Definitions by Lorelili
Catherine Eddowes
(April 14, 1842-September 30, 1888) The fourth recognized victim of Jack the Ripper. Called "Kate" by her friends.
Born in Wolverhampton, Kate was one of twelve children and was raised between there and London. Intelligent and bubbly throughout her life, Kate, who was five-foot-two with hazel eyes and auburn hair, took up with ex-soldier Thomas Conway at age 21 and had three children with him (Annie, born 1865; George, born 1868; and Thomas, born 1873). Kate and Conway's marriage was common law and unstable to its end in 1881, due to Conway's violence and Kate's drinking; Conway took the boys and Kate left with Annie.
Soon after leaving Conway, Kate moved to Whitechapel and met John Kelly, with whom she would live until her death. She and John were apparently quite happy together and went together from dosshouse to dosshouse, with Kate occasionally prostituting herself to bring money. Annie, meanwhile, married and regularly moved around to avoid her mother's scrounging. Although Kate had helped Annie through her first pregnancy, Annie could not stand more drunken begging from her mother.
Born in Wolverhampton, Kate was one of twelve children and was raised between there and London. Intelligent and bubbly throughout her life, Kate, who was five-foot-two with hazel eyes and auburn hair, took up with ex-soldier Thomas Conway at age 21 and had three children with him (Annie, born 1865; George, born 1868; and Thomas, born 1873). Kate and Conway's marriage was common law and unstable to its end in 1881, due to Conway's violence and Kate's drinking; Conway took the boys and Kate left with Annie.
Soon after leaving Conway, Kate moved to Whitechapel and met John Kelly, with whom she would live until her death. She and John were apparently quite happy together and went together from dosshouse to dosshouse, with Kate occasionally prostituting herself to bring money. Annie, meanwhile, married and regularly moved around to avoid her mother's scrounging. Although Kate had helped Annie through her first pregnancy, Annie could not stand more drunken begging from her mother.
Catherine Eddowes spent September 29 trying to secure money, in the morning pawning a pair of John's work boots for food money. That afternoon, she set off to ask her daughter for money (unaware that Annie and her husband had moved again), reassuring John that she wouldn't meet the Ripper.
Kate never reached Annie, but somehow found some money, enough to become roaring drunk; she was found at 8:30 PM surrounded by a crowd in the middle of Aldgate High Street, giving them a drunken impersonation of a fire engine, after which she curled up on the pavement to sleep.
The police took an unwilling Kate to Bishopsgate Station, where she was locked in a cell to sleep off her stupor. At 12:15, she was heard singing softly in the cell and was judged sober enough. After a scolding about her drinking, Kate left the station at about 1 AM. Meanwhile, the body of Elizabeth Stride had just been found in Berner Street, a mile away.
At 1:30 AM, a police officer saw Kate in Mitre Square (in the City of London itself) speaking with a man; when he returned fifteen minutes later, he found Kate's mutilated body.
Her throat was cut, "V" shapes cut into her cheeks and pointing to her eyes, her eyelids split vertically, the end of her nose cut off, her right cheek gashed. Her skirts were hiked up to her belly and she'd been disemboweled, with her uterus and one kidney taken away.
Kate never reached Annie, but somehow found some money, enough to become roaring drunk; she was found at 8:30 PM surrounded by a crowd in the middle of Aldgate High Street, giving them a drunken impersonation of a fire engine, after which she curled up on the pavement to sleep.
The police took an unwilling Kate to Bishopsgate Station, where she was locked in a cell to sleep off her stupor. At 12:15, she was heard singing softly in the cell and was judged sober enough. After a scolding about her drinking, Kate left the station at about 1 AM. Meanwhile, the body of Elizabeth Stride had just been found in Berner Street, a mile away.
At 1:30 AM, a police officer saw Kate in Mitre Square (in the City of London itself) speaking with a man; when he returned fifteen minutes later, he found Kate's mutilated body.
