The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-02-03
e" WHAT IS IT?"
A Wild Man Seen on NeshdnnOck Creek
The Wonderful Adventure Of John
NemO Of NeShannock
Township.

bIR,-On MOuudy1 D6C6HDGT EUJHj
singular adventure happened to me
which has ever since been so painfully
impressed on my mind that l have re,
solved to give it to your paper for publ
cation. Early in the morning of the day
named above, accompanied by small
dog, / started to visit some musk-rat
traps which had set along the banks Of
the Neshannock some distance below
Reypolds's mill. l was making my way
through the underbrush near the creek
about three-quarters of mile from the
mill in the direction of New Castle,
when my attention was attracted by a
peculiar-looking footprint imbedded in
the snow that had drifted around the
pine bushes. 1t was very broad track,
some thirteen inches in length, and was
different from anything l had ever seen.
1t had five toes, the first being spread
out from the others, giving the track the
appearance of having been made by a
gigantic hand, with the thumb extended.
This discovery startled ne, and it also
affected the dog very much, as he ran
around among the underbrush, bowling
dismally all the while. got over my
fright in a degree and started for my
traps once more. l had gotten but a
short distance from the spot where l had
discovered the footprints when my ears
were saluted by the most terrible roar |
ever heard in my life, the bushes were
parted about thirty yards in front of me,
and the most singularly-looking man |
ever beheld appeared to view. He was
covered all over with grayish colored
hair, with the exception of his face and
breast, the latter being covered with a
dark, parchment-like skin. His height
was about six feet; his arms had a
spread of near seven feet, and seemed
like cables of twisted wire, so muscular
looking were they. His chest must have
measured seven feet around, and he was,
all in all, the approximation of
strength. To my inexpressible horror
he advanced rapidly toward me, beating
his breast with his muscular arms, pro-
ducing sound like the drumming OF a
pheasant on a hollow log, but much loud
er and deeper When he had approach
ed to within a distance of twenty feet l
could plainly see his ferocs sous face, 1t
was very black, and was ornamented
with large teeth, which protruded from
an immense mouth. His countenanCe
was distorted with rage his huge teeth
were ground against each other, so that
/ could plainly hear the sound the skin
of his forehead was drawn forward rap
idly, which made his hair move up and
down, and gave truly devilish express
sion to his face. Once more ne gave out
roar which seemed to shake the woods
like thunder; l could feel the earth
trembling under my feet. The monster
was looking me in the eyes and advanc-
ing rapidly, and beating his breast. I
was spell-bound and paralyzed, and Lad
it not been for fortunate intervention
l should have been undoubtedly crushed
in his long arms. The little dog that
was with me darted forward and sunk
his teeth in one of the lower limbs of
the wild man and drew his attention
from me. He stopped down, grabbed
the animal BY the hind legs with both
of his hands, whirled him with light
ming rapidity around his head half a
dozen times, loosened his grip, and the
poor dog went through the air like rock
ct for thirty yards, struck head first
against a large sycamore ttee, and then
fell to the ground dead, crushed to
jelly-like mass. Overcome with horror,
l lost all consciousness. When came
to myself, about two hours afterward,
the man was gone.
1 have been confined to my bed ever
since from the effects of the adventure,
and am unable to be around: but as soon
as am able my sons and / intend, with
guns and dogs, taking a hunt for the
wild man, and we may have something
further to report, as we are determined
to capture him if possible. The whole
of Neshannock township is excited over
the matter, and there is scarcely a night
passes but what corn, chickens, anG 9TH
er produce are taken from the farms in
the vicinity, and no clue left as to the
pperpetrator, except peCuliar-looking
foot prints in the snow or mud. The
The place where l saw him was about
of mile from the farm
of Thos. McCreary, in sight of Neshan-
mock creek, and about three and one
half miles from New Castle.
Yours truly,