13 Totally Freaky Things That Actually Happened On Friday The 13th

If you weren’t superstitious before, you will be after finding all of this out…

Duncan Malone
Duncan Malone

1. A brutal murder gets completely ignored by onlookers.

On Friday March 13, 1964, Kitty Genovese was murdered in cold blood by Winston Moseley outside of her home in Queens, New York. At least 12 (although originally The New York Times incorrectly reported the number was 38) witnesses heard or saw Moseley stab Kitty Genovese before fleeing. About ten minutes after the initial attack, Moseley returned at repeatedly stabbed Kitty, before raping her and leaving her for dead. The observation and reaction of the crime lead to what is now known as “bystander syndrome.”

2. Crusaders are subjected to kidnapping and torture.

In the early hours of the morning on Friday, October 13, 1307, numerous crusaders called the Knights Templar were arrested under the orders of King Philip. The men would be tortured in numerous ways in locations like the tower at Chinon, in order to force them into admitting heresy. The crusaders were executed.

3. 10,000 people watch someone die.

In 1829 stunt man Sam Patch set out to successfully jump and survive the 99 foot drop of the High Falls on the Genesee River. After his first jump on November 2nd failed to bring in the money he had hoped for, Patch set out to complete a second jump on Friday, November 13th. To up the stakes he raise his jump to over 125 feet by constructing a stand. Onlookers reported hearing a loud smack as he hit the river, but his body would not be found until the following spring.

4. A now infamous flight boards that is ultimately doomed.

On October 13, 1973, the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 boarded 45 people in Uruguay, setting out for a final destination of Chile. Due to a number of mishaps including weather and unfamiliar terrain, the flight crashed in the treacherous Andes mountains. The survivors would not be found for over 72 days. In order to survive, they resorted to cannibalism and ate the preserved bodies of the deceased passengers. It’s been said that the survivors justified the eating by comparing it to Holy Communion.

5. Alfred Hitchcock just continually is creepy.

That’s right. Alfred Hitchcock, king of horror, was born on Friday, August 13, 1899. And on Friday, August 13 in 1999, he would have celebrated his 100th birthday.

6. A nightmare occurs on a cruise ship.

The Costa Concordia was cruise ship which struck a reef off the Isola del Giglio and began to tilt on Friday, January 13, in 2012. The ship tilted and floated on her starboard side as passengers were evacuated. 32 people out of the reported 3206 on board were reported missing or dead.

7. Too many thirteens lead to something explosive.

Allegedly at 13:13, on Friday, August 13, 2010, a 13-year-old boy was struck by lightening in Lowestoft, Suffolk. He reportedly sustained a minor burn on his shoulder but no other substantial injuries.

8. A freak blizzard rocks Buffalo.

On Friday October 13, 2006 Buffalo, New York was absolutely blindsided when a winter storm dumped 24 inches of snow over the city. Lake Storm Aphid caused damage normally associated with hurricanes, knocking out power for up to 10 days and causing countless amounts of property damage. While Buffalo is used to extreme weather, a snowstorm like this in October would normally be unheard of.

9. The stock market takes a crazy hit.

This day is now known as “Black Friday” to people familiar with the events of Friday, October 13, 1989.  On that Friday a crash occurred which was apparently caused by a reaction to a story of the breakdown of a $6.75 billion projected buyout deal for the parent company of United Airlines. This crash is partially credited with the economic recession of the 1990s.

10. One of the most nasty, evil humans is born.

Nathan Bedford Forrest was born on Friday, July 13, 1821. Why does he suck so much? Oh you know, he was just the first Grand Wizard of an organization called the KKK.

11. Every year the economy takes a hit.

According to Donald Dassey, the founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, the world’s economy loses roughly $900 million every Friday the 13th because of people’s various superstitions. This fear, known as triskaidekaphobia, causes people to not go to work and refuse to travel in order to avoid the date.

12. A technological crash rocked the UK.

On another Friday the 13th in 1989 (apparently a ROUGH year), a detrimental virus crashed numerous IBM computers in Britain. On Friday, January 13th, this virus wiped out hundreds of files on both personal and business computers. Today this specific virus is considered obsolete and no longer a threat.

13. Bob Renphrey had the absolute right idea.

After numerous problematic occurrences on various Friday the 13ths, Bob Renphrey had had enough. He’d sustained injuries from a glass door, his wife had fallen down a flight of stairs, he crashed a motorcycle, and he fell into a river. So the North Wales native decided to say fuck it, and spend the remaining Fridays that would fall on the 13th in bed. After he died in 1998 his funeral was scheduled on (you guessed it) Friday the 13th. Thought Catalog Logo Mark

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