Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

This account of your basic friendly neighborhood monster appeared in the “Mexico Weekly Ledger,” December 13, 1883:

MEXICO, Mo., December 8.--The neighborhood of Hopewell Church, near this city, is much excited over the appearance in the locality of a strange creature, which is thought by the credulous to be a ghost, and which is a puzzle at least to the most skeptical. The apparition is simply that of a lean monster man, between eight and ten feet in height, wearing a long cloak, and going about with head bowed in an abstracted way, but occasionally glaring at those it meets with small ,glittering eyes, said to resemble those of a cat or some wild beast. The negroes believe the apparition to be ghost, the white people do not know what to say.

There appears little doubt, whatever the creature may be, that it has actually been seen a number of times. The school at Hopewell Church is about abandoned because of fear of the monster, and even sturdy farmers go about armed, in apprehension of it. John Creasy, a well-known old resident, declares that yesterday afternoon as he was returning from Mexico to his home he had a good view of the queer being, who was about fifty yards ahead of him, walking in a leisurely way along the middle of the big road, in mud almost knee-deep, his head still lowered and his long black cloak flowing in the breeze, All at once, and in the twinkling of an eye, he disappeared in the thick woods as mysteriously as he came upon the scene. Mr. Creasy says for the first time in his life, although a soldier under Gen. Grant, he was really frightened, and it was all he could do to control the horse he was riding, so great seemed its fear of the object. Mr. Cyrus Haggert and wife, who were returning from church thanksgiving eve, were surprised by the monster's peering with its cat-like eyes into their buggy and leaning against it, almost crushing the vehicle. The lady has not yet, it is said, recovered from the shock. Mr. and Mrs. H. both claim on this occasion a white cloak was worn. A large number of others have seen the strange creature, and to-night a large party is scouring the neighborhood of Hopewell Church, hoping to capture it. The newspapers of the city are represented in the searching party, which includes one or two St. Lousians, and a report from the expedition is awaited with much interest. The creature is thought to be located in the hills in the rear of one Philip Brown's residence. The Mexico party is under the leadership of Bob White and Jake. Merkell. No services will be held in the Hopewell Church tomorrow.

Special Dispatch to the Globe-Democrat 

MEXICO, MISSOURI, December 9.--The party who went out to the neighborhood of Hopewell Church last night to look for the mysterious creature which has created so much excitement in the vicinity, returned to the city this morning, tired and mystified. It was supposed that the habitation of the monster was pretty definitely known, and little doubt existed that the wild man, or whatever the thing may be, had a home in a cave in the hills but recently discovered, but this proved a mistake. The cave was searched thoroughly, but no evidence found that it had been made a home by anything save the wild animals, which are plentiful in the woods of the region. The searching party passed the night in the woods, and around the fires built new stories were told of the peculiarities of the apparition.

All agree that it is a man between 8 and 10 feet in height, but some of those who have seen the thing, the colored people especially, declare it to be headless, and assert that it wears a white instead of a black cloak. Of course these are the more superstitious, and those who, unconsciously, perhaps, exaggerate what they have seen. Farmers of known veracity who have seen the strange object are numerous. Anton Bradshaw, as he was returning from town late, saw it sitting bolt upright on the fence in front of the church, with its head bowed, apparently meditating, in the same manner as heretofore described.

Thinking discretion the better part of valor in this particular case, he turned his horse's head quickly, and repaired to a neighbor's friendly shelter, where he staid until the next morning. All these and many similar stories were last night told of the queer antics indulged by the mysterious monster. The search will be continued and, until the mystery is entirely cleared up, will be unceasing, day and night, and not even a living "varmint" in that vicinity will be given a minute's rest. That there is really something which alarms the neighborhood is assured. The above is no joke.

How much truth there is in it, we don't know. Of course the matter is greatly exaggerated, but we have interviewed several prominent men and find that much of the reported matter is true. We also learn that a couple of insane persons have escaped from the Fulton asylum. These unfortunates may be roaming around in the woods near Mexico, and be the cause of this excitement. The following persons have seen the Hopewell church spectre: Cyrus Haggert and lady, Jay Bennett, Burney Hooton, John Creasy, Cyrus, Harding and Ellis Scott, Phillip Brown, Willis Terrell, Captain Clem, and others.

Some pronounce it to be from eight to sixteen feet high, dressed in black, without any head, while others say it is about the size of Tom Thumb, has feet like a camel, three heads and is dressed in white. We breathlessly await further developments.

As far as I can tell, no “further developments” ever appeared in print.