The closest road would be County Hwy 547;
time: 11 PM; late June or early July, 1976
I'm not prone to exaggeration. My father is a naturalist. I've spent
enormous amounts of time in remote wilderness, beginning when I was four
year old, and continuing to the resent. I've worked professionally as
an adult as a park ranger, and a game warden in East Africa. At the time
of the event I was already personally experienced with bears, moose, deer,
and once a cougar. Since then I've worked around big game, and seven kinds
of primates, including mountain gorilla and chimpanzees.
The old Finish farmhouse itself was in St. Louis County, about 40 miles
from Duluth to the northwest (near Brimson, MN). We reached the old homestead
by way of a driveway that was heavily overgrown and at least a quarter
mile long. To the north was a thickly wooded cedar swamp and stream that
I've wandered in occasionally. These woods were part of Superior National
Forest. To east and west were some old broken down homestead buildings
and fields gone wild, followed by more woods. To the south was the ¼
mile of thick woods to the road. The nearest neighbors were quite some
distance away; I would guess ½ mile or so. The main house was located
at the northern end of a grassy clearing about 40 yards north/south, and
60 yards east/west. A gravel drive with our cars parked on it came up
from the south to within 20 yards of the house. About 15 yards to the
southeast of the house was a tall telephone pole with a yard light mounted
on it. My dad and I had set up our blue two-man tent in this grassy clearing
about 25 yards south of the house. It was night and our friend's 3 children
had gone up to the loft bedrooms and were awake talking a bit. My Dad,
and our hosts were downstairs talking at the north end of the house. I
visited with the other kids for a while upstairs. I didn't want to go
to bed out in the tent while everyone else was having a good time talking.
Then I went downstairs and sat with the adults for a while. Around half
past ten dad sent me off to bed. I went reluctantly. The moon was out
and it was late so I believe it was a partial moon, and if memory serves
there were some clouds scudding across the otherwise clear star filled
sky.
The yard light put out a fair amount of light, so that I could see my
way to the tent easily. The front of the tent faced the house, and thus
the yard light as well. I opened the tent got in and zipped the mosquito
net closed. I took my pants and shirt off leaving my underwear on. I then
started to read a book without the aid of a flashlight. The light coming
in was enough.
After about 20 minutes I was getting sleepy. don't remember if I was
still reading or not when I heard footsteps in the grass coming toward
the tent. I sat up thinking dad must be coming to bed. But the steps were
coming from my left — from the west; the house was north of me. The
steps came nearer, quiet on the grass but unmistakable footsteps. Then
to my surprise the shadow of two legs walking from left to right in front
of the tent were cast on the tent fabric, and then the mosquito netting,
by the yard light. I saw the silhouette of the two legs from waist down
as they passed. Who ever made them came very near as they passed (within
ten feet). The steps moved off to the right a bit, perhaps 30-40 feet
(where there was brush cover) and were silent.
I called out, "Dad is that you?" No answer. About this time
the hairs on the back of my neck began to prickle, and a lump formed in
my throat. My pulse was pounding. I was surprised at my sudden fear, but
it had a hold of me absolutely. I thought it out in an instant. Why should
I be afraid? No one here would hurt me, and we were far from any neighbors.
"Dad are you out there?" Not expecting a response.
Then the footsteps began again starting from where the stopped to my
right and coming towards the tent again. I froze. I was practically choking
in fear, I thought something bad was going to happen. The shadow of the
walking legs was again cast on the tent door this time moving to the left.
The footsteps moved off to the left a bit and were quiet. Were they gone,
or were they waiting only a short distance away, waiting for me to do
something? I don't know, they couldn't have gone far.
I waited about five minutes trying to breath silently, listening with
every part on me. Then I couldn't stand it any longer. I pulled on my
jeans, pulled open the zipper of the tent and looking only straight ahead
bolted at top speed into the house, hollering alarm once inside. Dad and
our friends were right where I left them. I told them what had happened
and the assured me that they had been there all along. They also said
that none of the kids had been down from the upstairs. I went upstairs
and found the kids where I left them in bed. Upon hearing what had happened
they swore they knew nothing about it. I believe them. I also believe
the older folks. The parents tried to tell me it was an overactive imagination,
or perhaps the moon casting the shadow of a cloud on the tent.
The legs of my visitor were of a biped. They were large/tall. The stride,
as I saw it, was smooth and steady. It was quite possibly a person, but
what a person would be doing snooping around a remote farmstead miles
from any town in the middle of the night, quarter mile from even a road
— I don't know. I noticed no smell at all. I decided to contribute
this experience as being of "possible interest" after reading
of another similar interloper sighting, in the same rough area, around
the same year. I first wrote down my recollection of this event in 1984.
Witness personal information removed by request.
