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| Via Newspapers.com |
If "The Raven's Curse" isn't a classic Strange Company topic, I don't know what is. From the "Ottawa Journal," August 20, 1927:
LONDON. (By Mail). The raven, bird of ill omen and foreboder of death, is the central figure in a weird and tragic occurrence at the Tower of London.
Ravens have made their home at the Tower for hundreds of years, and it is a superstition among the troops that if a raven's death is encompassed a soldier's life pays the penalty.
A few days ago a Guardsman was leading a dog through the square. He was confronted by a raven, credited with 80 years, which attacked the dog vigorously with his beak, still sharp for all his advanced age. The Guardsman repelled the attack by means of his stick, and unintentionally killed the bird.
The barracks were filled at once with dread forebodings. The raven's body was buried with due ceremony, and a piece of wood, suitably inscribed, was erected to mark his grave.
The sequel was not long delayed. The following night Guardsman Arthur Chidgey overstayed his leave. He tried to enter the Tower by climbing the wall, but he fell Into the moat, breaking both his legs. He was the following morning--although the deepest sympathy was expressed for him--generally voted lucky in escaping the full penalty of the raven's vengeance.
He died later in the day, however, gangrene having developed. The officer whose duty it was to report the details of the case visited the scene of the accident. He found that the unfortunate Guardsman had fallen directly on the raven's grave, the imprint of his body being clearly visible.
