Halloween – the festival that all children love! A time when kids have the chance to get free candies that are offered by their neighbors, namely “Trick or Treat.” It’s a well-known custom that is favored by every single child.

Halloween is certainly not a child’s privilege but also for adults to reminisce the good old days by gathering candies that were once their favorite when they were young. To know about Halloween’s history, we have to go far beyond our parents’ generation because the origin dates back to centuries ago, back into the days of pagan rituals; even before they have been made a part of the Church.

There has been various versions concerning the origin of its name, but no one can really be sure that their stories are right. A few suggested that it came from the Celtics who were celebrating a good harvest. What gave this festival the spookiness has to do with a myth. On this night, the dead would rise from their death and cast spells on the crops and the living people. This explains why people carve frightening profiles on pumpkins and dressed as terrifying spirits for Halloween nowadays.

When it comes to the tradition of trick-or-treating (the most enjoyable part of Halloween, really!), it is said that it has begun back in the Middle Ages. Back then, the poor would visit homes to pray for their deceased family and friends. In exchange, they would be given food.

If you think about it, we may possibly be able to see a shadow of those food in the sweet range of candies now given out to costumed children nowadays!

Occasionally, there are people who suggest new perspectives to the mystic festival that takes place during nighttime. Many believe that it came from England or Ireland. Somehow, to many Halloween-lovers, the history of the tradition isn’t what is most important.

What stays true is the fact that Halloween is loved by both adults and children. The dressing-up is definitely the most fascinating aspect. Frankenstein, vampires, Casper, zombies, you name it. They may just be the next one standing at your front door.

After all, you will be delighted to see the smiling faces of little kids under the most horrendous outfits, and be reminded of the times when you were those who had a great time living out the tradition of Halloween.

More Information:

Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article187864.html

According to legends, it is one of 9 sons of a dragon, which can distinguish between good and evil. It is sometimes included in the list of four noble animals, along with the Chinese dragon, phoenix and tortoise – instead of the tiger.

As a rule this animal is depicted having a few horns, green and blue scaly skin, hooves of a deer, the head of a dragon and a bear’s tail. In some aspects it resembles Western unicorns. Like the European unicorn, Chi Lin symbolizes longevity and prosperity. It is believed to live for at least 2000 years.

The Chinese believe that it is always lonely, and appears only during the reign of an outstanding ruler or when a great sage is born or dies; for instance, it was seen shortly before the birth and death of Confucius. It can only be seen by the chosen ones. It is considered a harbinger of happiness.

On his back, Qilin may have babies. Legends state that it brings extraordinary children from heaven. Like the stork in the European tradition, in China it brings a long-awaited heir to the happy parents.

It is also mentioned in connection with some important events in the history of China. For instance, five thousand years ago one Chinese emperor was sitting on the shore near the Yellow River, when he saw Qi Lin. The dirty water of the river turned crystal clear green. Chi Lin stood before the emperor, stomped on a rock three times, and spoke to the emperor in a voice similar to a temple bell. When Qilin turned to leave, the emperor saw magic signs on his back, and copied them. According to legends, this is how the first written language appeared in China.

The mention of this mythical animal goes back to the days of Confucius. Back then, it had a more peaceful appearance. When walking, it did not cause any harm even to insects (like the image of the Lamb in Christian mythology). When stepping on the grass it did not crush it. It fed on magic grasses. It could walk on water and fly. Carved on gravestones, it would protect from evil spirits, as well as accompany the dead to heaven. However, over time it changed its appearance and symbolism – once a symbol of peace and gentleness, it also acquired the features of power and strength.

In Feng Shui, Qi Lin symbolizes long life, celebration, magnificence, joy, wisdom, and famous children. It is a gentle, kind, and benevolent creature. It carries a mystical good omen. This feng shui talisman is believed to help facilitate the success of children. Chi Lin’s images or statues can help women who wish to have a child. The main function of this talisman in feng shui is the elimination of negativity, and to attract wealth.

If you want to place this talisman in your home, remember that this charm should face toward the exit. You don’t need to activate it; however, it “likes” to listen to folk songs and fairy tales, and this is supposed to make it work harder for its owners.

About the Author

Jakob Jelling runs http://www.fengshuicrazy.com which teaches the ancient art of feng shui. Please visit his website to learn more about Chi Lin.

(ArticlesBase SC #2087247)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – The Magical Chinese Unicorn Chi Lin

Mothman remains one of the most paranormal of all the creatures of Cryptozoology.

