Post by Abraxas on May 16, 2011 12:14:04 GMT -5
1. Jersey Devil of being pure hokum.
2. Newspapers invented names for the creature like "Wozzle bug," "Flying hoof," and "Winged dog." They sought quotes from animal experts, who — tongue in cheek — called it a Pterodactyl or a missing link. Trenton humorist Francis B. Lee identified it as Hespiro-Dinosaur-Rorinis, seen "in the homes of some of Jersey's manufacturers of bug juice."
3. In Philadelphia, a showman named Jacob Hope announced that the devil was really an escaped "Australian vampire" and offered a $500 reward for it. Then, with great fanfare, he announced its capture and put the "vampire" — actually a kangaroo painted with green stripes — on display.
4. On Jan. 23, the Daily True American breathlessly announced that a farmer in Morrisville, Pa., had been able to trap the "bird-beast" in his barn. That, story, too was a hoax.
5. The New Jersey "What-IS-IT"
6. A Burlington police officer stated that the creature had glowing red eyes "like blazing coals" and that he was quite convinced that he had come face to face with a "Jabberwock".
7. A churchgoing couple in Gloucester — "neither of them has ever even tasted applejack," the Trenton Times reported.
8. Now, I have heard that if the Jersey Devil does seem like he's coming after you," he tells them, "you can shout, 'Shoo, shoo!' and he'll go away. For some reason he doesn't like to be 'shooed' at. And then there are some people who have gone after him with sticks, chased him across the yard. Sometimes he'll breathe a little bit of fire in self-defense, but usually he'll take to the air and leave.
"So if you do see him, I want to emphasize there's no need to start picking up sticks or whipping out knives or guns—nobody brought guns or anything, right? No swords or anything? What you do is just observe him, and if he comes after you just say 'Shoo, shoo!' and stamp your feet, that kind of thing."
2. Newspapers invented names for the creature like "Wozzle bug," "Flying hoof," and "Winged dog." They sought quotes from animal experts, who — tongue in cheek — called it a Pterodactyl or a missing link. Trenton humorist Francis B. Lee identified it as Hespiro-Dinosaur-Rorinis, seen "in the homes of some of Jersey's manufacturers of bug juice."
3. In Philadelphia, a showman named Jacob Hope announced that the devil was really an escaped "Australian vampire" and offered a $500 reward for it. Then, with great fanfare, he announced its capture and put the "vampire" — actually a kangaroo painted with green stripes — on display.
4. On Jan. 23, the Daily True American breathlessly announced that a farmer in Morrisville, Pa., had been able to trap the "bird-beast" in his barn. That, story, too was a hoax.
5. The New Jersey "What-IS-IT"
6. A Burlington police officer stated that the creature had glowing red eyes "like blazing coals" and that he was quite convinced that he had come face to face with a "Jabberwock".
7. A churchgoing couple in Gloucester — "neither of them has ever even tasted applejack," the Trenton Times reported.
8. Now, I have heard that if the Jersey Devil does seem like he's coming after you," he tells them, "you can shout, 'Shoo, shoo!' and he'll go away. For some reason he doesn't like to be 'shooed' at. And then there are some people who have gone after him with sticks, chased him across the yard. Sometimes he'll breathe a little bit of fire in self-defense, but usually he'll take to the air and leave.
"So if you do see him, I want to emphasize there's no need to start picking up sticks or whipping out knives or guns—nobody brought guns or anything, right? No swords or anything? What you do is just observe him, and if he comes after you just say 'Shoo, shoo!' and stamp your feet, that kind of thing."