MONSTERS, CRYPTIDS AND SUPERNATURAL CREATURES
JERSEY DEVIL
Leeds Devil, Devil of Leeds, the Hoodle-Doodle Bird, Wozzle Bug
The Jersey Devil (also known as the Leeds Devil) is a legendary creature from Jersey and Philadelphia folklore, that is said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of South Jersey. For close to three hundred years, people have told tales of this mythical beast and how it stalks the region, intimidating local residents and even to this day, claims the Pines as its own, terrorizing any who are unfortunate enough to encounter it. Unearthly wails would often reported emanating from the dark forests and bogs, and the slaughter of livestock and domestic animals would often be attributed to the beast. Over the years the legend grew, occasionally even overstepping the boundaries of the Pine Barrens to terrorize local towns and cities. One of the most infamous of these incidents occurred during the week of January 16th to the 23rd, 1909. Reports starting emerging across Delaware Valley that strange tracks were being found in the snow. The strange footprints went over and under fences, through fields and backyards, and across the rooftops of houses, even reported in the cities of Camden and Philadelphia. Panic began to spread, fear grew, and only increased, when it was reported that bloodhounds refused to follow the creature’s trail in Hammonton. Schools closed or suffered low attendance throughout lower NJ and Philadelphia and Mills in the Pine Barrens were forced to close when workers refused to travel through the woods to get to their jobs.
Physiology:
The Jersey Devil is as being a kangaroo-like or wyvern-like creature with a goat- or horse-like head, leathery bat-like wings, horns, small arms with clawed hands, legs with cloven hooves, and a forked tail. It has been reported to move quickly and is often described as emitting a high-pitched "blood-curdling scream".
Etylmology:
Prior to the early 1900s, and before the series of reported sightings of the creature during 1909, the Jersey Devil was referred to as the Leeds Devil or the Devil of Leeds, either in connection with the local Leeds family or the eponymous southern New Jersey town, Leeds Point.
History:
In October, 1790, a woodsman named Vance Larner witnissed a terrifying creature in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, which he described in his diary as being neither beast nor man nor spirit, but a hellish brew of all three.
Two hundred and fifteen years later, this is recognized as the first sighting of what has come to be known as The Jersey Devil.
Territory:
America
Origination:
According to folklore, the Jersey Devil originates from Jane Leeds, also known as Mother Leeds. The legend states that she had 12 children and, after finding she was pregnant with the 13th, cursed it in frustration, crying that the child would be the devil. In 1735 on a stormy night, she gave birth to a normal child, but moments later, it transformed in to a hideous creature with wings, and a forked tail. It beat everyone with its tail before escaping up the chimney and into the pines. In some versions of the tale, Mother Leeds was a witch and the child's father was the devil himself.
Nature:
Sinister and aggressive. Over the years, the devil's exploits have been held resposible for crops that have failed, cows that have stopped giving milk and droughts. It is said that he has blown the tops off trees and boiled streams. He has been blamed for the loss of all livestock and some even believed he foreshadowed disaster and foretold of war.
Modus Operandi:
Prefers to remain hidden from site and attack randomly, intimidating its victims with a blood-curdling scream. There seems to be very little structure to its attack pattern and it will generally create chaos and fear with an aggressive temperament towards any other living creature that dare enter its territory.
Vulnerability:
As this particular creature is of a supernatural origin, its weaknesses are highly debatable. If it is indeed a demonic entity, this would leave it susceptible to forms of magical incantations, wards, banishments or possibly religeous artifacts. However, in one tale of its birth, it is mentioned that an exorcizism was performed, which was clearly ineffective. Physical attacks and weaponry also seem to have very little effect, as recorded in 1909, when members of the Navy were running drills at the Hanover Mill Works in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Navy Commander Stephen Decatur claimed that they were practicing shooting cannons, when they spotted the Jersey Devil in the distance. They shot the creature with a cannonball, which according to witnesses, came in direct contact with the creature, and yet it was still alive.