recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Trevor Silverwood Postcards

The Trevor Silverwood Postcards were sent by an unknown individual over the course of more than a decade.

 **Theories** | None

## Description

Trevor Silverwood

Trevor Silverwood was a British politician who served as a local councilor in his hometown of Bridlington in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Beginning in 1967, he was subject to a campaign of harassment that lasted for over a decade. Someone - or a group of someone's - began sending him hundreds of postcards. While the postcards were never overtly threatening, the knowledge of Silverwood's life displayed by the writer was unnerving, as the postcards made reference to meals he had eaten, programs he had watched on tv, and articles of clothing he had worn. All of the postcards were written in shorthand, a somewhat antiquated method of speed writing which replaces common words with symbols, and all were signed with the matchstick figure of the saint. Simon Templar, aka the saint, is a fictional character in a series of novels by British-Chinese writer Leslie Charteris. The saint is an anti hero, robin hood like character, who battles with arms dealers, warmongers, drug dealers, and corrupt politicians. While some of the postcards bore postmarks from nearby cities like Rotherham, Silverwoods stalker also sent cards that had been postmarked in such far away locations as India, America, and Canada.

In the late 1970s, Silverwood decided to confront his stalker by placing a personal ad in a local newspaper begging the writer to identify himself. Days later, he received a card postmarked in the canary islands off the west coast of Africa, which read "Don't be naughty. What a nice photograph of you the newspaper published!" Some time after this, Silverwood was questioned by police over a minor driving matter, and later received a card containing a detailed description of his interview, as if the writer had been standing within mere feet of their conversation, thought it took place on an empty stretch of road.

Due to the intimate knowledge displayed of Silverwood's life, some suspect that Silverwood himself was responsible for sending the postcards, but this theory fails to explain how Silverwood could send himself postcards from faraway locations. Silverwood gained nothing from the affair except a slightly diminished reputation.

Due to the signature of the saint, a character who battled with corrupt politicians, some believe that Silverwood was targeted by an individual or group who were angry with him over decisions he made during his political career.

According to a poster on Unexplained Mysteries forums who claimed to be Silverwood's son, the postcards finally stopped coming in the 1980s. The identity of the writer, or writers, why they targeted Silverwood, and how they were able to know intimate details about his life, all remain unknown.

## Trivia

* similar cases have been reported elsewhere, most famously the Westfield Watcher.
Giant Shrimp in the Laundry Room

**Theories** |  · Cryptid · Hoax

The **Giant Shrimp in the Laundry Room**, also known as **Bremerton Giant Shrimp** was a bizarre cryptid sighted in 1948 by a Bremerton, Washington native named Virginia Staples. The personal account was originally published in issue 6 of *Strange Magazine*. The entity was seen standing inside a large hole in the wall of the basement laundry room of Virginia's run-down apartment building.

## Appearance

The witness described the creature as standing approximately five feet in height, exactly as tall as her. It had a bright orange colored body and little spidery thin legs and antennae on its head that kept moving back and in and out.

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:

* An undiscovered species (a Cryptid)
* A hoax

## Trivia

* After working up the nerve to revisit Bremerton soon after, Staples arrived to discover that the apartment house on Denny Street had been torn down.
Moodus Noises

**Theories** |  · Micro earthquakes

The **Moodus Noises** is the name given to an acoustic phenomenon that has plagued the citizens of Moodus, Connecticut, for centuries.

## Description

The noises have been described as sounding like everything from thunder to trees falling to the Earth itself belching.

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the phenomenon could be. Theories include:

* Micro earthquakes

## Trivia

* In *Legendary Connecticut*, author David Philips asserts that the Moodus noises were the source of an indigenous religious cult important to local Native Americans. Local Algonquin chiefs (Sachems) would gather around Mt. Tom in order to experience the living presence of the god Hobomock. Pequot, Mohegan and Narragansett tribes participated in this cult, and according to local Alison Guinness, the Wangunks were involved as well. The Algonquins called the area Matchemadoset or Matchitmoodus Hobomock was considered an evil spirit and worshipped by a warfaring tribe that inhabited the hills, ridges and caves in the area. Hobomock was the spirit of the dead.
* The Moodus noises were the basis for the otherworldly noises in H. P. Lovecraft's *The Dunwich Horror*.
* The local high school's athletic teams are dubbed the "Noises."
Green Clawed Beast

**Theories** |  · Cryptid

The **Green Clawed Beast** was an unseen cryptid that is rumored to live in the Ohio River near Evansville, Indiana. On August 14, 1955, an unseen “claw-like hand” grabbed Naomi Johnson and pulled her beneath the water. Her friend, Louise was wading in an inner tube nearby when she heard her friend yelp, and turned to see her pulled under. The hand released Johnson who swam to the surface only to be grabbed, and pulled under again and again. The attack only ended when Louise moved her inner tube directly over the monster. A short time later, a man claiming to be an air force colonel came to the Johnson's house and instructed Naomi to never speak of the incident. There have been no reported sightings since.

## Appearance

The creature was never seen, but it appeared to have clawed hands. In an interview, Mrs. Johnson also described the creature's palm as feeling "furry".

