by Tim Swartz
 

There is a horror that exists inside us all. Springing from the most primitive parts of the brain, this horror whispers to us in the night of hungry things lurking in the dark. From the beginning, humans have instinctively known that the shadows contain things not of this world. These denizens of the night ---wild men, hairy monsters and other bizarre creatures have haunted us in our dreams and apparently also in reality. These creatures have been known by many different names, yet their descriptions remain eerily similar despite geographical or chronological distance. In ancient Babylon, there was the great Akkadian epic Gilgamesh that recounts the trials and triumphs of a legendary king by the same name. One of the many tasks Gilgamesh is charged with is fighting and defeating a hairy beast-man call Enkidu. Gilgamesh is successful at this and eventually the two become fast friends. Many modern anthropologists suggest that the similarity and dispersion of these tales may be a result of a "cultural memory" when mankind lived alongside other hominids. The Australian aborigines, when asked about their own versions of the wild man called a Yowie, state that the creature has existed as long as the dreamtime, a far-off time that predates any written language or other forms of permanent record keeping.

Even in modern times, when we seem so sure of our knowledge and place in the world, strange creatures continue to intrude into our nice, safe lives where rational thought says they have no place. However, for those who became unwilling participants in the breakdown of their personal reality, the world, as they knew it, could never be looked at in the same way again. Considering the growing human population and the spread of people from centralized locations into rural areas, you wouldn't expect there to be much room left for denizens of the "dreamtime." Yet, if you were to ask anyone, anywhere, about local myths and legends concerning strange creatures, odds are that most would have a story or two to tell.

THE JERSEY DEVIL
In the United States, the granddaddy of spooky creatures has to be the Jersey Devil. This weird beastie of the New Jersey Pinelands has haunted New Jersey and the surrounding areas for over 260 years. The Jersey Devil, sometimes also referred to as the Leeds Devil, is considered by most scholars to be a legendary creature. Nevertheless, some estimate as many as 2,000 people have claimed encounters with the Devil over the centuries. A lot of what we now know about the Jersey Devil is thanks to the diligent research of writer Dave Juliano who has managed to track down numerous, never reported, encounters with the Devil. Juliano is now convinced that there is evidence to support the existence of an animal or supernatural being known as the Jersey Devil. One of the most popular legends on the origin of the Jersey Devil says that a Mrs. Shrouds of Leeds Point, NJ wished that if she ever had another child, it would be a devil. Her next child was born misshapen and deformed. She sheltered it in the house, so the curious couldn't see him. On a stormy night, the child flapped its arms, which turned into wings, and escaped out the chimney and was never seen by the family again.

Another story says that the Devil's mother was a young woman from Leeds Point who fell in love with a British soldier during the Revolutionary War. The other people of Leeds Point cursed her, since the child was born of an act of treason. In another legend placing the birth of the Devil in Leeds Point, the creature was said to be punishment by God upon the people of the town for their mistreatment of a minister. Another story placed the birth in Estelville, NJ. ---Mrs. Leeds, of Estelville, finding out she was pregnant with her 13th child, shouted, "I hope it's a devil". She got her wish. The child was born with horns, a tail, wings, and a horse-like head. The creature visited Mrs. Leeds everyday. She stood at her door and told it to leave. After awhile, the creature got the hint and never returned. Still others say that Mother Leeds of Burlington, NJ was a supposed witch. One night in 1735, she gave birth to the Devil's child, who changed into a horrible winged creature and flew out the chimney after beating everyone present at the birth. There are other variations of the story, but a common fact binds most of them together: the use of the name Leeds, whether as the birthplace or the mother's name. Atlantic County historian Alfred Heston says that a Daniel Leeds came to Leeds Point in 1699, and the Shrouds also lived in the town. Prof. Fred MacFadden of Coppin College in Baltimore says that a "devil" was mentioned in Burlington records from approximately 1735. All these facts seem to suggest that there is some basis in fact for the Devil legend.

The Jersey Devil was known for its so-called "chimney raids" where it would enter a house through the chimney terrorizing the inhabitants. It would allegedly tear up furniture, chase people and pets, and kidnap children by dragging them up the chimney. Its less violent activities included tangling clotheslines, rustling bushes, hovering over lone travelers, and casting strange shadows. The creature was described as being about four feet tall, with a large, hideous head shaped like a horse and eyes that glowed red in the dark. It has yellow, pointed teeth, two horns protruding from its forehead and leathery wings spanning two feet, enabling the monster to fly. It is nocturnal with a yellow glow and the stench of fire and brimstone. Its mournful cry was said to cause death to all who heard it. In the 1830s and 1840's, the Jersey Devil was reported in Virginia. Among its victims were mutilated livestock, dogs, geese, cats, and ducks. It allegedly attempted to grab children as well.

The most incredible flurry activity regarding the Devil did not happen until 1909 when literally thousands of encounters with the beast were reported. Articles printed in the now defunct Philadelphia Record chronicled the Devil's exploits. During the week of January 16th to the 23rd, the Jersey Devil reached a crescendo of popularity while managing to terrorize the entire population of the Delaware Valley. So great was the attention paid to the creature, it received national news coverage. The first sighting of this flap came early on the morning of the 16th. That's when Zack Cozzens saw it by the side of the road as he was driving through Woodbury. "I first heard a hissing sound," said Cozzens, "Then, something white flew across the street. I saw two spots of phosphorous --the eyes of the beast... it was as fast as an auto." On the other side of the Delaware River, in Bristol, Pennsylvania, liquor store owner, John McOwen, heard a scratching sound and looked out the window to see something like a gigantic bird. Later on that night, James Sackville, a patrolman, saw the creature flying and screaming. About the same time, the postmaster, E.W. Minster, was awakened by a sharp scream and saw a flying monster with a long neck and a horse-like head. The next morning, the Devil's hoof prints were found in the snow.

Back in New Jersey, in the city of Burlington, the Lowdens woke up to find their trash half-eaten and mysterious hoof prints all around. Many of Burlington's yards contained these strange marks. Similar tracks --going up trees, over walls and rooftops, and disappearing in the middle of a field--- were also found in Columbus, Hedding, Kinhora and Rancocas. Dogs brought in to follow the trail seemed oddly reluctant to do so. Very early Wednesday morning (at approximately 2:30), Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Evans, residents of Gloucester, were awakened by an odd noise. Looking out their window, they observed a creature that could only have been the Jersey Devil. “It was about three feet and a half high, with a head like a collie dog and a face like a horse," the couple agreed. "It had a long neck, wings about two feet long, and its back legs were like those of a crane, and it had horse's hooves. It walked on its back legs and held up two short front legs with paws on them. It didn't use the front legs at all while we were watching." Mrs. Evans gathered up enough courage to unlatch the window. "I managed to open the window and say, 'Shoo', and it turned around and barked at me and flew away." A Burlington police officer and Rev. John Pursell of Pemberton both saw the Devil. Rev. Pursell said that the creature was like nothing he had ever seen. The inexplicable hoof prints were found near Haddonfield and Riverside; the Devil was seen flying about near Collingswood. At the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Moorestown, John Smith saw the flying monster, as did George Snyder of the same town.

Continued in Volume Three
THE UNIVERSAL SEDUCTION
Piercing the Veils of Deception