MONSTERS, CRYPTIDS AND SUPERNATURAL CREATURES
HAIRY HANDS OF DARTMOOR
The Unseen Hands
The Hairy Hands is a legend based around a stretch of road known as the B3212 in Dartmoor, England, which has experienced an unusually high number of motor vehicle accidents during the early 20th century. According to the story, the disembodied hands appear suddenly, grabbing a car’s steering wheel or the handlebars of a motorcycle, forcing the driver off of the road. Since around 1910, drivers have reported unusual accidents along the road. In many cases, it was reported that their vehicle had swerved violently off the road, as though something had wrenched the wheel out of their control. Luckily, In most instances, the victims have survived. However, in June 1921, a Dr. E.H. Helby, the medical officer for Dartmoor Prison, was killed when he lost control of his motorcycle combination. Two young girls, children of the prison governor, who were in the sidecar, survived. Several weeks after, there was another incident in which a coach driver lost control, injuring several passengers. Then, on 26 August 1921, an army Captain reported that a pair of invisible hands had forced his motorcycle off the road. Not all incidents however, have occurred in vehicles. In 1924, a woman camping on the moor with her husband reported seeing a hairy hand attempting to gain access to her caravan during the night. She stated that the hand retreated after she made the sign of the Cross.
Physiology:
The Hairy Hands are said to appear as a pair of disembodied hands whom belong or belonged to a strong and particularly hairy individual. There is no mention of the hands appearing as decayed or damaged and there is no reference to them showing any signs of trauma such as with the legend of La Mano Peluda, where it is said a bone can visibly be seen protruding from where the hand was said to be severed. However, in some cases the hands are said to be invisible, hence them also being known as The Unseen Hands are described as more of a force taking the wheel, rather than an actual physical manifestation.
Etylmology:
The name is a descriptive used to simply describe a pair of hands covered in human hair
History:
After these stories appeared in the national press, several investigations were carried out into the road. It was eventually determined that the accidents were most likely due to the camber of the road's surface, which reached dangerous levels in places. However, If you look back to before the 1900s, there are many reports of horses inexplicably rearing up and bolting, destroying their carriages.
Territory:
England
Origination:
There are 2 tales with a possible origin to The Hairy Hands. The 1st is set In the 1800s. Dartmoor prison was home to 100s of American prisoners from the 1812 war. Following an escape attempt 300 were rounded up in the courtyard and shot. 30 escaped, all perishing on the moors, but one, who made it to the road, where he attempted to overpower a coach driver. The driver was able to push back his attacker, whom fell, dying beneath the wheels of the carriage. The 2nd tells of the discovery of a precious dagger with a golden handle hence the naming of the mine in the area. The dagger was lost and the owner, on death returned to look for it. Approaching anyone who should pass by his way.
Nature:
The Hairy Hands act in a manner, which would suggest they are a vengeful or angry entity. Their focussed targetting of this one particular stretch of road implies, that somebody suffered a terrible misfortune or injustice here, which left them with a bitter and unsettling need to repay the debt.
Modus Operandi:
The Hairy Hands will appear, when driving along the lonely stretch of road, known as the B3212. They will manifest themselves unexpectadly, wrenching the steering wheel or handlebars from your grasp, steering you off of the road in an attempt to crash your vehicle. If you are lucky, you might just plough in to one of the many verges alongside the edge of the road and survive the ordeal.
Vulnerability:
It would seem that the hands, although possessing the ability to overpower physical objects are still no more than an apparition or spirit. In which case, as shown during the encounter with the couple camping on the moors, are able to be repelled by the sign of the cross. This would suggest, that they would also be vulnerable to other form of religious iconography, prayers or spiritual banishment.