More than a film or the 12 foot tall, stainless steel sculpture on display in downtown Point Pleasant in West Virginia, Mothman is a strange creature seen in the United States between November 1966 and November 1967, appearing several times in West Virginia, on the border with Ohio. Artist Robert Roach portrayed the creature in his sculpture as people reported the sightings, a man-sized beast with wings and large reflective or luminous red eyes, that scientist tried to associated with owls, but due to the size and characteristics, it is believed that Mothman was a paranormal phenomena, mostly seen during the 1966-69 years.

However, some theories associate Mothman with visitors from outer space or a type of Alien never seen before or after his visit. Mothman was first sighted in November 12, 1966, and named after the Batman TV series. The first apparition occurred in a cemetery close to Clendenin, West Virginia while a group of 5 men were preparing a grave. The workers described the being as a “brown human shape with wings” which lifted off from behind nearby trees and flew over their heads. This sighting was kept in secret in the belief it would not occur again, but 3 days later two young married couples from Point Pleasant, were out for a drive and saw two red lights in the shadows of a nearby World War II TNT factory.

After stopping the car, their curiosity led them to see that the lights were the glowing red eyes of a large animal described as “shaped like a man, but bigger, maybe six and a half or seven feet tall, with big wings folded against its back”. This time the creature started chasing the couples, who were terrified drove off in their car, heading for Route 62 toward the Mason County courthouse after finding the creature again standing on a ridge near the road. Later it was revealed that a poltergeist attacked one of the couples’ home later the same night, after the encounter with Mothman.

Apparitions of Mothman continued in West Virginia during all of November 1966, and after the reports, strangers dressed in black began to appear in the area. Nobody knew who the Mothman, or the men in black were and where they had come from or went, one year later. Some neighbors of West Virginia believe that Mothman was an alien and the men in black were government agents investigating the strange occurrences, but most people are convinced that Mothman was a paranormal being and the mysterious visitors were Catholic priests who went to exorcise the demonic creature.

There is a website that describes this and numerous other creatures of Cryptozoology in detail. The website is called: Unknown Creatures, and may be found at this address:

http://www.unknown-creatures.com

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released software on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970′s-80′s.RB59 Software

http://www.rb59.com/software

Poltergeists are rare, but they do exist. For those that aren’t in the loop, a poltergeist is a spirit that moves through inanimate objects like cups, TVs, furniture, and windows.

Noises – like bumps, thuds, kerplunks – yes kerplunks is a dictionary word, knocks, scratching at the window, and banging at the door are all examples of poltergeist activity. Of course, these are natural phenomena when a human or natural cause is to blame. However, the wind, a person, the rain, or a cat or dog aren’t the cause in these occurrences. A poltergeist could be at fault.

In Ancient Egypt, bed-shaking and the raining down of stones were reported. However, a skeptic could conclude that mud slides or earthquakes were to blame. It’s no wonder that all cultures have reports of spirits interfering in our lives – even to this day.

Parapsychologists have put forth one explanation that suggests that poltergeists originate in a person, and the lingo for that person is an agent or focus. They suggest that the psycho-kinetic effects originate in the individual, and manifest as the result of psychological trauma in that person.

Other researchers have proposed several unrelated and interesting hypotheses. Ball lightning, static electricity, electromagnetic fields, ionized air, people propelling objects as hoaxes, unfriendly spirits, and “recordings” of negative emotional energy that don’t abate ever after death. The emotion can keep re-playing itself in the natural world even after the person is dead. Of course, this is all speculation.

Evil spirits are reported by practitioners of astral projection, an art associated with out-of-body experiences. Some, a minority, occasionally use hallucinogens, which may account for the effects.

Since there is scant pictorial, video, and audio evidence of poltergeist phenomena, it’s a good idea to opt for the famous movie, Poltergeist. Much of the phenomena reported by parapsychologists is depicted well in the movie. A TV show with some parallel popularity can be purchased from Amazon.

Over the years, there have been countless reports of haunted houses, abodes, and buildings. Most of these go unreported in the mainstream media, and it takes quite a bit of digging in obscure anthologies of poltergeist accounts to find them out. However, a few of the more important ones are as follows. The reader should be advised that many of these stories have inconsistencies, but some do not. Here they go, in the order of their appearance.

In 858, an evil spirit chucked heavy stones at a farmhouse, and it shook the walls with power. The Demon Drummer of Tedworth in 1661, the Wizard named Livingston in 1797, the Haunting of the Fox Sisters in 1848, the Borley Rectory incident of 1929, and the Enfield, Mackenzie, Entity, and other cases in the latter part of the 20th century, e.g., 1977, 1984, 2000s.

