The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-06-24
Weird Devil Bird Crossed State
Line and Terrified Spring
Valley, New York
BRAVE POSSE HUNTS MONSTER
described as Having An Immense
Head, and a Small but Muscular
Cody Covered with Hair-Arms
Equipped with Web.like Skin.

Spring Valley, N. Y.-An armed
posses Of fearless men searched hill
and dale and invaded swamp lands
fearlessly in and around this village,
in hot pursuit of the weird Jersey
"Bombat," which has made its lair
nearby. The alleged capture of the
devil bird" at Atlantic City is not
credited here. 1t wasn't the real
devil bird" that fought Fisherman
Dougherty, for the monster is in the
midst" here.
The creature appeared in the heart
OF the swamp near the business Sec
tion of Main street. Its uncanny cries
at first startled the villagers, and
when an exploring party, armed with
lanterns, entered the swamp the
cleaning eyes OF the creature and it's
wild gyrations threw terror into the
hearts of the bravest, and the scout
ing party, led by Charlie Fisher, who
keeps the bowling alleys, filed back
to the security of the village streets.
Throughout the night the cries of
the whatever-it-is were heard coming
from various directions, but always
from the neighborhood of the swamp.
Chief of Police Tommy" Walker,
who is the entire uniformed force,
was appealed to, but guessed as how"
his business did not consist of run
ming down Bombats or Jersey Devils,
and he reckoned he'd better remain
on Main street and do his usual bit.
On their way to school next day
children flocked together passing the
haunt of the Bombat. Women ex-
pressed equal fear and men ventured
forth fearful of encountering the crea-
ture.
1t was described as having an i'm
mense head atop of small but mus
cular body, covered with hair. Its
arms appeared to be equipped with a
eb-like skin which answered the pur-
Sc of wings, giving the creature
lity to leap immense distances,
nile the wings tapped lifting its
bJdy clear off the earth.
At night when the awful shrieking
and at times mournful cries of the
Bombat carried into every home of
the village, the negroes living on
Chicken Hill ran terrified into the vii
lage and many flocked into the Metho-
dist church and prayed Historically.
Sarah Allston, wife of Omega All.
ston, woodchopper was more hyster-
ical than the rest. She fled from the
church down Main street and fell
dead in front of the post office. DR..
Smith declared she had died from
heart disease, but the villagers ex-
claimed that the evil hand of the
Bombat had been raised against
Sarah, and that any one so indicated
by the monster would meet the same
fate.
An hour later the fright Of the vii
layers was intensified when word was
brought in that the body of a dead
man was found on the railroad tracks.
The body has not yet been identified.
After a night of vigil, during which
the Bombat continued to howl and
shrek and moan, the men of Spring
Valley met in Fishers bowling alley,
but not ball rolled, not even a high
ball. Matters were too desperate,
Charley Fisher allowed, to permit any
sort of festivity.
II tell you what We'll do" spoke up
Tom Moore, throwing out his chest.
We'll form hunting party, arm our
selves to the teeth, and every man
pledging himself to stand together,
we'll sally into the swamp tomorrow
and hunt down that pesky critter."
There were several present who de-
clared as how it might be well to call
for outside assistance and not go on
tempting the devil. but when J. G.
Gibbs. Harold Sheldon, Ross Youmans,
Roswald Harrington. Walter Foley,
Shep Small and Dink Davis volunteer
ed to start the hunt, first thing next
morning, the others fell into line.
During the remainder of the night
followed scurrying throughout the
village for firearms, and cutlasses, and
1t came to pass that bright and early
the band entered the swamp to hunt
the terrifying bombat to the death.
Spring Valley awaited with hushed
anxiety the result of the formidable
dash Of the brave men Of the village
into the heart of the bombat's chosen
fastness. Their search was In vain.