The Mad Gasser of Mattoon by Alexis Leetham https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami A review of the event of mass hysteria that hit Mattoon Illiniois. en-us 2016-10-19 16:21:38 UTC 2025-11-13 04:43:39 UTC hello@padlet.com Origin alexisleetham1 https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/131842480 In August 1944, in Mattoon, Illinois, the Mad Gasser epidemic broke out. The first people involved were Mr. and Mrs. Bert Kearny. They described the gasser as a tall, thin man dressed in dark clothing and wearing a tight fitting cap. Another report a few weeks later described the gasser as a female dressed as a man. the gasser has also been described as carrying a flit gun and an agricultural tool for spraying pesticide, which he used to expel gas.]]> 2016-10-19 16:25:27 UTC https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/131842480 Expansion alexisleetham1 https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/131842671 The first reported gasser incident occered in Botetourt County, Virginia, with attacks occuring between December 1933, and Febuary 1934. In December of 1933 Mrs.Huffman reported an unusual odor and was overcome with a feeling of nausea. Other attacks continued in Mattoon, IL of several more weeks. Some  experts believe that mass hysteria was fueled by the headline in the Mattoon Journal-Gazette.]]> 2016-10-19 16:26:00 UTC https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/131842671 Possible Causes alexisleetham1 https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/131842747 On September 12, chief of police Cole told a press conference that odors and symptoms reported may have been the result of pollutants or toxic waste from nearby industrial plants. It was also speculated that carbon tetrachloride or trichloroethlene can induce symptoms similar to those reported by purported gasser victims and may have been substances released.]]> 2016-10-19 16:26:14 UTC https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/131842747 Resolution https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/133384203 The last time the Mad Gasser of Mattoon was sighted was September 13, 1933 at Mrs. Bertha Bench's house in the dead of night. The  attack took  place in the bedroom where Mrs. Bench was sleeping. They described the attacker as a woman dressed in man's clothes who pumped gas into their window. The weirdest part of all is when they woke up, they discovered heel prints in the dirt under their bedroom window. The Mad Gasser was never heard of again after that.]]> 2016-10-26 16:16:25 UTC https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/133384203 Source List alexisleetham1 https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/133393297
  • Wikipedia. "Mad Gasser of Mattoon," Wikipedia. 5 September 2016. Web. 20 October 2016.
  • Taylor, Troy. "Mad Gassers! Phantom Attackers in Virginia & Illinois" Prairie Ghosts. 2002. Web 13 October 2015. 
    • ]]>     2016-10-26 16:38:43 UTC https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/133393297     Consequences https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/133865344 The was never an actual person found guilty for the Mad Gasser Attacks. There for no one was found guilty and so on was sentenced to anything. The case of The Mad Gasser of Mattoon Illinois still remains unsolved.]]> 2016-10-28 12:26:28 UTC https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/133865344 How does this relate to The Crucible? https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/133866926 The Mad Gasser of Mattoon relates the The Crucible. They relate because in The Crucible the whole situation is caused by fake situations. The Crucible is also linked to The Mad Gasser of Mattoon because mostly girls put forth false statements that caused the hysteria. ]]> 2016-10-28 12:34:17 UTC https://padlet.com/alexisleetham1/alexisandsami/wish/133866926