The Horror at the Bell Tower

As I write in this blog, winter is in full bloom here in the National Capital Region. I find the brisk winter wind invigorating, reminding me of my youth, growing up in the bitter winters of northern New England. The other night I was reading the Potomac Free Press online, when I came across a very curious story about the Netherlands Carillon near the Arlington National Cemetery.

For those not familiar with the Netherlands Carillon, it is a large bell tower, located between the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial and the northwest portion of the National Cemetery in Arlington. The bell tower is perched on a hill, overlooking the Potomac River. The bell tower was a gift from the Dutch government for American support during and after World War II. More information about the Dutch Carillon can be found here at the U.S. National Park Service Website:

http://www.nps.gov/archive/gwmp/carillon.htm

The bell tower is guarded by two bronze lions located on either side and a tulip garden is situated in front of the tower. It is a popular destination for music lovers, who love to hear the fifty bells of the tower chime on the hour. During special occasions, one can climb the stairs to the observatory platform at the top of the tower and view the panorama. According to a small group of tourists, something else was seen recently that clearly was not part of the Potomac River landscape.

From the Potomac Free Press:

A small group of five Canadian tourists were clustered around the tower just after nine o’clock in the evening on January 12th.. These tourists (professional musicians) were in Washington, D.C. to perform a concert and were preparing to leave the area after their successful concert. The group, reportedly, wanted to visit the bell tower before their flight back to Canada.

As the group were admiring the Netherlands Carillon a curious object was spotted by the group slowly circling the tower. After the incident a common consensus could not be elicited from the group by the authorities about the creature’s description. The group did agree that it was black, almost rubbery in appearance, with bat like wings but an almost human but faceless head with small, what appeared to be inward facing horns. The creature also was described as having claws and a long tail which was barbed. No one could agree on the size of the creature. The authorities dismissed the creature as nothing more than a large errant bat but everyone in the witness assembly agreed that it was larger than any known bat species. The authorities also noted that several of the group members had imbibed strong liquor prior to the incident. However, one particular unpleasant incident which transpired no one could elucidate.

While the group was silently observing this outlandish creature hovering around the tower, a man wearing the khaki and green uniform of a U.S. Park Ranger approached them. The man was thought to have reprimanded the group for coming to the area at such a late hour and to vacate the premise immediately. At that point, several of the group members finally freed themselves from their hypnotic observation of the airborne horror and pointed the creature out to the ranger. By this time, the creature had hidden itself somewhere on top of the tower and could not be seen from below. The ranger dismissed the group’s claim that anything was amiss until a distinct rattling was heard by all at the top of the tower. The ranger admonished the group, assuming that one of its members had ascended the stairs and was now on top of the bell tower, playing a prank on the ranger.

The ranger began taking out his keys and walking towards the tower. One prudent member of the group attempted to verbally dissuade the ranger from climbing the tower but was curtly dismissed by the ranger. The ranger was observed climbing the stairs of the tower, calling out to the imaginary prankster. What happened next, many of the group members wish to never speak of again and all present vowed never to return to Washington, D.C.

To their utter horror, the group heard a ghastly and dreadful cry for help at the top of the tower. Suddenly, the creature was seen launching itself out into the night at a terrible speed. Clutched in its prehensile claws was its human ‘sacrifice.’ The ranger could not flail his arms; only writhe about, its tail wrapped around the ranger’s mouth, cutting off any further screams. Several of the witnesses were overcome with sickness and disgorged their stomach contents on to the grass. When all in the group had regained their reason, they immediately called 911. According to the police public information officer, the group experienced a mass hallucination due to the influence of strong alcohol and possibly other mind altering substances, while observing local wildlife. The U.S. Park Service denies any missing persons among their ranger staff in the National Capital Region and considered the incident an elaborate hoax.

I ventured outside today and traveled from the Rosslyn metro stop to the bell tower and took some pictures of the superlative structure and its leonine guardians. I took these pictures at dusk, I dared not tarried about after dark and hastily left after taking these pictures. I rapidly walked back to the Rosslyn metro stop and left the location of the horrid sighting behind me.