The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-03-26
/ From Che yicksburgl Herald, March I. I
.sH 75- THE DEVIL. E - go
An Extraordinary Creature.

| y Il s
The following extraordinary sto-
ry, which for want ofspace we have
been compelled to condense, we
! have received from perfectly re-
liable source. About twenty-five
miles fIom this city, but in this
county, is small stream known as
Bear creek, which empties into the
Big Black river. The margin of
both these streams, in that vicinity
for miles back, is an almost impen
etrable swamp, grown up with cane
brakes and wild. tangled vines, but
filed up with all kinds of game, in
Guiding bear, deer and turkeys.
In pursuit Of this game, many
young men resort to this spot with
their hounds. For some time past,
strange stories have been told by
the negroes OF an extraordinary an
imal seen near these swamps. The
negroes, in their usual manner, 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. 5.--...-.--..-... ...,. .... ...,r,-.
One popularity, 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 and derided by the citi
zens, no one believing in any such
strtements. This extraordinary
creature had often suddenly presen-
ted himself among the negroes in
the early twilight, causing great
CONSERVATION among them. He is
described by the negroes as being
shout eight feet high, each eye, in
| their language, "as large as hens
egg" with no nose and no upper
lip, his two eye teeth as large as a
mans thumb, extending down over
his chin about eight inches his
| right foot points directly to the
front and the left one to the rear,
and the measurement of the track
is just twenty three inches in length,
his finger nails are perfectly hard
and solid, and are about six inches
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 down in front on
each side OF his singularly formed
chest, which is not round nor fat,
bat is angular like that of a fowl.
The hair on the body of this sim
gular being is very stiff and grows
to the rear, parting at the angie of
the breast bone, growing back and
uniting with long stiff growth on
his spine which extends back about
one foot like the spinal fin of a fish,
Or the bristles on the back Of a boar
the hair on his arms is parted and
grows in the same way, making a
long, thick brush on the back of his
arms extending from the shoulders
to the point. Of his middle finger !;
the same popularity is observable
on his legs. This singular and hor-
rible 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 howlings Of this I'M
known creature. No white person
has ever seen him until recently,
when he was discovered by a hunt.
ing party. r,..I..sz ais1-t III.
Several gentlemen-acquaintan-
ces Of ours-met on last Thursday
week with q view Of bear hunting in
this swamp; they were accompa7
MED by about fifteen well. trained
bear dogs, They prepared for the
hunt early in the morning, and,
when about commencing, their at
tention was attracted to an unusual
| ly large human track in the soft
soil; upon examination it was dis
covered that the track was constant
| " being reversed. In an instant
the stories Of the negroes occurred
to the party, and at once it was de-
termined to pursue the creature
which had made this track. The
dogssswere instantly called and en-
couraged to follow the track, which
they did promptly. The gentlemen
!. mounted upon good horses, found
but little difficulty in keeping well
up with the hounds In a few min
utes an object was presented to
their view which sent chill to the
heart of every member of the party.
| They had unearthed the Monde
script. .'.- -s.i aasezs5 ~ g..
/ A being-apparently human
suddenly arose from his lair-turn-
ed, and for moment stood in 81
lent inspection of his pursuers, and
then instantly, with 4 yell truly ter
rife, wheeled, and with the speed
of the fastest horse, rushed away
before the dogs. aaaJ s5 -i
This wild and exciting chase was
continued for distance of nearly
ten miles, when at last the terrific
monster, foamingi with rage, was
brought to bay upon the banks Of
the Big Black, and turning with a
fury unparalleled, it seized the fore
most dog with both hands, and by
the exercise of superhnmaa muscu-
lar power, buried it's long talons in
the body of the bowling brute, and
literally tore the dog asunder. Drop
ping this it instantly Seized the
next, and sent its two immense
tusks through the scull of the doom
ed dog. ~" '-''s- -. 7..' W ~ ''1.'. y. :!
One of the hunters becoming
alarmed for the safety ofthe party,
drew his revolver and fired twice
at the monster. but evidently with
out effect other tkan to frighten it