Some quick searches will turn up dozens of field stories related to the inexplicable phenomena that happened during these times. In many instances, police, parapsychologists, physicists, and laymen have been unable to find a causal link between the inanimate movements, noises, and motions through the natural chain of reasoning, observation, and scientific prodding.

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/  - Free Articles Directory

About the Author
To learn more about poltergeist activity and read true ghost stories visit http://www.trueghosttales.com . To learn more about the paranormal world visit the Paranormal and Ghost Forum where you can chat with others and post your paranormal questions and comments.

The winds cut deeper and make progressively louder noises as the days shorten. Fog creeps in from the sea more often. And then Halloween shows up, as if to really remind us about things otherworldly. It’s no wonder Oregon’s northern coast has a load of ghostly tales swirling about. It’s no wonder the remake of “The Fog” currently in release is set in a fictional North Oregon Coast town. From flying pots and specters who’ve moved from one building to another in Seaside, the ghostly legends of a hotel in the Nehalem Bay, to the myriad of hauntings in ancient Astoria – there’s plenty for the ghost-hunting tourist in this pristine and stunning area.

SLEEPLESS IN SEASIDE

Tales of things creepy abound in Seaside – but they’re hard to find. It’s almost as if they’ve been swept under the carpet.

For almost 100 years, the old Hotel Seaside (later named The Seasider) was a grandiose, beautiful building that was a sort of centerpiece to Seaside, at the Turnaround. So it’s no surprise that place acquired tales of apparitions and otherworldly guests over the years. There were numerous spirits that purportedly haunted it.

These days, the Shilo Inn sits in that spot. But when the old hotel was torn down, the spooks moved to Girtle’s Restaurant, just down the street on Broadway, according to owner Bob Girtle. He recounted numerous stories of otherworldly happenings in the restaurant, having seen them himself or coming from various employees who tell their own tales. They talk of seeing the mysterious shadows of feet walking behind the door of a closed-off area of the kitchen, visible from the small space between the floor and the door. This happens when it’s not possible anyone else is in there, say Bob and his crew. They don’t even check that room anymore when they see the shadows.

Then there is the notorious flying coffee pot in the galley area between the kitchen and the main dining room. Bob and others on his staff have experienced this more than once. Sometimes it moves a bit, others it literally flies across the hallway.

Bob said he inherited some employees of the old Seasider back in the 80′s, and at least one said they saw some of the same ghosts.

John Sowa, owner of the New Orleans-style eatery Lil’ Bayou, also related tales of moving objects in the kitchen and a strange sense of someone being near him while alone in his office. Kitchen utensils are found in different places than employees have left them, or an object suddenly falls off a hook or a shelf.

Lil’ Bayou lies in the historic Gilbert District of Seaside, which is filled with old buildings, almost all with upstairs areas that are often unused. The charming, atmospheric area has gone through a rebirth in recent years, and often there are whispers of ghosts coinciding with many of the renewed buildings.

The Seaside Aquarium may have a closet containing something – or rather, an upstairs that could be haunted. When the building was a natatorium back about 80 years ago, there were apartments at the top floor. That area isn’t used much at all now, but manager Keith Chandler says he’s heard whispers over the years the top floor is haunted. Various stories have been handed down over the years about noises coming from there.

EERIE AND NOT-SO-EERIE ON THE BAY

Manzanita, which caps the north end of the Nehalem Bay, is shrouded in mists and mystery, with Neahkahnie Mountain looming overhead and legends of a galleon and its buried treasures. Some versions of that tale contain atrocities, like purportedly burying their African slaves alive with the treasure to keep the natives away.

On its beaches, there are mysterious piles of rocks that have appeared over the years, apparently overnight. Sometimes they appear as single piles or stacks. No one has ever figured out who is responsible, creating speculation of an otherworldly artist.

In nearby Wheeler, facing the Nehalem Bay, Old Wheeler Hotel owner Winston Laszlo says he’s encountered several things in that old building he couldn’t really explain. Sometimes, he said, he believes he sees someone in the corner of his eye, only to discover there’s no one there.

Once, Winston was looking in a mirror in the hotel’s public area and saw the reflection of a man sitting in a chair behind him. Winston says he turned around to look at the man, whom he didn’t recognize as a guest, and there was no one there.

A pair of ghost hunters even came to the visit the place and took photos of what they believed could be “spirit orbs” just outside the basement area. Winston still has copies of these.

