Newspapers

  • [1817] [08/26]: “Miss Caraboo” [EN] [Hoax]

    Daily National Intelligencer (Washington City [D.C.]), August 26th 1817 Miss Caraboo. A woman of singularly graceful manners, supposed to be the descendant of a Chinese, is described by a Dr. Wilkinson, of Bath, in England, to have taken refuge with a Mrs. Worrall, near Bristol. None can understand her language or de-cypher her writing, not… Read More

  • [1818] [06/10]: “The Shower of Fish” [MA & Scotland]

    Daily National Intelligencer (Washington City [D.C.]), June 10th 1818 The Shower of Fish From The Charleston Times I felt really happy when I came to the conclusion of the paragraph, entitled “Another Wonder,” to find, that the shower of fish which fell on the Boston Common, was not larger than could be consumed by the… Read More

  • [1825] [02/07]: “Princess Caraboo” [EN] [Hoax]

    New-Hampshire Statesman (Concord, N.H.), February 7th 1825 LONDON, Dec. 31. Caraboo. – The extraordinary young woman, who, about two years ago excited considerable attention at Bristol, by representing herself as the Princess Caraboo, daughter of a great Eastern Prince, has lately returned to Witheridge, her native place, on a visit to her mother. It is… Read More

  • [1866] [07/19]: “The Princess Caraboo” [EN] [Hoax]

    The Evening Telegraph (Philadelphia [Pa.]), July 19th 1866 “The Princess Caraboo.” Early in the year 1865 there died at Bristol a female of considerable personal attractions, whose early history was amusing enough, yet took a strong hold upon credulous persons half a century since. She pretended to be a native Javasu, in the Indian Ocean,… Read More

  • [1868] [3/26]: Wild Woman Seen In The Woods [TX]

    Virginia Free Press (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]), March 26th 1868 A wild woman has been seen in the woods near Liberty, Texas. A man on horseback got sight of the strange creature, persued and overtook her ; when she halted, he found her to be a medium-sized, a middle-aged, well-formed woman, with long, dark hair,… Read More

  • [1871] [06/22]: Moundsville Shower of Tiny Frogs [WV]

    The Wheeling Daily Register (Wheeling, W. Va.), June 22th 1871 Shower of Frogs. – We are informed that during the shower that visited Moundsville on Tuesday evening, vast number of tiny frogs fell with the rain. They were so thick on the ground in some places, says our informant, that it was almost impossible to… Read More

  • [1873] [11/27]: Wild Man Sensation Story [Hoax] [WV]

    This post contains two newspaper articles, one being a supposed Wild Man story and the other being it’s purported unraveling, with the supposed Wild Man reportedly being identified. They are both presented here together for a complete context. The Weekly Register (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]), November 27th 1873 A Sensation! – A wild man… Read More

  • [1883] [05/09]: “Black Dog Ghost” [WV]

    The Weekly Register (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]), May 9th 1883 Ghost. – The people living along the Clarksburg road, in the neighborhood of Hickory Chapel, are very much exercised by the re-appearance of a ghost in the shape of a big black dog. They all assert that it is a veritable ghost, and it… Read More

  • [1883] [07/24]: “The Beautiful Imposter” [EN] [Hoax]

    The Sedalia Weekly Bazoo (Sedalia, Mo.), July 24th 1883 The Beautiful Imposter. Next to the reign of Beau Nash, in the last century, perhaps that of the Princess Caraboo, in the earlier part of this, forms one of the most important and sensational incidents in the history of the city of Bath. In the year… Read More

  • [1887] [3/11]: “The Wild Man of Ohio” [OH]

    The Midland Journal (Rising Sun, Md.), March 11th 1887 The Wild Man of Ohio A Curious Creature Seen Among The Hills of Holmes County. A party of hunters, who have just returned from a hunt in the hills of Holmes County, Ohio, say they encountered a curious creature on their trip. According to their description,… Read More

  • [1891] [8/24]: “A Human Monstrosity” [OH]

    The Wheeling daily intelligencer (Wheeling, W. Va.), August 24th 1891 A Human Monstrosity Loose in Ohio Killing Stock and Scaring People – What Is It? A gentlemen who came over from Ohio yesterday to attend the camp meeting at Moundsville gave an Intelligencer reporter an account of a strange wild animal that is roaming around… Read More

