The Jersey Devil & The Week New Jersey Lost Its Mind
from Idiot Mystic Hosted by Idiot Mystic
In January 1909, strange hoofprints began appearing across New Jersey. They crossed snowy fields, fences and rooftops, sometimes beginning or ending without any obvious explanation. Then people started seeing the creature responsible. Witnesses described wings, hooves, a horse-like face, glowing eyes and a scream that carried through the darkness. Firefighters confronted it. Armed residents followed its tracks. Newspapers spread the panic across several states. Then a Philadelphia museum claimed it had finally captured the Jersey Devil. It was a kangaroo wearing artificial wings. In this episode, we go back through the history of the Jersey Devil, from Mother Leeds and her alleged thirteenth child to the real Leeds family, colonial religious conflict, Benjamin Franklin’s bizarre feud, the explosive week of sightings in 1909 and the publicity stunt that contaminated the entire case. Was the Jersey Devil created by folklore, frightened witnesses and competitive newspapers? Did several ordinary animals become one impossible creature? Or is there still a genuine encounter buried underneath everything people added to the story? 🌐 Website: https://idiotmystic.com 📱 Instagram & TikTok: @idiotmystic 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/dXKjhZrZmM 🎧 Listen and follow on YouTube and Spotify by searching Idiot Mystic.
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