Winston and wife Maranne Doyle-Laszlo say the entire building seemed to be against them during the process of remodeling the ragged old construct into the first-rate hotel it is now. They had a nagging feeling a presence seemed to arrange one disaster and setback after another, such as when a window blew out in a storm. Then, one day, they say the building seemed to accept them, and reconstruction proceeded smoothly thereafter. ( www.oldwheelerhotel.com )

In an email just before her visit, ghost hunter Martina DeLude told Winston that made sense. “Ghosts that haunt residential and business locations become very threatened when someone starts changing things that they are accustomed to. Some spirits actually become incensed when furniture is moved around. Just like the living, most spirits do not like change. Possibly, as soon as they realized that it was once again going to become a hotel – perhaps something they may remember – they decided to help you along instead of stifling your efforts.” There’s more on their investigation of the Old Wheeler Hotel at http://www.nwpprs.com/Investigations/Places02/OldWheeler.html 

In other tales, Wheeler Antiques owner Garry Gitzen says a Wheeler woman, descended from local tribes, actually burned down her own house in recent years because disturbing spirits haunted it. She did this in lieu of tearing the thing down, never rebuilding it, with rumors floating about that Native American children had died in a fire in that spot in ancient times.

Not all is creepy here. According to Winston and Garry, there is a host of well-meaning spirits there known as the “Good Spirits of Wheeler,” and Ekahni Books owner Peg Miller says the place is a sort of “spiritual vortex lite.” They all point to something they call a “Wheeler Moment,” where serendipity seems to suddenly rear its head. Locals talk of numerous circumstances where pleasant, happy coincidences popped up, assisting folks in some way. They all note various incidents where someone is discussing wanting to do something, and someone or some opportunity arises that helps things along – like the time the Garry and Winston were talking about creating a film festival, and they discovered a documentary filmmaker was staying in town.

ASTORIA – OR GHOSTORIA?

At the very tip of Oregon, Astoria is full of major ghost stories of one sort or another. That’s no surprise, considering it’s the oldest settlement west of the Mississippi.

The Liberty Theater is widely regarded as haunted. It was once a haven for the likes of Duke Ellington, Jack Benny, Guy Lombardo and supposedly even gangster Al Capone. Purportedly, it’s also occupied by someone named Paul. One employee was quoted as saying that Paul is “quite handsome,” giving him the nickname Handsome Paul. He apparently wears a “white tuxedo and a panama hat,” according to the Clatsop County Historical Society.

Cast and crews over the years have talked about spotting him. While mostly just an apparition, he’s been known to slam doors and make other unruly noises. Other tales from the theater include objects gliding through the air, knobs unscrewing themselves from appliances and utilities, as well as two or three other inhabitants from beyond.

Also famous for being haunted is the firehouse there, plus the town has a brutal history of men being “shanghaied” in the early part of the century.

For more on the Oregon Coast, including extensive virtual tours, see www.beachconnection.net.

About The Author

Andre’ Hagestedt is editor of Beach Connection, a tourism publication covering the upper half of Oregon’s coast – some 180 miles.

Over the years there have been many Jersey Devil stories and sightings. The name Leeds is in all the stories. The time period is about the same and the area is about the same. There have been documented sightings since about 1735. More recently it was sighted in 1951 in Gibbstown and in 1960 near Mays Landing. In more recent years, the Jersey Devil is seen haunting the cemeteries, coastal wetlands and churchyards of Howell Township. Appearances of the Jersey Devil are often accompanied by the disappearance of local pets.

Leeds Point – The Jersey Devil – Around 1735 Mrs. Shrouds was heard to have said that if she were to have another child she wanted it to be a DEVIL. She got pregnant and the baby was born very deformed. She hid the baby from everyone until one stormy night when it stretched it’s arms out and they turned into bat like wings. It crawled up the chimney and flew off into the night.

Estelville – The Jersey Devil – In 1735, Mrs. Abigale Leeds was about to give birth to her 13th child. She was in so much pain she screamed for the DEVIL to take the child. She got her wish as it was born a very deformed creature. It had the head of a horse, with horns, wings like a bat and a serpentine body with a pointed tail. It came back to visit her everyday until she stood outside and told it to leave and never come back.

- – - – - - 

The following information was obtained off the Elk Township Website 

Events through the Years.
 
The Jersey Devil’s Birthplace is generally regarded to be in Leeds Point, in what is now Atlantic County. Differing legends put the birthdate at 1735, 1778, 1850, 1855, and 1857. The remains of the old Shourds house, reputed to be the birthplace in Leeds Point, can be found in the woods, locals say.

Naval hero Commodore Stephen Decatur fired a cannonball through the Jersey Devil in the early 1800s at Hanover Iron Works in Hanover. Legend has it the gaping hole did not effect the Jersey Devil, which flew casually away.

