Malevolent Haunts: The Dagg Poltergeist

Since the advent of modern paranormal research and investigation in the late 19th century, poltergeist phenomena has always been at the top of the list as the most common form of haunting and the most controvesial. For the most part researchers seem to agree that the activities of the poltergeist is not caused by a discarnate spirit or a demon but rather by a human agent who is experiencing a time of great turmoil and rather than deal with that turmoil in a constructive manner they internalize the stress and put it out in a series of terrifying phenomena that has sent many families fleeing from their homes in abject terror. Although I agree with these esteemed researchers I have always maintained a belief that the energy expended by a poltergeist is capable of attracting other spirits human and otherwise. While there are many cases on record that confirm this belief the jury is still out with many paranormal researchers. In 1889, at a small farmhouse in Quebec, Canada a poltergeist ruthlessly attacked a family and may or may not have been caused by a human spirit that was hellbent on raising hell and driving a family insane with it’s exploits.

On a warm morning in the spring of 1889, the lady of the house Mrs. Dagg, awoke to start her normal routine of chores in her already spotless home, however what greeted her was not only the beginning of the little known poltergeist outbreak but was downright disgusting as well. As Mrs Dagg, entered the front room her sense of smell and sight were assaulted by animal feces smeared across the floor. If you know anything about 19th century women you would understand that such a thing was completely unacceptable and was offense to her sense of clean. At first a young boy, Dean, was blamed for the mischief because he worked with the hogs. Dean had a tendency to forget to take his shoes off when he entered the house and was warned that if this behavior did not stop he would be fired. Subsequently the young farmhand was terminated however the feces returned day after day and began to cause a great deal of stress in the house. If Dean was not present then who was responsible this unsightly and smelly offense?

As the days passed other strange and frightening activity began to assert itself in the home. On numerous occassions the family would be woke up in the middle of the night by loud bangs on the walls and during the day large rocks would come crashing through the windows as well as plates and other objects were thrown about the home by unseen hands. Gentleman farmer, George Dagg and his farmhands did the best they could to search for the destructive culprits but came up short for a rational explanation when no physical assailant was found. Mrs Dagg who was a firm believer in the new religion of spiritualism felt that perhaps they were under attack by a nasty spirit that meant them harm. Mrs. Dagg sent a letter to a noted Canadian ghosthunter, Percy Woodstock apealing for his help. Woodstock came right away.

Shortly after Woodstock arrived at the Dagg farm he set up a labratory and began investigating the curious phenomenon that seemed to hold the family in it’s grip. Woodstock came to the conclusion that the family was not under attack by a demon or a human spirit but rather the mischief was caused by a poltergeist and he determined that, Dinah, an eleven year old adopted daughter was the unconcious medium behind the outbreak. Woodstock and all involved would soon discover that their was more to this case than met the eye.

Woodstock questioned the girl to see whether or not she possessed some mediumistic abilities. The girl proved his theory correct however he also learned that the young girl had come into contact with a truly pissed off spirit that had taken up residence in a dilapidated old shed that was no longer in use. Woodstock, had the girl show him this old shed and Woodstock got the fright of his life. As the researcher entered the shed he became intensely aware that he was not alone and some entity watched his every move while he felt the undeniable feeling of dread. Woodstock called out to the spirit was greeted by the sound of a deep gravelly laugh. Woodstock demanded that the spirit show itself and reveal his name. The spirit growled out, “I am the devil. If you do not leave this place now I will break your neck.” Percy Woodstock, intrepid ghosthunter hightailed it out of the shed with his tail between his legs.

As the months passed after Woodstocks visit, the phenomenon progressed to a violent level. Small fires broke out around the house, thunderous bangs on the walls could be heard at all hours of the day and jugs of water were thrown in the face of the Daggs and other witnesses to the phenomena. One brave witness challenged the entity and demanded to know who he was and why he was causing this family harm. The entity blasted back with a loud voice, “I am the spirit of an eighty year old man who died on the property and I do not approve of the Dagg family.” When asked his name the entity whispered his name into the ears of George Dagg and was warned if he divulged his name to anyone George, would die a horrible and violent death. No one ever learned his name.

Dinah and the other Dagg children began to report that they had sighted this strange entity and were terrified by what they saw. The entity appeared in many guises to the children. The first time they managed to spy the entity it appeared as a demonic man with a cow’s head and cloven feet and would chase them around the farm. Other times he would appear as a giant coal black dog with glowing red eyes that stalked the land. However as the haunting came to a close the entity would show another side of itself. The entity appeared as a tall beautiful man with long flowing white hair and a long white robe and wore a crown studded with shining stars. No one was ever sure what the exact nature of this entity was, was he a demon or a messenger sent from God?

One day the children ran to their parents and stated they watched the ghost who appeared in his angelic guise and told them he was now departing and would trouble the Daggs no more. The children went on further to say that he rose up into the sky singing hymns to God in a beautiful voice. Six months of terror had come to an end.

The Bible says that satan can appear as an angel of light and the entity that terrorized the Dagg farm over a century ago appeared to be just that, a devil in disguise. However two theories exist concerning the strange case of the Dagg poltergeist and it’s nature. Skeptics claim that the whole affair was the doings of mischievous youth out to cause a stir and they made up the entity and the phenomena. The other theory concerning the entity is that it was a thoughtform dreamed up by the poltergeist agent, Dinah, and projected into the minds of the other children. Either theory is possible but I ask, what do you think?

Rick E. Hale

t_seeker@hotmail.com