User:Auric/Fire Spook

The Fire Spook was a supposed poltergeist that attracted attention to Woodstock, New Brunswick during the summer of 1887.

Events
The "spook" manifested itself in the home of one Reginald C. Hoyt, a picture frame dealer who lived in a two story wood frame house on Victoria Street with his wife and children.

The events began on August 6, 1887. While Hoyt was sitting in his study, a window shade burst into flames. He ripped the shade down and stamped out the flames. A short time later, his wife cried out in alarm that a quilt on her bed was afire. He ran in and helped his wife beat out the flames. They rushed downstairs and stamped out a small fire in the parlor rug. Next a child's dress began to smolder, which was doused in water, which was used to put out the feather bed.

Other small fires continued to break out sporadically for the next 48 hours. Firefighters were called, but remained baffled as to the origins of the fires. Local curiosity seekers arrived, followed by reporters.

The fires ceased after two days and did not reoccur.

Causes
The causes of the event remained undetermined, although some suspected that the events could be traced to clothes that had been washed in carbolic acid. Others posited short-circuits or gas build-ups.

Similar events

 * c. 1834 - Richmond, Carleton County.


 * 1922 - The Fire-Spook of Caledonia Mills.

Resources

 * New York Herald, Jan. 6, 1895
 * New York Herald, Jan. 6, 1895
 * New York Herald, Jan. 6, 1895
 * New York Herald, Jan. 6, 1895
 * New York Herald, Jan. 6, 1895
 * New York Herald, Jan. 6, 1895

Category:Canadian ghosts