In 1848, a 13-pound iron rod exploded through Phineas Gage's skull, destroyed half his brain, and flew out the other side—but instead of dying, he sat up, spoke clearly, and walked nearly a mile to see a doctor... and that's just the beginning of the story!

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IN THIS EPISODE: I’ve covered numerous stories here in the podcast on people gone missing, never to be seen again. But it’s much more rare to have a story about a corpse going missing, never to be seen again. (How Daniel Murdock Saved on Funeral Expenses) *** One thing that has always been a constant in human history is adultery; as is the jilted spouse always being angry about it. One thing that has not been a constant is how society judges those involved in the infidelity. In 1885, there were different opinions about both adulterers as well as the one who murders a homewrecker. (Shot By a Jealous Husband) *** Part of the tablet’s translation, according to Isaac Newton, states: “By this means you shall have the glory of the whole world and thereby all obscurity shall fly from you. Its force is above all force, for it vanquishes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid thing.” Cryptic yes, but it appears to indicate immense power for the one who understands and wields it. It comes from the Emerald Tablet – and it’s no surprise there are many now who want to know where it is. (The Mystery of the Emerald Tablet) *** The Shimokubo Dam in Japan is unique in that it is supposedly haunted. I’ve heard of haunted lakes, and haunted roads that go around lakes or past lakes, but I’ve never heard of a lake that was created by a haunted dam. Shimokubo Dam is supposedly so haunted, that Japan says the stream of ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts is out of control. (Japan’s Haunted Dam) *** A mysterious creature is reported to be living near a bridge in Zimbabwe which has killed numerous men. What is the Beast of Gwanda Town? (Beast of Gwanda Town) *** A year before the infamous Lizzie Bordon was born, came the birth of Lizzie Halliday – who, though becoming less well known, went on to commit atrocities that would’ve made Lizzie Bordon’s stomach turn. (The Worst Woman on Earth) *** 
His story is legendary. One day while working on the railroad, Phineas Gage tapped on an iron rod that set off an explosion which sent the iron spike through his skull, destroying parts of his brain… yet he lived. But it changed his life… his personality… and it changed the medical and psychological world forever. (Phineas Gage)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Lead-In00:01:26.040 = Show Open
00:04:36.823 = Phineas Gage
00:18:52.355 = The Worst Woman On Earth
00:30:51.273 = ***Japan’s Haunted Dam
00:35:41.172 = Mystery of the Emerald Tablet
00:48:10.184 = ***Shot By A Jealous Husband
00:51:04.755 = Beast of Gwanda Town
01:00:58.624 = How Daniel Murdock Saved on Funeral Expenses
01:06:10.992 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
SOURCES and RESOURCES:
“The Impaled Brain of Phineas Gage” by Laura Allan for Graveyard Shift: https://tinyurl.com/y3h7g36g“Japan’s Haunted Dam” by Paul Seaburn for Mysterious Universe: https://tinyurl.com/y4ht2q55
“Beast of Gwanda Town” from News Dze Zimbabwe: https://tinyurl.com/yyhequxx
“The Worst Woman on Earth” by Kieran W. for Mystery Confidential: (website no longer exists)
“How Daniel Murdock Saved on Funeral Expenses” from Strange Company: https://tinyurl.com/y5x2q45e
“Shot By a Jealous Husband” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder by Gaslight: https://tinyurl.com/y6ma3cpn
“The Mystery of the Emerald Tablet” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: https://tinyurl.com/y3pvg2ya=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: December 08, 2020; December 19, 2023
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/PhineasGage
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
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