- Beast of Busco
-
The Beast of Busco is the subject of a legend in Churubusco, Indiana about an enormous snapping turtle named Oscar which citizens claimed to have seen in 1949. Despite a month–long hunt that briefly gained national attention, the Beast of Busco was never found.
Contents
History
Was Oscar a giant version of this two-year-old snapping turtle?
The story starts in 1898, when a farmer named Oscar Fulk supposedly saw a giant turtle living in the seven-acre lake on his farm near Churubusco. He told others about it, but eventually he decided to leave it alone.[1]
A half century later, in July, 1948, two Churubusco men, Ora Blue and Charley Wilson, also reported seeing a huge turtle (weighing an estimated 500 pounds) while fishing on the same lake, which had come to be known as Fulk Lake. A farmer named Gale Harris owned the land at that time. Harris and others also reported seeing the creature. Word spread.[2]
In early 1949, a UPI reporter from Fort Wayne sent the story out on the wire services, and the turtle became nationally famous.[3]
Curious mobs of sightseers began to invade Harris’ land. Traffic got so bad that the state police had to be called in for traffic control.[4]
People questioned the existence of the turtle. To vindicate his good name, Mr. Harris made several attempts to catch the beast, including draining the lake, but "Oscar" (named after the original owner of the farm) was never captured.[5][6][7][8]
A photographer for Life Magazine, Mike Shea, took 299 photos at the site, but they were deemed unusable.[9] However, dozens of photos related to the history of the Beast are archived for viewing on the Web site of the Indianapolis Star.
Cultural impact
Welcome sign boasting of Churubusco as "Turtle Town U.S.A."Oscar's memory lives on in Churubusco's Turtle Days festival held each June.[10] It includes a parade, carnival and turtle races.[11]
A turtle shell labeled "Beast of Busco" hangs in the Two Brothers Restaurant in Decatur, Indiana.
A small concrete statue of a turtle sits on the sidewalk at the main intersection in the center of Churubusco.
References
- ^ Ho, Oliver and Cochran, Josh (2008) "Mutants & Monsters: Mutants & Monsters". Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.. p.53 ISBN 9781402736421
- ^ "The Beast of Busco". May 26, 2009. http://www.unknownexplorers.com/beastofbusco.php. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
- ^ "The Beast of Busco". May 26, 2009. http://www.unknownexplorers.com/beastofbusco.php. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
- ^ Peterson, Victor (May 26, 2009). "The 1949 Story of the Hunt for Oscar, the Beast of Busco, According to the Indianapolis Star". Busco Voice. http://www.buscovoice.com/2009/05/26/the-1949-story-of-the-hunt-for-oscar-the-beast-of-busco-according-to-the-indianapolis-star/. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
- ^ "The Beast of Busco". May 26, 2009. http://www.unknownexplorers.com/beastofbusco.php. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
- ^ Ho, Oliver and Cochran, Josh (2008) "Mutants & Monsters: Mutants & Monsters". Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.. p.53 ISBN 9781402736421
- ^ Thomas, Phyllis (2007) "Indiana: Off the Beaten Path : a Guide to Unique Places". Globe Pequot. p.61 ISBN 0762744146
- ^ Cavinder, Fred. D. (2003) "More Amazing Tales from Indiana". Indiana University Press. p.147 ISBN 0253216532
- ^ http://www.mackinawbrigadoon.com/newsletter.phtml?id=12
- ^ Sisson, Richard (2007) "The American Midwest: An Interpretive Encyclopedia". Indiana University Press. p.402 ISBN 0253348862.
- ^ Dorson, Richard Mercer (1986) "Handbook of American Folklore". Indiana University Press. p.238 ISBN 0253203732.
External links
- Knot Magazine article
- Haynie, Devon (2009-06-14). "'Beast of Busco'". The Journal Gazette. http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090614/FEAT/306149998. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- Giant Turtles
Categories:- Legendary turtles
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
