The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-12-22
SNALAGESTOR- BOVALOPUS
TERRIFIES MANY PEOPLE
Strange Creature Creates Tense
Situation Among COlOred
Population

following interesting story concern
ing the snalagestor- bovalopus:
A number of persons residing in
sections of South Mountain, especial
ly Clevelandville and Appletown, in
Washington county, Maryland, just
over the mountain from Middletown
Valley, have been greatly mystified
and alarmed during the past week as
the result of a strange monster which
flew over that region Friday after
noon, according to The Boonsboro
(Md.) Times.
Eyewitnesses stated that the large
object, dark and ominous, appeared
first down the direction of Middle
town Valley, floating slowly over the
mountain. Those watching it said it
would change in color and size and at
times throw out long streamers like
the arms of an octopus, only to draw
them in again and then sail out of
sight.
Some persons who saw the mons
ter, which is described as being as
large as a dirigible, believe that it is
an omen of evil as a result of the re-
cent election. AS the monster appear
ed to be flying directly overhead, nu-
merous persons sought safety with
in their homes. However, it is said
that the monster made no effort to
harm anyone, but always kept some
distance away, appearing and disap-
pearing back and forward across the
mountains.
From the best description of the
monster obtainable by a representa-
tive of The Middletown Valley Reg
lister who visited some of the noun
tain sections where it was seen, it is
evidently a young "Go-Devil" or
Winged Bovalopus" commonly known
as "Snalagestor," which terrified
residents of several states, including
this section of Maryland, in 1909. 1t
is not believed, however, that it is
the beast which was seen at that
time, because the average life of the
monster is said by scientists to be
only Is years. 1t is believed, though.
that the beast may have been hatch
ed from one of the eggs which was
known to have been laid by the "Snal-
agestor" at that time in the noun
tains near Burkittsville. Scientists
claim that it takes from 20 to rs
years for one of the eggs to hatch,
and if such is the case, this could
easily be an offspring of the GO
Devil" which was seen in this section
in 1909.
Upon the occasion of it's former
visit, the monster killed several col
ored men in New Jersey, and several
persons in Washington county, Md,
and jefferson county, w. Va, made
narrow escapes from the beast. The
monster had previously spent several
years in seclusion on an island off
the coast of Mexico.
The Shepherdstown Register again
carried another story under date line
of Dec. 1 concerning the activities of
the snalagestor in that section. The
story, as they printed it, follows in
part:
Cup in Terrapin Neck where the
| boys do their hunting and Joe Wal
per is monarch of all he surveys up
that way, strange things have been
happening. Several colored men were
hunting rabbits the other evening
and as the shades of night were fast
enveloping that bit of land that pro-
trudes into the Potomac one of the
negroes heard strange noise over
head, somewhat like small land
slide. Looking up, they saw a hideous
! Creature lazily floating over them.
The younger Of the negroes was a
slim fellow, while his companion car
ried an extra amount of flesh. The
slim young man Immediately put
miles behind him, but his companion,
being heavy, was not so fortunate
and could not make much time. He
tried to elude the snalagestor by
lodging in and out among the trees
with the bovalopus pursuing directly
overhead. The only thing that saved
the heavy boy was the fact that he
was in the woods and the snalagestor,
being so large, could not get to him
through the trees. Joe Walper says
he witnessed the entire episode and
that the snalagestor, giving up the
chase, stopped in the tall grass by
the waters edge and laid an egg. 1t
is computed that this egg will hatch
about 1857, so if any of you are liv-
ing at that time, keep your eyes open
and stay indoors at night"