Year: 1868

Mississippi.


From the Vicksburg (Miss) Herald.


The following extraordinary story
which for want Of space we have been COM
PEELED to condense-we have received from
a perfectly reliable source. About twenty
five miles from this city, but in this county,
is 4 small stream known as Bear creek,
which empties into the Big Black river
The margin Of both these streams, in that
vicinity for miles back, is an almost i'm
penetrable swamp, grown up with cane
brakes and wild, tangled vines, but filled up
with all kinds of game, including bear,
deer, and turkeys.


In pursuit of this game many young
men resort to this spot with their hounds.
For some time past, strange stories have
been told by the negroes of an extraordi-
nary animal seen near these swamps. The
negroes, in their usual manner, gave graphic
and startling descriptions of his appearance,
but usually winding up with the declara-
tion that it was the devil which had been
seen by them. One popularity, as de-
scribed by the negroes, was that from his
tracks he seemed to be going both ways at
once. That is, one foot pointed to the front
and the other to the rear. These stories
were laughed at and derided by the citi-
zens, no one believing in any such state
ments. This extraordinary creature had
often suddenly presented himself among
the negroes in the early twilight, causing
great CONSERVATION among them. HI is
described by the negroes az being about
eight feet high, each eye, in their language,
'as large as a hens egg" with no nose and
no upper lip, his two eye teeth as large as
a mans thumb, extending down over his
chin about eight inches; his right foot
points directly to the front and the left one
to the rear, and the measurement of the
track is Just twenty-three inches in length !;
his finger nails are perfectly bard and solid,
and are about six inches long; the hair on
his head-which is stiff and wiry-sweeps
the ground as he walks, and is parted in
the rear and brought down in front on each
side of his singularly. formed chest, which
is not round nor nst, but is angular like
that of a fowl The hair on the body of
this singular being is very stiff and grows
to the rear, parting at the angle of the
breast bone, growing back and uniting with
a long stiff growth on his spine, which e1-
tends back about one foot like the spinal
fn of fish, or the bristles on the back of a
boar-tbe hair on his arms is parted and
grows in the same way, making a long,
| thick brush on the back of the arms, ex-
tending from the shoulders to the point OF
| his middle feger the same peculiarity is
observable on his legs. This singular and
! horrible object, the negroes represent has
been seen by them at different times for
several months, and that night has been
rendered hideous by the unearthly howl
ings of this unknown animal No white
person has ever seen him until recently,
when he was discovered by hunting party.
Several gentlemen-aequaiutainces of ours
met on last Thursday week with view
Of bear hunting in this swamp; they were
accompanied by about fifteen well trained
bear dogs They prepared for the hunt
early in the morning, and when about
commencing, their attention was attracted
TO an unsualIy large human track in the
! soft soil upon examination II was discOv-
cred that the track was constantly being
| reversed. In an instant the stories of the
negroes occurred TO the party, and at once
/ Il was determined 10 pursue the creature
| which had made this track. The dogs
/ were instantly called aud encouraged 70
follow the track, which they did promptly.
The gentlemen, mounted upon good horses
] found bat little difficulty ia keeping up
well with the hounds. In Few minutes
an object was presented TO their view which
sent chill TO the heart of every member
of the party. They had unearthed non.
descripL A being apparently human
suddenly arose from his lair-turned, and
for moment aiood in silent Inspection O


has pursuers, ahd then, instantly, with q
yell truly terrific, wheeled, and with tie


speed OF the fastest horse rushed away be


fore the dogs


This Wild and exciting chase was con


unued for distance OF nearly ten miles


when at last the terrible monster, foamin,


with rage, was brought TO bay upon th'


bank of the Big Black, and turning with