The Bell Witch: The Full Account (21 page)

Powell then said, “I have heard the exciting news of

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153

your recent engagement, and have been in awe of

your beautiful ring for the past hour.” “Thank you,

Professor Powell!” exclaimed Elizabeth, who was

growing uncomfortable because her suspicions of

Powell’s fondness for her were finally being

confirmed. Powell continued, “Miss Elizabeth, I want

you to know that you have grown up to be more

beautiful and charming than I ever dreamed you

could. I admired you very much back in the days

when you were my student, but now you have

blossomed into the most beautiful, witty and

charming woman I have had the honor of knowing

since my arrival here some five years ago. I most

definitely envy Mr. Gardner’s good fortune in having

won your hand in marriage; he is such a lucky

gentleman.”

Despite Professor Powell’s obvious attempts at

flattery, Elizabeth was becoming uncomfortable and

quite frustrated. The notion that Powell was trying to

impose feelings of guilt upon her, or solicit her

sympathy for his cause, worried Elizabeth because

he was the man whom she had always looked up to

as an authority figure who was such behavior.

Nevertheless, she maintained her composure while

he finished.

“Just as I always told your mother, you were the

brightest and smartest girl in school, but then she

declared that I would spoil you; but I did not, did I?”

“I think not, Professor; I hope I don't act like a

spoiled girl,” Elizabeth responded. “No you do not,

and Joshua will bear me out in that. By the way, he

is a very fine fellow. That boy never could help loving

you, and I never did blame him as you were my little

pet also; and I have waited almost as patiently as did

Jacob for Rachel, hoping that you and Joshua might

forget that young ‘school love.’ Nevertheless, I have

now been very disappointed, and my only wish at

154 P A T

F I T Z H U G H

this point other than your future happiness is to be

present when you wed. Goodbye, I wish you well.” 33

Shocked and at a loss for words, Elizabeth

exclaimed, “Professor, I shall let you know when that

happens; and I promise that you will be in

attendance!” She then rejoined Joshua and her

friends at the riverbank to prepare for the long-

awaited fishing trip.

The Mysterious Fish

The group broke into couples, each surveying the

riverbank for a good place to fish. They had planned

on fishing between Brown’s Ford and Gorham’s Mill;

however the good fishing spots along that section of

the river had already been taken by the slaves who

had arrived much earlier that morning. The couples

soon found what looked like some promising fishing

holes below Brown’s Ford near Clark’s Mill, then

scattered out along the riverbank and baited their

hooks. Joshua and Elizabeth settled farther down

the riverbank than the other couples, baiting their

hooks and securing their fishing tackle before

climbing up on a large, moss-covered rock where the

Enchanted Spring empties into the Red River.

Time passed quickly as they discussed the fun and

events that had been happening throughout day,

including Professor Powell’s shocking behavior after

having seen Elizabeth’s engagement ring. Oblivious

to their fishing tackle and the activities of the other

couples nearby, Elizabeth and Joshua discussed

their wedding day and the new life that their soon-to-

be and far-away home would bring them.

Joshua had heard his family speak on many

occasions of beautiful and fertile land to the west,

33 M.V. Ingram,
Authenticated History of the Bell Witch
(1894).

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155

near the Tennessee River in Henry County,

Tennessee. Elizabeth was overjoyed by the thought

of moving to this area and starting a family with

Joshua. “Ka-whomp!” All of the sudden, their hearts

stopped, and their attention turned to the sounds of

a large fish jumping in the river below.

Looking towards the river, Joshua noticed that his

float was completely under the water and his fishing

pole had been jerked out of the ground and was

sliding towards the river’s edge. They quickly slid off

the rock and dashed over to their fishing tackle, but

by the time they got there it was too late. The giant

fish had pulled Joshua’s fishing pole into the water

and was carrying it upstream, much to the

amazement of those who had gathered at the

riverbank after hearing the noises and seeing the

pole being pulled from the ground.

The giant fish swam erratically around the river,

darting back and forth between the north and south

banks, and then taking an occasional plunge to the

bottom before returning to the surface. After

swimming about a quarter-mile upstream, the fish

turned and swam back downstream in the same

manner. As the crowd tried to catch the large fish, it

jumped out of the water — shaking its head furiously

and freeing itself from the hook.

Those who had seen the fish stood around for a

while after the excitement to ponder what kind of fish

it might have been. One person guessed it was an

“eel,” another guessed a large “catfish,” and Frank

Miles declared that it was a “shark” that had made

its way from the sea to the Red River. Everyone

returned to their places along the river and baited

their hooks in anticipation of catching the large fish

if it returned. Joshua and Elizabeth returned to the

moss-covered rock and continued their discussion.

156 P A T

F I T Z H U G H

Joshua Senses a Problem

“The land to the west will give us a much-needed

break from the events past, but is still close enough

for us to visit our families each year and send them

letters often,” Joshua said. “Oh,” responded

Elizabeth. “And it’s very close to the Tennessee

River, too. Donelson and several families used that

river when they settled at Nashville some years ago.

They followed it up to the Ohio River, then crossed

over to the Cumberland and went all the way down

to Nashville. You know what? I’ve heard that the

Tennessee River boasts some of the biggest catfish

this country has ever seen, much bigger than the big

fish we just saw!” “Oh,” Elizabeth responded as she

maintained her trance-like stare at the rock.

