Snallygaster in the News…

The Evening Sun, Baltimore Maryland, 1932….

“I didn’t start it. I haven’t seen it myself. I’ve only heard about it. Even if I had seen it I wouldn’t be able to tell you what it is. I’m not an expert. I’m waiting until I hear from the National Museum at Washington…,”

— The Valley Register

Seen Last Tuesday…

The strange, strange beast was last seen here early Tuesday morning when, according to the Valley Register: “Charles F. Main, Middletown ice cream manufacturer, and Edward M. L. Lighter were frightened nearly out of their wits when the beast suddenly appeared flying over the National highway toward Catoctin Mountain, near the old White House, just east of Braddock Heights. Both state that the ‘Snallygaster’ appeared suddenly from the south and was flying not more than twenty-five feet in the air, which afforded them an excellent view of the monster. For a time, they stated, it appeared that the strange beast was headed directly toward the machine in which they were traveling, but when only about fifty feet from them it suddenly headed north toward the mountain, thus relieving them of much anxiety. Mr. Main said the beast changed color Several times, at first appearing white and then black. He said that its wing spread appeared to be between twelve and fourteen feet, and that at times it threw out long streamers like the arms of an octopus, but would then draw them in again. They thought the beast alighted in the mountain not far off the National highway, and, after waiting some time, they finally picked up enough courage to visit the point where they believed it had landed. When they arrived there, however, all traces of the monster had disappeared.

While playing on the north commons Friday evening. Junior Fulmer and “Buddy” Haupt report seeing a Strange monster flying toward Middle-town from South Mountain. The boys, however, did not wait long enough to see in which direction the beast went, for it is needless to say that they both curried to their homes as fast as their legs could take them.

The monster has also been reported as having been seen in the vicinity of Point of Rocks during the past week. Remembers One Of 1909 “I have not seen the snallygaster,” said R. Austin Stine, of Cumberland, In a long letter to the editor. “It seems to me to be of a questionable nature.” Mr. Stine added, however, that he remembered the snallygaster of 1909 and the headless calf that ran the roads at night in the vicinity of the Village of Rockville. Snallygaster Made First Boonsboro Visit Back In 1909 Boonsboro, Md Nov. 25 The water- winged, bicycling bovalopus-snally gaiter which today paralyzed the Middletown Valley’s cider industry first appeared In these parts last November 9th. Big as a dragon , it was flying low. going up and down the mountains, and when last seen, it appeared to be headed toward Harper’s Ferry. Since then, however, the strange, strange beast has been reported at Burkittsville, Braddock Heights, Middletown and Hamburg, which would seem to indicate that the monster is of a restless disposition. C. H.

Minnebraker, publisher of the Boonsboro Times weekly paper, which gave the strange, strange tale its first press notices on this side of the mountains, It was rumored the the beast had taken Mr. Minnebraker for a ride on the handle bars of its bicycle. But persons close to Mr. Minnebraker denied this. Thev said Mr. Minnebraker would be home in time for supper.