Joseph Bonaparte, former King of Spain and brother of Napoleon, made a sighting of the Jersey Devil while hunting on his estate in the early 1800s. He had finally settled in New Jersey under the name of the Count de Survilliers (Americans tended to call him Mr. Bonaparte)–taken from his Mortefontaine estates—in early 1817. He acquired title to over 1000 acres of land near Bordentown, on the Delaware River .

Many reported Jersey Devil raids in 1800s, include an 1899 raid on Vincentown and Burrsville, during which many sheep and chickens disappeared.

The largest spate of Jersey Devil sightings took place in January 1909, when thousands of residents of more than 30 towns in and around the Delaware Valley saw the fiend.

In Burlington, panic gripped the city after the Devil’s hoof prints were found in backyards and on snowy rooftops.  The same week, in Jacksonville, hunters organized a posse, but their dogs were too scared to follow its tracks.  In Gloucester City, a man watched the Jersey Devil cavort on the roof of his woodshed for 10 minutes. He described the creature as “three and a half feet high, with a head like a collie and a face like a horse. 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.”

A telephone lineman working in a desolate Pines spot near Pleasantville was chased up a telephone pole by the Jersey Devil. He stayed there until a co-worker arrived and shot the Devil in the wing, wounding it. The Devil escaped into the surrounding woods.

The Jersey Devil attacked a dog in Camden, relinquishing it only when the pet owner charged at it with a broom. The devil dropped the dog and flew at the broom-wielding woman, then disappeared over a fence. The monster had torn a chunk from the dog’s flesh.

In 1951, in Gibbstown, the bloody-faced Devil shocked a 10-year-old boy. A posse tried to hunt the creature down, but failed. Witnesses described it as a “hairy man” towering over 7 feet tall.

In 1987, in Vineland, a German Shepherd was found chewed and torn apart, lying 25 feet from its chain. Around the body were strange tracks that no one could identify.

WANT TO HUNT FOR THE JERSEY DEVIL YOURSELF?

HERE’S HOW TO GET TO THE HOME WHERE HE WAS BORN.
(it’s a good place to start)

The Shourds House (Leeds Point, Atlantic County)

This crumbled ruin of an old stone house is ground zero for Jersey Devil fans. It’s where Mowas Leeds allegedly gave birth to the beast many years ago. Take the Garden State Parkway south to Route 9. Take Route 9 south toward Smithville. Turn left on Rte. 561. The Shourds House is somewhere off on the right side of the road, about 2 miles down. Beware, there are no markers for it.

The Pinelands (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean Counties)

This wild, wooded region in South Jersey is the Jersey Devil’s stomping grounds. The Pinelands National Refuge encompasses nearly a million acres, including Bass River State Forest, Batona Trail, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Lebanon State Forest and Wharton State Park. For Pinelands information, call the Pinelands Commission at (609) 894-9342.

F.Y.I. – In 1973 NJN did a documentary called “Mother Leeds’ 13th Child”. For anyone in Jersey, you can borrow it from any branch of the Ocean County Library

Batsto Village (Wharton State Forest, Burlington County)

The Village is a restored community that celebrates the Pinelands legacy of iron- and glass-making as well as farming. And because it’s in the heart of the Pinelands, you-know-who may drop by as well. Take Route 9 to Rte. 542. Batsto Village and its visitor center is on Rte. 542, about 12 miles from Route 9. Call (609) 561-0024.

Stories through the Years…..

HERE ARE SOME OF THE STORIES TOLD ABOUT THE JERSEY DEVIL
THROUGH THE YEARS.

The Jersey Devil, the supposed mythical creature of the New Jersey Pinelands, has haunted New Jersey and the surrounding areas for the past 260 years. This entity has been seen by over 2,000 witnesses over this period. It has terrorized towns and caused factories and schools to close down, yet many people believe that the Jersey Devil is a legend, a mythical beast, that originated from the folklore of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Others disagree with this point of view. The following text will show there is evidence to support the existence of an animal or supernatural bring known as the Jersey Devil. The evidence consists of the stories of the Jersey Devil’s origin, the sightings of it, and finally, the theories on it.

There are many different versions of the birth of the Jersey Devil. One of the most popular legends says a Mrs. Shrouds of Leeds Point, NJ made a wish that if she ever had another child, she want it to 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 stormy night, the child flapped it’s arms, which turned into wings, and escaped out the chimney and was never seen by the family again. A Mrs Bowen of Leeds point said, “The Jersey Devil was born in the Shrouds house at Leeds Point.” 1 Another story that also placed the birth at Leeds Point said that a young girl fell in love with a British soldier during the Revolutionary War. The people of Leeds Point cursed her. When she gave birth, she had a devil. Some people believe the birth of the devil was punishment for the mistreatment of a minister by the Leeds folk.

