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#1
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02-09-2009, 08:45 PM
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 ✖ The Antique Christ ✖ Poster Rank:105 Gonzo Punk Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 15,488
Contributions: 58
Mentioned: 23 Post(s) Quoted: 2046 Post(s)
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The Devil's Footprints
The Devil's Footprints A peculiar, and still unexplained, phenomenon occurred in Devon, England on the night of 8 February 1855. After a light snowfall, a series of hoof-like marks appeared in the snow. These footprints, measuring 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide and eight inches apart, continued throughout the countryside for a total of over 100 miles. Houses, rivers, haystacks and other obstacles were traveled straight over, and footprints appeared on the tops of snow-covered roofs and high walls. Although documentation is sketchy, we do know that something extremely strange occurred in Topsham England on 02/07/1855. Townspeople were shocked when they awoke to find unexplained footprints covering their yards, gardens, streets, and even roofs of their homes. Although other reports of unknown tracks are known to exist, this incident proved to be most unexplainable. The Times of London printed the following article on February 16, 1855. Considerable sensation has been evoked in he towns of Topsham, Lympstone, Exmouth, Teignmouth, and Dawlish, in the south of Devon, in consequence of the discovery of a vast number of foot tracks of a most strange and mysterious description. The superstitious go so far as to believe that they are the marks of Satan himself; and that great excitement has been produced among all classes may be judged from the fact that the subject has been descanted on from the pulpit. It appears that on Thursday night last there was a very heavy fall of snow in the neighborhoods of Exeter and the south of Devon. On the following morning, the inhabitants of the above towns were surprised at discovering the tracks of some strange and mysterious animal, endowed with the power of ubiquity, as the foot prints were to be seen in all kinds of inaccessible places - on the tops of houses and narrow walls, in gardens and courtyards enclosed by high walls and palings, as well as in open fields. There was hardly a garden in Lympstone where the footprints were not observed. The track appeared more like that of a biped than a quadruped, and the steps were generally eight inches in advance of each other. The impressions of the feet closely resembled that of a donkey's shoe, and measured from an inch and a half to (in some instances) tow and a half inches across. Here and there it appeared as if cloven, but in the generality of the steps the shoe was continuous, and, from the snow in the center remaining entire, merely showing the outer crest of the foot, it must have been convex [concave?]. The creature seems to have approached the doors of several houses and then to have retreated, but no one has been able to discover the standing or resting point of this mysterious visitor. On Sunday lat the Rev. Mr. Musgrave alluded to the subject in his sermon, and suggested that possibility of the footprints being those of a kangaroo,; but this could scarcely have been the case, as they were found on both sides of the estuary of the Exe. At present it remains a mystery, and many superstitious people in the above towns are actually afraid to go outside their doors after night. This strange incident occurred in Topsham, Lympstone, Exmouth, Teignmouth, and Dawlish. Most of the details came from readers to the editors of the Illustrated London News. Strangely, most of the newspapers failed to report on the incident until almost a week later.  · |
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#6
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04-26-2009, 11:45 AM
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 Super ********* Poster Rank:89 Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 17,426 Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Quoted: 99 Post(s)
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Re: The Devil's Footprints
here's another article on this along with some photos. Ancient mystery returns as 'Satan's hoofprints' are spotted in Devon back garden By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Last updated at 1:42 PM on 13th March 2009 A 150-year-old mystery has reared its head after a woman woke to find 'Satan's hoofprints' dotted across freshly fallen snow in her back garden. The single track of cloven-like prints - which appear to have been made by a two-legged creature - precisely resemble footprints recorded in the area in 1855. The phenomenon, which has never been explained, became known as the 'Devil's foot prints' in a local legend.  The new tracks appeared in fresh snow in Jill Wade's back garden on March 5th. Grandmother Jill, 76, of Woolsery, Devon, said: 'I looked in the garden and it really intrigued me. 'I couldn't believe it - the footprints were in the shape of a cloven hoof. There were no other marks at all in the snow. 'I was quite surprised by it and I hadn't got a clue what it was, but I thought I would love to know.'  Scientists from the Centre for Fortean Zoology inspected the prints which measure 5ins (13cm) long with a stride of between 11 and 17ins (28 and 43cm). Jonathan Downes, who runs the centre, is investigating whether the footprints could have been left by a hare or rabbits hopping on their hind legs. He said: 'Thousands of people across the world believe in the paranormal, but so far every single thing we have looked into has turned out to have a natural explanation. I'm sure these will as well. 'Do I believe that the Devil comes from the pits of Hell to wander around the gardens of North Devon? Of course not. 'But if you're asking if there are things that can't be explained by modern science, then yes. But human knowledge is expanding all the time. 'I believe that things that are currently put down to the paranormal will one day be explained by science.' The original 'Devil's footprints' appeared after a light snowfall on February 8th, 1855, and travelled from Exmouth to Topsham in Devon - even crossing the estuary of the River Exe. The tracks reportedly continued unbroken for 100 miles - appearing on both sides of 14-foot walls and locked gates. Some villagers blamed the church, who had recently changed the standard prayer book, for letting the devil into their communities. Others blamed animals, pranksters, and even a weather balloon - but the phenomenon, described as the 'great Devon mystery', was never explained.  Villagers blamed the church for letting the devil into their communities Source: Ancient mystery returns as 'Satan's hoofprints' are spotted in Devon back garden | Mail Online |
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#10
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11-30-2014, 04:23 AM
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 DR's Quarterback Poster Rank:311 Male Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 4,136 Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Quoted: 552 Post(s)
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Re: The Devil's Footprints
Interesting Post!.. i herd about some type of clear Jelly that rained in some state here in the U.S like 20 years ago, unexplained, idk if anyone else herd about it.
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