Notice! We do not take credit for the following information. We compiled all information from various websites and authors and the credit goes to those individuals.
The Bell Witch Cave is not really the focus of the story here, but for lack of a better name to call this "haunted place," it will have to do. You'll understand by the end of this long and twisted tale.
In 1804 (or thereabouts), John Bell, a young farmer, and his family moved to Tennessee and bought approximately 1,000 acres of farmland from Kate Batts. It didn't take long for the family to emerge as being fine and upstanding, as well as deeply religious. This is probably why no one listened to Kate when she started accusing Bell of having cheated her in the land deal. She swore to get revenge on Bell.
Trouble indeed started for the Bell family after Kate Batts died. Around 1817, John saw an extremely odd looking bird while he was standing in his corn field. He stated that the bird seemed almost human. It flew off after he shot at it. A few days later, he took a shot at a growling dog-like creature in the same field. Around this same time the children began to see strange creatures in the woods.
The next apparition to appear was that of an old woman walking through their orchard. At one point Drewry Bell and his sister Betsy tried talking to her, but she just disappeared. This is when the sounds started. At first the sounds came from the outside of the house, scratching, knocking noises as though someone or something was trying to get inside. Investigation of the noises never revealed a source of origin. The sounds eventually moved inside, one of the most common being that of wings flapping against the ceiling.
In 1818 John Bell contracted a mysterious illness. It affected his jaw and tongue and made the process of eating exceedingly difficult. It was around this time that the "witch," as she was by then known, began to speak. She had only laughed before. At first she just spoke in a very accurate mimicry of John Bell, but soon found a voice of her own. The community began to hear of the Bell family's troubles and often came around for curiosity or to offer help.
Before the "witch" had started to speak, John Bell had his good friend John Johnson come to help. Johnson was a very courageous and deeply religious man. Before he retired for the first night of his visit, Johnson read a chapter from the Bible and prayed for his friends. These actions had just the opposite effect of what was intended. The noises began worse than ever. Johnson's covers were pulled off over and over. When Johnson questioned his harasser, he received scornful laughter as his reply.
Another friend, Frank Miles, offered his help in another way. He was an extremely large and strong man, and he offered to crush the "witch" in a death grip. When he went to bed, not only were his covers yanked, but he was struck several times on the face and head. He was informed by the "witch's" screech that he should give up because it was impossible to win a struggle with a spirit.
None other than Andrew Jackson, future United States President, offered to try and rid the Bells of their "monster". His first encounter came on his way to the house, when a companion started to speak ill of the "witch". The cart/wagon wheels locked up solid and would not budge until a disembodied voice called out, "Go on, old General." The party spent the night at the Bell house but did not get any sleep. They were kept awake by the screams of Betsy Bell as the "witch" pinched and slapped her. Jackson's covers kept getting ripped off, and his entire party was slapped, pinched and had their hair pulled all night. They left immediately in the morning. Jackson supposedly said later of the experience, "I'd rather fight the British in New Orleans than to have to fight the Bell Witch."
The "witch" was very capricious in whom she tortured. Betsy and John bore the brunt of her rage, as well as the farm's slaves. Lucy Bell, John's wife, seems to have been somewhat protected by the "witch." "Ol' Kate", as the "witch" was sometimes called, was known to sing to Mrs. Bell and help out with the chores every now and again. She would preach and sing hymns to the Bells and those in the community who had come to satisfy their curiosity.
Trouble struck again for Betsy when she fell in love with and became engaged to a man named Joshua Gardner. The match pleased both families, but the "witch" did not approve. She told Betsy that if the wedding took place, she would torment her ceaselessly, by pinching her, slapping her, and tying her hair in knots. When Betsy broke the engagement, the "witch" was pleased, and explained she had her reasons. Betsy eventually married Richard Powell, a teacher.
In 1820 John Bell's mysterious mouth ailment returned, and worse than before. In his last days he tried to walk around his land, but the "witch" knocked his shoes off his feet and knocked him to the ground. His son, John Jr., tied his father's shoes as tightly as he could to his feet, but the "witch" beat John Sr. to the point where he needed a doctor. The doctor came and gave him a potion. John became more ill after the doctor left, and he died on December 20, 1820. When the doctor returned, he looked for the potion he gave, but it was nowhere to be found. In its place was a thick dark liquid that no one could identify. The "witch" laughed and claimed to have placed it. The "witch" attended John Bell's funeral, singing loudly and happily as John's grave was being filled in. She continued her songs until the last of John's family and friends left the gravesite.
In early 1821 "Ol' Kate" claimed that her business was finished, and she said she was leaving. Before she left, she made a promise to return in seven years. Supposedly she did return, but she bothered no one and just made various noises. Her visit only lasted a few weeks, and ended with a promise to return in 107 years. That would have been in 1935, but no one reported any disturbances.
As usual, there are some variations in this story, as well as some theories. One version claims it was a bad business deal concerning slaves that started Kate's hatred. Another states the trouble started before Batts even died. I don't really want to get into all the nitty-gritty, I just wanted to let you know there are some inconsistencies. I just wrote what seemed to be the most prevalent of the details.
What about the Bell farm today? The current owners, at this writing, are Chris and Walter Kirby. They claim to have heard and seen inexplicable things, especially around the "Bell Witch Cave", which is a cave (duh) located on the property and thought to be a "center" for all the activity. It stands near the family cemetery, which is the resting place for many of the Bells. Many other people have claimed to have paranormal experiences such as strange apparitions and sounds coming from inside the cave. It is thought by some to be where "Ol' Kate" fled to after deserting the Bell family. The Kirbys have the cave open for tourists seven days a week from May to November from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Please call before you make any plans to visit, just to confirm these details.)
The Bell Witch Cave can be reached by exiting Interstate 24 near Clarksville, Tennessee and following Highway 76 to Adams, Tennessee. The cave can be found by turning right after the small Amoco station and taking Eden Road until you see the sign for the cave.
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