Comments on: Horned Horror

By: sbarbour

sbarbour — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:39:30 +0000

Having lived in the area for a number of years, I can say that sometimes the deep woods can seem like a jungle.

About 10 years ago there was a black bear that decided to pay a visit to the downtown, during Jonesboro’s annual story telling festival.

By: DARHOP

DARHOP — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:39:12 +0000

It could have been a non-horned/hoofed animal if-like stated above- tree branches were what was mistaken for antlers. But if he saw the animal moving and running, I would think that he’d see that the branches weren’t part of the animal once it started moving away from them.

Ya but:

I immediately set about to reloading my rifle, but had scarcely begun when it started towards me. I retreated in as good order as possible, and must say I did some good running - not looking back until I reached an open spot - when I found the animal had disappeared in the laurel thicket.

Sound’s to me like he wasn’t looking at it to long as it moved, he was running as far and as fast as he could. 100 yards is a bit of a distance. Maybe he wasn’t thinking about horn’s when it started at him. sound’s to me like he just wanted to get the hell outta there.

By: harleyb

harleyb — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:24:33 +0000

I live in middle Tennessee and I can tell you that it is a very wooded, hot, dry state. I’ve never been to Jonesboro, but I read it was the first city of Tennessee. So who knows what kind of beasts were in those woods around that era.

By: CrimsonFox79

CrimsonFox79 — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:30:30 +0000

Hmm. Anything’s possible but who knows. If the story is real, I doubt it’s what is eating the local livestock.

As far as I am aware (but i’m tired and not thinking clearly) animals with horns are usually herbivorous ungulates.

By: Artist

Artist — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:41:29 +0000

Interesting closing line: “Some think it has escaped from some rambling menagerie, while others superstitiously think it is sent to warn the people of some approaching danger.”

Two “standard theories” alive and well in Jonesboro, TN in Mar. 1873 ~ one wonders how far back those “rambling menageries” and “monsterly warnings” go.

By: Dib

Dib — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:07:36 +0000

After that experience I bet he invested in a good breechloading rifle.

By: red_pill_junkie

red_pill_junkie — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:06:23 +0000

Sounds like a bantha to me
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantha

By: DARHOP

DARHOP — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:33:17 +0000

Mr. George Anderson, one of the gentlemen residing in Laurel county, being one of the persons that saw the monster, also furnishes us with the following description of it: “I was out in the jungle hunting up some lost hogs, when all of a sudden there came into my path a beast:

Is their jungle in Tennessee and North Carolina? WE use to live in NC when I was very young. I don’t remember any jungles. If remember right, the woods were a lot like they are here in Washington State.
Anyway, this animal sound’s kinda like a Buffalo to me. At a hundred yard’s, the horn’s were probably tree branches I’d guess. I would hate be charged at by anything as big as an ox, buffalo etc. It’s bad enough when a dog big or little comes at you. Imagine something 1000 lbs or more coming at you. ( NOT )

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:12:34 +0000

I believe the more sensationalist articles of that day were not known for their veracity and close attention to reality. Like Alligator said, a great way to sell papers in those days. I do not put much credence into this report, but who knows?

By: bill green

bill green — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:14:35 +0000

hey loren & everyone wow very informative new article. thanks bill. i realy like the above replys as well. hey loren something tells me i will definetly see a update to this article.