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:

* An undiscovered species (a Cryptid)
* A large catfish
Fountain Cloud

**Theories** |  · Odd weather pattern

The **Fountain Cloud** was a strange weather phenomenon described in Jerome Clark's book *Unexplained! Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena*.

The cloud was spotted during the summer of 1975 in Oyster Bay, New York by a science teacher named Tom D'Ercole. He described how the cloud, which moved and changed shape abnormally, "pursed its lips" and sprayed him with a stream of water.

## Description

The cloud was described as dark in color and the size of a basketball. It floated back and forth across the peak of his roof, "changing in shape from a small globular mass to a larger ovoid and finally becoming an abstract, multicurved, dark, vaporous 'something'." He claimed that it finally measured about six feet in height and one and a half feet wide.

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the phenomenon could be. Theories include:

* An odd weather pattern

## Trivia

* Clouds are in fact capable of odd appearance and behavior.
Mandy the Doll

**Theories** |  · Ghost · Demonic presence

**Mandy the Doll** is an allegedly haunted doll that been on display at the Quesnel & District Museum since 1991.

Mandy is very similar to Robert the Doll.

## Manifestations

* Baby crying noises
* Windows opening by themselves
* Objects moving and disappearing
* Batteries losing power
* Doll's eyes move and blink

## Background

Once Mandy was put on display strange things began happening to the staff and volunteers at Quesnel Museum. Lunches would begin disappearing out of the fridge, only to be found later tucked into drawers. Pens, pictures, books, and display items began disappearing without a trace, many of which have yet to be found.

## Trivia

* The doll is currently over 100 years old, and was already 91 when she was donated to the museum.
* In 1999, the Museum and Mandy were both featured in the book *Supernatural Stories Around British Columbia*.
Monkey-man of Delhi

**Theories** |  · Extraterrestrial · Man/primate hybrid · Hoax

The **Monkey-man of Delhi** was a monster which was reported roaming Delhi in mid-2001. In May 2001, reports began to circulate in the Indian capital New Delhi of a strange monkey-like creature that was appearing at night and attacking people.

## Appearance

Eyewitness accounts were often inconsistent, but tended to describe the creature as about four feet (120 cm) tall, covered in thick black hair, with a metal helmet, metal claws, glowing red eyes and three buttons on its chest; others, however, described the Monkey-man as having a more vulpine snout, and being up to eight feet tall, and muscular; it would leap from building to building like a parkour enthusiast. Still others have described it as a bandaged figure or as a helmeted thing.

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:

* Extraterrestrial
* Man/primate hybrid
* Mass hysteria

## Notable Encounters

There are no notable accounts that we could find.

## Trivia

* Many people reported being scratched, and two (by some reports, three) people even died when they leapt from the tops of buildings or fell down stairwells in a panic caused by what they thought was the attacker. At one point, exasperated police even issued artist's impression drawings in an attempt to catch the creature.

## Gallery

### Photo Gallery

Police sketches of the creatureAn artist's depiction
Ghost Cow

**Theories** |  · Ghost

The **Ghost Cows**, also known as the **Ghost Cows of Farm Road 511**, are a group of bizarre animal spirits that supposedly haunt Farm Road 511 at the southeast tip of Texas, near the Mexican border.

## Background

Farm Road 511 is a fairly well-traveled road, but it has been reported, in the local newspaper and other media, that people have encountered what are known as "ghost cows" in this desolate stretch or road in the middle of the night. As you drive down the road you may suddenly see a cow six feet in front of you and try to avoid it... only to find out that your evasive action was unnecessary, since there was never really anything there. Many people have gotten into serious accidents, causing great damage to their vehicles and person only to get out of their vehicles and find no sign of any animal or living creature in sight. (StrangeUSA.com)

## Notable Accounts

As of yet, there are no notable accounts that we could find.

## Trivia

* There are also reports of a spectral woman that will appear on Farm Road 511 asking for a ride to get home.

## Gallery

### Photo Gallery

An illustration appearing in *Weird Texas*An artist's depiction
Batsquatch

**Theories** |  · Humanoid bat · Flying ape

**Batsquatch** is a sasquatch-like cryptid that has been reportedly sighted in the Mount St. Helens region of Washington state.

## Appearance

Batsquatch is roughly 8-9 feet tall with clawed feet and hands, which are likely used for gripping prey, as well as cave walls. Its head is a fusion of bat and human, and it has large bat-like, membranous wings extending from its back. The Batsquatch has grey, blue, or black fur and pink skin.

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:

* An undiscovered species (a Cryptid)
* A flying ape
* A humanoid bat

## Trivia

* The Batsquatch is thought to be a form of ape that has evolved flight capabilities.

## Gallery

### Photo Gallery

An artist's depictionAn artist's depictionA Batsquatch figurine
Clown Motel

**Theories** |  · Abandoned motel

The **Clown Motel** is an abandoned motel located just off Highway 95, about halfway between Las Vegas and Reno, on the edge of the town of Tonopah.

## Background

Once a booming, goldmining hotspot with a population of over 50,000, Tonopah now houses just around 2,500 people, most of whom work for the local military test range.

