The New Jersey Devil

            Over the past hundred years there have been mysterious sightings of a devil type creature all over New Jersey.  People report seeing the devil flying or hearing its screams from the forests.  Many others have seen hoof prints of the devil, which are horse like, but not that of any known animal.  Over the years, it mischievous behavior and appearance earned it the name, Jersey Devil.  People in New Jersey Blame the devil for droughts, crop failure, knocking off the tops of trees, and making water boil.  Other rumors include cattle mutilations and have even caused cows to stop giving milk.  Some people think the devil brings warning of a war; it has been seen before almost every war since the American Revolution.  Some even claim to have seen it hours before the attack on Pearl Harbor.  From all my research I found out that not everyone thinks the devil is bad.  There are no accounts of it attacking any humans, that I found and it said to protect the Pinelands by scaring away the destroyers of the land.  According to reports, the Jersey Devil stands around three and a half feet high, with a head like a collie dog, and a face like a horse.  It is said to have a long neck with wings two feet long on its back.  The back legs are long and crane like, and it had horses hoofs.  It walks on its hind legs and had two front legs with paws on them. 

There are many different stories on the birth of the devil, but what ties the legends together is the name Leeds.  Whether a mothers name or a birthplace, all stories include Leeds.  Alfred Heston, a historian, discovered that a Daniel Leeds opened some land in Great Egg Harbor, NJ, 1969. His family lived in Leeds Point.  Professor Fred Mac Fadden of Coppin State College in Baltimore, found reports of a devil from as early as 1735 were mentioned in that area.  The sightings are the most substantial pieces of evidence that this devil exists.  

The sightings are usually grouped together in three categories.  The pre 1909, January 16-23, 1909, and the post 1909 era.  In the pre 1909 era the sightings are limited but there are many made by notable people such as: Stephen Decatur, and old naval hero, claims to have fired a cannonball right through the devil.  Joseph Bonaparte, former king of Spain, and brother of Napoleon, saw the devil many times his hunting trips in the early 1800s.  Before January 16^th the Jersey Devil was only seen from time to time, but on Sunday morning January 16 everything changed.  During this week the devil was seen at least 100 times.  A policeman, a postmaster, and even a Minister had seen the creature, and by sunrise the people of Bristol, NJ, found unidentifiable hoof prints all over their yards and roofs.  This continued on for a week.  One report is of a group of hunters dogs who were too scared to follow the trail.  By weeks end people were so scared schools and factories in Gloucester closed because no one would come into work.  Since that week people continually see the jersey devil but not as much  Many people think that there are just as many sightings, but no one wants to be labeled a nut.  The footprints and sightings are the most substantial evidence that this is not a hoax.

One theory is that this devil is a bird, from a scrowfoot duck, to a sand hill crane.  Which was 4 ft tall and weighs 12 lbs. and has a wingspan of 80 inches?  It has a loud screaming whooping call that can be heard from far away.  This bird also eats potatoes and corn crop failures Some people think that it is a prehistoric animal that has survived underground, but most people believe the devil is a deformed child of a one Mrs. Leeds.  Another theory is that the Jersey Devil is the very essence of evil embodied and is an uncanny harbinger of war