Reprint of Columbus Day Storm Articles
The Three Newspaper Articles About the '62 Columbus Day Animal
STRANGE ANIMAL NOT IDENTIFIED
(1st Newspaper article)
As of yesterday there is still no identification on the strange animal found on Dew Ridge in Southern Oregon on November 8th. The creature is something still unidentified but is said to be some kind of a mutant human gorilla type. It was found deceased by a crew of men who were clearing debris from nearby roads. It was apparently killed by a Douglas Fir tree in the massive windstorm of October 12th . Officials from United States Forest Service are not commenting on the find. A unnamed source said the creature was covered in dark hair and was not any known animal to any of the people present at the site. People nearby in Cave Junction claim it is the creature in Indian legend known as "SASQUATCH". Indians claim for hundreds of years these creatures roamed the deep forest of America. The name for the creature means "Wildman of the Woods" according to Johnny Duncan a Klamath Indian. The animal was removed by Forest Service officials and was sent to a lab in California according to the locals in town. The Forest Service spokesman wound not confirm or deny the animal. Story by Clayton Lewis chief reporter for The Independent Daily
(2nd Newspaper article)
Amity News Source November 14,1962. CREWS FIND LEGENDARY BIGFOOT. A logging crew contracted through the US Forest Service found what some say is the legendary bigfoot. The being is a large manlike hominid according to local wildlife biologist Kirk Hansen. The name bigfoot gained popularity in 1958-59 when a contractor in Northern California found large prints of a unknown animal on a narrow dirt logging road. The bigfoot found by the crew is said to be female in sex and very heavy in build. The animal was badly decomposed state but was still in tact enough to identify as a species not known. A call today to the ranger station produced no information on what the being or animal might be. Though several pictures of the animal are circulating about in the surrounding area the forest service said no information nor identification has been made.
(3rd Newspaper article)
On a clear and cold November day of last last year the crew of Griffy and Laird Company were looking for trees blocking the road from O'Brien to Greyback on the Oregon California border. What they found was nothing short of astonishment when approaching a large downed tree. At first it appeared that a very large black bear had fallen victim to the windstorm of October 12th. Upon closer examination of the animal the crew saw a foot and a left arm and hand protruding from under the tree. No known species of animal could explain the body as any known animal that is native to the Pacific Northwest. It was like a large hair covered man only with features somewhat like a prehistoric human or neanderthal but larger than any known to exist. Apparently the animal had been crushed by a large tree blown over in the storm. The proper authorities were quickly dispatched to the scene and took the animal away for further examination by forensic experts. No further word on what the examination found but in a curious turn about face the Forest Service is now saying no such animal was found, removed or shipped anywhere. In the meantime many of the people in the area have seen pictures of the dead animal and are accusing the Forest Service of trying to hide the animal from the public .
This article from March 1963 from The Valley Times. All the names from the district office of USFS were blacked out from this article.