## Notable Accounts

* Account #1
*At one point early in the evening we were hearing strange sounds and what appeared to be someone screaming followed by lot popping and crunching noises. While in the bathroom my buddy decided to have a peak outside of the bathroom window. My buddy lets out a yell and busts out into the room and I'm like "what?!" He doesn't say anything but goes right to his back and gets his Smith and Wesson 357 out. I'm thinking "what the $%#" and I dig into my bag to get my Sig 232 out. He says we need to get the %@#& out of there right now. I saw he was serious and that made me serious about it, we grabbed our $#!^ for the most part (left a few clothes behind) and looked out the peep sight to make sure it was clear to our car. I threw my gun into my pocket, he put his in his waistband and we hauled ass to the car and got the hell out of there. On the ride away, I asked what he saw in the bathroom. He told me when he looked out the window there was this creepy-ass clown facing away from the window, pants at his ankles, making a weird motion. He told me the clown slowly turned 90 degrees to look at him, my friend said he looked down to see this clown $#@%ing a full-sized dinner ham, when he looked up from the ham $^@!ing the clown was smiling and waving at him.* (roadtrippers.com)

## Trivia

* Despite its creepy nature, the Clown Motel is still a functioning motel.
Hairy Hands

**Theories** |  · Road conditions · Ghost · Speeding drivers

The **Hairy Hands** haunting is a spirit rumored to haunt a stretch of road in Dartmoor, United Kingdom, which was purported to have seen an unusually high number of motor vehicle accidents during the early 20th century.

## Manifestations

* A pair of disembodied hands that appear suddenly, grab at the steering wheel of a moving car or the handlebars of a motorcycle, and then force the victim off the road.

## Background

Since around 1910, drivers and cyclists have reported suffering unusual accidents between Postbridge and Two Bridges. In many cases, the victims reported that their vehicle had jolted or swerved violently and steered off the side of the road, as if something had taken hold of the wheels and wrenched it out of their control.

## Notable Accounts

* Account #1
* Account #2
*That's a story that's been repeated many times since its first suggested incident in June 1921 when a worker at Dartmoor Prison was killed as his motorcycle became uncontrollable and crashed.*

*The tale was related by his children who were riding in the sidecar, all they knew was their father shouting at them to get off the bike and apparently wrestling with the controls.*

*They jumped clear, he didn't.*

*This was repeated again sometime later, another motorcyclist, this time with a pillion passenger, seemingly driven off the road approaching the same spot.*

*This time the passenger saw things more clearly and insisted he saw a large hairy hand grasp the handlebars and forcibly upset the bike.*

-BBC*In 1924 a young couple were camping in a caravan in the area and the woman was woken in the middle of the night by a heart-racing fear.*

*Her bunk faced the caravan window and up it she saw crawling a large hand, covered in hair and, she said, exuding an intent to do her and her husband harm.*

*Instinctively the lady made the sign of the cross and said the hand balked and made its way away.*

-BBC
## Trivia

* In some cases, the hands are described as being invisible.
Brazilian Werewolf

**Theories** |  · Werewolf · Hoax · Wolf/Dog/Bear

The **Brazilian Werewolf** is a humanoid cryptid reportedly caught by a security camera in Ceilândia, a city in east central Brazil.

It is very similar to the Michigan Dogman.

## Appearance

The creature appears to be a humanoid wolf or dog-like creature. The creature as very muscular, possesses long, legs and a long tail

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:

* An undiscovered species (a Cryptid)
* A werewolf
* Dogs, bears, wolves, or other wildlife.
* A hoax

## Trivia

* Brazil is one of the South American countries known for believing that a human can become a “lobisomem” or werewolf if he’s the 7th male child of the same father and mother. Some believe the change takes place when the boy turns 13. Variations have this happening on a Friday during Lent or on a Friday the 13th during a full moon and only for two hours from midnight to 2:00 AM.
* Two attacks by a wolfman or dogman were reported in Brazil in 2008 and 2009. A woman in São Sepé told police she was attacked on January 28, 2009, by a big dog that stood on its hind legs and walked like a man. In 2008, police in Tauá received numerous reports of a half-man, half-wolf that was stealing sheep and breaking into houses.

## Gallery

### Photo Gallery

The alleged photographAn alleged carcass found in April of 2015
Melrose Creep

**Theories** |  · Cryptid

**Melrose Creep** is short and comes exclusively from Al Eufrasio and Jeff Davis’s *Weird Oregon*. The Weird US book series is a must-have for Forteans because they have some of the most unique encounters ever reported and some which have never been reported anywhere else.

The entity known as the Melrose Creep is one such case, and it's particularly bizarre as it reminds one of the stories of the 1955 Loveland Frogman case or a legged Belial from Basket Case/ living Ghoulie or a living Boglin or *Mad ball*.

## Appearance

This case which was sent to Eufrasio and Davis, was by a witness known only as Captain Morgan and describes how he has had an encounter with the creature on one particular evening. On the evening in question, he had decided to go into the woods at night. Morgan explains that the reason for this is that he tended to be a night owl, and while out for a stroll in a clear cut behind his house, he heard a soft pattering sound behind him like that of footsteps.

As he turned around, he could see that something was indeed walking behind him, and as he looked at the entity, he could tell that it was something he had never seen before.

