The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-08-17
A California Monster.

G. E. Schumacher, of Garberville, has
had the good 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 in
terested in the big snake in the south
fork of Eel River, will give you some
facts for which | will Vouch myself.
The snake is not snake, as reported,
but an animal somewhat similar.
have seen it, have fought it and con-
quered As | have seen it and watched
it at close range, will give you cor
rect description, or as near as |
can. If you or your readers can
| imagine you see a crocodile, an alli-
gator, 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 about three and a
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, leaving the butt from one and
half to two inches across. The end
of the tail is yellow for about two and
a 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-tive-cent pieces. The animal,
whatever it is, moves like an alligator.
or crocodile
Recently | left Garberville, coming
down the South Fork on my way to
bonneville. After crossing the South
Fork numerous times, | came to the
last crossing, about two miles above
what is called Myers rancho. Start
ing my horse at the ford, cast my ewes
across the river to see where the out
come was, and measuring the depth of
the middle with my eyes. Twas about
seven feet in the river when my horse
SHE'D. Looking down on the left or off
side | saw a strange sight-head,
shoulders and web-feet of a monstrous
animal under my horses feet Think
ing my time had come, and not having
time to think of my sins, spurred my
horse to jump from there, which he
very readily did. On looking back, the
water being clear, | saw the monster in
the place where | left it. Taking cour-
age, | returned toward it within about
four feet. | fired my single-barreled
derringer at his head and retreated in
haste, but not further than to watch
his movements. Shortly after my shot
1
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, | repeated the same dose twice,
with the same result, 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
ammunition, | withdrew from the bat
tle-tield. As luck would have it, some
Indians were camped within hailing dis
lance. When they saw me charging
back and forth in the river and shoot
ing at something, they came running
towards me. They happened to have
a rifle and two bullets, which they
brought to me. The animal was turn
NY tOWdFuS me. Inc HrSG SnOu llreQ |
was line shot, but came short about
eighteen inches. l loaded up as soon
as possible. By this time the beast had
again turned toward me, and came at
fearful rate. Taking q dead aim, | |
fired. At the crack of the gun the an
imal made a terrible plunge and then
turned over, its head turning down |
stream and floating toward deep water.
Not having any more ammunition,
filled my pockets with rocks, mounted |
my horse, and followed the animal as
close as prudence would permit.
fired rocks at it, but it never moved. |
The Indians would not go near the wa
ter, but promised if it was dead they |
would skin the animal for me and save |
the hide. For all of the above | will |
vouch. This is not fiction. If | had |
known | was so close to habitation,-I
within two miles of Myers'-I should |
have stayed longer with the beast, as it
may turn out to be quite curiosity. -
Eureka (CdI J Times.