The Beast of Bladenboro

The stories start Jan. 4, 1954, with the deaths of three dogs, their “skulls crushed in and chewed.”

Cryptomundo has two great articles on the Beast of Bladenboro, one describing the attacks attributed to this unknown creature, the other giving a picture-perfect tale of the frenzy which erupted in this small town as hundreds of hunters and reporters descended upon it to catch the Beast.

A hog was found partially eaten, and a goat died after its nose was bitten off.

"I don’t know what it was that killed that goat," said present Mayor Livingston Lewis, who saw the dead goat, "but something took its nose right off."

The consensus after all these years is that the Beast was some sort of cat, though the possibility of it being a coyote, bear, or even wolverine is not discounted. What does this have to do with werewolves? Other than the identity of the Beast, this story is a near-perfect match with accounts of werewolf hysteria in medieval Europe. Gruesome animal deaths followed by sightings of an unknown creature bring a town to a frenzy which nearly wipes out whatever animal is most suspected in the area; wolves in Europe, big cats in Bladenboro. It's a fascinating look at how a comtemporary community reacts in the face of the unknown.

She was minding her own business when she looked up and saw the “beast” stalking toward her. It was only about 20 feet away, she told the Morning Star.

Kinlaw screamed and ran into the house. Her husband, Charles Kinlaw, grabbed his shotgun and ran outside but only found cat-like paw prints all around his yard.

Everyone’s worst fears seemed to be confirmed. The beast had shown interest in a human.

Good stuff.