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 wad born with horns, a tail, wings, and a horse-like head. The creature revisited Mrs. Leeds everyday. She stood at her door and told it to leave. After awhile, the creature got the hint and never returned.

Burlington, NJ, also claims to be the birthplace of the Jersey Devil. In 1735, Mother Leeds was in labor on a stormy night. Gathered around her were her friends. Mother Leeds was supposedly a witch and the child’s father was the devil himself. The child was born normal, but then changed form. It changed from a normal baby to a creature with hooves, a horses head, bat wings and a forked tail. It beat everyone present and flew up the chimney. It circled the villages and headed toward the pines. In 1740 a clergy exercised the devil for 100 years and it wasn’t seen again until 1890.

There are many other versions of the legend. The legends say it was the 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, or 13th child, It was born normal or deformed, and the mother confined it to the cellar or the attic. Although there are many discrepancies in all of these stories, there are 3 pieces of evidence that tie all of the legends of the Jersey Devil’s origin together.

The first thing that ties the legends together is the name “Leeds”. Whether the mothers name was Leeds or the birth place was Leeds Point, all of the stories include the name Leeds. Alfred Heston, the Atlantic County Historian, believes that the devil could be a Leeds or a Shrouds baby. He discovered that a Daniel Leeds opened land in Great Egg Harbor, NJ, in 1699. His family lived in Leeds Point. He also discovered a Samuel Shrouds, Sr. came to Little Egg Harbor, NJ, in 1735 and lived right across the river from the house of Mother Leeds. The 3rd fact ties in the Burlington story with the others stories. Professor Fred MacFadden of Coppin State College, Baltimore, found that a “devil” was mentioned in writings from Burlington as early as 1735. He also indicated that the word Burlington was used to was the word used to names the area from the city of Burlington to the Atlantic Ocean. This means that the name that is now used for the birthplace such as Leeds point or Estelville, could be the same place referred to in the Burlington Legend.

The origins provide some validity to the existence of the Jersey Devil, but the sightings are the most substantial pieces of evidence. The sightings have been divided up into 3 time periods, pre 1909, January 16-23, 1909, and post 1900.

From the pre 1909 era, few documented records of sightings still exist. The ones that do confirm the existence of the devil.

In the early 19th century, Commodore Stephen Decatur, a naval hero, was testing cannon balls on the firing range when he saw a strange creature flying across the sky. He fired and hit the creature but it kept right on flying across the field. Joseph Bonaparte, former king of Spain and brother of Napoleon, saw the Jersey Devil in Bordentown, NJ, between 1816 and 1839 while he was hunting. In 1840-41 many sheep and chickens were killed by a creature with a piercing scream and strange tracks. In 1859-94, the Jersey Devil was seen and numerous times and reportedly carried off anything that moved in Haddonfield, Bridgeton, Smithville, Long Branch, Brigantine, and Leeds Point. W.F. Mayer of New York noticed while visiting the Pine Barrens, most of the locals would not venture out after dark. The devil was sighted by George Saarosy, A prominent business man, at the NJ/NY border. This was the last reported sighting before the turn of the century.

In 1903, Charles Skinner, author of American Myths and Legends, claimed that the legend of the devil had run it’s course and that in the new century, residents of New Jersey would hear no more of the devil. New Jersey rested easy with that thought for 6 years, until the week of January 16-23. 1909. During this week, the devil would leave his tracks all over South Jersey and Philadelphia. He was seen by over 100 people. This was his largest appearance ever.

It all started early Sunday morning, January 16, 1909. Thack Cozzens of Woodbury, NJ, saw a flying creature with glowing eyes flying down the street. Over in Bristol, P.A. , John Mcowen heard and saw the strange creature on the banks of the canal. Patrol James Sackville fired at the creature as it flew away screaming. E.W. Minister, Postmaster of Bristol , P.A, also saw a bird-like creature with a horses head that had a piercing scream. When daylight came, the residents of Bristol found hoof prints in the snow. Two local trappers said they had never seen tracks like those before.

On Monday, the Lowdens of Burlington, NJ, found hoof prints in their yard and around their trash, which was half eaten. Almost every yard in Burlington had these strange hoof prints in them. The prints went up trees, went from roof to roof, disappeared in the middle of the road, and stopped in the middle of open fields. The same tracks were also found in Columbus, Hedding, Kinhora and Rancocas. A hunt was organized to follow the tracks but the dogs wouldn’t follow the trail.

