Today's Tourist Thursday activities was a Jack the Ripper tour. Now, I know that I didn't really know much about who or what Jack the Ripper was. And part of me still wishes I didn't know, because it is gruesome and terrifying. The tour started in eastern part of the city of London and the guide gave a brief introductory to the lifestyle of the area during the time the story takes places. In this portion of the city it was estimated that close to 7,200 people lived in the close quarters and was highly associated with crime & poverty. Many women in this area made ends meet by becoming prostitutes in the area, working only for 4 pents (equivalent to 4 pennies). They only worked for 4 pents because that was the cost for them to pay for a bed for the night at dormitories (and by bed, I mean hay with a cloth over it). Clearly, not the best of times for Londoners. But this was the scene of one of the most mysterious murderers of all time.
Jack the Ripper was a serial killer in the Fall of 1888 that gruesomely murdered 5 young prostitutes. I don't even think gruesome describes the disgusting nature of what Jack the Ripper accomplished. (I won't disclose any of the actual details here but I will put links up to websites and pictures if you are super curious!) On the tour we saw the murder scenes of Mary Ann Nicholas, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly (as well as a few others who are debated about weather the Ripper killed them or someone else). There have been numerous people who have been suspected as being Jack the Ripper, from Queen Victoria's grandson (Prince Albert) to one of the women's boyfriends to Mary Jane Kelly. Still, the true identity of Jack the Ripper is unknown as well as his motives for the violence and terror he caused.
It was definitely a spine-chilling experience - I mean, its hard to think that someone could even imagine of doing the things Jack the Ripper did. Along with the fact that his identity is still (and most likely always will be) a mystery. If you dare to look at pictures or want to hear what exactly he did, here are some links: Jack the Ripper History, Jack the Ripper Photos,
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