychology tends to be discriminated, that's all.
And I prolly got off-topic too - I'm sorry.
No serious researcher in any field would consider a diary describing an event as proof that the event took place.
(The very existence of the city of Troy was doubted until archeologists located the ruins.)
The written word in the diary is not even evidence that the Bell family believed in this witch - though they probably did.
It MAY have been a fabricated story (again, I'm not saying it is not true).
Evidence from other sources is needed to back up the claims about the Bell Witch.
(The very existence of the city of Troy was doubted until archeologists located the ruins.)
The written word in the diary is not even evidence that the Bell family believed in this witch - though they probably did.
It MAY have been a fabricated story (again, I'm not saying it is not true).
Evidence from other sources is needed to back up the claims about the Bell Witch.
QUOTE (Chupa @ Feb 21 2009, 07:06 PM)
Heey, no need to get mad
I'm not saying that it did or did not happen.
I only read about it but never had any piece of evidence to look at myself, so I cannot judge on it in any way.
But I do believe it might have happened.
I was only stating the fact that parapsychology tends to be discriminated, that's all.
And I prolly got off-topic too - I'm sorry.
I'm not saying that it did or did not happen.
I only read about it but never had any piece of evidence to look at myself, so I cannot judge on it in any way.
But I do believe it might have happened.
I was only stating the fact that parapsychology tends to be discriminated, that's all.
And I prolly got off-topic too - I'm sorry.
well i have a book on it!
QUOTE (Greygoat @ Feb 21 2009, 07:18 PM)
No serious researcher in any field would consider a diary describing an event as proof that the event took place.
(The very existence of the city of Troy was doubted until archeologists located the ruins.)
The written word in the diary is not even evidence that the Bell family believed in this witch - though they probably did.
It MAY have been a fabricated story (again, I'm not saying it is not true).
Evidence from other sources is needed to back up the claims about the Bell Witch.
(The very existence of the city of Troy was doubted until archeologists located the ruins.)
The written word in the diary is not even evidence that the Bell family believed in this witch - though they probably did.
It MAY have been a fabricated story (again, I'm not saying it is not true).
Evidence from other sources is needed to back up the claims about the Bell Witch.
he wrote evey thing that happened to his family and right after he wrote or a year after he he wrote his diary he died
This is what the tunnel and cave is all about that you mentioned earlier x
The cave itself is located in the center of a large bluff that overlooks the river. The mouth of the cave opens widely but entrance to the cavern itself must be gained through a fairly long tunnel. The cave is not large compared to most commercial caves; however its true length is unknown because of narrow passages that go beyond the 500 or so feet accessible to visitors. Although geologically, this is a dry cave that has been carved from limestone, in wet weather, a stream gushes from the mouth of the cavern and tumbles over a cliff into the river below. This makes the cave nearly impossible to navigate and even shouted conversations become inaudible over the roar of the water.
In dry times, the cave has proven to be quite an attraction to curiosity-seekers and ghost hunters. Once you pass through the entrance passage, the visitor enters a large room that opens into yet another tunnel and an overhead passageway. Another large room can be found at the rear of the explored portion of the cave, but from that point on the tunnels become smaller, narrower and much more dangerous.
The Bell Witch Cave became an attraction thanks largely to a man named Bill Eden, who owned the property for a number of years. Eden was a wealth of information about the cave and about the fact that strange occurrences were continuing to take place on the land that once belonged to John Bell. Although he was mainly a farmer, Eden did make some early improvements to the cave by adding electrical lights, but that was about all.
Despite being undeveloped though, the cave managed to attract hundreds of visitors every year who wanted to be shown through it. Bill always obliged although was always puzzled about how they found the place. There were no signs to point the way at that time but somehow people tracked down directions to the site and they always asked to hear the stories of the witch, and the stories that Eden spun from his own weird experiences at the place.
Many of the strange experiences actually happened to Bill Eden himself, while others involved visitors to the cave. For instance, a woman came to visit one day and asked to go down and see the cave. She had brought a group of friends along and in all, about fifteen people followed Eden down the rather treacherous path to the cave’s entrance. All at once, the woman in charge of the group abruptly sat down in the middle of the path. One of the people who was with her asked why she was sitting there, and she answered that she wasn’t! She claimed that a heavy weight, which felt like a ton of lead, was pressing her down to the ground and she couldn’t get up. Several members of the group managed to get the lady to her feet and half carried her back up the hill to her car.
this extract was taken from this site
http://www.prairieghosts.com/b-cave.html
The cave itself is located in the center of a large bluff that overlooks the river. The mouth of the cave opens widely but entrance to the cavern itself must be gained through a fairly long tunnel. The cave is not large compared to most commercial caves; however its true length is unknown because of narrow passages that go beyond the 500 or so feet accessible to visitors. Although geologically, this is a dry cave that has been carved from limestone, in wet weather, a stream gushes from the mouth of the cavern and tumbles over a cliff into the river below. This makes the cave nearly impossible to navigate and even shouted conversations become inaudible over the roar of the water.