Morgan was used to bears, cats, coyotes, and any traditional animal as he always had lived in the woodlands around Melrose Township, and what he saw before him was something that was exclusively different than normal fauna. The being he saw was about three to four feet tall and was noticeably hunched over. The creature was completely hairless and covered with slick skin. The creature had long arms that ended in six-fingered hands and had feet that were stubby but ended in claws.

The creature did have a head that was eerily human in form and had bulging glowing red eyes. The creature seemed unafraid of the Captain and proceeded to walk closer to Morgan. Morgan was completely terrified of this strange abomination and was not willing to let this creature come too close. He returned home and did not leave his home for weeks for fear that the creature might come after him or come get him.
Garson Invaders

**Theories** |  · Extraterrestrial

The **Garson Invaders** sighting was an extraterrestrial sighting that took place on July 2, 1954, at about 5:00 PM. The eyewitness was a 23 year-old Canadian miner named Ennio La Sarza, who originally hailed from Italy.

## Appearance

The saucer was spherical in shape, about 25-feet in diameter, and had a set of portholes around the edge of it. There were pieces of landing gear and something like a retractable antenna on top.”

The entities that emerged from the craft were described as colossal entities, 13 feet in height, with bluish-green skin and faces of a color he had never seen before. Their bodies seemed to glow, and they had a single eye in the center of what passed for a forehead. The beings had six evenly distributed sets of arms. The hands were equipped with crab-like claws, which opened and closed spasmodically. They also were equipped with a natural, twin antenna in the head.

## Trivia

* The presumed leader of these frightening figures began to scuttle toward the terrified La Sarza, who instinctively tried to back away, only to be suddenly struck by what can only be categorized as a psychic blow.
Axeman Of New Orléans

The **Axeman of New Orléans** is a confirmed serial killer who was active between 1918 and 1919 in new Orléans. The killer was never caught, and to this current day his identity remains a mystery. He has since passed on into a local urban legend in New Orléans, with many considering him to be a myth. There are also legends stating that there were similar reports in 1911, but they are still up for debate over their validity.

## The attacks

The attacks occurred between May 1918 and October 1919. The Axeman of New Orléans had 12 confirmed victims, resulting in 6 fatalities. The majority of his victims were Italian immigrants and Italian-Americans.

The Axeman primarily used an axe in his attacks.

The murders caused a mass panic similar to the later panic over the contested 'Mad Gasser of Mattoon' in the mid-1940s. Panic also sparked legends of similar killings in 1911 but they are contested.

## Possible explanations/motive

Several theories have arisen over the legends and motives:

* Actual serial killer (mostly accepted)
* Hoax/folklore
* Mafia killings
* Promotion of music (most outlandish)
Martian Sasquatch

**Theories** |  · Extraterrestrial · Rock formation · Hoax

The **Martian Sasquatch** sighting is an extraterrestrial photo that shows up in a panorama that the Spirit rover took from its position on top of Home Plate on sols 1,366-1,369 in November of 2007.

## Appearance

The creature appears to be very similar to the typical Earth sasquatch. The entity in the second photo in the Photo Gallery appears to not have any discernible legs.

## Trivia

* Many alien theorists suspect that the entity seen in the original photo is a female.

## Gallery

### Photo Gallery

An alleged photograph (showing three figures)An alleged photograph (showing a figure chasing the rover)
Avon Haunted Bridge

**Theories** |  · Ghost

The **Avon Haunted Bridge** is a purportedly-haunted bridge near Avon, Indiana that runs across the White Lick Creek. It is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of an African-American bridge worker.

## Manifestations

* Screaming
* Pounding from within the bridge
* Blood dripping from the bridge

## Background

The story goes that one of the workers during the bridge's construction was a large African-American man named Dad Jones. Because he was extremely strong (or because he was black), he was often given some of the most grueling work.

One day, Dad Jones and another worker were standing atop a wooden platform, pouring cement into the trestle. Suddenly, the wooden platform collapsed, throwing the other worker off to safety. Dad Jones, however, was not so lucky. He fell into the trestle and was buried alive by the cement.

## Notable Accounts

* Account #1
*I grew up in the area of the haunted bridge and everyone knew the story. As a kid I used to play beneath the trestles on long summer afternoons, and we all saw the red color of the water as it ran down the side of the bridge. My older brother used to tell me the bridge was bleeding. When I was about 13, I snuck out of the house with my older brothers late one night and we went out to the bridge. We sat by the banks of the creek for a long time waiting for a train; I was not sure what we were waiting for because my brothers had not yet told me the story yet. Finally, at about 1:00 AM, we heard a train approaching and we all got up and stood by the bottom of the bridge. Just as the train reached the near side of the bridge opposite us, my brother Pat put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Do you hear him?"*

*"Who?" I asked, suddenly uneasy, but no sooner had I said it than I heard the sound. At first I thought it was the sound of the engine putting on its brakes; kind of a high pitched sound, but then I realized it was human. Someone was screaming. It was a man's scream, and then it went low and turned into a kind of a groan. I had no idea where it was coming from, but I knew I wanted out of there right then.*

*We all took off and ran. We didn't stop for probably half a mile. By then I had decided that my brothers had played a trick on me, and was about to accuse them. But when we stopped I looked at my brother Matt, and saw that he was white as a sheet.* [sic] (account taken from *Weird Indiana*)

```
        I decided I was gonna go back by myself. Now, I know what you are saying, are you crazy? But that voice cryed to me. I was enthralled to determine if this was just a prank.  Low and behold I was walking under when the ever presence of a tall dark silhouotte appear and was crying. So I asked him name, his reply frightened me. He said, Dad. I ran n ran ran, when I stopped I had a bloody handprint on my sleeve. I have not been back.

