The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1878-08-01
A "MAN.EATER,"
a Humboldt County Man Encounters
Il Formidable River Monster.

a Humboldt County Man Encounters
Formidable River Monster.
From the Eureka Times.
G. E. Schumacher, of Garberville,
has had the good or bad luck to have
seen the "Man-eater" of Eel River, and
sends the following 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 a
snake, as reported, but an animal some
what similar. | have seen it, have
fought it and conquered. AS | have
seen it and watched it at close range,
1 will give you a correct description, or
as near as | can. If you or your read
ers can imagine you see crocodile,
an alligator a lizard or a water 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 increasing
slightly about four feet back; the back
is oval, belly flat, color white; the back
is about the color of water-dOg, with
dark spots all over. For abont 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 off, leaves the butt from one
and Il 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, l left Garberyille coming
down the South Fork on my way tc
Rohnervillc. After crossing the South
Fork numerous times, came to the
last crossing, about two miles above
what is called Meyers Ranch. Starting
my horse at the ford, l cast my eyes
across the river to see where the ont
come was, and measuring the depth o.
the middle with my eyes. was about
seven feet in the river when my lorst
SHE'D. Looking down on the of
or left side / saw a strange
sight; head, shoulders and wob-feet o
a monstrous animal under my horse
feet. Thinking my time had come, ant
not having time to think of any sins
l spurrcd my horse to Jump from there
which he very readily did. On LOOKING
back, the water being clear, 1 saw th'
monster in the place where I left it
Taking courage, 1 returned to
wards it within about four feet. / fire,
3 my single-barreled derringer at hi
head and retired in haste, but no fur
thcr than to wacth his movements
Shortly after my shot this animal rose
turned over and Hoatcd on top. TIL
) current being very still, it almost re
manned in the same place, and then i
} turned over and went downagain. See
: ing it was not on the fight, | repeato,
| the same dose twice, with the same re
| suit, but the third time it came up j
s kicked up fearful racket, beating til
p water with it tail and spl0shing it owe
= me. Not having more ammunition,
, withdrew from the battlefield. AS luc
] would have it, some Indians were camp
:, ed within hailing distance. When the
=. saw me charging back and forth in tn
c river and shooting nt something, the
} came running towards me. They hal
+ pened to have rifle and two bullets
+ which they brought ton The animi
+ was turning towards me. The first she
t | fired was 4 line shot, but came shol
c about eighteen inches, l loaded up a
i soon as possible. BY this time the beas
+, had again turned toward me, and cam
= at fearful rate. Taking dead aim,
+ fired. At the crack of the gun the an
II nal made a terrible plunge and the
II turned over, its head turning dow
,, stream and floating toward deep waite
d Not having any more ammunition,
Il filed my pockets with rocks, mounte
d my horse and followed the animal {
e close as prudence would permit. fire
is rocks at it, but it never moved. The Ii
@ dams would not go near the water, br
7, promised if it was dead they would ski
Is the animal for me and save the hid
e For all the above l will vouch. This
T. not fiction. If l had known that | WI
e so close to a hahitation-within tw
:, miles of Meyer's-I should have stai
t. longer with the beast. asst may turn oil
K to be quite curiosity.