Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-03-24
tFrorn the yfokaburg (MissI Herald !
THE WHAT IS IT oUTDoNBI
Truth Stranger than FictiOnl


The following extraordinary story-Which
| for want of space We have been compelled to
condense-we have received from perfectly
reliable source. About twenty five miles
| from this city, but in this county, is small
stream known as Bear Greek, which em pties
into the Big Black river. The margin of
both these streams. in that vicinity, for miles
back is an almost ippenetrable swamp, grown
up with cane-brakes and Wild tangled vines,
but filed with all kinds of game, including
bear, deer aud turkeys. In pursuit of this
game many young men resort to this spot
with their hokS5E Cor sometime past,
strange stories have been told by the negroes
of an extraordinary animal seen near these
swamps. The negroes, in their usual man.
ner. gave graphic and startling descriptions
of his appearance, but usually winding up
with the declaration that it was the devil
which had been seen by them. One Pecu-
liarity, as described by the negroes, was that
from his tracks he seemed to be going both
WAYS at once. That is, one foot pointed to
the front and the other to the rear. These
stories were laughed at aud derided by the
citizens, no one believing in any such state>
ments. This extraordinary creature had often
suddenly presented himself among the ne
groes in the early twilight, causing great
CONSERVATION among them. He is described
by the negroes as being about eight feet high,
each eye, in their language, "as large as
hens egg" with no hose and no upper lip,
his two eye teeth rs large as e mans thumb,
extending down over his chin about eight
inches; his right foot points directly to the
front and the left to the rear, and the meas.
urement of the track is just twenty. three
inches in length; his finger nails are per-
bor5 opI roI;J oDd ora oboy,t si
long; the hair on his head-which is stiff
and wiry-sweeps the ground as he walks,
and is parted in the rear and brought dowu
in front on each side of his singularly- formed
chest, which is not round or fat, but is an
gular like that of fowl. The hair on the
body of this singular being is very stiff and
grows to the rear, parting at the angle of the
breast bone, growing back and uniting with
a long stiff growth on his spine which ex-
tends back about one foot like the spinal fin
of fish, or the bristies on the backof boar
the hair on his arms is parted and grows
in the same way, making long thick brush
on the back of the arms, extending from the
shoulders to the point of his middle finger;
the same popularity is observable on his legs
This singular aud horrible object the negroes
represent, has been seen by them at different
times for several months, and that night has
been rendered hideous by the unearthly howl
ing of this unknown animal. No white per-
son has ever seen him until recently, when
he was discovered by hunting party. Sew
eral neutrality-suspicious. of ours-met
on last Thursday week with view of bear
hunting in this swamp, they were accompa-
MED by about fifteen we'll trained bear dogs.
They prepared for the hunt early in the
morning, and when about commencing, their
attention was attracted to an unusually large
human track i'll the soft soil upon examina-
tion it was discovered that the track was con-
stantly being reversed. In an instant the
stories of the negroes occurred to the party,
and at once it was determined to pursue tho
creature which had made this track. The
dogs were instantly called and encouraged to
follow the track, which they did promptly.
The gentlemen mounted upon good horses
found but little difficulty in keeping we'll up
with the hounds, In few minutes an OBJ
ject was presented to their view which sent
chill to the heart of every member of the
party. They had unearthed the MONDE
SCRIPT. being-aPparently human-sud-
denly arose from his lair-turned and for
moment stood in silent inspection of his pur-
suers, and then instantly with yell truly
terrific, wheeled and with the speed of the
fastest horse rushed away before the dogs.
i MS VIII anu exciting Cn3Se was cOUtnueu
for distance of nearly ten miles, when at
last the terrible monster, foamiDg with rage,
was brought to bay upon the bank Of the Big
Black, and turning with fury unparalleled,
it seized the foremost dog with both hands,
and by the exercise of superhuman muscular
strength, buried its long talons in the body
of the bowling brute and literally tore the
dog asunder. Dropping this, it instantly
seized the next and sent its two immense tusks
through the skull of the doomed dog. One
of the hunters becoming alarmed for the safe
ty of the party, drew his revolver and fred
twice at the monster, but evidently without
effect other than to frighten it by the report,
when, turning with hdeous yell, it plunged
| into the river, diving and remaining under
water fully FIVE minutes, when it would sud
denly spring high into the air, screaming with
! the voice Of regiment of soldiers. 1t finally
swan to the opposite side and disappeared in
the neighboriug forest, since which time it
| has only been seen twice by white persons.
| Several attempts have been made to capture
! it, but up to the present time without success.
! What this strange creature is, no one can
! conjecture. The gentlemen with whom We
/ have convcrsed represent it as black man
about six feet high, but in other respects re-
/ sembling to a great degree the description
/ given by the negroes.
| 1t has broken the negroea from attending
! loyal leagues at night in that section OF
country.
Coon ADv1cR.-Be and continue poor,
Young man, while others around you grow