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 “Cryptid in Nevada”

Nevada was once a tropical paradise, according to the New York Times of June 22, 1912. The Times reported  “Remarkable fossils of prehistoric animals found in the desert” at a dry lake near Mina at the site of a Magnesia mine. Prospectors found the fossils projecting out of the desert sand, including a miniature three toed horse, an unknown species of dog, and an ancient camel. These joined the mammoth tracks found at the state’s prison as proof of the animals who once roamed these lush regions, but scientists estimated these fossils were from 5 to 6 million years old. Other strange animals may have roamed Nevada in those early days. It is the job of “cryptid hunters” to search for living creatures thought extinct or mythical, and they have had some success over recent decades. One may have appeared in Nevada in October 1880.  In an edition of Virginia City’s Territorial Enterprise newspaper, there was a report of “A STRANGE CREATURE; A BIRD OR REPTILE THAT FLIES WITHOUT WINGS AND HAS FOUR LEGS.”

   Some four or five days ago we heard talk of a singular inhabitant of the air seen to pass over the Chinese quarter of the city. The thing was said to have four legs and to fly without wings. At the time we thought some person was trying to get off a sell and paid little attention to the story. Lat evening, however, Tom Jackson, special officer for Chinatown, called about the matter, desiring to ascertain if anything could be found in any encyclopedia in regard to any such creature of the air as we have mentioned. Mr. Jackson says the wonder began to be seen some days ago. It was first noticed by a little boy, who called the attention of Mrs. Jackson to it. The nondescript appears to be some kind of flying reptile. It has a body shaped like that of a crab, some sixteen inches in breadth. From this strange body hang down four legs about two feet in length and as thick as an ordinary walking stick. Nothing in the shape of wings is to be seen, nor is there an flapping as of wings. The creature sails through the air, with its legs hanging down quite motionless, and appears to move without the slightest exertion of any of the known kinds of flying apparatus. Since first observed it has passed northward regularly every morning about 8 o”clock and southward every evening shortly before sundown. It flies over the town at about the hight [sic] of the International Hotel and moves about as fast as a dove or pigeon. It is of a dark color but not black.
   Mr. Jackson says he has seen the “beast” regularly every day for four or five days. He last saw it yesterday morning on its way north, but was not down in Chinatown at the time it goes south in the evening. He has watched the thing till out of sight in both directions, therefore is confident that it is no diabolical invention of the Chinese rigged to run on a string or wire. Besides, most of the residents of Chinatown have seen the creature and are not a little troubled at the sight of it. They unhesitatingly pronounce it to be the devil of a thing of the devil.
   Mr. Jackson is an old resident of this city and is well known as a truthful man. It is therefore quite certain that some strange and hitherto unheard of creature has made its appearance here. We would suggest that some of our sportsmen go down to Chinatown and try whether or not buckshot will bring down the strange “bird” and solve the mystery.