Tugalo (now Tugaloo) River area, South Carolina, c. 1816 A native hunting party reported shooting a “monster animal” in this region that was most unlike other animals. One of the hunters related that after establishing a camp east of the Tugalo River, they all went hunting, leaving a deer they had killed the evening previous at the camp.
At night when the returned to camp the deer was gone, and the next day the same thing was repeated. They then decided the leave an old Indian to guard the camp and see what was happening with their deer. That day the old Indian saw a monster animal come and carry off the deer and was afraid to make any attempt to kill the monster, which was about seven feet high and walked erect like a
man, hairy all over, and it’s mouth was in the chin and great claws on the fingers and toes.
The next day all seven of the Indians stayed at the camp, and, as usual, the monster came, gathered up the deer and started off, when one of them fired at it, the ball taking effect in the back. The animal dropped the deer and turned and started toward them, when the
other six poured a volley into its breast and it fell dead.
About three hours after that the Indians heard a noise like someone hallooing about a mile distant; Yaho, yaho, yaho!” The Indians left the camp and called on the posse comitatus for protection. A party of whites on horses, with all the dogs they could get, then went in search of the other animal and found it. It was like the one the Indians killed, and putting the dogs after it when it appeared in sight, the animal would run, but it could whip every dog they could get to attack it. The party pursued it to the river and at two jumps it went across where it was then shot.
Tarquin C
not recognised by these natives at least then
Elizabeth B
“It’s mouth was in it’s chin”, -What does this mean? What was it? This is a fantastic story!