On August 20, 1966, two men, Miguel Jose Viana and Manuel Pereira de Cruz, were found dead on a hill in Niteroi, Brazil. They were dressed in suits and raincoats, with lead masks beside their heads. The men had large sums of money on them, and handwritten notes with cryptic instructions were found at the scene. The notes suggested they were to take capsules, wear lead masks, and await a signal. Despite extensive investigations, no clear cause of death was found, and the case remains unsolved, with theories ranging from alien abduction to a government cover-up.
The lead masks found beside the bodies of Miguel Jose Viana and Manuel Pereira de Cruz were significant because they were part of the cryptic instructions found in handwritten notes at the scene. The notes suggested the men were to wear the masks after taking capsules and awaiting a signal. The masks have led to speculation that the men were involved in some form of experiment or ritual, possibly related to extraterrestrial communication or protection from radiation.
The handwritten notes found at the scene of the 'Dead Men in Lead Masks' included instructions such as 'Sunday, one capsule after lunch. Wednesday, one capsule at bedtime,' and 'be at the place arranged at 1630. Take capsules at 1830. After feeling effects, protect half the face with lead masks. Await the agreed signal.' These notes suggested a planned sequence of events involving the ingestion of capsules, the use of lead masks, and awaiting a signal, which has fueled speculation about the men's activities and intentions.
The 'Dead Men in Lead Masks' case is connected to UFO sightings in Brazil through reports of an unidentified flying object seen by a woman named Senora Gracinda Barbosa Coutinho de Sousa on August 17, 1966, the same day the men were last seen alive. The UFO was described as an oval-shaped object with a band of fire around its edges, hovering over the hill where the men were later found dead. This has led to theories that the men may have been involved in extraterrestrial communication or were victims of an alien encounter.
Stone's Public House, originally known as the Railroad House, is a historic inn in Ashland, Massachusetts, with a reputation for being intensely haunted. Built in 1834, the inn has experienced numerous paranormal activities, including doors and windows opening on their own, faucets turning off and on, and sightings of a young girl believed to be the spirit of 11-year-old Mary Smith, who was killed by a train in 1863. Employees and visitors have reported hearing cries for help, feeling taps on their shoulders, and seeing apparitions, making it one of the most haunted locations in the area.
The bloody pinafore at Stone's Public House is believed to be the dress worn by 11-year-old Mary Smith when she was killed by a train in 1863. The pinafore is on display at the inn and is considered a significant artifact tied to the haunting. Its presence has added to the inn's reputation as a paranormal hotspot, with many believing it to be a tangible connection to the tragic event and the spirit of the young girl who is said to haunt the property.
Caitlin shared a multi-generational story about encounters with the 'Hat Man,' a shadowy figure wearing a wide-brimmed hat and cape. Caitlin first saw the entity as a child, and it continued to appear to her and her sister over the years. Their mother also admitted to seeing the same figure as a child. The family eventually had their house blessed, which reduced the sightings. Years later, Caitlin's niece also reported seeing the 'Hat Man' in the same house, suggesting the entity was attached to the family or the property.
In the late 1970s, Lisa and her brother Alan picked up an elderly woman dragging a heavy suitcase near a mental asylum in Texas. The woman had a strong, foul odor, and they eventually abandoned her at a rest stop after she mysteriously disappeared from the bathroom. Following the encounter, their car repeatedly broke down, and they experienced ongoing car trouble. The story suggests the woman may have been a paranormal entity or an escaped patient, with her disappearance and the heavy suitcase adding to the mystery.
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025! Dan starts us with a very, very strange story set in Brazil in 1966 that sure reeks of an alien abduction. Then, we explore what seems to be an intensely haunted inn in Ashland, Massachusetts’: Stone’s Public House. Lynze brings us a classic-ish Hat Man tale followed up by a very peculiar hitchhiker story! Enjoy this start to 2025, friends!
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Opening Sumerian protection spell (adapted):
"Whether thou art a ghost that hath come from the earth, or a phantom of night that hath no home… or one that lieth dead in the desert… or a ghost unburied… or a demon or a ghoul… Whatever thou be until thou art removed… thou shalt find here no water to drink… Thou shalt not stretch forth thy hand to our own… Into our house enter thou not. Through our fence, breakthrough thou not… we are protected though we may be frightened. Our life you may not steal, though we may feel SCARED TO DEATH."