Fall asleep and rise again: the story of Old Rip (9 photos)

According to legend, the horned lizard spent 31 years sealed in a time capsule before being discovered... alive.





In 1897, a house was built in Eastland, Texas. At the beginning of construction, a grand ceremony took place, during which a time capsule was laid. This time capsule was to be the cornerstone of the courthouse and contained a Bible and other documents to commemorate this special occasion. But according to local legend, these artifacts were not the only thing that was placed in the capsule.



Horned lizard

Rumor has it that before sealing it, some pranksters decided to put a horned lizard inside. Thirty-one years later, when the city decided to build a new courthouse, the capsule was opened. To everyone's surprise, it contained the same horned lizard. Alive.





The lizard (often called the horned toad) was named Old Rip, in honor of Rip Van Winkle, the hero of a novel by American writer Washington Irving. The reptile became an instant celebrity. Old Rip traveled throughout the United States and even went to Washington to meet with President Calvin Coolidge.



Meeting with the President

Keeping such pets has become popular. One local gas station gave away live horned lizards after every purchase. Eastland County even attempted to seal another critter in the cornerstone of the new courthouse. But at the last moment the decision was reversed due to the intervention and protests of animal rights activists.



"Old Rip Window" exhibit at the Eastland County Courthouse

Unfortunately, Old Rip died 11 months after his miraculous return. The lizard's body was embalmed, preserved and placed in a makeshift coffin - a box with a velvet lining and a transparent lid - right in the courthouse.



But, as it turned out, poor Old Rip could not rest in peace. In 1973, his corpse was stolen and a letter was left in its place saying it was all a hoax. And whoever deceived the public must confess. When no one did, another letter was sent describing where the body was hidden. Rip was later returned to the courthouse, where he can still be seen today.



However, there are rumors among the people that there is a fake Rip in the coffin, and the real one was never found and is kept somewhere in a private collection.





Old Rip