On the 19th the Jersey Devil made his longest appearance of the week. At 2:30 am, Mr & Mrs. Nelson Evans of Gloucester were awakened by a strange noise. They watched the devil from their window for 10 minutes. Mr. Evans described the creature they saw. It was about three feet and half high, with a head like a collie dog and a face like a horse. 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 palso on them. It didn’t use the front legs at all while we were watching. My wife and I were scared, I tell you, but I managed to open the window and say, ‘Shoo’, and it turned around barked at me, and flew away.

Tuesday afternoon 2 professional hunters tracked the devil for 20 miles in Gloucester. The trail jumped 5 foot fences and went under 8 inch spaces. The hoof prints were found in more parts of South Jersey. A group of observers in Camden, NJ, saw the devil. It barked at them and then took off into the air.

The next day, a Burlington police officer and the Reverend John Pursell of Pemberton saw the Jersey Devil. Rev. Pursell said, “Never saw anything like it before”.3 Posses in Haddonfield found tracks that ended abruptly. In Collingswood, NJ, a posse watched the devil fly off toward Moorestown. Near Moorestown, John Smith of Maple Shade saw the devil at the Mount Carmel Cemetery. George Snyder saw the devil right after Mr. Smith and their descriptions were identical. In Riverside, NJ, hoof prints were found on roof tops and also around a dead puppy.

On Thursday, the Jersey Devil was seen by the Black Hawk Social Club. He was also seen by a trolley full of people in Clementon as it circled above them. The witnesses descriptions matched others from the days before. In Trenton, Councilman E.P. Weeden heard the flapping of wings and then found hoof prints outside his door. The prints were also found at the arsenal in Trenton. As the day wore on the Trolleys in Trenton and New Brunswick had armed drivers to ward off attacks. The people in Pitman filled churches. Chickens had been missing all week throughout the Delaware Valley, but when the farmers checked their yards that day, they found their chickens dead, with no marks on them. The West Collingswood Fire Department fired their hose at the devil. The devil retreated at first, but then charged and flew away at the last second.

Later that night, Mrs. Sorbinski of Camden heard a commotion in her yard. She opened the door to see the Jersey Devil standing there with her dog in it’s grip. She hit the devil with a broom until it let go of her dog and flew away. She started screaming until her neighbors came over. Two police officers arrived at her house where over 100 people had gathered. The crowd heard a scream coming from Kaigan Hill. The mob ran toward the creature on the hill. The Policed shot at it and the devil flew off into the night. The streets of Camden were empty after this.

On Friday, Camden police officer Louis Strehr saw the Jersey Devil saw the devil drinking from a horses trough. The school in Mt Ephraim was closed because no students came in. Mills and factories in Gloucester and Hainesport had to close because none of the employees came to work. Many New Jersey residents wouldn’t leave their houses, even in daylight. Officer Merchant of Blackwood drew a sketch of the creature he saw. His sketch coincided with the descriptions from earlier in the week. Jacob Henderson saw the devil in Salem and described it as having “wings and a tail”4. The devil was only seen once more in 1909 in February.

Since 1909, the Jersey Devil has continued to be sighted by people all over New Jersey. The number of sightings that have been reported to the authorities has dwindled over the years. This could be attributed to the fact that people don’t want to be branded as crazy. Even though the number of reported sightings has dropped, there’s still a considerable amount of sightings in the post 1909 era.

In 1909, a track walker on the electric railroad saw the devil fly into the wires above the tracks. There was a violent explosion which melted the track 20 feet in both directions. No body was found and the devil was seen later in perfect health. In 1957, the Department of Conservation found a strange corpse in a burned out area of the pines. It was a partial skeleton, feathers, and hind legs of an unidentifiable creature. The devil was thought to be dead, but reappeared when the people of New Jersey thought that this time his death was real. Each time he is reported dead, he returns. Sometimes this year. The Jersey Devil will be 260 years old. It seems the devil is immortal, which a supernatural being would be. Another thing that supports this theory is the incredible distances the devil could fly in a short period of time. No animal could travel as fast as the devil did in 1909 when he was sighted in South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York through out the week.

In 1927, a cab driver on his way to Salem got a flat tire. He stopped to fix the tire. As he was doing this, creature that stood upright and was covered with hair, landed on the roof of his cab. The creature shook his car violently. He fled the scene, leaving the tire and jack behind. Phillip Smith, who was known as a sober and honest man, saw the devil walking down the street in 1953. The characteristic screams of the Jersey Devil were heard in the woods near Woodstown, NJ, in 1936.