Her throat was cut, "V" shapes cut into her cheeks and pointing to her eyes, her eyelids split vertically, the end of her nose cut off, her right cheek gashed. Her skirts were hiked up to her belly and she'd been disemboweled, with her uterus and one kidney taken away.
Catherine Eddowes by Lorelili October 9, 2012
Annie Chapman
(September, 1841-September 8, 1888) Also known as "Dark Annie", the second recognized victim of Jack the Ripper.
Born Eliza Ann Smith, she was married in 1869 to John Chapman, a coachman, had two daughters and a son (Emily Ruth, born 1870; Annie Georgina, born 1873; John Alfred, born 1880) with him, and they lived fairly comfortably for some time.
Life went awry when young John was born crippled. Then in 1882, Emily Ruth died of meningitis at age 12. Around this time, the couple began drinking heavily. About 1884, they separated.
Annie somehow fell to the slums of Whitechapel by 1886. John continued to send her 10 shillings a week until Christmas of 1886, when he died of cirrhosis. His death shattered Annie's will to live.
In her last days, Annie was a homeless alcoholic, living in lodging houses, selling flowers and crocheting and occasionally prostituting herself (despite her plain features, plump figure, and poor health) to get by.
Born Eliza Ann Smith, she was married in 1869 to John Chapman, a coachman, had two daughters and a son (Emily Ruth, born 1870; Annie Georgina, born 1873; John Alfred, born 1880) with him, and they lived fairly comfortably for some time.
Life went awry when young John was born crippled. Then in 1882, Emily Ruth died of meningitis at age 12. Around this time, the couple began drinking heavily. About 1884, they separated.
Annie somehow fell to the slums of Whitechapel by 1886. John continued to send her 10 shillings a week until Christmas of 1886, when he died of cirrhosis. His death shattered Annie's will to live.
In her last days, Annie was a homeless alcoholic, living in lodging houses, selling flowers and crocheting and occasionally prostituting herself (despite her plain features, plump figure, and poor health) to get by.
While the rest of the Ripper victims came from ordinary working class backgrounds, Annie Chapman's family had a foothold in the middle class. Known by her friends late in life as "Dark Annie", for her dark brown hair, Annie had become estranged from her surviving children and from her sisters.
Only 5 feet tall, plump, and never a classic beauty, at age 47 Annie Chapman was malnourished, a homeless streetwalker, and suffering from tuberculosis and brain diseases that would have killed her soon if Jack had not killed her.
At 1:35 AM on September 8, 1888, Annie was turned away from her lodging house since she had no money for a bed. She was last seen alive at 5:30 AM outside 29 Hanbury Street, negotiating with a man who was probably her killer. Half an hour later, her body was found in the backyard of the same house, inches from the back steps.
Her skirt was hiked to her groin and her legs pulled up and leaning outwards, implying coitus; her throat was cut to the bone, her stomach opened, her intestines pulled out and draped over her shoulder, and her uterus taken away.
Only 5 feet tall, plump, and never a classic beauty, at age 47 Annie Chapman was malnourished, a homeless streetwalker, and suffering from tuberculosis and brain diseases that would have killed her soon if Jack had not killed her.
At 1:35 AM on September 8, 1888, Annie was turned away from her lodging house since she had no money for a bed. She was last seen alive at 5:30 AM outside 29 Hanbury Street, negotiating with a man who was probably her killer. Half an hour later, her body was found in the backyard of the same house, inches from the back steps.
Her skirt was hiked to her groin and her legs pulled up and leaning outwards, implying coitus; her throat was cut to the bone, her stomach opened, her intestines pulled out and draped over her shoulder, and her uterus taken away.
Annie Chapman by Lorelili October 7, 2012
Mary Jane Kelly
(1863?-November 9, 1888) The fifth and final recognized victim of Jack the Ripper. Also known as "Fair Emma", "Ginger", and "Black Mary".
Compared with the four previous victims, Mary's origins are obscure, most of what we know about her comes from Joe Barnett, her boyfriend of 18 months and much of it could be embellished.
Mary was born in Limerick, Ireland, raised in Wales, and came to London in 1884 as a prostitute after she was widowed around 1882.
