THE BARGHEST

The Barghest is a mythological creature from Northern English myths. It is depicted as a large dog with giant fangs and claws and fiery eyes ‘as big as saucers’.
According to the ballad “the Legend of the Troller’s Gill” as told by William Hone, there once was a man who travelled to the horrid gill of the limestone hill to summon the monstrous Barghest. But the man fails and his dead body is later found with horrible claw marks. Folklore often speaks of this creature visiting York and Whitby to kill and devour lone travelers. Its name is thought to be derived from the German “Bahrgeist” meaning “ghost of the bier”. The claws of the beast leave wounds that, even if the victim manages to escape and survive, will never close and heal.
The Barghest doesn’t always appear as a large dog. Sometimes it takes the form of headless human being (either male or female) who walks a certain distance before suddenly disappearing in flames.
It may stalk you invisibly, yet you can tell when the monster is nearby by the sound of rattling chains. Which brings to mind other very similar myths such as the Flemish Kludde, another giant dog from folklore whose arrival is accompanied by the sound of rattling chains. In any case, should you ever find yourself chased by this monster, try to find flowing water, as the beast is supposedly unable to cross rivers. Or so it is told, but I’ve yet to verify that particular claim with a decent source.