```

## Trivia

* This legend could also be categorized as a Location.
Awd Goggie

**Theories** |  · Cryptid · Entity · Nursery Bogie

**Awd Goggie** is a creature used by parents around Yorkshire to discourage children from going into woodland orchards unsupervised. It usually took the form of a massive caterpillar. It could move invisibly through the trees and descend on any children who tried to steal the ripe fruit he protected, swallowing them whole.[1]

## Appearance

Awd Goggie often takes the form of a giant hairy caterpillar.

## Lore

Awd Goggie is said to inhabit orchards and forests, or any place where fruit ripens. Be it the cultivated variety or wild berries. Awd Goggie will lie in wait for a disobedient child to wander off alone in order to steal some of the fruit, at which point Awd Goggie will lunge at the unfortunate victim, dragging his/her body off to eat in the safety of his lair.[2]

It is considered the lord of 'the vineyard' and serves at the "great tree" which all sacred flowers grow from. Only one sighting is known from the 20th century, at the infamous "Most Haunted House in England," Borley Rectory.

## Modern Sightings

One of the most intriguing and known cases concerned the Borley ‘bug’, a hideous form observed in one of Britain’s most haunted buildings, Borley Rectory which sat on the Essex/Suffolk border until it was destroyed by a fire in 1939. Artist Margaret Wilson encountered the critter on 22nd August 1938 whilst she was painting and stated:
*"Looking up I saw the queerest object with impelling eyes advancing toward me at about eye level. It seemed to be coming out of a mist. It was accompanied by a wasp on its left..."*
Margaret struck at the creature but when it hit the floor it disappeared. After the incident she claimed it was around three-inches long, entirely black with huge eyes and resembled no other British insect. While it could have been an invasive larvae Wilson wasn't familiar with her account describes something semi-transparent at points resembling ectoplasm, which swam through the air without wings.[3]

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:

* A nature spirit of Celtic origin
* A "bogie story" meant to scare children

## References

An Encyclopedia of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures by Katharine Briggs pg. 14

## Gallery

### Photo Gallery

An illustration by Wilson of her sighting.
The Silver Man

**Theories** |  · Extraterrestrial

The **Silver Man** sighting was an extraterrestrial sighting that took place at approximately 11:30 PM on the evening of March 17th, 1978.

A 39-year-old service engineer by the name of Ken Edwards was making the 15-mile journey home to Warrington New Town development following a union meeting in Greater Manchester. Edwards claimed that he first spied what he thought was a “man climbing,” but he quickly realized that he was looking at a gargantuan, humanoid figure lumbering down the steep embankment adjacent to the nuclear facility. The startled engineer immediately hit the brakes and his van slowed to a halt near the curb of the road some 50-feet away from the hulking humanoid, which was now illuminated by his headlights. (mysteriousuniverse.org)

## Appearance

The anxious engineer estimated that the figure was at least 7-feet in height and was either clad in some sort of reflective silver fabric akin to a radiation suit or had a dull metallic epidermis. He also claimed that the figure’s roundish face was black, or that it was covered with some sort of mask, with no discernible features except for a pair of glowing eyes. Furthermore, it had two, thin arms that were not attached at its shoulders, but stuck straight out of its chest like a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Edwards also noticed that this creature assumed an odd “stooped” posture as it scrambled down the hill, which seemed impossible for a human to emulate without toppling over. (mysteriousuniverse.org)

## Trivia

* Without warning, two pencil-thin “energy beams” of white light shot from the humanoid’s eyes directly into Edwards’ van. The engineer claimed that as soon as he was struck by these intense ocular beams he was overcome by a “dizzy” sensation and lost all sense of time. Edwards also claimed that there was some kind of invisible force that had apparently paralyzed him.
NASA Gargoyle

**Theories** |  · Alien · Hoax

The **NASA Gargoyle** was a winged creature reportedly sighted in 1986 by Frank Shaw, a NASA archivist at Houston’s Johnson Space Center.

## Appearance

The entity was described as a jet-black humanoid, that seemed to have a large “cape” draped across its shoulders.