Mary worked at first in a high-class West End brothel and was even invited by a wealthy client to France, but she disliked the experience and soon returned to London.
Somehow, Mary ended up on the grim streets of the East End. In 1888, she and Joe Barnett had landed at 13 Miller's Court, on Dorset Street. Mary regularly let her homeless friends spend the night, despite Joe's protests. By November, Joe had lost his job as a dock worker and rent was 3 weeks overdue; they separated after a spat, but reconciled just hours before she was murdered.
Compared with the four previous victims, Mary's origins are obscure, most of what we know about her comes from Joe Barnett, her boyfriend of 18 months and much of it could be embellished.
Mary was born in Limerick, Ireland, raised in Wales, and came to London in 1884 as a prostitute after she was widowed around 1882.
Mary worked at first in a high-class West End brothel and was even invited by a wealthy client to France, but she disliked the experience and soon returned to London.
Somehow, Mary ended up on the grim streets of the East End. In 1888, she and Joe Barnett had landed at 13 Miller's Court, on Dorset Street. Mary regularly let her homeless friends spend the night, despite Joe's protests. By November, Joe had lost his job as a dock worker and rent was 3 weeks overdue; they separated after a spat, but reconciled just hours before she was murdered.
In the realm of Jack the Ripper, Mary Jane Kelly is an enigma within a mystery and finding her true origins has become a quest.
Mary was young and was said to be pretty, although no photo exists of her in life. She was five-foot-seven, tall and buxom with blue eyes and flowing hair, usually going without a hat. Strangely, we don't know her hair color and her aliases are difficult to decipher.
"Black Mary" could well refer to her temper; Mary was violent when drunk but was otherwise quiet.
Mary's last night saw her singing "A Violet From Mother's Grave" before going out and returning home with a client.
Her landlord and his assistant found her later that morning at 10:45 AM.
Her body lay hideously mutilated on her bed; she was nearly beheaded, her face hacked beyond recognition, her breasts removed, her thighs flayed to the bone, her abdomen opened from groin to sternum and emptied, the organs scattered around her.
Mary was young and was said to be pretty, although no photo exists of her in life. She was five-foot-seven, tall and buxom with blue eyes and flowing hair, usually going without a hat. Strangely, we don't know her hair color and her aliases are difficult to decipher.
"Black Mary" could well refer to her temper; Mary was violent when drunk but was otherwise quiet.
Mary's last night saw her singing "A Violet From Mother's Grave" before going out and returning home with a client.
Her landlord and his assistant found her later that morning at 10:45 AM.
Her body lay hideously mutilated on her bed; she was nearly beheaded, her face hacked beyond recognition, her breasts removed, her thighs flayed to the bone, her abdomen opened from groin to sternum and emptied, the organs scattered around her.
Mary Jane Kelly by Lorelili October 7, 2012
Polly Nichols
(August 26, 1845-August 31, 1888) The first recognized victim of Jack the Ripper. Born Mary Ann Walker in Whitechapel, known as "Polly" by her friends and family, she married William Nichols in 1864 and had five children with him (Edward John, born 1866; Percy George, born 1868; Alice Esther, born 1870; Eliza Sarah, born 1877; and Henry Alfred, born 1879).
In 1881, they separated; Polly's father, Edward, accused William of having an affair with the midwife during Polly's last pregnancy while William argued that their marriage continued for three years after the affair and accused Polly of leaving him at least four times; each time they reconciled, he claimed, she began drinking again. Whatever the story, young Edward Nichols was estranged from his father and lived with grandfather Edward; at his mother's funeral, the young man refused to associate with William.
William was still obliged to send financial support to his wife, but when he found in 1882 that she sometimes turned to prostitution, he refused to send any more.
Polly became an alcoholic drifter, trapped in a cycle of doss-houses, workhouses, drinking, prostitution, and wearing out her welcome with relatives.
