Wild Man of the Woods
The Memphis Enquirer, May 9th, 1851
"During March last, Mr. Hamilton of Greene county, Arkansas, while out
hunting
with an acquaintance, observed a drove of cattle in a state of apparent
alarm,
evidently pursued by some dreaded enemy. Halting for the purpose, they
soon
discovered as the animals fled by them, that they were followed by
an animal
bearing the unmistakable likeness of humanity. He was of gigantic stature,
the
body being covered with hair and the head with long locks that fairly
enveloped
his neck and shoulders. The "wildman", for we must so call him, after
looking at
them deliberately for a short time, turned and ran away with great
speed, leaping
from twelve to fourteen feet at a time. His foot prints measured thirteen
inches
each.
This singular creature has long been known traditionally in St. Francis
Green and
Poinsett counties. Arkansas sportsmen and hunters having described
him so long
as seventeen years since. A planter, indeed, saw him very recently,
but withheld
his information lest he should not be credited, until the account of
Mr. Hamilton
and his friend placed the existence of the animal beyond cavil."
PLEASE NOTE: Cryptozoology author Loren Coleman found the 1851 Arkansas
article
during his investigations in the early 1960s, and shared it with Bigfoot
researchers George
Haas and John Green. It has come down through the years as one of the
earliest accounts
from the Midwest USA.
Uploaded to the BFRO Database by: Dawn Harrack <Dawn@BFRO.net>, Matt M. <Matt@BFRO.net>