Editing Spring-heeled Jack (section)

=== Last reports ===
In the beginning of the 1870s, Spring-heeled Jack was reported again in several places distant from each other. In November 1872, the ''[[News of the World]]'' reported that Peckham was "in a state of commotion owing to what is known as the "Peckham Ghost", a mysterious figure, quite alarming in appearance". The editorial pointed out that it was none other than "Spring-heeled Jack, who terrified a past generation".<ref>News of the World, 17 November 1872, cited in "Fortean Studies volume 3" (1996), pp. 78–79, ed. Steve Moore, John Brown Publishing</ref> Similar stories were published in ''[[The Illustrated Police News]]''. In April and May 1873, it reported there were numerous sightings in [[Sheffield]] of the "Park Ghost", which locals also came to identify as Spring-heeled Jack.<ref>The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes By Michael Newton pp. 355</ref>

====Aldershot====
[[File:North Camp Aldershot 1866.jpg|thumb|left|North Camp in [[Aldershot Garrison|Aldershot]] as it looked in 1866.]]
This news was followed by more reported sightings, until in August 1877 one of the most notable reports about Spring-heeled Jack came from a group of soldiers in [[Aldershot Garrison]]. This story went as follows: a sentry on duty at the North Camp peered into the darkness, his attention attracted by a peculiar figure "advancing towards him." The soldier issued a challenge, which went unheeded, and the figure came up beside him and delivered several slaps to his face. A guard shot at him, with no visible effect; some sources claim that the soldier may have fired [[blank (cartridge)|blanks]] at him, others that he missed or fired warning shots. The strange figure then disappeared into the surrounding darkness "with astonishing bounds."<ref>"The Aldershott Ghost", ''The Times'', 28 April 1877 (cited in "Fortean Studies volume 3" (1996), p. 95, ed. Steve Moore, John Brown Publishing)</ref><ref>"Our Camp Letter" –  ''Surrey and Hants News & Guildford Times'' – 17 March 1877, section ''Aldershot Gazette''</ref><ref>[[Elliott O'Donnell]], ''Haunted Britain'' – Consul Books (1963) p. 89</ref>

[[Lord Ernest Hamilton]]'s 1922 memoir ''Forty Years On'' mentions the Aldershot appearances of Spring-heeled Jack; however, he (apparently erroneously) says that they occurred in the winter of 1879 after his regiment, the [[King's Royal Rifle Corps|60th Rifles]], had moved to Aldershot, and that similar appearances had occurred when the regiment was barracked at [[Colchester]] in the winter of 1878. He adds that the panic became so great at Aldershot that sentries were issued ammunition and ordered to shoot "the night terror" on sight, following which the appearances ceased. Hamilton thought that the appearances were actually pranks, carried out by one of his fellow officers, a Lieutenant Alfrey.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hamilton | first = Ernest | author-link = Lord Ernest Hamilton | title = Forty Years On | publisher = Hodder and Stoughton | year = 1922 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/fortyyearson00hami/page/163 163]–164 | url = https://archive.org/details/fortyyearson00hami }}</ref><ref>"Our Camp Letter" – ''Surrey and Hants News & Guildford Times'' – 14 December 1878, section ''Aldershot Gazette''</ref> However, there is no record of Alfrey ever being court-martialled for the offence.<ref>Judge Advocate General's Office: General Courts Martial charge sheets: 1877–1880 – the National Archives, Kew</ref>

====Lincolnshire====
In the autumn of 1877, Spring-heeled Jack was reportedly seen at [[Newport Arch]], in [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]], [[Lincolnshire]], wearing a sheep skin. An angry mob supposedly chased him and cornered him, and just as in Aldershot a while before, residents fired at him to no effect. As usual, he was said to have made use of his leaping abilities to lose the crowd and disappear once again.<ref>Illustrated Police News, 3 November 1877, cited in "Fortean Studies volume 3" (1996), pp. 96, ed. Steve Moore, John Brown Publishing</ref>

====Liverpool====
By the end of the 19th century the reported sightings of Spring-heeled Jack were moving towards the north west of England. Around 1888, in [[Everton, Liverpool|Everton]], north Liverpool, he allegedly appeared on the rooftop of [[Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Liverpool|Saint Francis Xavier's Church]] in Salisbury Street. In 1904 there were reports of appearances in nearby William Henry Street.<ref>News of the World, 25 September 1904, cited in "Fortean Studies volume 3" (1996), pp. 97, ed. Steve Moore, John Brown Publishing</ref>