In 1881, they separated; Polly's father, Edward, accused William of having an affair with the midwife during Polly's last pregnancy while William argued that their marriage continued for three years after the affair and accused Polly of leaving him at least four times; each time they reconciled, he claimed, she began drinking again. Whatever the story, young Edward Nichols was estranged from his father and lived with grandfather Edward; at his mother's funeral, the young man refused to associate with William.
William was still obliged to send financial support to his wife, but when he found in 1882 that she sometimes turned to prostitution, he refused to send any more.
Polly became an alcoholic drifter, trapped in a cycle of doss-houses, workhouses, drinking, prostitution, and wearing out her welcome with relatives.
At age 43 and five-foot-two, Polly Nichols could pass for ten years younger; she had greying dark-brown hair, high cheekbones, brown eyes, and olive skin. She was well-liked by friends and was pitied by many. Still, she was arrested for drunken and disorderly conduct, placed in workhouses for sleeping on the streets, and lived off of charity and casual prostitution.
On her last day, August 30 of 1888, she had three clients, but her taste for gin overruled; she'd told a friend an hour before her murder that she'd earned money for a bed three times over and she drank all the money away. She arrived at the doss-house at 1:30 AM, drunk and penniless. But she felt very confident about finding another client because she was wearing a new hat and felt she looked very pretty; she was drunk, she was missing five front teeth, but she declared, "See what a jolly bonnet I've got!"
She was found on the sidewalk of Buck's Row by two workers at 3:40 AM, she'd been dead for about 20 minutes. Her skirts were pulled up almost to her waist. Her throat had been cut and, later in the mortuary, it was found that she'd been slit open from groin to sternum and her vulva stabbed.
At Polly's inquest, Edward Walker said of his daughter, "I don't think she had any enemies; she was too good for that."
On her last day, August 30 of 1888, she had three clients, but her taste for gin overruled; she'd told a friend an hour before her murder that she'd earned money for a bed three times over and she drank all the money away. She arrived at the doss-house at 1:30 AM, drunk and penniless. But she felt very confident about finding another client because she was wearing a new hat and felt she looked very pretty; she was drunk, she was missing five front teeth, but she declared, "See what a jolly bonnet I've got!"
She was found on the sidewalk of Buck's Row by two workers at 3:40 AM, she'd been dead for about 20 minutes. Her skirts were pulled up almost to her waist. Her throat had been cut and, later in the mortuary, it was found that she'd been slit open from groin to sternum and her vulva stabbed.
At Polly's inquest, Edward Walker said of his daughter, "I don't think she had any enemies; she was too good for that."
Polly Nichols by Lorelili October 7, 2012
narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of grandiose thoughts and/or behavior, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents while minimizing failures, expects to be recognized as superior without earning that reverence).
2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love; often becomes a life goal.
3. Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
4. Requires excessive admiration, regardless of whether they earned the admiration.
5. Has a sense of entitlement, unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance from others.
6. Exploits other people, using them to achieve his or her own ends.
7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents while minimizing failures, expects to be recognized as superior without earning that reverence).
2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love; often becomes a life goal.
3. Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
4. Requires excessive admiration, regardless of whether they earned the admiration.
5. Has a sense of entitlement, unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance from others.
6. Exploits other people, using them to achieve his or her own ends.
7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
Narcissistic personality disorder often manifests in corporate CEOs, politicians (like Kim-Jong Il, Stalin, Saddam Hussein, etc.), cult leaders (like Jim Jones, David Berg, Warren Jeffs, Joseph Smith, etc), corrupt authorities, corrupt clergy or religious leaders, criminals (like Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Gertrude Baniszewski, Diane Downs, etc), celebrities (like Rush Limbaugh, OJ Simpson, Donald Trump, etc.) among others.
