Napoleon Bonaparte’s Little Brother Joe Ran Away Screaming From The Jersey Devil
Most people remember Napoleon Bonaparte, but far less remember his brother, Joseph, who became the King of Spain. You probably don’t remember Joe, because he wasn’t very great at his job. He lost a war against the English, and had to step down from his throne. His brother Napoleon got a raw deal, as well, and ended up in prison.
Like a lot of people back in the 1800’s, they saw the United States as an opportunity to have a fresh start. Joseph Bonaparte decided to settle down on an 800-acre property in Bordentown, New Jersey. His estate was right in the middle of New York City and Philadelphia, so he was very happy to have a lot of land and easy access to two of the biggest cities in the country.
He built a mansion that was fit for a king, of course, and threw lavish parties in the French fashion. This impressed a lot of people, and he was able to make new friends. It was during one of these parties that Joseph Bonaparte heard the spooky story of the Jersey Devil from a local resident. Around a summer campfire, it’s all fun and games. But in the winter, his location in the middle of the forest was isolated, and he must have spent a lot of time alone.
One winter day in 1813, Joseph Bonaparte noticed tracks in the fresh snow that were very strange. They were hooves like a donkey, except it looked like the creature was walking with two legs, instead of four. He grabbed his gun, and decided to go looking for this unknown animal. As he followed the tracks, they abruptly stopped, as if the creature vanish…or flew.
Bonaparte looks up to see a creature that let out a hideous screeching and hissing sounds. It had huge eyes. Its wings are massive, and it has claws like a bird. It swooped down on him, and he ducked, falling backwards in the snow as the large creature flew away. Stunned, Bonaparte tried to relay the story to his friends. Since they also believed in the local legends, they were all convinced that he saw the Jersey Devil.
In modern times, historians believe that Bonaparte saw the Great Horned Owl. He would have never seen an owl like this back in France. Its wingspan can spread as much as 4.5 feet wide, and they are known for using their wings to make their bodies look huge when they go up against other predators. Sometimes, these owls can grow to abnormally huge sizes, as well. They can also swoop down and pick up snakes, which may account for the hissing noise. The bigger owls are even strong enough to pick up puppies and kittens. They also let out a screech that would be terrifying if someone heard it alone in the woods for the first time.