- I've recently found a number of interesting news stories
dating back to the first half of the twentieth century -- including a possible
"Bigfoot" sighting from 1938 -- and yesterday, I came across
yet another item that may interest Bigfoot investigators.
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- The story is very peculiar. The reporter and the sources
he quoted made a pretty illogical assertion based on pure assumption, but
given the historical era they were living in, one can hardly blame them.
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- The report comes from a farming community called "Taugwank"
near North Stonington, Connecticut, in the year 1926. The plot features
a couple of young women who recently inherited their father's farm after
he died. They and several of their neighbors report having been scared
witless by an "ape-man" of "terrifying mien." But a
game warden who "searched" the girls' farm "concluded"
that the offending "beast" was likely a man dressed in an ape
costume! The warden apparently reached his conclusion because none of the
local insane asylums or circuses reported any missing apes, or ape-like
men. The theoretical motive of the alleged man was to frighten the girls
into selling their property.
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- The author of this report apparently accepted the game
warden's "conclusion" on faith, even though all those who witnessed
the "ape-man" reported that he or it moved "with considerable
more agility than was possible for a human being."
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- I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that in 1926, a
convincing ape costume was a little difficult to come by. But the game
warden seemed to believe that a "fur coat and trousers" would
have been sufficient to put the scare on the girls and their neighbors.
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- Again, I can't blame this fellow for conjuring such a
peculiar theory. Everyone knows there are no giant, hairy ape-men hiding
in the backwaters of rural America.
-
- Hmm...
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- But enough vociferation from me. Read the story, and
judge for yourselves...
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- The Syracuse Herald, Saturday, April 03, 1926
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- Bullets Await "Ape-Man" Who Attemps to Scare
Girls Into Sale of Farm
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- Friendly Neighbors of Connecticut Estate Load Up in Preparation
for Reappearance of Hairy Creature.
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- North Stonington Conn, April 3, (UP) -- Taugwank's "ape-man"
is a plain human being in fur coat and trousers.
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- George Denison of Mystic, a game warden, came to that
conclusion yesterday after a thorough search of the Horace D. Miner farm
in Taugwank.
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- Further, he declared his belief that the man was attempting
to frighten Muriel, 19, and Mildred Miner, 16, orphans, into selling the
valuable farm which they inherited on the death of the father three weeks
ago.
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- The ape-man has variously been reported by the girls
and neighbors as a hairy creature of terrifying mien. While those who have
seen him differed in detail, it was agreed that the creature slumped along
in the manner of an ape, and jumped about with considerable more agility
than was possible for a human being.
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- A check of neighboring insane asylums and circuses disclosed
no missing inmates or animals. Attention then was turned to the theory
that the apparition was a man. Authorities who became interested in the
investigation learned that before he died Mr. Miner had refused to sell
the place.
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- Despite the desertion of the aged caretaker of the estate,
Frank Miller, who confessed he was terrified at the events of the last
three weeks, the Miner girls are unafraid.
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- Loaded firearms await the ape-man masquerader and, according
to Denison, that is why he has not been seen in the last few days.
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- "If that fellow goes out there again they are going
to put the lead to him," was how he summed up matters after yesterday's
visit to the farm. "I wouldn't try it again if I were he."
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- Neighbors of the Miner girls are standing with them,
and there is many a loaded shotgun standing in readiness to do duty when
Taugwank's terror next appears.
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