The record-union., 1891-06-27
THE CAPAY CURIOSITY.
Two More Persons Who Claim to
Have Seen the Creature.
The Story Told by Couple Of Men
Who Followed the Thing to
Its Lair.

For some weeks past all sorts of rldlcu-
lous yarns have been going the rounds OF
the Yolo papers about some alleged won
derful freak of nature that had been seen
in the mountains near the head of Capay
Valley, and which has been termed a
"What-is-It." 1t has been alleged that
the story was first started by some par
ties who wanted to get hold of valuable
Government land, in the hope of fright
ening other land-seekers from going into
that locality.
And now comes man named Gilbert
from Southern California, who claims to
have seen this terrible half-human Great
ure, and who states his experience
through the Woodland Democrat. 1t will
be noticed that he was locating Govern
ment land when he saw the awful beast.
Says that paper:
"Once more the wild and woolly
'What-is-It' has been seen. 1t does not
seem to have reformed as yet, as it is as
frisky as ever. This time the person who
saw it was Herman Gilbert, who was up
i'll the head of the Capay Valley looking
for suitable piece of Government land
that he might homestead.
"He says that he was near RumSey,
where he was stopping with some friends.
On last Monday morning he started out
with his brother-in-law, expecting to be
gone a day or SO, as he wished to combine
business with pleasure. They came to a
nice little valley about half mile long on
Tuesday afternoon, and as il was cool,
well watered and full of nice green grass,
they determined to pitch their tent there.
This they did, and about half an hour
later Mr.. Gilbert went TO the spring near
by to water the horses, and was surprised
TO see around it tracks very much re-
sembling that of a man. but thought
nothing of it.
incidentally, when he returned, he
mentioned ii TO his brother-in-law. He
then, for the first time, heard of the terror,
and suggested that the two return and
track the mysterious animal to his lair.
This they did, and as they followed the
footprints, they found that they led to the
other end of the valley. Just as they
came TO the end of the defile and were
about to turn down the mountain side,
they heard peculiar cry, half human
and half british, and quite near them. AS
may be supposed they wended their way
very carefully and slowly. Before they
had gone half a mile they came upon a
path. The gentlemen were too sharp to
walk in it, and followed the direction it
took by walking in the underbrush near
by;
y uSl dS LlSy ISdCileu the DClbOUl Oh the
mountain they came into deep ravine,
and there walking up and down, could
be seen his nibs' himself. Mr.. Gilbert
says that the beast seemed to be mad at
something, and would beat its breast,
which was covered with gore. and the
sound made was like distant thunder.
1t had lost some hair since last seen, SO
the gentlemen should judge, for the cuti-
Gle was plainly discernible and was of q
dark color, much like that of horse.
Near by was rude cave where the
anomaly lived. About it could be seen
bones from which flesh had been eaten.
The stencil arising from the decaying
matter was horrible. The muscles of the
creature were very powerful, and the
animal made an exhibition of its strength
by lifting a huge rock that would weigh
at least 300 pounds, and throwing it.
without any apparent effort, 100 feet.
After watching the 'What-Is-It' for
some time the gentlemen crept quietly
back, and as soon as possible left the 10.
cality, determined not to make any closer
acquaintance with the Capay curiosity