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The Bell Witch Cave |
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The Bell Witch |
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Storyteller Cabin |
- The Bell Witch Cave - Cultural Background
A word of warning before you try to sneak into the Bell Witch Cave like Liz and Jimmy did: the cave is gated, and is privately owned. But the owners will be happy to show you the cave if you'll make arrangements with them (see the contact information at the bottom of the page).
Our story, "The Bell Witch Cave," is based on an incident that took place in the 1800s. A group of young boys was exploring this cave, which overlooks the Red River in northern Tennessee. During the wet months, water gushes out of the cave mouth in a spectacular waterfall, making the cave inaccessible. But during the dry months, one can crawl into the muddy cavern, look at the formations and, if one is brave (or foolhardy) enough, squeeze into one of the numerous nooks and crannies.
One boy in the group crawled too far, getting himself stuck in a tiny crawl space. Only using a candle for light, he screamed for help as the wick slowly burned out. Then, in the darkness, he heard a booming female voice say, "I'll get you out!" He felt his legs being pulled, and he was dragged backwards through the thick mud back to the cave entrance. They never found out who, or what, saved him, but the locals believed it could only be one thing - the Bell Witch!
The boys were friends of Betsy Bell, daughter of John Bell, Sr. and Lucy Williams Bell, who were then owners of the land the cave was located on. The Bells were a happy and industrious farming family who had moved to Robertson County, Tennessee from North Carolina in 1804. The Bells probably used their cave for cold storage, since temperatures in caves generally hover around 56 degrees year round, making them perfect for food preservation.
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| 1909 postcard of the Bell Witch Cave. | |
Kate could speak to the family, and made no secret of her hatred for John Bell, Sr. No one knew why she hated the man, but according to legend, she eventually played a role in his mysterious death in 1820. She then stayed on the Bell property for another year before announcing to the family that she was leaving, but that she would return in seven years. This she did in 1828, but left again after only two weeks. The remaining members of the Bell family either died or moved away, and Kate was never heard from again.
But many locals claim that the Bell Witch still roams the hills surrounding the tiny, once prosperous railroad town of Adams, Tennessee, one mile south of the old Bell property. Mysterious noises have been heard in the old town buildings, and sudden accidents (fires, malfunctioning automobiles, etc.) have befallen those who claim that the Bell Witch is a "fake."
Most stories center on the Bell Witch Cave, now privately owned. Nothing remains of the original Bell homestead, but strange noises have still been heard in the cave by later owners of the property, as well as tourists and journalists. Some have heard what sounds like raspy, asthmatic breathing deep within the dark bowels of the cave. Others have heard groaning, or electric "buzzing" sounds. One local reporter even heard a high-pitched scream!
Although the cave is small - the tunnel stretches just 500 feet from the entrance - thousands of tourists still flock to the site to hear the Bell Witch. Some have even claimed to have "seen" the Bell Witch in the photos they've taken at the site. After processing, these visitors were surprised to find what appeared to be mysterious shadowy figures and misty faces on their cave photos.
The Bell Witch Cave is open to the public from May 1-November 1,
10:00A.M. until 6:00P.M., seven days a week. The cave is located near
Adams, Tennessee, ten miles northwest of Springfield on Highway 41. From
Adams, take 41 just past the Bell School, turn onto Bell Chapel Road and
follow the signs. For more information, call (615) 696-3055.
If you go to the Bell Witch Cave, let us know what happens!