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:

* Extraterrestrial
* A hoax (possibly a man in a suit)

## Notable Encounters

* Account #1
*According to Shaw, he was walking to his car at the end of his shift when he happened to glance up and see a ghastly black, gargoyle-like figure perched ominously on the edge of one of the Space Center’s buildings.*

*Shaw claimed that he was frozen in horror at the sight of this astounding apparition, which, according to his description, was a jet-black humanoid, that seemed to have a large “cape” draped across its shoulders.*

*It was at this point that the “gargoyle” seemed to unfurl its wings, which Shaw stated made a “crackling” noise as it took flight in the powerful, howling gusts. The sound of the crackling wings seemed to snap Shaw out of his stupor and he turned and sprinted toward his vehicle.*

*In what must have been the longest moments of his life, Shaw fumbled with his keys, unlocked the car door, dove inside, started the engine and drove into the blackness of the night, too terrified to even look back to see if he was being pursued by this winged, ebony atrocity.* (americanmonsters.com)
## Trivia

* Much to Shaw’s delight he was not met with incredulity or mockery, but instead was informed that he was not the first Johnson Space Center employee to have seen this enigmatic entity skulking in the isolated areas of station. In fact, Shaw’s boss revealed that a secret file had been opened on the creature just a few months prior to Shaw’s sighting. The supervisor stated that the file had been created in response to the gruesome deaths of two of the bases German Sheppards. Apparently the corpses of the hideously mutilated and exsanguinated canines had been discovered in exactly the same area where Shaw had seen the gargoyle. (americanmonsters.com)
* Following his unusual confession, Shaw’s story made its way up the chain of command until it apparently came to the attention of some NASA officials who — in classic MEN IN BLACK fashion — decided to interrogate the witness. According to Desiree, her father was intensely grilled by what she referred to as:
	+ “NASA security people who were flown in from somewhere in Arizona… that much I know.”
Devil Baby of Hull House

**Theories** |  · Ghost · Deformed baby

The **Devil Baby of Hull House** is a disturbing and bizarre legend surrounding a monstrously-deformed infant that was supposedly taken in at the infamous Hull House, a settlement house. The house was built by Charles Hull in 1856 in Chicago.

## Manifestations

* A devil-like face in the upstairs window
* Ghostly mists
* Monk-like figures on the staircase

## Background

In 1889, a social worker named Jane Addams opened the Hull House as a settlement house for woman, the homeless, and recent immigrants. She provided education, food, and shelter for hundreds of people.

In 1913, Addams took in a strange baby into the care of Hull House. Some versions of the story say the mother was an unwed immigrant, but most say that the parents were a devoutly Catholic wife and an atheist husband. The story goes that the atheist husband tore down a religious picture his wife had put up, saying he would rather have the devil in his house than any more religious artwork.

The child born from the couple was said to possess pointed ears, cloven hooves, horns, scales, and even a pointed tail; all of the markings of the devil.

To this day, people passing by the Hull House report seeing a hideous, devil-like face staring at them from the upstairs window. Some say it is the child itself, while some say it is its ghost.

## Notable Accounts

There are no notable accounts that we could find.

## Trivia

* Jane Addams, for her work, earned the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize.
* Jane Addams has repeatedly denied the existence of the Devil Baby. In fact, a large portion of her autobiography is devoted to refuting the claims.
Ghost Mammoth

**Theories** |  · Ghost · Cryptid

The **Ghost Mammoth** was a ghostly animal said to have been sighted in September of 2009 by a woman named Jill O'Brien. As Jill prepared to take one particular photo of Mount St. Elias, she heard what she described to me as “thudding” and “crunching” on the ground, and coming from somewhere behind her. Her first, terrifying thought was “bear.” Thankfully, it was not. Jill found herself confronted by a very small mammoth, one that was somewhere in the region of four-feet in height, or maybe slightly bigger. (mysteriousuniverse.org) The mammoth reportedly then raced past her and disappeared into a cloud of black smoke.

## Background

Established in 1980 by Alaska’s National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest US National Park and covers in excess of 13 million acres. It was at the base of the park’s Mount St. Elias, which stands to a height of 18,009 feet, that Jill’s extraordinary encounter occurred.

## Notable Accounts

As of yet, there are no notable accounts that we could find other than Jill's.

## Trivia

* The entire encounter lasted barely a handful of seconds at most.
Octoman

**Theories** |  · Cryptid · Extraterrestrial · Driftwood · Hoax

The **Octoman**, also known as the **Indescribable Octo-Man**, was a cryptid reportedly seen by at least five people on the shores of the Ohio River in the winter of 1959. The world at large first learned about this moist monstrosity on January 29th, 1959, in article published in the Cincinnati Post & Times-Star tantalizingly titled: “What Is It? ‘Monster’ Churns Up the Ohio.” Beneath it the equally intriguing sub-heading read: “Anyone missing an ‘indescribable monster’ that swims?”

It is very similar to the Octosquatch.

## Appearance

The creature was described as a quasi-humanoid cephalopod. It had a hulking body, pale greenish-gray skin, and four tentacle-like arms. It was also described as having "rolls of fat".

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:

* An undiscovered species (a Cryptid)
* Extraterrestrial
* Driftwood
* A hoax

## Trivia

* The amphibious beast was first reported to Ohio’s Clermont County and New Richmond police by an unnamed man who claimed that “something came out of the river” approximately 4-miles from New Richmond. According to the spooked eyewitness, the alien life-form he saw was utterly “indescribable”.
Carnivorous Pink Cloud

**Theories** |  · Ghost · Native American curse · Toxic gases · Swamp gas

The **Carnivorous Pink Cloud** is a strange ghostly phenomenon that has supposedly been observed in the woods along the Tomoka River, west of Daytona, Florida. It has been blamed for numerous disappearances and the appearance of many carcasses.

