The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-08-16

~
q. +. Schumacher, Of Garberyille,
saws the Eureka Times, has had the good
~ bad luck to have seen the "man-eat-
arr Of Eel River, and sends the follow.
inc report 10 the Times: AS some Of
vour readers are somewhat interested
IN the big snake in the south fork Of Eel
River, I will give you some facts for
which will vouch myself. The snake
i not a snake, as reporsed. but an ami
mai somewhat similar. | have seen il,
have fought il and conquered. As l
have seen it. and watched il AZ close
range, viii give You correct descrip-
lion. or As near as can. II you or
vour readers can imagine you see 8
Crocodile, an alligator, lizard or AVA
ter dog. you can form IS good an idea
~ IL looks as can. Ii is between
EIGHT and nine feet long, the head i
about seven inches broad, the body in
creasing slightly about four feet back
the back is oval, belly fat, color white;
the back is about the color Of a water
dog. with dark spots al over. For
about three and a half feet from the
head back the tail begins and forms
ronnd. and the end is without point. and
looks a. il il was cut of, leaves the butt
from one and half to two inches
across. The end Of the tail Is yellow
for about two and half feet. with dark
rings around il. Two web feet close
behind the head, the legs about three
inches long. the head Is seven inches
across, and shaped like frogs; black
ewes as large as twenty-five cent pieces.
The animal, whatever il Is,
moves like an alligator or crocodile.
Last Saturday. or rather ,yesterday, !
left Garberville, coming down the South
Fork on my way 70 Rohnerville. After
crossing the South Fork numerous
times, came TO the last crossing. abou,
two miles above what is called Myers
Rancho. Starting my horse At the ford,
cast my eyes across the river TO see
where the outcome was, and measured
the depth Of the middle with my eyes.
was about seven feet in the river when
nv horse SHE'D. Looking down on the
Of or left side / saw a strange sight;
head, shoulders and web-feet Of a mon
sfrous animal under my horses feet.
Thinking my time had come and not
having time to think Of my sins, spur
red my horse TO Jump from there, which
be very readily did. On looking back,
the water being clear, ! saw the mon
ster IN the place where | left il. TAX
ing courage, returned toward it with
in abont 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 hoated on top. The current being
very still il almost remained in the same
place, and then il turned over and
went down again. Seeing i was no;
on the iigh: repeated the
same dose twice with the same re-
suit, but the third time it came up
1t kicked up fearful racket, beating
the water with its tail and splashing II
over me. Not having more ammuni-
ton withdrew from the battlefield. As
luck would have il, some Indians were
camped within hailing distance. When
they saw me charging back and forth in
the river and shooting AZ something they
N&AAC A1AAnlAE tVWAIAA- 1A4t- utN nap
pened to have rifle and two bullets.
which they brought 70 me. The animal
was turning towards me. The first shot
fired was me shot, but came short
about eighteen inches. Iloaded up as
soon a. possible. BY this time the beast
had again turned towards me, and came
a. fearful rate Taking dead aim.
fired. AT the crack Of the gun the ami
nal made terrible plunge and then
turned over. its head turning down
stream and floating towards deep water
Not having any more ammunition FILL
cd my pockets with rocks, mounted my
horse, and followed the animal as close
a. prudence would permst. fired rocks
a. i, but Il never moved. The Indians
would not 20 near the water, but prom
ised il il was dead they would skin the
animal for me and save the hide. For
al the above will vouch. This is not
fiction- II had known that was 80
close 70 habitatlon-within two miles
Of Myers should have staid longer
with the beast, as II may turn out to be
quite curiosity.