In Indiana folklore, the Beast of Busco is an enormous snapping turtle 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.[1]
In 1898, a farmer named Oscar Fulk claimed to have seen a giant turtle living in the seven-acre lake on his farm near Churubusco, Indiana. He told others about it, but eventually he decided to drop the matter.[2]
A half century later, in July 1948, two Churubusco citizens, 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.[3]
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 forcing state police to be called in for traffic control.[4]
After many doubted the existence of the turtle, Harris made several attempts to catch the beast, including draining the lake by pumping the water into an area sealed off by a dam with the help of Orville Bright and Kenneth Leitch only for the dam to break when the lake had almost been entirely drained.[5] But despite many attempts, "Oscar" (named after the original owner of the farm) was never captured.[3][2][6][7]
In March 1949, an attempt to send a deep-sea diver into the pond failed when the wrong equipment was delivered to the Harris farm.[8]
A photographer for Life Magazine, Mike Shea, took 299 photos at the site, but they were deemed unusable.[9]
Cultural impactedit
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.
Referencesedit
^The name "Beast of Busco" was coined by Cliff Milnor, a columnist for the Fort Wayne, Indiana, Journal-Gazette. Gutowski, John A. (1977). American Folklore and the Community Festival: A Case Study of Turtle Days in Churubusco, Indiana (Ph.D.). Indiana University. p. 74.
^ abHo, Oliver and Cochran, Josh (2008) "Mutants & Monsters: Mutants & Monsters". Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.. p.53 ISBN978-1-4027-3642-1
^ abc"The Beast of Busco". Unknown Explorers. May 26, 2009. 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. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
^"Churubusco Farmer Pumping Water From Lake TO Catch His Giant Turtle". Warsaw Daily Times. September 14, 1949. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
^Thomas, Phyllis (2007) "Indiana: Off the Beaten Path : a Guide to Unique Places". Globe Pequot. p.61 ISBN0-7627-4414-6
^Cavinder, Fred. D. (2003) "More Amazing Tales from Indiana". Indiana University Press. p.147 ISBN0-253-21653-2
^"Cumble gives turtle new lease on pond". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 18, 1949. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
^Hyde, Sherree (6 August 2003). . Brigadoon Bed and Breakfast. Archived from the original on 25 September 2010.
^Sisson, Richard (2007) "The American Midwest: An Interpretive Encyclopedia". Indiana University Press. p.402 ISBN0-253-34886-2.
^Dorson, Richard Mercer (1986) "Handbook of American Folklore". Indiana University Press. p.238 ISBN0-253-20373-2.
External linksedit
Haynie, Devon (2009-06-14). . The Journal Gazette. Archived from the original on 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
January 01, 1970
beast, busco, indiana, folklore, enormous, snapping, turtle, which, citizens, claimed, have, seen, 1949, despite, month, long, hunt, that, briefly, gained, national, attention, never, found, groupinglake, monstersimilar, entitiesalligator, snapping, turtlefirs. In Indiana folklore the Beast of Busco is an enormous snapping turtle 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 1 Beast of BuscoSub groupingLake monsterSimilar entitiesalligator snapping turtleFirst attested1898CountryUnited StatesRegionMaumee Valley Northern IndianaDetailsFound in water Contents 1 History 2 Cultural impact 3 References 4 External linksHistory editIn 1898 a farmer named Oscar Fulk claimed to have seen a giant turtle living in the seven acre lake on his farm near Churubusco Indiana He told others about it but eventually he decided to drop the matter 2 A half century later in July 1948 two Churubusco citizens 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 3 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 forcing state police to be called in for traffic control 4 After many doubted the existence of the turtle Harris made several attempts to catch the beast including draining the lake by pumping the water into an area sealed off by a dam with the help of Orville Bright and Kenneth Leitch only for the dam to break when the lake had almost been entirely drained 5 But despite many attempts Oscar named after the original owner of the farm was never captured 3 2 6 7 In March 1949 an attempt to send a deep sea diver into the pond failed when the wrong equipment was delivered to the Harris farm 8 A photographer for Life Magazine Mike Shea took 299 photos at the site but they were deemed unusable 9 Cultural impact editOscar 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 edit The name Beast of Busco was coined by Cliff Milnor a columnist for the Fort Wayne Indiana Journal Gazette Gutowski John A 1977 American Folklore and the Community Festival A Case Study of Turtle Days in Churubusco Indiana Ph D Indiana University p 74 a b Ho Oliver and Cochran Josh 2008 Mutants amp Monsters Mutants amp Monsters Sterling Publishing Company Inc p 53 ISBN 978 1 4027 3642 1 a b c The Beast of Busco Unknown Explorers May 26 2009 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 Retrieved June 25 2011 Churubusco Farmer Pumping Water From Lake TO Catch His Giant Turtle Warsaw Daily Times September 14 1949 Retrieved December 23 2011 Thomas Phyllis 2007 Indiana Off the Beaten Path a Guide to Unique Places Globe Pequot p 61 ISBN 0 7627 4414 6 Cavinder Fred D 2003 More Amazing Tales from Indiana Indiana University Press p 147 ISBN 0 253 21653 2 Cumble gives turtle new lease on pond Chicago Daily Tribune March 18 1949 Retrieved December 23 2011 Hyde Sherree 6 August 2003 Inn the news Brigadoon Bed and Breakfast Archived from the original on 25 September 2010 Sisson Richard 2007 The American Midwest An Interpretive Encyclopedia Indiana University Press p 402 ISBN 0 253 34886 2 Dorson Richard Mercer 1986 Handbook of American Folklore Indiana University Press p 238 ISBN 0 253 20373 2 External links editKnot Magazine article Haynie Devon 2009 06 14 Beast of Busco The Journal Gazette Archived from the original on 2012 02 18 Retrieved 2009 06 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beast of Busco amp oldid 1189384496, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
