San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-09-14
A California Man.Eater.

G. Z. Schumacher, OF Garberville,
says the Eureka Times, has had the good
or bad luck to have seen the "man-eat.
er" of Eel River, and sends the follow.
ing report to the Times: AS some OF
your readers are somewhat interested
in the big snake in the south fork of Eel
River, l will give you some facts for
which will vouch myself. The snake
is not snake, as reported, but an ami
NAL somewhat similar. have seen it,
have fought it and conquered. AS l
have seen it, and watched it at close
range, l will give you correct descrip-
ton, or as near rs can. Ii you or
your readers can imagine you see a
crocodile, an alligator, a lizard or wa
ter dog, you can form as good an idea
OF its looks as | can. 1t is between
eight and nine feet long, the head is
about seven inches broad, the body in
creasing slightly about four feet back (;
the back is oval, belly fiat, color white;
the back is about the color of water
dog, with dark spots all over. For
about three and half feet from the
head back the tail begins and forms
round, and the end is without point, and
looks as if it was cut of, leaves the butt
from one and u half to two inches
across. The end of the tail is yellow
for about two and half feet, with dark
rings around it. Two web feet close
behind the head, the legs about three
inches long, the head is seven inches
across, and shaped like frogs; black
eyes as large as twenty-five cent pieces.
The animal, whatever it is,
moves like an. alligator or crocodile.
Last Saturday, or rather yesterday, 1
left Garberville, coming down the South
Fork on my way to Rohnerville. After
crossing the South Fork numerous
times, came to the last crossing, about
two miles above what is called Myers
Rancho. Starting my horse at the ford,
l cast my eyes across the river to see
where the outcome was, and measured
the depth of the middle with my eyes.
1 was about seven feet in the river when
my horse SHE'D. Looking down on the
off or left side l saw strange sight;
head, shoulders and web.feet of mon
strous animal under my horse's feet.
Thinking my time had come and not
having time to think of my sins, l spur
red my horse to jump from there, which
he very. readily did. On looking back,
the water being clear, l saw the mon
ster IN the place where left it. TAX
ing courage, returned toward it with
in about four feet. fired my single
barreled Derringer at his head and re-
treated in haste, but not further than to
watch his movements. Shortly after
my shot this animal rose, turned over
and tloated on top. The current being
very still it almost remained in the same
place, and then it turned over and
went down again. Seeing it was not
on the fight l repeated the !
same dose twice with the same re-
suit, but the third time it came up
it kicked up fearful racket, beating
the water with its tail and splashing it
over me. Not having more ammuni-
ton withdrew from the battlefield. As
luck would have it, some Indians were
camped within hailing distance. When
they saw me charging back and forth in
the river and shooting at something they
came running towards me. They hap
pened to have a rifle and two bullets,
which they brought to me. The animal
was turning towards me. The first shot
fired was a me shot, but came short
about eighteen inches. loaded up as
soon as possible. BY this time the beast
had again turned towards me, and came
1T a fearful rate. Taking dead aim, l
fred. At the crack of the gun the ami
nal made a terrible plunge and then
,urned over, its head turning down
stream and floating towards deep water.
Not having any more ammunition fill
ID my pockets with rocks, mounted my
horse, and followed the animal as close
Is prudence would permit. fired rocks
1t it, but it never moved. The Indians
would not 60 near the water, but prom
sed if it was dead they would skin the
.nimal for me and save the hide. For
Ill the above l will vouch. This is not
lotion. If had known that | was so
lose to n habitatlon-within two miles
# Myers-I should have staid longer
With the beast, as it may turn out to be
quite curiosity. I