The Washington herald., 1909-01-21

Philadelphia, Jan. 20.-Clearly defined in
the crust Of the snow. the footprints OF a
rwo-legged beast or bird. shod with steel.
are creating a tremendous sensation in
this city and the South jersey towns.
People who read this narrative may form
their own opinions as to the cause Of
these manifestations
It was originally intended TO treat this
subject with light and scofing touch; TO
make merry over the mystery OF the
Leeds Devil' that has transformed
scores OF towns and hamlets in Camden,
Gloucester, and Burlington counties into
settlements Of timid folk, where women
and children fear 70 walk abroad e
night and armed men make nocturnal
searches.
Hot with Messages.
Before noon, however, the telephone
wires were hot with messages from per-
sons who had seen the footprints. Two
men declared they had seen the sarks in
their own yards in this city They were
William L. Smith. 45H Sansom street. and
William Helmbold. 2337 North Eighteenth
street, and their neighbors know them
for sober and truthful men.
or course, practical people sc0f al these
reports. but none has vet offered an ex-
PLANTATION thai viii meet the situation
Then comes Nelson Evans. a paper
hanger. living al 2GS Mercer street, GlOu-
cester City. with the declaration that he
and his wife saw the devil early this
morning as he sat on the roof OF their
back shed
White-faced and trembling Evans en-
tered police headquarters there this morn
Ing and leaned up against the wall
saw the Devil
7 saw it, re whispered. round-eyed
with recollection
You did, exclaimed the chief. What
did It look like?"
About , o'clock this morning" said
the paperhanger, my wife and I were
aroused by q noise on our shed roof. Il
went 20 the window and looked out and
then I called her. We saw the stranEest
beast or bird. I don't know which. you
ever heard or
Tt was about three and a half feet
high. with a head ike a collie dog and
a face ike a horse. L had a long neck
wings about two feet long. and its hack
legs were Ike those Of a crane and Il
tad horses hOOfs- Il walked on its back
legs and held up two short front legs
with paws on them Il didn't use the
front LEGS al all while we were watch /
ing H.
As far as I could tell. the thing
seemed TO be trying 10 get into the shed. !
AIy wife and I were scared. I tell YOU.
bat ] managed 20 open the window and
say 'Shoor and it turned around, barked !
al me, and then few away
Tracks Are seen.
The tracks were first seen after the
heavy snowfall Saturday night, but at
first nothing was said about they. as they
were believed to be the work Of some /
practical joker. Then It was noticed
that the mysterious creature left hoof
prints in farm yards and on roofs OF /
as well.
Marks Of the beast were found in Glou- /
ester. Mount Holly. Clayton. Woodbury., i
NenOnah. MantUa. Paulsboro, Lumber I
on. AyerstOWn. Vfncetown. Almonessen. I
Mount Ephraim. and other towns within 4
radius of twenty miles OF more This
;learly upset the theory that il was the 1
work OF a joker and the oldest inhabi- 4
ant got busy
He remembered that as far hack as .
S69 that part Of South Jersey was visited .
y a creature that was known as Iced \
Devil, because it was supposed to emerge /
rom Leeds Point. on Brigantine Beach. &
The devil" reappeared in 1874 and 1873 +.
md even as recently as 1894
Crosses the River.
Early yesterday morning there came a /
eport that the monstrOsity had crossed
he river and was dispOrting himself in
he yards of residents of Sansom street.
.boYe Forty-fifth street
A young man. who gave his name as
Harry l. Smith, end said he lived al s5sI
'ansom street. said that in the yard OF
is home there were marks ike the foot 1.
rints Of a two-legged horse. He had /
oticed the marks Monday morning. but
about mentioning them because
e feared his veracity might be doubted.
This morning when he heard about the
ersey devil he was emboldened 70 speak
Ie declared the horse had small feet
nd took unusually short steps. Il also II
eft its marks in neighbors yard