Panic Caused Ry The Appearance Of The Devil In Devonshire (Article in the London Investigator 1855)
—Considerable sensation has been caused in the 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 of 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 neighbourhood of Exeter and the South of Devon. On the following morning the inhabitants of the above towns were surprised at discovering the footmarks of some strange and mysterious animal, endowed with the power of ubiquity, as the footprints were to be seen in all kinds of unaccountable places—on the tops of houses and narrow walls, in gardens and court yards, enclosed by high walls and palings, as well as in open fields. There was hardly a garden in Lympstone where these footprints were not observable. 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 impression of the foot closely resembled that of a donkey's shoe, and measured from an inch and a half to (in some instances) two 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 centre remaining entire, merely showing the outer crest of the foot, it must have been 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 last the Rev. Mr. Musgrave alluded to the subject in his sermon, and suggested the 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, amid many superstitious people in the above towns are actually afraid to go outside their doors after night.
Phenomenal Footprints in the Snow——My attention has been called to the discussion on the above subject. I do not know whether the matter has been threshed out to the satisfaction of your correspondents, so cannot say whether the following remarks will be of interest. At the time of the occurrence, Feb. 7, 1855, I was living in South Devon, and was seven years old. The impression made upon me was deep and lasting. The excitement and, among some classes, the consternation was intense. Devonshire was, and is a superstitious county, and the ignorant unhesitatingly believed the footsteps to be those of his Satanic majesty. Many educated people, no really satisfactory explanation ever being forthcoming, retained the idea that there was something uncanny about the affair. My most vivid recollection of the matter is in connexion with the home of friends living at Exmouth. Here the footprints came up the front garden to within a few feet of the house, stopped abruptly, and began again in the garden at the back within a few feet of the building, just as if the animal, bird, or, adopting the popular idea, demon had made a gigantic leap. The only record I have of the affair consists of cuttings from the Illustrated London News, which give the accounts no doubt alluded to in your valuable paper. The issues of Feb. 24, March, 3, 10, and 17, 1855, contain many most descriptive and interesting letters, but the explanations and suggestions do not appear to me either satisfactory or conclusive. W. Couarnors Forums. 35, Medora Road, Brixton Hill. 1890
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