  • [1891] [8/26]: “That Ohio ‘Wild Man’” [OH]

    The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling, W. Va.), August 26th 1891 That Ohio “Wild Man.” The Farmers Beating the Bushes in Search of Him. The “wild man” or non-descript beast which has been frightening and annoying the residents on the Ohio side of the river opposite Moundsville, and killing and dismembering stock, as mentioned in the… Read More

  • [1896] [11/19]: “Strange Craft of The Sky” [CA]

    The San Francisco Call (San Francisco [Calif.]), November 19th 1896 Strange Craft of The Sky Sacramento Men Describe the Airship Claim They Saw Its Occupants and Heard Them in Conversation SACRAMENTO, Cal., Nov. 18. – The one topic of conversation in this city today has been the reported appearance of an airship over the eastern… Read More

  • [1898] [06/22]: Thick Shower of Frogs [WV]

    The Weekly Register (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]), June 22th 1898 We have often read about showers of frogs being dropped from the sky, in big rains, but never more than half believed it. A Guyan citizen however comes to the front to say to the Huntington Advertiser that they had a frog rain the… Read More

  • [1898] [11/07]: “Wild Man Resumes Business” [CT]

    The Evening Times (Washington, D.C.), November 7th 1898 Wild Man Resumes Business His Appearance at Winsted This Time for Political Purposes. Winsted, Conn., Nov. 7. – The wild man has broken loose again. He is a said to be hurdling madly over northwestern Connecticut, scaring people out of a year’s growth. The Winsted wild man… Read More

  • [1900] [12/06]: “Maine’s Specter Moose” [ME]

    Williston Graphic (Williston, Williams County, N.D.), December 6th 1900 Maine’s Specter Moose. An Unmatched Giant of the Woods That Makes Its Appearance at Rare Intervals. The enormous moose that has been the wonder of the sportsmen in northern Maine since 1891 has again been seen, and this time under rather different circumstances from ever before.… Read More

  • [1903] [3/14]: “Wild Man Near Weston” [WV]

    The Daily Telegram (Clarksburg, W. Va.), March 14th 1903 Wild Man Near Weston People of Lewis County Very Much Agitated Over Appearance of Strange Man. May Be an Escaped Lunatic, as He Appears to Be Perfectly Harmless and Inoffensive. Weston, W. Va., March 14. – On the water of Sugar Camp run, a branch of… Read More

  • [1903] [9/17]: “Wild Man Seen” [WV]

    Daily New Dominion (Morgantown, W. Va.), September 17th 1903 Wild Man Seen. Residents of Fairmont Report That Uncouth Giant Inhabits Neighboring Woods. Fairmont, W. Va. Sept. 17. – The woods in the close vicinity of Fairmont contain the den of a wild man. This fact has been fully established by the tales told by responsible… Read More

  • [1905] [3/3]: “Wild Man Attacks Train” [WV]

    The Daily Telegram (Clarksburg, W. Va.), March 3rd 1905 Wild Man Attacks Train Giant Creature In Human Form With Bristles On Face Is At Large Near Morgantown The citizens of Monongalia county are thoroughly aroused over the strange and murderous actions of a man in that country, whose identity has not been established so far… Read More

  • [1906] [07/09]: Rain of Frogs [WV]

    The Fairmont West Virginian (Fairmont, W. Va.), July 9th 1906 The Fairmont West Virginia and Morgantown Chronicle are discussing a rain of frogs and seeking an explanation. Probably the explanation is they didn’t rain. – Parkersburg State Journal. Our frog expert is out of town just now but as soon as he returns he will… Read More

  • [1908] [02/13]: “That Ghost Moose” [ME]

    The Hope Pioneer (Hope, N.D.), February 13th 1908 That Ghost Moose Weird Phantom That Roams Maine Forest. Remarkable Stories of Spirit Animal Told by Guides – All Sorts of Disturbances Caused by His Antics. If the stories of guides to the north of here can be relied upon a “ghost” moose is at large west… Read More

  • [1908] [12/04]: Specter Moose, Three-Legged Bear, And Five-Legged Deer [ME]

    Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), December 4th 1908 Stories of Ferocious Bears. Adventures with bears that, in campfire recitals, at least, were exceedingly ferocious, have been a frequent occurrence. In one or two instances women have been the victims of the ensuing fright. Incidentally, a three-legged bear and a five-legged deer have been reported from various… Read More

  • [1908] [12/26]: “Specter Moose Again Seen” [ME]

    The Topeka State Journal (Topeka, Kansas), December 26th 1908 Specter Moose Again Seen. Again the king of all Maine moose, sometimes called the specter moose, because of the weird appearance of the gray monster at night, has been seen near Lobster lake, and the news has made all the sportsmen, native hunters, and guides anxious… Read More

  • [1909] [01/15]: “Specter Moose Again” [ME]

    Eagle River Review (Eagle River, Wis.), January 15th 1909 Specter Moose Again. King of Maine Woods, Weighing 2000 Pounds, Being Sought by Many Hunters. Again the king of all Maine moose, sometimes called the specter moose, because of the weird appearance of the grey monster at night, has been seen near Lobster lake, and the… Read More

  • [1909] [07/21]: “Minnows Fell From Clouds” [WV]

    The Point Pleasant Register (Point Pleasant, W. Va.), July 21st 1909 Minnows Fell From Clouds. A report comes from Camp Creek, in Mercer county, to the effect that during the hard rainstorm a few days ago good sized minnows fell from the clouds. The minnows were unlike the native species, and the belief is that… Read More

  • [1912] [8/25]: Anti-Wild Man Critic [NY]

    Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 25th 1912 The Wild Man From the New York Mail. One of the weaknesses of modern humanity is its fad for “wild men.” Every year the correspondents send in a story about a wild man being caught in some swamp or mountain fastness and dragged back to civilization. America’s first… Read More

  • [1916] [02/09]: “Brooke Co. Wild Man Is Now Normal” [WV]

    Martinsburg W.Va. Evening Journal (Martinsburg, W. Va.), February 9th 1916 Brooke Co. Wild Man Is Now Normal John Munkers the wild man of Brooke county, who had his habitat for years in a cave near Follamsbee, is a sane, normal person, employed in one of the mills of Wheeling. Munkers, who for years lived the… Read More

  • [1919] [09/20]: “Lair of Wild Man Is Found In Cave” [PA]

    The Washington Times (Washington [D.C.]), September 20th 1919 Lair of Wild Man Is Found In Cave Strange, Hairy Creature Gives Quartet of Fishermen Scare of Lives. PHILADELPHIA. Sept. 20. – The Leiperville wild man today bids fair to rank with the far-famed, but mythical Jersey devil. Posses of brave men are drumming the woods for… Read More

  • [1919] [3/8]: “Return of Wild Man Revives Old Terrors” [WV]

    The Lakeland Evening telegram (Lakeland, Fla.), March 8th 1919 Return of Wild Man Revives Old Terrors Flatwoods, W. Va., March 6. – The belief that a wild man is still lurking in this vicinity, stealing and killing chickens and young pigs, is stronger than ever just now. A story related by Luther C. Douglas has… Read More

  • [1920] [10/28]: “The Horror of The Woods” [WV]

    Shepherdstown Register (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]), October 28th 1920 The Horror of the Woods. Following the accounts that have persisted for some months the ape, babboon, gorilla, wild man, or terror that has been reported at various points from Pittsburg south, has appeared and taken his habitation in the dismal fastness of Black Mountain and… Read More

  • [1920] [11/26]: “Saw A ‘What Is It’” [WV]

    Greenbrier Independent (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]), November 26th 1920 Saw A ‘What Is It.’ A strange beast is said to have been seen roaming around on Flat Mountain within the past week. It is said to stand about 6 feet high apparently weighs 350 pounds, and is of a reddish and blackish color. The beast,… Read More

  • [1921] [05/12]: “Human Curios – The Princess Caraboo” [EN] [Hoax]

    The Milwaukee Leader (Milwaukee, Wis.), May 12th 1921 Human Curios “The Princess Caraboo.” By William Nelson Taft Not many years ago there died at Bristol a woman of considerable personal attraction, whose early history was amusing enough, yet took a strong hold upon her early contemporaries. She pretended to be a native of Javasu, in… Read More

  • [1921] [11/06]: “Servant Girl Hoaxed All Great Britain By Pose As Princess” [EN] [Hoax]

