Well, it's mischief night here in New Jersey and the perfect time to post a spooky picture. This is none other than the famous "Jersey Devil" chasing down a deer! Make of it what you will, but I love the idea of a strange creature stalking the Jersey Pine Barrens. If you've ever been to the Pine Barrens you know it's all too easy to "see" strange things there. Bigfoot too. Seriously.

Back to Jersey's Devil; the Leeds Devil was born to Mother Leeds (did she have a first name?) in 1735. The story goes that it was her 13th child - no effective birth control back then - and she "hoped it is a devil." And it was. It had horns, wings, hooves and a horses head. Not exactly a Gerber baby, and Mother Leeds must have been mortified! As to the validatity of the story, there really was a Leeds family in Little Egg Harbor at that time. Hmmm?

A hundred or so years later, the Devil was spotted again. Commodore Stephen Decatur, hero of the Barbary Pirate wars, was testing artillery rounds in South Jersey when he spotted it flying by. Some believe the testing was only cover for his real reason for being there...to hunt the Jersey Devil. Um, maybe not. Joseph Bonaparte, brother of the more famous Napolean, reported seeing the Devil in Bordentown, NJ. This doesn't explain why the former King of Spain moved to Bordentown however.

Throughout the century he (the Devil that is, not Joe Bonaparte) appeared from time to time, stealing sheep and making a high pitched scream that would scare the, well, devil out of you! Then there was this crazy week in 1909. During the week of January 16-23 1909, he was spotted all over the area, including Pennsylvania. On the 19th, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Evans described the creature they saw on their shed roof:

Hundred of people reported seeing him that week. Newspapers covered the story, hunts were arranged and rewards posted. All to no avail. The creature couldn't be caught. He appeared again in 1927, gigantic now, pounding on the roof a cab while the terrified drive tried to change a flat tire. He still pops up here and there to this day.

According to njdevilhunters.com, the most recent sighting was on February 23 when a man was chased by a strange creature in his back yard and found foot prints on his roof. Last October it was seen in Jackson, NJ. Check out the eerie eye witness account here. There is a odd consistency to the various stories, so what's the verdict? Real or just a great legended?

Like Bigfoot, Nessie and all the rest, I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Honestly though, I try not to think about it too rationally. I love the idea that there are still things in nature that we can't find, explain or control. A little mystery is a good thing.

And, who is to say that the Jersey Devil isn't out there somewhere. Happy Halloween!