Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-05
Sport Cunning For Dragons
Near Fresno.
M0nstr0sitieS Which Are Half
Alligators, Half Birds.
The Wild, Weird Story of Fresno
Newspaper Man.
Two Screaming Dragons Snap Their
Jaws and Show Their Teeth-Six
Feet Long and Look
Like Frogs.

The Fresno sportsman now goes gun
ming for pterodactyls. These are dragons
who lived in the carboniferous age, but
who forgot to get petrifed when the
Fresno man and woman went through
that process for the special benefit Of
nineteenth century dime museum own
ere. A letter from Fresno to the San
Francisco Chronicle of Monday tells the
Munchausen story, and from it the fol-
lowing excerpts are taken:
FRESNO, July 31.-The report that two
strange dragons with wings have recent
ly appeared in the swamps east of Sell
ma was at first regarded by many as
sensational story without foundation in
fact, but after different persons at diff
ferent places had claimed to have seen
the strange creatures it began to be
thought worth investigating.
The history of the unusal visitors, so
far as reported, is as follows:
The men who live along the swales
and sand hollows east and southeast of
Selma on the evening of July 18th heard
strange sounds in the air just after dark,
like the rushing of wings when some
large bird passes swiftly through the air
overhead. At the same time cry was
heard, resembling that of a swan,
though enough different to make it
plain it was not a swan. But on that
evening nothing was seen. The sound
of the rushing of wings and peculiar
cries were heard at intervals for two
hours, when about 10 O'Clock all became
STILL. The last cries heard were far
away in the direction of Kings
river.
On Monday night, July 21st, Harvey
Lennon and Major Henry Haight were
out looking after their hogs that feed in
the tules. As the men were returning to
Selma they were surprised to hear a
strange, strangling noise in the deep
ewale under the bridge. In moment
there was a heavy Tapping of wings and
the two monsters rose slowly from the
water and few so near the men that the
wind from their wings was plainly felt.
Mr.. Haight described the dragons as
resembling birds. except that they had
no feathers, and their heads were broad
and their bills long and wide. He
judged that the expanse of their wings
was not less than fifteen feet. Their
bodies were without covering. Their
eyes were very large-Mr. Haight was
sure not less than four inches in dame
ter.
J. D. Daniels, of Sanger, heard OF the
matter, and on Wednesday went over to
Selma and joined those who were going
out to capture the dragons. Your cor
respondent saw Mr.. Daniels today and
had from him the account of the search
ing party. 1t is better given in Mr..
Daniels's words:
"When reached Selma found the
company, which, with me, consisted OF
five persons, preparing to 60 down to
Hog lake to set watch. This is small
pond of water, and was considered as
liable as any to be visited by the mon
eters.
"We drove out to the lake, and
there being no brush convenient for a
hiding place, we dug holes in the bank,
and soon after dark we took our places
in the holes with our guns, ready to see
what could be done in case the visitors
put in an appearance.
"We remained there till O'Clock in
the morning, and nothing of an unusual
nature having taken place we returned
to Selma, somewhat disappointed.
About 10 O'Clock that day, Thursday,
Emanuel Jacobs came in and reported
that the monsters had evidently been in
Horn valley, abont four miles above, the
night before. They had killed num-
Der of ducks, and the banks of the pond
were strewn with feathers.
"We had no intention of giving over
the plan of capturing the dragons, and
Thursday night two of us returned to
watch-Mr. fempleton and myself. we
secreted ourselves in the holes which we
hod r,ooIo tho x,snht hoforo ouI xuo,faI
patiently with our guns, determined to
secure one OF the strange visitors at
least, should they make their appear
anoe.
"About IL O'Clock the cries were heard
in the direction of Kings river, seeming
two or three miles away. The ominous
yells drew nearer, and in few moments
we heard the rush and roar Of wings, SO
hideous that our hair almost stood on
end. The two dragons came swooping
down and circled round and round the
pond in rapid whirls, screaming hid
eously all the while. We had a good
view of them while flying. Two or three
times they passed within few yards of
us, and their eyes were plainly visible.
We could also see that instead of bills
like birds they had snouts resembling
that of the alligator, and their teeth
could be seen as they snapped their jaws
while passing us.
Evidently the dragons were trying to
decide whether or not they should come
down in the pond. They were probably
examining if there was any food to be
had. such as ducks, mudhens and fish.
~At length they came down with
fearful plunge into the pond, and the
mud and water flew as though tree had
fallen into it.
tThey dived and foundered around in
the water, and as nearly as we could
Judge at the distance of thirty yards
they were about six feet long, and while
wadinq in the water they looked not
unlike gigantic frogs. Their wings were
folded. and appeared like large knobs
on their backs. Their eyes were the
most visible parts. and seemed all the
time wide open and staring.
uThey were very active, and darted
about among the tules and rushes catch
ing mudhens. One of these fowls was
devoured at two or three champs OF the
jaws.
As soon as we saw good opportu-
nity we leveled our guns at the one near
est us and fred. One rose into the air
with veil and few away, every stroke
of the wings showing immense strength.
1.-THE other houndered about in the
water till it reached the edge of the
-<.,J xr,l,ov, IL sraw,ed ont dragging q