    The Washington Times (Washington [D.C.]), November 6th 1921 Servant Girl Hoaxed All Great Britain By Pose As Princess Mary Willcocks, Ignorant Housemaid, Plotted Ruse With Common Sailor That Landed Her in Manor House With Aristocracy Begging Autographs – Famous Linguist Finally Trapped Her When He Offered Her Paper to Read. This is the third of… Read More

  • [1922] [1/06]: “He Saw Snowman” [Himalayas]

    Northern Wisconsin advertiser (Wabeno, Wis.), January 6th 1922 He Saw Snowman Englishman Corroborates Story Told by Explorers. Probability That There Is A Mysterious Race That Has Not Been Reached by Civilization. William Hugh Knight, a member of the British Royal Societies club, recently recalled to a representative of the London Times an occasion some years… Read More

  • [1922] [1/19]: “Wild Men In Cold Regions” [Himalayas]

    The Wallace Miner (Wallace, Idaho), January 19th 1922 Wild Men in Cold Regions. As a result of the announcement in the dispatches of the Mount Everest expedition of finding tracks in the snow of wild men, called by the Tibetans “abominable snowmen,” much comment and interest have been aroused in London among explorers who have… Read More

  • [1924] [7/15]: “Armed Party Going After Giant Gorillas In Washington State” [WA]

    The Alaska Daily Empire (Juneau, Alaska), July 15th 1924 Armed Party Going After Giant Gorillas In Washington State KELSO, Wash., July 15. – Armed for big game and carrying a photographic equipment, a party of five prospectors have left here in search of the “mountain devils.” An Indian[*] legend 60 years ago in Cowlitz County,… Read More

  • [1924] [7/15]: “Gorilla Search Will Probably Be Fruitless” [WA]

    Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.), July 15th 1924 Gorilla Search Will Probably Be Fruitless KELSO, Wash., July 15. – Although a party of four men under C. A. Parker, of the forestry service, left early Monday to hunt down and either kill or photograph the gorillas or “mountain devils” of Spirit Lake, the belief… Read More

  • [1924] [7/15]: Gorillas or Something Perturb Kelso Hunters [WA]

    The Seattle Star (Seattle, Wash.), July 15th 1924 Gorillas or Something Perturb Kelso Hunters Kelso, Wash., July 15. – “We expected that people would disbelieve us; but we ran into the beast – whatever it was – four times, and finally packed up and left a perfectly good mine to get away from it.” This… Read More

  • [1924] [7/16]: “Gorilla Tribe In Washington Strange Thing” [WA]

    The Alaska daily empire (Juneau, Alaska), July 16th 1924 Gorilla Tribe In Washington Strange Thing KELSO, Wash., July 16. – Jorg Totsti, Clallam tribe of Indians[*] and editor of the Indian weekly, said the gorilla like men reported by prospectors at Mount St. Helens and who are now being searched for by a party, are… Read More

  • [1924] [7/16]: “Hunters After Devil Beasts” [WA]

    The Seattle star (Seattle, Wash.), July 16th 1924 Hunters After Devil Beasts Story Told by Prospectors Declared Partly Confirmed KELSO, July 16. – Altho[ugh] no report has been received from the expeditionary forces which Monday went into the hills to hunt the “mountain devil,” individuals who returned today from trips to the cabin of the… Read More

  • [1924] [7/16]: “More Parties Are On Hunt For Apes” [WA]

    Imperial Valley press (El Centro, Calif.), July 16th 1924 More Parties Are On Hunt For Apes By United Press Leased Wire KELSO, Wash., July 16. – Although no report has been received from the expeditionary force which Monday went into the hills to hunt “Mountain Devils,” individuals who returned today from trips to the cabin… Read More

  • [1924] [7/17]: “Tribe of ‘Ape Indians’ Reported Found In Pacific Northwest” [WA]

    The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, N.D.), July 17th 1924 Tribe of “Ape Indians” Reported Found In Pacific Northwest Several Parties Leave in Search of Verification of Existence of Tribe in Wilderness Who Attacked Band of Prospectors Kelso, Washington, July 17 (By the A. P.) – While awaiting reports from parties who have gone to the vicinity… Read More

