Complex sentence: At about 9:30 on the night of April 25 1973, Henry McDaniel claimed he heard a scratching sound at his front door and saw something that he thought might be a bear.
Split into simpler sentences: At about 9:30 on the night of April 25 1973, Henry McDaniel heard a scratching sound at his front door. He looked out, and saw something that he thought might be a bear.