This sighting was at Fort Dix either right before or just after World War II, a soldier was on guard duty. He and another sentry saw something white jumping from the top of one vehicle to another. They looked at each other and said “Do you see what I see”. It was seen by numerous people that nite and slashed tents and so on. We hear it was reported to officals of Fort Dix. Around a week later they came back to camp from leave and saw the whole camp was lined up. The officers had their pistols drawn and enlisted men had pitch forks and racks in their hands. They walked into the woods in a line because the whole camp had sighted it this time. One person says it was dark out there and that he chased a white thing into the woods with the rest of the soldiers.

Around 1961, 2 couples were parked in a car in the Pine Barrens. They heard a loud screeching noise outside. Suddenly the roof of the car was smashed in. They fled the scene, but returned later. Again they heard the loud screech. They saw a creature flying along the trees, taking out huge chinks of bark as it went along.

There have been other sightings since 1909, such as the Invasion of Gibbsboro in 1951. The people there saw the devil over a 2 day period. In 1966, a farm was raided and 31 ducks, 3 geese, 4 cats, and 2 dogs were killed. One of the dogs was a large german Shepherd which had it’s throat ripped out. In 1981, a young couple spotted the devil at Atsion Lake in Atlantic County.

In 1987, in Vineland an aggressive german Shepherd was found torn apart and the body explosion upon. the body was located 25 feet from the chain which had been hooked to him. Around the body were strange tracks that no one could identify.  The sightings and prints are the most substantial evidence that exists. Many of the theories on the Jersey Devil are based upon that evidence. Some theories can be proven invalid, while others seem to provide support for the Jersey Devil’s existence.
 
From about 1909-1927
One theory is that the Jersey Devil is a bird. Mrs. Cassidy of Clayton thought it was an invasion of scrowfoot ducks. The scrowfoot duck is much too small to be mistaken for the devil. Others believe the devil is really a sand hill crane. The crane used to live in South Jersey until it was pushed out by man. The sand hill crane weighs about 12 lbs., is 4 foot high, and a wingspan of 80 inches. It avoids man but if confronted it will fight. It has a loud scream whooping voice that can be heard at a distance. This could account for the screams heard by witnesses. The crane also eats potatoes and corn. This could account for the raids on crops. This theory doesn’t explain , however, the killing of live stock. It also doesn’t explain why people described the devil as having a horses head, bat wings and tail, all of which the crane doesn’t have.

Professor Bralhopf said that” the tracks were made by some prehistoric animal form the Jurassic period”. He believes the creature survived underground in a cavern. An expert from the Smithsonian Institute had a theory about ancient creatures surviving underground. He said the Jersey Devil was a Pterodactyl. The Academy of Natural Sciences could find no record of any creature, living or extinct, that resembles the Jersey Devil.

Jack E. Boucher, author of Absagami Yesteryear, has a theory in which he believes the devil was a deformed child. He thinks Mrs. Leeds had a disfigured child and kept it locked away in the house. She grew sick and couldn’t feed the child anymore. It escaped out of hunger and raided local farms for food. This doesn’t take into account the incredible life span of the devil. The child would have been 174 years old in 1909. It also doesn’t account for the sightings of ther devil flying.

Only a small amount of the sightings and footprints could be hoaxes. The Jersey Devil has been seen by reliable people such as police, government officials, postmasters, businessman, and other people whose “integrity is beyond question.” As for the hoof prints, even if some were hoaxes, There is still no way to explain most of the tracks, especially the ones on roof tops and tracks that ended abruptly as if the creature took wing.

The last theory is the most controversial one. Many people believe that the Jersey Devil could be the very essence of evil, embodied. It is said that the devil is an “uncanny harbinger of war”. and appears before any great conflict. The jersey devil was sighted before the start of the Civil War. It was also seen right before the Spanish American War and WW I. In 1939, before the start of WW II, Mount Holly citizens were awakened by the noise of hooves on their roof tops. The Devil was seen on December 7, 1941, right before Pearl Harbor was bombed. He was also seen right before the vietnam War.

The Jersey Devil’s habit of being a forerunner to wars could be because of his possible demonic origins. In 1730, Ben Franklin reported a story about a witchcraft trial near Mt Holly, NJ. One of the origin legends say that Mother Leeds was a witch. The devil’s birth could have been a result of a witches curse.

Other facts support the supernatural theory are the reports of the death of the devil. When Commodore Decatur fired a cannon ball at the devil, it went through him and he was unaffected.

None of these theories can give a definitive answer to what the Jersey Devil was or is, but the sightings prove there is something out there. Whether the Jersey devil is a bird or a demon, is still left to speculation. The people of New Jersey have defiantly seen something out there lurking in the Pine Barrens.
 

Two good movies on this subject are:

The Last Broadcast & The Blair Witch Project

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Another website with more about it!!

Here is the Official NJ Historical Society web page on the Jersy Devil.