  • [1924] [7/17]: “Tribe of Ape-Men, 7 to 8 Ft. Tall, Reported By Washington Trappers” [WA]

    New Britain herald (New Britain, Conn.), July 17th 1924 Tribe of Ape-Men, 7 to 8 Ft. Tall, Reported By Washington Trappers Hairy [-] said to [-] with [-] Cabin Near Mount St. Helen’s – Searchers Start today. Kelso, Wash., July 17. – While awaiting reports from parties who have gone to the vicinity of Spirit… Read More

  • [1924] [7/18]: “‘Gorilla Men’ Branded Myth” [WA]

    Casper Daily Tribune (Casper, Wyo.), July 18th 1924 “Gorilla Men” Branded Myth KELSO, Wash., July 18 – The story of “tall gorilla men,” or as some called them the “ape men” who were credited with having attacked a party of trappers in the mountains here last week, is a myth, two forest rangers declared here.… Read More

  • [1924] [7/18]: “‘Mountain Devils’ Prove Myth Says Party” [WA]

    Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.), July 18th 1924 “Mountain Devils” Prove Myth Says Party By United Press Leased Wire KELSO, Wash., July 18. – C. Parker, former United States forest ranger, Frank Hein and R. S. Bailey, who composed the party which left here last Monday to hunt down the “Mountain Devils” in the… Read More

  • [1924] [7/19]: “Tribe of Devil Men or Ape Men Bombarded Cabin of Miners” [WA]

    The Omaha morning bee (Omaha [Neb.]), July 19th 1924 Far off, near Spirit Lake, on Mount St. Helen’s, a party well armed, is hunting a “tribe of devil men, or ape men,” that have bombarded the cabins of miners. Indians[*] say they know the tribe of old. They are called Seeantiks[**], but were supposed to… Read More

  • [1924] [7/20]: “‘Ape Men’ Attack, Called Myth” [WA]

    Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, Tex.), July 20th 1924 “Ape Men” Attack, Called Myth (By The Associated Press.) KELSO, Wash., July 19 – The tale of “tall gorilla men,” or as some called them, the “ape men” who were credited [with having attacked a party of trap]pers in the mountains here last week, […] is a myth,… Read More

  • [1924] [7/22]: “‘Ape Men’ Prove Youngster From Summer ‘Y’ Camp” [WA]

    Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), July 22th 1924 “Ape Men” Prove Youngster From Summer “Y” Camp By the Associated Press. PORTLAND, Oreg., July 22, – Two boys at the Young Men’s Christian Associated camp at Spirit Lake, on the slopes of Mount St. Helens, believe they were the “apes” which prospectors reported hurled stones at their… Read More

  • [1924] [7/22]: “Camper Sought” [WA]

    The Seattle Star (Seattle, Wash.), July 22nd 1924 Camper Sought “Ape Man” Story Revived by Deserted Outfit KELSO, Wash., July 22. – A report to the sheriff’s office here that a camp near St. Helens, on the upper Toulle river has been deserted for two weeks has aroused the fear that some camper has become… Read More

  • [1924] [7/29]: “Sequim Girl Tells Story” [WA]

    The Seattle Star (Seattle, Wash.), July 29th 1924 Indians in Animal Skins Today’s “Ape-Man” Story Sequim Girl Tells Story Since tales of the “ape-men” began to come from Kelso, The Star has received from students and pioneers various stories and theories to account for them. Some of the letters contained legends; other, scientific data; others,… Read More

  • [1924] [7/31]: “Race of ‘Ape Men’ Said to Haunt Wilds of Mt. St. Helen’s In Southern Washington” [WA]

    The Kevin Review (Kevin, Mont.), July 31st 1924 Race of “Ape Men” Said to Haunt Wilds of Mt. St. Helen’s In Southern Washington The fabled “mountain devils” or mountain gorillas of which the Indians[*] in the regions of the Cascade mountains have for the past sixty years been telling weird tales have at last been… Read More

  • [1929] [4/1]: “Introducing B.C.’s Hairy Giants” [BC]

    MacLean’s Magazine, April 1st 1929 Introducing B.C.’s Hairy Giants A collection of strange tales about British Columbia’s wild men as told by those who say they have seen them By J. W. Burns Are the vast mountain solitudes of British Columbia, of which but very few have been so far explored, populated by a hairy… Read More