Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-17
A WESTERN MONSTER.
A Mysterious Creature In British Col
-anahia

A Mysterious Creature In British Col
1mb1a.
The village of Yale, B. c., is situated at
the head of navigation on Fraser river,
9Omiles above New Westminster, which
was the capital OF British Columbia I'M
til it was changed to Victoria. About 20
miles from Yale, On the line of the rail-
road, is a locality roughly known as
"Tunnel No. 4" where the extraordinary
occurrences about 90 be related took place
during the early part of the present
month.
Notwithstanding the improbability of
any amount of prospecting resulting in
turning Rp even the bones of the ''missing
link" much less in finding an actual liv-
ing specimen of this much-debated being,
the actual facts which are related cOu-
corning the remarkable appearance near
Tunnel No. 4" would tend to bear out
this theory of the Ggbiect. At different
times during the past two years there has
been seen in the billy country about the
settlement q being whose personal appear
ance is Variously described.
One day about a year ago a party of
young people from Yale went up on the
road as far as Tunnel No. 4, and there,
discriminating from the ears. proceeded to
spread themselves over the country IN the
form of picnic party. The tempting
meal had been spread upon the ground,
and the young men and girls were seated
10 circle preparing to enjoy the Yiands,
when there was heard a loud, crashing
noise above their heads, and in an instant,
withOutfurther warning than was given
by most fiendish yell-eomething be-
tween the shrek of a hyena and the In
dian war-whOOp-there dropped into the
midst OF the spread a horrible creature as
large as a man, covered with hair from
head to foot, with long arms which he
brandished about in formidable style as
he vainly tried to eXtricate himself from
the canned fruits, cold meats, jam-pOts,
and oleomargarine into which he had I'M
eXpectedly tumbled. This was a''surprise
party" for which no intentional prepara-
ton had been made, and in moment
there was a stampede. TumbliRg head
long down the hill on whose crest the
elaborate meal had been laid, the frighten-
ed picnickerS 50 fastened their departure
as to be utterly unable to give anv eoher-
ent description of what had frightened
them to the railroad men whose assistance
they implored. A party fully armed was
at once made up, and the scene of the
sudden onslaught was carefully ap-
preached. The unwelcome visitor lad
fed, but before leaving he had plainly
helped himself to everything that took his
fancy, and that seemed tc have been
guided by nothing but the opportunity. II
he were human creature and had eaten
what was certainly gone, selected from
every imaginable article of food, his re-
mains would undoubtedly be found in a
few hours. No idiot, Indian, or ether kind
of man could possibly have eaten such q
mixture and live.
But if such was the case, the most care
full search failed to result in finding the
body, and after a prOtracted search,
which lasted, after a desultory fashion,
for several weeks, the idea of his having
died of indigestion or govt was reluctant
" abandoned. One fact which was de-
m0nstrated by the circumstances of his
visitation caused the believers in the In
dian theory to be very deeply shaken in
their convictions. This was that he had
fallen from an overhanging limb of a tree.
carrying a large piece with him, and the
size of the limb was a good indication
that the creature must be as heavy as an
OrdinaTy-siZed man, and hardly an In
dian, as they do not usually climb trees.
A few months later another view of this
strange being was had by some workmen
on the railroad, but, though they gave
chase, they were not able to come up with
him. He was not seen again until about
three weeks ago, when he was not only
seen, but caught. The spot where he was
discovered was q series of bluffs, deemed
inaccessible. a train was running from
LyttOn to Yale. when the engineer saw
what he supposed so be man lying close
to the track. He whistled down brakes.
but just as the train stopped the object
sprang to its feet, and in an instant was
climbing the side of the precipitious de-
cliYity with the greatest ease. The con-
GuctOr, brakemen, express messenger
and a number Of passengers at once gave
chase, and after some perilOus climbing
succeeded in cOrraling the creature on an
oyerhanging shelf of rock, from which he
could neither ascend nor descend. The
ingenious, though rather cruel, method
was now adopted for securing him Of
dropping a piece of stone from above,
which, falling on his head, stunned him,
and he fell insensible.
The bell-rope was now procured, and,
after some expert climbing, he was
reached, tied, and lowered gradually
down to the foot of the cliff. He was
placed in the baggage-car and successful
ly transported to Yale, when it was
found that he had recovered from his in
sensibility, and was tractable and dOcile.
One of the men in the railroad machine
shop assumed the care Of him, named him
JackO, and very soon made his friendly
acquaintance. And even then, and up to
tho --resent time, it has not been satisfac-
t for &c. "ertained to what race the new
'I AZ ha,,0ngs. He is of the gorilla
tvDe' but not definitely enough to be de-
clared a gorilla, which 10, moreover.
creature unknown to the latitude of Brit
ish C ,,,,,1,,;--In, while there has been no
there to Introduce even a mon
kew. He is about feet 7 inches IN heiisnt,
and weighs 127 pounds. His entire body,
axcept his hands and feet, is covered with
black, glossy hair about one inch in
length. He greatly resembles human
being, but his forearm is much longer than
that Of a man, and so strong that he will
break a stick-by wrenching or twisting
it-so large thatno man could possibly ac-
this feat. He makes a noise,
half bark and half growl, but is general
ly quiet. His favOrite food is berries, and
he drinks fresh milk with evident relish.
His captor intends taking him to London
for exhibition, when his exact position in
natural history will probably be discoy-