“You look as though something is terribly wrong,

my dearest. What has happened?” asked Joshua.

“Nothing,” replied Elizabeth. She trembled and her

face began to lose its color as if she had suddenly

became ill or seen a ghost. “You can’t tell me that. I

know you, and I easily notice when something is

bothering you. Will you please tell me what’s

wrong?” asked Joshua. “Ok,” replied Elizabeth, “it’s

not that there is anything wrong, I just ‘feel’ wrong,

like something bad is happening or about to happen.

I was on top of the world just minutes ago, but now

something is pulling me down and I can’t seem to

put my finger on what it is.” “I offer you my

condolences and concern, as I can see that you’re not

feeling well at all, my dearest,” said Joshua; “but I

also understand that you and your family have

endured much hardship over the last four years, and

that human nature doesn’t always let us forget such

things. It sometimes provides us with chilling

reminders of things we would rather forget, and

usually when we least expect or need them.”

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157

“Thank you for your concern and understanding,

my dearest Joshua,” Elizabeth said, “but why would

such negative feelings manifest themselves while I

am sitting here talking to the man I love most in this

world?” Joshua replied, “My dearest, I think what

you’re experiencing is a form of reverse guilt. That

is, you have been feeling on top of the world as of

late, but because you lived for a period of years in a

situation where pain and evil were the norm, your

mind is conditioned to manifest feelings of guilt when

you are in a loving and peaceful situation – because

that is not the norm your mind has been accustomed

to for the last four years.” “You are so right, Joshua;

and I love you with all my heart,” replied Elizabeth.

All of the sudden, loud screams were heard

echoing throughout the valley and along the

riverbank, “Look out, look out! It’s coming back!”

The large fish was paying a return-visit. It wasn’t

long until the fish left and the excitement died down;

however, the excitement about the fish was no match

for what was about to befall the two lovers, an event

that would change their lives forever in just a matter

of seconds.

“Kate” Ends the Relationship

The gentle breeze suddenly stopped and the once

animated valley fell under a grave, eerie silence. The

birds stopped singing, the ripples in the river ceased

playing their cheerful melody, and the air became so

thick that neither Joshua nor Elizabeth could easily

breathe.

A light but profound breeze blew through the tops

of the trees, crying out in a soft, melancholy voice,

“Please Betsy Bell, oh please; please Betsy Bell, don’t

marry Joshua Gardner. You will never find

happiness with him, and by marrying him you will

158 P A T

F I T Z H U G H

seal the same fate for future generations.” These sad

and desperate pleas repeated until the young lovers

were totally consumed by dismay and trembling with

fear. The voice became fainter as the wind from

whence it came died down, eventually leaving in the

same manner it came.

Brokenhearted, Joshua and Elizabeth sat

speechless for some time after the voice had

gradually faded away — looking into each other’s

eyes and knowing that their best days were behind

them, and that the future they had often dreamt of

was not meant to be. Despite the courageousness he

was known for, Joshua Gardner knew he could no

longer say or do anything to change the painful

situation that had just revisited them and broke their

hearts. Elizabeth looked down to the ground and

shook her head as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Joshua put his arms around her and gently rubbed

her head as she rested it on his shoulder and wept

uncontrollably.

After regaining some of her composure, Elizabeth

told Joshua, “It is of no use, my dearest Joshua. I

now know that regardless of the happiness we might

someday find together, the evil force that tormented

me and killed my father will undoubtedly follow us

throughout our lives and to the ends of the earth,

causing us much pain, sorrow and hardship.”

Joshua pleaded with her, “But I love you, Elizabeth,

and that is all that matters. Our love is strong

enough to endure the worst of the worst, and we

shall boldly conquer all that which is evil and stands

in the way of our happiness. Where there is a will,

there is a way. Don’t you know that?”

Elizabeth responded, “But even if that came to be,

it would mean not only I, but you as well, would be

tormented forever. It would be most selfish and

unfair of me to subject you to that which you do not

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159

deserve, and it would be a wrong for which I could

never expect forgiveness.” She continued, “This is

the saddest day of both our lives, and what I must

now ask of you is the hardest thing I have ever asked

anyone. I ask that you please release me from my

promise to marry you, by removing the ring from my

finger.”

“Elizabeth, your love for me is so great that you are

willing to sacrifice our future together to ensure that

my own life is a happy one, and I respect and admire

you for that more than you will ever know. I have

not any choice but to accept the inevitable; however,

I want you to keep the ring in my memory and as a

token of my gratitude for giving me the happiest days

of my life,” Joshua responded.

“You will always have a place in my heart and I
will

always remember you, Joshua; but the ring is a seal

to my solemn vow, and that vow cannot be broken in

the sight of God unless you accept the ring’s return.

I could not retain it without retaining the thorn that

now pierces my heart; and I know, Joshua, that you

are too generous not to accede to my wish.”

Elizabeth extended her arm and Joshua slowly

removed the ring from her finger as he tearfully

exclaimed, “Elizabeth, my love, the adoration of my

soul, the long hope of my life, this is the bitterest

draught of all, but for your sake I drink to the dregs,

releasing you from the promise which I know was