Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1870-12-15
TIE WiLn NIX OF CAIIgnpx

THE WILD MEN OF CALIFoRxrA.-A
correspondent of the Antioch Ledysr. wr:-
ting from California, says: last Fall
was hunting in the mountains about twen-
ty miles South Of here, and campcd FIVE
or six days in one place, as | have done
every season for the past fifteen years
Several times | returned to my camp, after
hunt, and saw ths. TIA ashes and char
red sticks from the fireplace had been
scattered about. An old hunter notices
such things, and very soon gets curious
to know the cause. Although my bed
ding and traps and little stores were not
disturbed as could see, l was anxious to
learn who or what it was that so regular
ly visited my camp, for clearly the half
burnt sticks and cinders could not scatter
themselves about. l saw no tracks near
the camp. as the hard ground covered
with dry leaves, would show none. So
started on circle around the place, and
three hundred yards off. in damp sand,
struck the tracks of a mans feet, as l sup
posed-bare, and Of immense s;z". Now
/ was curious, sure, and resolved to Law
for the bare-footed visitor. I according
ly took position on a hill side, about six
ty or seventy feet from the fire. and Sc
curcly hid in the brush. l waited and
watched. Two hours or more sat there
and wondered if the owner of the feet
would cone again, and whether he imag-
ined what an interest ne had created in
my inGuiring mind, and finally. wha. pos
sessed him to be prowling about there
with no shoes on. The fireplace sas or
my right and the spot where | saw the
track was on my left, hid by bushes 1t
was in this direction that my attention was
mostly directed. thinking the visitor wo.Id
appear there. and, beside. it was easier tn
sit and face that way. Suddenly / was
started BY shrill whistle. such as boys
produce with two fingers under their
tongue, and turning quickly, ] calculated.
Coed Gcd.' as ssw the object Of my
such standing beside my fire. erect and
looking susriciously around. IT was in
the image of man. but itscould not have
been human. was never so benumbed
with astonishment before. The creature
whatever it was, stood full FIVE feet high,
and disproportionately broad and square
at the shoulders. with arms of great length.
The legs were very short, and the body
long. The head was small, compared
with the rest of the creature, and appear
ed to be set upon his shoulders without a
neck. The whole was covered with dark
brown and cinnamon -colorel hair, quite
long on some parts. that on the head stand
ing in shock and growing close down to
the eyes. like a Digger Indians. As
looked, he threw his head back and whis
tied again. and then stopped and graspel
stick from the fire. This be swung
round and round. until the FIRE on the end
had gone out, when he repeated the ma
nGuyre. i was dumb, almost. and could
only look. Fifteen minutes | sat and
watched him, as he whis.led and scattered
my fire about. | could easily have pu.
a bullet through his head. but why should
| kill him? Having amused himself. ap-
psrently all he desired. with nv fire. he
started to 90, and, having gone n short
distance. he returned and was joined by
another female. unnistaksbly-when
they both turned aud walked past me.
within twenty yards of where I sat, and
disappeared in the brush. | could no.
have had better opportunity for obser-
wing them, as they were unconscious a
my presence. Their only object in visi.
ting my camp seemed to be to amuse them
selves with swinging lighted sticks around
heard this story many times since then.
and il has often raised an incredulou.
smile; bat l met ore person who has seer
the mysterious creatures, and dozen whs
have come across their tracks at variou.
places between here and Pacheco Pass.