Personality disorders usually overlap and the narcissist shares many traits with the paranoid, histrionic and antisocial personalities: the paranoid and the narcissist are both often irrationally suspicious and distrustful but the paranoid acts in self-defense while narcissists fear any exposure of their failures and flaws; the histrionic and narcissist both want to be the centre of attention, but the histrionic is usually playful, dependent, is more exaggerated in emotional display, and craves *any* attention (good or bad) while the narcissist is haughty, exploits others, and will only accept admiration; the antisocial personality and the narcissist are both ruthless, glib manipulators who ruin lives but the antisocial personality does not need excessive admiration, is deceptive, impulsive, aggressive, and degrades and manipulates others for profit or pleasure while narcissists publicly disparage others, think of their futures, and bully others to bolster their own egos.
Personality disorders usually overlap and the narcissist shares many traits with the paranoid, histrionic and antisocial personalities: the paranoid and the narcissist are both often irrationally suspicious and distrustful but the paranoid acts in self-defense while narcissists fear any exposure of their failures and flaws; the histrionic and narcissist both want to be the centre of attention, but the histrionic is usually playful, dependent, is more exaggerated in emotional display, and craves *any* attention (good or bad) while the narcissist is haughty, exploits others, and will only accept admiration; the antisocial personality and the narcissist are both ruthless, glib manipulators who ruin lives but the antisocial personality does not need excessive admiration, is deceptive, impulsive, aggressive, and degrades and manipulates others for profit or pleasure while narcissists publicly disparage others, think of their futures, and bully others to bolster their own egos.
narcissistic personality disorder by Lorelili September 9, 2012
pyroclastic flow
A fast-moving cloud of superheated volcanic gasses, ash, and rock that hug the ground and even the surface of the sea as they rush at speeds of up to 450 mph, destroying anything in their paths.
Pyroclastic flows are usually the result of centuries of pent-up stress within the volcano; thick, sticky magma plugs the vent of the volcano and thus builds greater and greater pressure until it explodes.
Usually the flow is denser than the surrounding air and instead of flowing vertically, they rush along the ground, sweeping over hills and ridges like the said hills and ridges don't even exist.
Pyroclastic flows can reach temperatures as high as 1830 degrees F, and the average temperature is about half that; hot enough to boil the blood in one's body and effectively flash-cook you alive. Some victims are charred while others get fatal steam burns.
In short, a far more forceful and dangerous force than lava and more difficult to escape, due to their speed and intense heat.
Pyroclastic flows are usually the result of centuries of pent-up stress within the volcano; thick, sticky magma plugs the vent of the volcano and thus builds greater and greater pressure until it explodes.
Usually the flow is denser than the surrounding air and instead of flowing vertically, they rush along the ground, sweeping over hills and ridges like the said hills and ridges don't even exist.
Pyroclastic flows can reach temperatures as high as 1830 degrees F, and the average temperature is about half that; hot enough to boil the blood in one's body and effectively flash-cook you alive. Some victims are charred while others get fatal steam burns.
In short, a far more forceful and dangerous force than lava and more difficult to escape, due to their speed and intense heat.
Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed in 79 CE when Mount Vesuvius exploded, sending a pyroclastic flow barreling toward both towns, searing the lungs and burning the flesh of anybody who would not or could not flee.
May 8, 1902, about 30,000 people were killed in St. Pierre, Martinique, when Mt. Pelee sent a pyroclastic flow over the city.
Mount St. Helens famously erupted with a pyroclastic flow turning the surrounding forest into a lunar landscape.
The fringes of the pyroclastic flow do not always cut a clear line between life and death; survivors at the fringes often endure hideous burns.
May 8, 1902, about 30,000 people were killed in St. Pierre, Martinique, when Mt. Pelee sent a pyroclastic flow over the city.
Mount St. Helens famously erupted with a pyroclastic flow turning the surrounding forest into a lunar landscape.
The fringes of the pyroclastic flow do not always cut a clear line between life and death; survivors at the fringes often endure hideous burns.
pyroclastic flow by Lorelili August 19, 2012
Pachamama
The mother goddess in the indigenous belief systems of the Andes mountains. Her name literally means "Mother World" and she is associated with the earth and fertility. She has survived the Spanish conquest and she is still revered by communities in the Andes.
Pachamama has the power to cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but she is generally benevolent to her people.