Jersey Devil

From TinWiki.org

An Artist's Rendition of the Jersey Devil Based on an Alleged Eye Witness Account.

The Jersey Devil is a cryptid almost exclusive to the state of New Jersey, specifically the densely forested southern Pine Barrens region of the state, however a few sightings have also been reported in Delaware and Pennsylvania. There have been hundreds of eye witness reports of the Jersey Devil spanning three centuries as well as possible evidence left behind by the creature including mysterious tracks and animal mutilations.

1 Appearance
- 1.1 Physical Description
- 1.2 Sound
2 Origins
3 Sightings
- 3.1 Animal Mutilation
4 Possible Explanations
5 See also
6 External links
- 6.1 Websites
7 Related Discussion Threads on AboveTopSecret.com

[edit]

Appearance

[edit]

Physical Description

Although accounts differ, the Jersey Devil is typically described as a bipedal creature standing approximately three feet tall with an elongated neck, a tail, a wingspan of five feet, and a combination of physical traits resembling a composite of several different creatures. The Jersey Devil is described by the majority of eye witnesses as having a head shaped like a canine but with the face of a horse, camel-like hooves, bat-like wings, and jointed legs similar to a crane. The body is generally reported as being covered in a coat of coarse black fur.

[edit]

Sound

The general consensus among witnesses describe the Jersey Devil as emitting a dog-like barking and/or howling noise depending on its demeanor. Others describe the Jersey Devil as making a hissing sound. On rare occasions it is reported to emit a low, steady guttural moan or growl.

[edit]

Origins

The earliest known accounts and origins of the Jersey Devil have been traced by Atlantic County historian Alfred Heston to two possible 17th and 18th century families known as the Leeds and Shrouds. Multiple folkloric tales currently exist to explain the origins of the Jersey Devil.

The 17th century matriarch of the Leeds family of New Jersey discovered she was pregnant with what would be her thirteenth child, considered an unlucky number. Mrs. Leeds, who was rumored to dabble in the occult, cursed the child to become a demon and later gave birth to a child with a tail and wings. Not wanting the child and after repeated requests for the creature to leave, the creature flew away never to return to the Leeds' household.
An 18th century female resident of New Jersey by the name of Mrs. Shrouds wished to have another child who resembled a devil. When the child was born deformed, Mrs. Shrouds prohibited guests and non-family members from viewing the child and kept the child hidden away in her home. One night once the child had come of age, the child's arms transformed into wings where it ascended the chimney and was never seen by the family again.
After a young American girl fell in love with a British soldier during the Revolutionary War, the townspeople of Leeds Point, New Jersey cursed her for what they considered to be a traitorous affair. Upon giving birth to the child, it was discovered to be hideously deformed creature that subsequently fled into the Pine Barrens region where it later terrorized the townspeople that originally created the curse, desiring to take revenge on the people responsible for its fate and appearance.

[edit]

Sightings

Approximately 2,000 eye witness accounts of the mysterious creature have been reported over the last 250 years. Alleged Jersey Devil sightings and attacks are responsible for several interruptions in everyday activities and have resulted in schools being temporarily closed and factories being shut down. The most famous and numerous string of sightings occurred in the winter of 1909 where the creature was said to terrorize local inhabitants of the densely forested counties of Cloucster, Cambde, and Burlington. Evidence later surfaced in the form of footprints left behind in the snow on both the ground and rooftops.

[edit]

Animal Mutilation

Unexplained incidents of animal mutilation have been reported in conjunction with Jersey Devil sightings. In 1966, a farmer discovered over three dozen mutilated animals on his property including ducks, geese, dogs, and cats. Among the victims, a German Shepherd was found with its throat torn out. In 1987, yet another German Shepherd was found mutilated with its body torn open and and apparently bitten in several places. The carcass was found approximately 25 from where it had been chained and was surrounded by unidentifiable tracks.

[edit]

Possible Explanations

Skeptics have tried to offer logical explanations for the creature by claiming the Jersey Devil is simply a case of mistaken identity. However, none of the explanations stand up to scrutiny if the eye witness descriptions are to believed when compared to the appearance of known creatures. For instance, some believe the creature is actually a sand hilled crane that no longer resides in the area due to a population increase but that occasionally returns from time to time. The sandhill crane is similar in size and 'whooping' sounds to the reports of the Jersey Devil but it does not account for the attacks on livestock nor eyewitness descriptions like bat-like wings or a horse-like face as the sand hill crane has neither. Others believe the Jersey Devil is possibly a prehistoric creature that has survived until modern times by living in underground caverns, perhaps a distant relative to the Pterodactyl. However, upon consulting with experts from the Academy of Natural Science, the Jersey Devil is said to resemble no known creature living or extinct.

[edit]