Woodland Daily Democrat
Woodland, California

May 6, 1891

MADISON MUSINGS.

[excerpt]

John and Dave Lowry were down from Rumsey Saturday [May 2]. They say the
strange and mysterious animal still sojourns in that vicinity and has
frequently been seen by hunters. Many sheep have lately been devoured in
the locality and the depredations are attributed to the “What-Is-It.” It is
generally believed that the daring intruder is nothing more or less than a
gorilla. It will be remembered that some time last fall a circus train was wrecked and burned up north and many of the animals escaped. Among the number was a gorilla and it is thought the animal has followed down the Coast and is now the object of so much curiosity in the neighborhood of
Rumsey.

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I trust that readers are too sophisticated to fall for the old saw about a wrecked circus train — the classic folk explanation for any unusual animal or creature sighted in any area. — Jerome Clark