1904 - (Thompson Flat) Myrtle Point, Southern Coos County, Oregon
Man beasts, often called 'wild men' were active and a constant harrassment to early miners and loggers during the early 1900 turn-of-the-century in the Myrtle Point area south to the Oregon border with California. The following newspaper clipping was sent to me without the
newspaper name included:
"At repeated intervals during the past ten years, thrilling stories have
come from the rugged Sixes Mining Company district in Coos County, Oregon
near Myrtle Point, regarding a wild man or a queer and terrible monster
which walks erect and which has been seen by scores of miners and
prospectors.
The appearance again of the "wild man of the Sixes" has thrown
some of the miners into a state of excitement and fear. A report says the
wild man has been seen three times in a month's period.
The first
appearance occurred on "Thompson's Flat." William Ward and a young man by the
name of Burlison were sitting by the fire in their cabin one night when they
heard something walking around the cabin, which resembled a man walking and
when it came to the corner of the cabin it took a hold of the corner and
gave the building a vigorous shake and kept up a frightful whistling noise the whole
time.
This was the same whistling that has so many times warned the venture-some miners of the
approach of the hairy man and caused them to flee in abject fear.
Mr. Ward
walked to the cabin door and could see the monster plainly as it walked
away. He took a shot at it with his rifle, but the bullet went wild of its
mark.
The last appearance of the animal was at Harrison's cabin only a few
days ago.
Mr. Ward was at the Harrison cabin this time and again figures in
the excitement. About 5:00 a.m., the wild man gave the door of the cabin a
vigorous shaking which aroused Ward and one of the Harrison boys who took
their guns and went to do the intruder in....
Ward fired at the hairy man and he
answered by sending a four-pound rock at Ward's head but his aim was a
little to high to the gratefulness of Ward.
He the hairy thing disappeared into the
brush. Many of the miners avowed that the wild man is a reality. They have
seen him and know whereof they speak.
They say he is something after the
fashion of a gorilla and unlike anything else that has ever been known; and
not only that but he can throw rocks with wonderful force and accuracy.
The wildman is about 7 feet high, has broad hands and feet and his body is covered by a
prolific growth of hair. In short, he looks like the very devil."
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From the files of Bobbie Short, with grateful appreciation to Maurice
Stanton of Seaside, Oregon 1995 - additional stories from southern Oregon... and catch this story... http://www.bigfootencounters.com/creatures/chetco.htm
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