Weird Florida contains an entry on the phenomenon:
*"This phenomenon occurred in the area of the last Timucuan stronghold as recorded in 1605 by Spanish explorer Alvaro Mexia. One folk story suggests a connection between the pink cloud and an Indian legend about Chief Tomkie who violated local religious practices by seizing a golden cup and drinking from a sacred spring that was said to have healing powers. Was this the Fountain of Youth? Anyway, this offense caused the surrounding tribes to attack Tomkie’s band. However Chief Tomkie was unhurt in the battle. Then a beautiful Indian maiden named Oleeta, drew her bow on the great Tomkie and put an arrow into his heart. She rushed forward and grabbed the golden cup from the Chief’s hand only to be struck down with a poisoned arrow. She was still clutching the sacred cup when she died. Legend has it that the golden cup is still in the possession of Florida Indians at the present time. Allegedly Chief Tomokie’s spirit was compelled to forever wander in the mists of the Tomoka River."* (Weird Florida)

## Description

The cloud has been described as being pink in color and hanging low to the ground, like morning fog. Other witnesses describe the cloud as being orange in color. Regardless of its color, the cloud has been blamed for many deaths and carcasses found in the woods. Legends state that the cloud is carnivorous and will suck the flesh off a person's bones.

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the phenomenon could be. Theories include:

* A ghost
* A Native American curse
* Toxic gases
* Swamp gas

## Trivia

* For years, locals have told about a strange globe of light that would chase cars on Tomoka Road, but this light doesn’t seem related to the cloud.
Sussex Serpent

**Theories** |  · Cryptid · Scarf

The **Sussex Serpent** was a bizarre serpentine creature allegedly sighted in the village of Boreham Street, England. The creature, as noted in the local *Sussex Advertiser* newspaper, had attacked one of Mr. Robert Pursglove’s cows in 1857. In a short time most of the villagers had arrived at the spot where the cow, which appeared to have a serpent in her mouth, was dashing about among the others, driving them in all directions.

## Appearance

When the creature was finally killed, it was found to measure 40 feet in length. Its body was serpentine and it appeared to have wings folded against its back.

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:

* An undiscovered species (a Cryptid)
* A scarf

## Trivia

* According to the report, when the train passed the creature, “The snake’s tail was not where it should have been, and a portion of its lower extremity was clipped off. This seemed to put this flying snake on his mettle, and he prepared for war. He wheeled around and gave chase to the train.” The snake moved as fast as lightning and began attacking the sides of the train, giving the vehicle a “lively thrashing” that broke several windows and frightened many of the passengers. Although some of the passengers shot the creature with pistols, it seemed to have no effect. After a few minutes, the snake left of its own accord. The story was apparently confirmed by everyone on the train and was later republished in the *Brooklyn Eagle*.
Cumberland Spaceman

**Theories** |  · Extraterrestrial

The **Cumberland Spaceman** sighting is a extraterrestrial sighting that took place on May 23, 1964. A man named Jim Templeton took his wife and 5-year-old daughter Elizabeth to Burgh Marsh in England for a nice day out. After developing some of the photographs he had taken over the course of the day, one of them appeared to show a strange astronaut-like figure in the back.

## Appearance

The entity resembled a tall humanoid figure clad in a spacesuit jutting out at an odd angle from behind his daughter’s head. Templeton was confounded as neither he nor his wife had seen anything (or anyone) unusual on their walk, but what was most perplexing was the fact that the “spaceman” only showed up in the middle of the three consecutive photos he had shot and was “missing” from the first and last. (americanmonsters.com)

## Trivia

* Jim noted that day that all of the animals on that particular day were away on the other end of the marsh, all huddled together, as though they’d been frightened.
* The executives at Kodak were so intrigued by this dilemma that they offered a reward of free film for a year to any person that could solve the mystery as to how this “spaceman” got into the picture. The reward remains unclaimed. (americanmonsters.com)

## Gallery

### Photo Gallery

The only known photographThe uncropped version of the photograph
Bat Beast of Kent

**Theories** |  · Extraterrestrial

The **Bat Beast of Kent** sighting was an extraterrestrial sighting that took place on the evening of November 16, 1963 on Sandling Road in the county of Kent. The two witnesses 17-year-old John Flaxton and 18-year-old Mervyn Hutchinson.

The two witnesses were walking home from a party with several other friends when they noticed a large, glowing orb hovering high in the air. The unusual, self illuminated, ovoid object, which was described as being just a few meters in diameter, hovered above a field. It eventually made its way behind the trees and settled into the foliage of the woods at Sandling Park.

Moments after the craft apparently landed behind the trees, the teens noticed a shaking in the brush and a strange creature emerged.

## Appearance

The beast apparently looked like a headless bat that was approximately 5-feet tall, with large webbed feet and wings protruding from its back. In Hutchinson’s own words: “It didn’t seem to have any head. There were huge wings on its back… like bat wings.”