In dry times, the cave has proven to be quite an attraction to curiosity-seekers and ghost hunters. Once you pass through the entrance passage, the visitor enters a large room that opens into yet another tunnel and an overhead passageway. Another large room can be found at the rear of the explored portion of the cave, but from that point on the tunnels become smaller, narrower and much more dangerous.
The Bell Witch Cave became an attraction thanks largely to a man named Bill Eden, who owned the property for a number of years. Eden was a wealth of information about the cave and about the fact that strange occurrences were continuing to take place on the land that once belonged to John Bell. Although he was mainly a farmer, Eden did make some early improvements to the cave by adding electrical lights, but that was about all.
Despite being undeveloped though, the cave managed to attract hundreds of visitors every year who wanted to be shown through it. Bill always obliged although was always puzzled about how they found the place. There were no signs to point the way at that time but somehow people tracked down directions to the site and they always asked to hear the stories of the witch, and the stories that Eden spun from his own weird experiences at the place.
Many of the strange experiences actually happened to Bill Eden himself, while others involved visitors to the cave. For instance, a woman came to visit one day and asked to go down and see the cave. She had brought a group of friends along and in all, about fifteen people followed Eden down the rather treacherous path to the cave’s entrance. All at once, the woman in charge of the group abruptly sat down in the middle of the path. One of the people who was with her asked why she was sitting there, and she answered that she wasn’t! She claimed that a heavy weight, which felt like a ton of lead, was pressing her down to the ground and she couldn’t get up. Several members of the group managed to get the lady to her feet and half carried her back up the hill to her car.
this extract was taken from this site
http://www.prairieghosts.com/b-cave.html
Thanks for the info Fee, but what exactly the cave stuff has to do with the Bell family?
Was it situated on the same property that once the Bells owned?
Was it situated on the same property that once the Bells owned?
yes they owned the caves...this is where alot of the phononema is supposed to of took place by visiting ghost hunters ***
QUOTE (Fantailmoon @ Feb 24 2009, 12:58 PM)
yes they owned the caves...this is where alot of the phononema is supposed to of took place by visiting ghost hunters ***
i want to go in them
I was visiting one of my other web sites and through a friend, friend while Lily hopping, I came across a Paranormal Ghost site and within their archives they had a Old Photo image that was of a Victorian night at a grave side with a moon and there was the head a woman in a Black dress and Bennett, not a happy looking old Woman, and up in the night sky in this image where the moon hung low where two images of one faces, one smaller resembling an Imp’s face with very pointed features and the other of a Mongrel Dog, the image of the Woman was identified as Bates, the Bell Witch, but how this was determined I don’t know and especially being she appeared Victorian Era, Although after my own further reading of the Bell Witch, it was said that she cursed to return from the grave and was reported to have done so many Decades later, and if I remember right that time frame would of put her into the Victorian Era, but would a Ghost not return in apparel of when she left and not come back in future style of Clothing?
It was not my Place to copy that Image a save it, but believe me if I had realized I would not come across it again I would have asked permission to do so by the group, I have been searching for the Image for a long time now, and understanding that images are very easily manipulated, as I my Self restore my own Families antique Photos…So has anyone here come across such a Image? It was a very dark image and It may have had a Gas Street lamp globe in the Image as well, I would place the Photo Era around late c. 1800’s and I believe that there was a popular fad of Doctoring up Paranormal images of the time period…
That web site has sense been completely reworked and changed, and I cannot retrace my steps to find that Image or Paranormal Group once again... It was a States based Group.
Pavot
It was not my Place to copy that Image a save it, but believe me if I had realized I would not come across it again I would have asked permission to do so by the group, I have been searching for the Image for a long time now, and understanding that images are very easily manipulated, as I my Self restore my own Families antique Photos…So has anyone here come across such a Image? It was a very dark image and It may have had a Gas Street lamp globe in the Image as well, I would place the Photo Era around late c. 1800’s and I believe that there was a popular fad of Doctoring up Paranormal images of the time period…
That web site has sense been completely reworked and changed, and I cannot retrace my steps to find that Image or Paranormal Group once again... It was a States based Group.
Pavot
The story is good enough for another ghost story but some description aren't that specific which left me questioning and becoming skeptic.
!!!!!!!!!!wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey
QUOTE (Pavot @ Feb 24 2009, 04:24 PM)
I was visiting one of my other web sites and through a friend, friend while Lily hopping, I came across a Paranormal Ghost site and within their archives they had a Old Photo image that was of a Victorian night at a grave side with a moon and there was the head a woman in a Black dress and Bennett, not a happy looking old Woman, and up in the night sky in this image where the moon hung low where two images of one faces, one smaller resembling an Imp’s face with very pointed features and the other of a Mongrel Dog, the image of the Woman was identified as Bates, the Bell Witch, but how this was determined I don’t know and especially being she appeared Victorian Era, Although after my own further reading of the Bell Witch, it was said that she cursed to return from the grave and was reported to have done so many Decades later, and if I remember right that time frame would of put her into the Victorian Era, but would a Ghost not return in apparel of when she left and not come back in future style of Clothing?
