The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-02
A STRANGE CREATURE
Prowling About One of Chi
oago's Suburban Towns,
THE TRADITIONAL WILD MAN
Terrifles Those Who have Seen Him
All Efforts to Find it Out I'm.
successful-Thrilling Experi-
ence' of Two Young Men.

uCCetSlul-4uFlIIiuB cApc
ence' of Two Young Men.
CHICAGO, ILL, Jan. Haywood ha
mystery, and through it that usual.
peaceful little suburb bids fair to becom
quite notorious.
Something over a week ago rumo
was started in haywood that a bear o
come animal very much resembling one
had been seen on the Desplsines rive
bank, just below the village.
Christmas Day the Desplaines rive
was crowded with skaters. They GOV
cred the ice from Harlem to Turne
Park, and were as happy as they werC
numerous. In the crowd that kept closC
to the Northwestern railroad bridge, be
tween River Forest aud haywood, wa
q party Of young people from NortE
Clark street. Charles Gardner ClerA
on the Board OF Trade, was one OF tht
number, and as he was anxious not Il
miss the next train he went ashore be-
low the railroad bridge, removed his
skates and commenced to pick his way
along small path which led toward the
haywood PARK. Thia was through Q
very thick underground, and led directly
10 small bridge on First avenue, span
ming rayine which runs the entire
length OF the park, running into the
river about two hundred feet from the
small bridge.
AS Gardner approached the bridge he
was startled by hearing what sounded to
him like moan or growl. Looking up
he saw at the foot OF one Of the piers ol
the bridge something which be at first
took TO be a man. The figure was seated
on projecting rock and was partially
concealed behind tho thick weeds that
surround the spot. 1t was peering
through the tops OF the weeds, and the
face, as the startled man man saw it, was
that OF monster. It had a low heavy
brow, over which hung hair that was
coarse and matted. Its eyebrows were
heavy and long, and the head seemed to
be set low down on the chest, 80 high
and missive were the huge shoulders.
The entire face was covered with bushy
hair, and as Garduer looked in fright
and wonder, huge arm was lifted to
grasp the wall 40 the creatureTose That
was all the young man wanted to see.
He tore his way up the steep bank,
rushed to tue depot nearly half mile
away, and boarded his train just as it
was about TO leave.
AGAIN SEEN.
In the meantime the mysterious crea.
ture had been seen aud heard by other
people. John Haberlein, Hans Nouns and
Sam Harburg, three Germans living near
Turner Park, had heard from some boys
that some wolves or bears were prowling
up and down the river. Friday they
started out with guns and dogs and
carefully occurred both banks Of the river
from Turner Park almost to Harlem, but
they saw nothing alive, although in the
sand, on the river bank near Harlem,
they ran across some strange looking
footprints, which led from the ice to the
bank Of the river. These tracks resem-
bled somewhat those OF bear, but the
peculiar imprints OF the toes at once
proved that they we're not made by any
bruin in existence.
Late last Saturday night, Henry Phil
lips and Il. A. Lewis, two young men
who board in River Forrest, went over
to Maywood to call on some young la.
dies. They were walking home after
their visit, and when on the West Lake
street wagon bridge, stopped to look at a
passenger train that Eas crossing the
railroad bridge Just below. They saw
the train pass, and then looked up and
down the river. The moon was shining
brightly, and the reflected glitter from
the ice made the picture a pretty one.
As the two Young men watched the
ice they cav a movement on the icy sur
face at the bend. Without being aware
that tho other was looking at the NOV.
ing object each watched the figure until
they both broke out at the same instant
With a remark that some fellow must
like skaliDR xcTy yell to be out alone at
that time OF the night.
They both laughed, and as they aid
the figufo dTow away ISOm the bend and
MADE i;s way down the river toward the
two watchers. II GaLie very slowly and
appeared to be carrying sonething. Is
Il approached the bridge the young men
could see very distinctly that it was not
a skater. 1t took long, regular, hpt very
allow strides, and at each step CiackinG
gound could be heard as il some loose
shos EoIc wGs coming in contact with the
smooth leo at every step. -,
The r, Election from the Ice threw its
rays on the features OF the strange loak'
ing midnight marauGer, and as 1t came
nearer and nearer to the young men
they we're almost horToT.stEickep atits
appearance. The figure was that Of q
man, big, brawny and muscular, but
whether covered with hair or clothes
was hard TO discern. It wore no hat,
end it's whitO hands, ag one hung by ita
side and ths other grasped the burden
on its shoulder, were In great contrast
! to the dark face, black hairand peculiar
looking body. The head seemed scarce
| ly higher than the shoulders, g1d 81 tue
creature moved along, peculiar hissIng
sound came from 1t. as lit were breath
ing through its teeth.
FRIGHTENED WATCHERS.
Shan it halted under the bridge, or a
little 10 one side OF it, aud directly in lpll
view of the waLcherp, It dropped its bur.
den. l. seemed to be fearful OF some
thing, and looked around in every
direction. The young men Crouched on
the loor OF the bridge and peered
cautiously oyer the edge OF the rail.
The Thing Kissed and m4Rbled es it
stood there, and Lewis became go badly
frightened that he almost yelled outright,
and was only stopped by the strong
hand clasp Of his friend.
In q few moments a movement was
heard un the ice. They saw it pass under
the railroad bridge end watched 1t move
on down toward Harlem until i VOC
lost to view around the bend Of the
river just below. -
Just as Lewis and Phillips had reached
ths end Of the bridge on their home
Ward Wsy, and were discussing the
strange sight they hGl aeen, they were
ogain startled by hearing a loud cry.