Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-27
A HOMEMADE GORILLA.
Singular InhabItant Of n Lake SuPe-
rlOr Island.
a..

rIOr Island.
From the Cleveland PlaiRdealer.
MANIToU IsLAsD, LAKE MICHIGAN,
June 10.-Many of your readers are aware
that in Lake Michigan, between fifty and
sixty miles from Sleeping Bar Point, is q
cluster of islands called the Manitou.
There are four Of them, and have been
used by the Indians as their homes, during
the fishing season, for years. When, in the
progress of time, the white men filed the
whole country, the Indians took their de-
parture, and ever since the islands have
been inhabited by lumbermen and fisher
men. Early this spring !, with others,
took up my abode upon one of the islands,
and intend TO remain here all the season.
Some ten days ago one of our party took
his boat and started for the Little Mantou,
one OF our group of islands, about four
miles distant from the one on which we are
eneamped. He returned about three
o'clock in the afternoon, and related that
after he had landed upon the island, he
heard what he supposed was a man halloo-
ing loudly, as though in Distress that he
proceeded TO the spot from whence the
noise seemed 10 come, and when within ten
or fifteen feet Of il, he said he saw a form
that had an appearance Of a man, at least
eight feet tall, entirely naked, with his body
covered with hair. His face bad the APP
pearance of intellectually, his brow being
quite high His beard descended nearly
to his stomach, and his hair was dishevelsd
and coarse AZ the monster saw the sp.
proach of my informant, he gave loud
shrek and at once fed. Knowing that it
would be impossible TO overtake him, my
friend returned TO his boat and came home
Afier relating his story, We held a con-
sultation, and decided to make up a party
on the next day, return to the island, and
hunt the monster up. AT 10 o'clock we
landed on the island and commenced our
search. In choosing our positions took
that which lead me TO the west, on the
shore of the lake. had not proceeded far,
when / beheld the unknown sitting upon
the beach, washing his feet in the pure
water Of The lake. l approached him gently,
and hoped to be able TO capture him with
out trouble, but when within at least twenty
feet of him, he heard me approaching, and
at once springing TO his feet, commenced
to run. fired upon him with my gun, bat
failed to bring him down. l then en-
deavored 20 overtake him, but my efforts
were fruitless. The rest of the party were
not able TO get sight Of him, and it il, a.
yet, unknown where he succeeds in hiding.
We start out tomorrow again in the hopes
Of catching him, and, If possible, 10 finding
out who he is or what he is. There is a
story afoat among the older fishermen of
tbs leland that some twenty years ago
woman lost a child here about four years
old, that every effort was made 10 find il,
but that all the efforts were unsuccessful,
and the bereaved mother at last came to
the conclusion that her boy had been stolen
and carried OF by some OF the wandering
tribes Of Indians then inhabiting the
islanda As | said before, we start Out To-
morrow in search Of the strange character,
and | will, as coon as possible, give you the
result Of our trip. Yours,
#-.Y ]. &. ANDERSON.