It was not my Place to copy that Image a save it, but believe me if I had realized I would not come across it again I would have asked permission to do so by the group, I have been searching for the Image for a long time now, and understanding that images are very easily manipulated, as I my Self restore my own Families antique Photos…So has anyone here come across such a Image? It was a very dark image and It may have had a Gas Street lamp globe in the Image as well, I would place the Photo Era around late c. 1800’s and I believe that there was a popular fad of Doctoring up Paranormal images of the time period…
That web site has sense been completely reworked and changed, and I cannot retrace my steps to find that Image or Paranormal Group once again... It was a States based Group.
YES
Pavot
It was not my Place to copy that Image a save it, but believe me if I had realized I would not come across it again I would have asked permission to do so by the group, I have been searching for the Image for a long time now, and understanding that images are very easily manipulated, as I my Self restore my own Families antique Photos…So has anyone here come across such a Image? It was a very dark image and It may have had a Gas Street lamp globe in the Image as well, I would place the Photo Era around late c. 1800’s and I believe that there was a popular fad of Doctoring up Paranormal images of the time period…
That web site has sense been completely reworked and changed, and I cannot retrace my steps to find that Image or Paranormal Group once again... It was a States based Group.
YES
Pavot
Hay! 
Hello Ms. Kat, I also had some very interesting Reports upon Bates return as she had cursedly sworn to, however I lost one of my Jump Sticks which the Bell witch data, when a Flash drive Glitch took it out, I need to review my other Discs and Jumpers and check there for the Data…
Pavot
Hello Ms. Kat, I also had some very interesting Reports upon Bates return as she had cursedly sworn to, however I lost one of my Jump Sticks which the Bell witch data, when a Flash drive Glitch took it out, I need to review my other Discs and Jumpers and check there for the Data…
Pavot
QUOTE (Pavot @ Feb 28 2009, 12:21 PM)
Hay!
Hello Ms. Kat, I also had some very interesting Reports upon Bates return as she had cursedly sworn to, however I lost one of my Jump Sticks which the Bell witch data, when a Flash drive Glitch took it out, I need to review my other Discs and Jumpers and check there for the Data…
Pavot
Hello Ms. Kat, I also had some very interesting Reports upon Bates return as she had cursedly sworn to, however I lost one of my Jump Sticks which the Bell witch data, when a Flash drive Glitch took it out, I need to review my other Discs and Jumpers and check there for the Data…
Pavot
i am sorry about that
QUOTE (kat260 @ Mar 1 2009, 03:04 PM)
i am sorry about that
Don't be sad, its just a jump stick, I will come across the data ago wee one, I should review you Link here again....
Pavot
QUOTE (raphnix @ Feb 25 2009, 02:16 AM)
The story is good enough for another ghost story but some description aren't that specific which left me questioning and becoming skeptic.
ok
We ( Tennessee Spirits Paranormal Investigations) have actually investigated the Bell Witch Cave on the Bell property. I cant say thats its active but it is an interesting place. We have pictures of our investigation here.... http://tnspirits.com/photos.html#bn-photoc...342020/52378/1/
It was fun, but is the story true? No one really knows, John Bell was a very ill man at this time. The cave was used by Native Americans long before the Bells settled there.
It was fun, but is the story true? No one really knows, John Bell was a very ill man at this time. The cave was used by Native Americans long before the Bells settled there.
QUOTE (raphnix @ Feb 25 2009, 02:16 AM)
The story is good enough for another ghost story but some description aren't that specific which left me questioning and becoming skeptic.
'''''warnig werewolf chant ''''''' DO NOT READ THIS ''''''''''''''
in the ocean sea, on the island Buyan,in the open plain,shines the moon upon an aspenstump, into the green wood, into the spreading vale Around the stump goes a shaggy wolf; ander his teeth are all the horned cattle; but into the wood the wolf goes not; in vale the wolf does not roam. Moon, moon! Gold-horned moon! Melt the bullet, blunt the knife, rot the cudgel, strike fear into man, beast ,and reptile, so that they may not seize the gray wolf, nor tear from him his warm hide. My word is firm, firmer than sleep or the strength of heroes................
'''''' DOES NOT EXPLAIN HOW TO BECOME HUMAN AGAIN'''''''''''''''
QUOTE (raphnix @ Feb 25 2009, 03:16 AM)
The story is good enough for another ghost story but some description aren't that specific which left me questioning and becoming skeptic.
well i am not puzzled at all i get wat pavot is saying
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