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| Headless Panther or Flaming
Monk? Rumours of the fabled Beast of Puckering have
once again surfaced this week with a recent night sighting. This last report involved a
'large headless cat' that apparently disappeared into the Puck just below the Idiot,
according to local resident Lumpy Gaites. Lumpy was walking home from the Village Idiot
when he stopped to rest by some bushes. According to his account, he startled a
'panther-like' creature with gray markings but, mysteriously, no head. The 'beast' then
entered the river with scarcely a splash or ripple.
Whilst many may dismiss this account as the hallucinations of a drunken fool, The
Gazette takes a wider view, noting that similar such sightings can be traced to the
sixteenth century and possible earlier. In 1594, The Reverend Nigel Blynkes
mentioned in a letter that his parishioners were 'myghtye afrayed of a terrible beastie
lurking in the nyght,' and similar references can be found over the centuries
including the infamous 'lost team' of the 1890s.
Some find in the sighting an occasion for humour. "Well, it
would explain the crop circles," chuckles Colonel Bratherton. "Poor thing
probably gets into a field and goes round and round for hours without a head."
Village Elder Arthur 'Red' Covers was unavailable for comment.
Miss Wendy Smith, of PCRUP (see About) noted that the cat was doubtlessly the
victim of cruelty, and vowed to investigate further. |
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| Week Ending:
July 16, 2000 |
| Gazette
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