Chapter Text
Police report
Case no: 01045787
Reporting officer: Sergeant Bowls
Date: 01/12/1897
Incident: box found, floating near the docks, reported by local fishermen, investigated by police, handed over to the doctor.
Details of event
07:00 Awakened from sleep by Thomas Sitwell, a local dock worker. He informed me that they had found an unusual item floating in the sea just off from the docks. After following him to the scene upon which I discovered the dock workers had recovered a box. It measured 84 inches long, 28 inches wide, and 23 inches tall. It was made of hard oak wood that was well varnished but clearly damaged by its time in the sea. Inside the box was a woman, she had clearly been deceased for some time. Underneath her, the box was full of dirt of the earth upon which she was lying. She wore only long white dresses similar to those of a wedding dress. Nothing else lay within the box.
Actions taken:
I first took statements from Sitwell and all others present. After that, I made a thorough investigation of the body and the box. I ordered that both be taken to the house of the local physician Dr Oaklee. I have asked him to give me a full autopsy of the woman to establish the cause of death and how long she had been dead and anything else he can find out. The box and the earth within have been taken back to the station and impounded as evidence. Officers have been stationed at the docks and the area is now out of bounds to the public until further notice.
Summary:
The current situation remains ongoing and a full investigation has been opened into this matter. The woman who was discovered in the box has yet to be identified as has the cause of her death as well as where she originated from. Nothing else can be reported at this time until there have been further investigations.
The private diary of Sergeant Bowls 01/12/1897
With all the strange goings-on tonight, I have decided to write a diary to record all that transpires. I feel like in due time neither police nor the doctor's report will be able to give a full account of what happened so I feel for future generations to have a full understanding I will have to record as best I can all that goes on with this strange incident, this may only be the beginning.
Thus this diary will serve as a record as best it can. I was woken early this morning by a loud banging at my door. After putting on my slippers and nightgown to investigate I found my old friend Tom hammering away on my door. When I opened it he was white as a sheet and trembling. Stammering he told me I was needed down by the docks. After putting on my uniform I followed him out to the docks. The rain poured down thick and heavy as it has done for several days now. We have been blasted by storms for weeks now knowing what I do now this felt like some dreaded portent of what was to come.
When we arrived at the docks all the men seemed somehow timid and quiet. These were strong brash working men most spoke like sailors yet all of them were deathly silent. The Forman showed me into an office room and that is where I saw the most awful sight I have yet seen on this earth. In the middle of the table sat a large coffin. There was no mistaking what it was; it was made of fine polished black oak clearly of study and good make. Around the edges of the box ran delicate gold lace trim highlighting its nobility. It was covered in grime and reeked of the fresh sea but apart from some superficial damage, it was surprisingly intact despite being discovered upon the waves. But this was not what transfixed my gaze or filled my heart with horror for lying in repose within was a beautiful woman. She was clearly dead as she was pale as the driven snow, her matted hair lay around her like untended straw looking broken, frayed bone white and dead. Her cheeks were sallow and drawn. Her lips were thin and early pale blue. Her eyes were closed with her soft wrinkly looking eyelids draping over her eyes. She looked to be around fifty though even in this state she was clearly still beautiful in life she likely would have turned the head of any man even the younger ones. I find it hard to place her beauty, her features so disturbed by death as they were but there was something striking about her. Her strong cheekbones, her well-angled jaw perhaps. Whatever it was, her deadly collection was captivating and I found myself unable to look away even after several minutes had passed and I found the eyes of the foreman hot on my neck.
I asked him about the situation and he told me everything. He told me how they had stopped the box floating out at sea some hours ago and dragging it to land had discovered the deathly figure within. At which time they had found it necessary to contact myself. All of the dock men seemed as transfixed as I was with this strange creature. Strange appearance and unnatural beauty seemed to have the same effect on all of us. The final unusual thing about the coffin was the dirt that resided within it. The woman lay on what had become something of a soup of mud as the water had seeped into the coffin as it was lost upon the sea. This did not strike me as odd as I assumed that a great deal of mud as sand would have been drawn into the coffin as it floated upon the waves, but Tom and the other dock-men informed me that it was far more than they would have expected. Moreover, this woman was clearly lying on a bed of soil before somehow succumbing to the waves. They also inform me that this soil is unlike any that can be found in this local area. I will certainly have to get a second opinion on this but it is most interesting.
After this, I took statements from all those involved and then declared that the best thing to do would be to take the box and its occupant to Dr Oaklee’s house at once. It took six of us to carry it to the Dr’s house for somehow the box and its occupant were unusually heavy.
The good doctor was surprised to be awoken so early and even more so when he saw what we had brought him. But he is a good and professional man more so than myself and if he had any discomfort with this situation he did not show it. He said he would perform a full autopsy on the woman and find out all he can. I trust him he is a good man and a true gentleman. Our town is lucky to have him as our doctor. He was a great doctor in London so they say. For my part, I can't imagine why he would waste his time in a small place like this but I'm grateful he does because I would be lost without him.
I sent some of the boys to look after the docs and make sure that no one goes poking about. I hope to keep this out of the press as long as possible but that may not be long at all. Right now all we can do is wait and see what the doctor says, I have the box here with me locked away in the evidence room. I've taken as much of the soil out as I can and stored it in jars. It may yet prove useful.
As I write this I stare at the clock. It's approaching midnight and yet I have not yet turned in for the night. The station is eerie quiet I can feel a dark presence. Something unnatural pulling at my senses, I'm not sure I will sleep tonight.