Spooky Daily

How an Elephant Fulfilled a Mummy's CurseIn the 19th century, when such things were possible and even acceptable, an Englishman named Mr. Ingram bought an ancient Egyptian mummy and had it sent back to England. It came with an inscription that took some effort to translate. It said that whoever disturbs this body would meet a violent end and be deprived of a decent burial as his remains would be “carried down by a rush of water to the sea.” This apparently did not bother Mr. Ingram all that much, as he carried on his adventures with a hunting trip to Africa. On a hunt to find the largest elephant in the world in Somaliland (now mostly considered a part of Somalia), in a series of events that may conjure up a comedy scene, Ingram was trampled to death by an enormous elephant, who would not surrender the man's body for several days. A violent end, certainly, but what about being swept away by water? Ingram's body was buried near the site, with the intention of retrieving it later. But by the time an expedition returned, nothing was left but one bone and a sock. Flooding from the rainy season had taken the body away, in what appeared to be a rush of water. Is the story true? We don't know, but it was printed in the Oahu newspaper The Evening Bulletin in 1896. Read the full account of Mr. Ingram's curse at Strange Ago. -via Strange Company

An Animated Ghost Story from 1923Felix the Ghostbreaker is a Felix the Cat cartoon from 1923, directed by Pat Sullivan. This version has a spooky modern score composed just for this 'toon by Mickey E.Vil of The Mugshots. Felix makes the mistake of looking for a resting place in a cemetery, although not intentionally a final resting place. The ghost he stirs up proceeds to haunt a nearby farm until Felix saves the day. It takes a while, because after all, Felix is just a cat and not all that smart to begin with. A clown car full of police can't stop the ghost, but Felix treats us to a Scooby-Doo ending that shows such subterfuge was a trope long before the Mystery Machine. The music makes this early silent cartoon much more enjoyable, although kids might pass it up just because it has no color.

The Cursed History of the Screaming Egyptian MummyA story about a terrifying movie monster is always a pleasure, but even more so when it's true. A mummy excavated near the Valley of the Kings in Egypt is the subject of this tale. No one knows who he was in life, so his remains were labeled as "Unknown Man E." It must be frustrating to be one of the most famous mummies ever while also being completely unknown at the same time. Certain details about his burial suggested that he was a person of dishonor for some reason. Some theorize that he was a royal assassin, or at least a scapegoat for an assassination. A ruling family may have the best lives, but they also have to keep an eye out for those who want to take what they've got. But aside from speculation, Unknown Man E remains a rare example of a mummy found in an Egyptian royal burial ground that hasn't been identified. But what about the screaming part? That has a perfectly logical explanation, but not one that makes us feel better about him. Weird History lays out what we know and don't know about the screaming mummy.

The Accidental Vampire KillerAll pop culture characters, heroes and villains, have their weaknesses. Even Superman has kryptonite, which is really not enough to make him interesting. Vampires are terrifying, but can be defeated by several things: sunlight, garlic, religious symbols, decapitation, or a stake through the heart. I would also posit that a complete dental extraction would work, although that would be difficult to arrange. In a certain case, even a reflexive action you aren't even totally aware of could be enough.

Halfoween Events Across the USAt the end of April and the beginning of May, we will mark the halfway point in the year, meaning only six more months to Halloween! This is celebrated as a demi-holiday called either Halfoween or Halfway to Halloween. There will be public celebrations across the country, mainly at, but not limited to bars, running al the way through May. Here's an event schedule in case you want to plan a road trip for some Halfoween fun.

Time to Start Growing Your Giant PumpkinThe seed packets say to sow pumpkin seeds in June, after the ground has warmed up. But you want your pumpkins to grow bigger than anyone else in the neighborhood, to make the best Jack-o-Lantern for Halloween! You'll need to get started now, since the biggest pumpkins need plenty of time, and if you start the seeds indoors in April, you'll get a head start on any that are grown from seeding the garden. But that's just the beginning. You'll need the proper variety of giant pumpkin seeds, lots of room, very good soil that you can amend now, and lots of water and fertilizer. Giant pumpkins require a lot of care, but you can start with instructions from Almanac. If you just want good-sized pumpkins for carving this fall, they've gota guide to help you grow those, too. (Image credit: Eric Kilby) 