## Trivia

* In the 1970s, ufologist Chris Wolfe also re-opened the case of this almost avian anomaly. According to records, he interviewed Flaxton and also inspected the scene of the unearthly encounter. Following his investigation, Wolfe came to the dubious conclusion that what Flaxton, Hutchinson and their chums actually saw was an ordinary crow oddly illuminated by the flashing of an electric train passing not far away in the chilled autumnal air.
Enfield Horror

**Theories** |  · Cryptid · Extraterrestrial · Genetic experiment

The **Enfield Horror** was an extremely bizarre cryptid that infamously terrorized the small Illinois town of Enfield. The bizarre string of events began on the chilly night of April 25, 1973, when a young boy named Greg Garrett claimed to have been attacked by a truly bizarre beast while playing in his backyard.

## Appearance

The child described the being as having no less than three legs, grayish, slimy skin, short claws and reddish eyes. The creature apparently “stamped” on the boys feet with its own three — apparently clawed — foot-like appendages, tearing his tennis shoes to shreds.

Another witness named Henry McDaniel later described it:

* *“It had three legs on it, a short body, two little short arms coming out of its breast area and two pink eyes as big as flashlights. It stood four and a half feet tall and was grayish-colored… it was trying to get into the house!”*

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:

* An undiscovered species (a Cryptid)
* Extraterrestrial
* A genetic experiment

## Trivia

* McDaniel claimed to have shot at the creature to no effects.

## Gallery

### Photo Gallery

An artist's depictionAn artist's depiction
Ringing Stones

**Theories** |  · Rock texture

**Ringing Stones**, also known as **ringing rocks**, **sonorous rocks** or **lithophonic rocks**, are rocks that have the property of resonating like a bell when struck.

Here is a list of known sites:

* Ringing Rocks Park - Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania, United States
* Ringing Rocks Park - Lower Pottsgrove Township, Pennsylvania, United States
* Bell Rock Range - Western Australia, Australia
* Musical Stones of Skiddaw - Cumbria, England
* Ringing Rocks Point of Interest - Ringing Rocks, Montana, United States
* The Hill of the Bells (Cerro de las Campanas) - Querétaro, Mexico
* The Ringing Stone - Tiree, Scotland
* Singing Stones - (Immenhof Guest Farm) Omaruru Namibia

## Description

These rocks have the anomalous property of resonating like a bell when struck.

## Possible Explanations

There are many explanations as to what the phenomenon could be. Theories include:

* Texture of diabase rocks

## Trivia

* Several early scientists became interested in the ringing rocks, however none were able to formulate a credible theory on the ringing ability of the rocks or the formation of the boulder fields.
Wall-Jumping Dog

**Theories** |  · Interdimensional rip · Hallucination

The **Wall-Jumping Dog** was a bizarre phenomenon encountered by an anonymous *Fortean Times* message board user in his own home.

As he and his brother wrestled on the floor, a small black Scottish Terrier-like dog jumped out of the wall where the user's chair currently was. The dog had a noticeably "confused" look on its face.

## Description

The phenomenon was described as a small black Scottish Terrier jumping out of a solid wall.

## Possible Explanations

There are several explanations as to what the phenomenon could be. Theories include:

* An interdimensional rip
* Hallucination

## Trivia

* This story was first told in a thread on the *Fortean Times* message board: here.
* A similar incident of a canine appearing seemingly out of nowhere is recorded in Saki's The Unbearable Bassington, which Will Burroughs later wrote was a folkloric creature from Tangiers called the Door Dog, a premonitory vision of death.
Arlington Attic Ghost

**Theories** |  · Ghost

The **Arlington Attic Ghost** is a spirit rumored to haunt an old farmhouse outside of Arlington, Nebraska. The witness was a Nebraska native named Tonja Baker, who from August 1982 until April 1995 lived with her parents in the house.

## Manifestations

* The feeling of being watched
* Objects going missing
* Unexplainable noises

## Background

When the Bakers moved into the old farmhouse, it was already 110-years-old, with a machine shed, a big barn, and a garage.

When Tonja was 14, her father died. It was after this time that she claims the activity in the house grew worse.

## Notable Accounts

* *NOTE: Both of these accounts come from Nebraska native Tonja Baker.*

* Account #1
* Account #2
*One day while cleaning, my mother and I decided to go ahead and open a hidden door in the upstairs hall to see what was in there. When we did, there was a cool rush of air. My chest got heavy, and I couldn't breathe too well. We got to looking, and there was a very old crib in there, along with wallpaper rolls, old toys, and some other stuff, but I was too scared to look any longer. It seemed like someone had lost their baby or something. I just had to get out of there. Even thinking about it gives me chills.* [sic]

*Then there was the hall closet. One day I unscrewed the hinges and peeked inside. There was an old rocking chair, some baskets, and really old newspapers. All of a sudden I felt like I was being watched. I turned around, but nobody was there. The heavy feeling didn't go away, so I went downstairs. Whatever it was stayed with me. I felt panicky and ran out the door to the barn to get one of the horses ready to go to a neighbor's house. As I was leaving, I glanced up to my bedroom window, and I swear it looked as if someone was turning away from the window and walking away. My mom was at work.* [sic]

## Trivia

* Tonja Baker reported severe feelings of dread when in the attic, to the point where she could not stay up there for extended periods of time.