1934

MONSTER scares appear to be periodic, but the alleged monsters themselves always seem to be as elusive as the bunyip or the sea-serpent. Cables recently have been busy giving conflicting accounts of a strange water creature in Scotland; and not long ago there was great excitement in Western New South Wales, when huge and unknown footprints were discovered. Now comes news of a "tiger" of some kind in Gippsland, and the latest report tells of how some residents, after following up unusual tracks for miles over loose sand, came upon a country mailman who was travelling with his boots off on account of sore feet. Even the existence of the much discussed striped marsupial tiger of North Queensland is doubted by many, as a specimen of it has not yet been officially secured.
Mankind seems always to have been fond of monsters. Once no one doubted the existence of the mermaid, and the unicorn, still on the Arms of the United Kingdom, was firmly believed to exist in India. The ancient Greeks were responsible for such creatures as the minotaur (half man and half bull), the centaur (half man and half horse), the satyr (half man and half goat).

With reference to the suggestion that the wombat captured near Drouin is the mytery animal seen in various parts of Gippsland, hunters of game throughout the whole of Gilpsland, ridicule the suggestion that this wombat can be the animal like a lion alleged to have been seen by experienced bushmen. They point out that the wombat does not travel long distances fron its burrow, that in their hunting excursions they have seen and shot many wombats larger than the 100-lb. wombat captured by Constable Figgins and party, that the wombat is a very harmless animal, whether cornered or not, and the smallest of dogs will tackle them. Mr. Jack Fines, of Warragul, states he is prepared to go to the Zoo any day and handle the alleged savage wombat in any way required, to show how harmless it is. He and the Weidner brothers, of the same district, have had twenty-five years' experience in the roughest country after game, and have never found a wombat dangerous, nor can they imagine even the largest wombat being taken for an animal like a lion. They contend that the "mystery animal" or "bush terror" has not yet been solved.

On Monday last Mr. B. Wilson succeeded in shooting two dingoes which were believed to have been responsible for the destruction of a number of sheep at Marathon, a few miles out of Briagolong. Some time previously Mr. O'Donovan came across the marauders "working" a flock of sheep like sheep dogs. Cutting off a sheep from the mob, one dog attacked its throat while the other brought up the rear. The dogs escaped when Mr. O'Donovan's shot missed its mark. On the Monday, Mr. T. X. Feely got in touch with Inspector Crosbie, at Stratford, and he promptly sent Mr. Wilson to the scene. Mr. Wilson came across the dogs with another mob of sheep in hand, and working his way to the wind ward, secreted himself behind a stump. When at last the dogs came within range a long shot bowled one over. The other dog fled but redoubled on its tracks and gave Mr. Wilson his second kill. Mr. Feely states that the sheep killed had punctures in the throat, which helps to clean up part of the mystery attributed to "the wild animal." District graziers are very appreciative of the prompt action of Inspector Crosbie, and of Mr. Wilson's ability with the gun.

MELBOURNE, March 1.
     The celebrated Gunyah lion, which has terrorised that part of Gippsland for some time past, has been seen again.
     Two local residents, driving along the Morwell River road in a buggy, saw a strange animal come out of the scrub and jump across the road, which at this point is about 10 ft. wide.
     The animal's footprints measured 4 inches across. There are four toes in front. The centre pad is similar to that of a dog.
     One of the two men followed the animal and saw it jump on a 5 ft. log with ease.
     The animal stood 2 ft, 6 in. high and was 6 ft. long from tip to tail, had a big brown broad head, and a long bushy tail, similar to that of a collie dog.
     The body was fawn coloured.

That the "mystery" animal first seen by Mr George Siggins and his two sons at Gunyah was no myth has been borne out by others living in the locality.
     Further corroboration has just been given by two men employed by the Vermin Destruction Branch in cutting blackberries in the Gunyah country.
     The "Gippslander" says these men were greatly surprised while at work to see an animal like a big-dog, leap on to the road a few chains from where they were working. It stayed on the middle of the road for some time, and then with one bound sprang on to the siding. They had a splendid view of the animal, as it did not appear at all frightened when it saw the men. In height the animal looked to be between 2ft. 6in. and 3ft. It was a browny yellow color, and had a big round head, with sharp, but very small ears. The tail was bushy and at the end had a tuft. The men are certain it is not an ordinary Australian animal, and are of opinion it is a cross between a dingo and some other animal. After the animal had leaped off the road, the men measured its footprint, and found that it took two safety match boxes to cover it in any direction. Two boxes measure about 44 inches.
     After measuring the footprints the men went back to the blackberries and a few minutes later were surprised to see the animal at the same spot in the centre of the road where it had been observed. It was engaged in smelling the place where the men's hands were on the road when they were measuring the foot prints.
     The men had a good view of the animal on both occasions.

A few weeks ago references appeared in these columns to strange animals which had appeared in Gippsland. Mr. R. A. Etoppey, of Briagolong, in response to a letter from Mr. R. McKay, Box 44A; G.P.O., Sydney, which appeared in the "Times," has now received the following letter complenting upon the subject.
     Mr. McKay writes:—
     "Many thanks for your letter and the newspaper cuttings, which I was very, pleased to receive. I have been noting the appearan in Australia of these strange animals over a considerable number of years, and immediately I saw the picture of the wombat in the Melbourne "Argus," I said to myself, "this is the same old story all over again," because nearly every time these tiger-like and lion-like animals, appear anywhere, after a time, some odinary animal is captured and killed which is said to be the "mystery animal," when it is nothing of the sort.
     "The suggestion that sensible people living in the country, and knowing animals from A to Z would mistake a lion or a tiger for a wombat, a large dog, or calf, is utterly ridiculous. Then again, these strange animals always terrify dogs and horses in a most remarkable manner.
     "Whatever they are (they may not actually be lions or tigers, but animals of a similar kind), and wherever they come from is an enigma to which, as yet there is no solution.
     "They have appeared in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, but have never been captured or killed. Your statement that two different animals have been seen, tallies with my records. Whenever one is seen and described, and its tracks are measured, another one is nearly always seen at the same time, which is different in appearance, and also leaves different footprints. This simultaneous appearance of more than one animal increases the mystery.
     "I note your remarks about 'toe' marks, not 'claw' marks.
     "Another strange thing about these animals is that after their appearance begins to get publicity, and armed parties go out looking for them, they vanish, and are never seen again.
     "Again thanking you for your letter, and trusting you will let me know if you learn anything further about these animals."

A wild animal has come to light ??? in the hills, and is causing a great deal of excitement among some the daring huntsmen in the district. The description of the animal varies and judging from rumors the ??? is from a hpomeranian to an elephant. By the reports of rifles ??? on Saturday, riflemen are busy at practice should they meet the wild animal. Others are training for long distance running, and say that speed is the best weapon of defence.

What is Home When you are Hunted?

The wild animal in the hills Is causing the huntsmen to use their skill
With bayonet and rifles in galore,
The poor brute has had to soar.
To some out-distant land where there is no "animal ban."
So hear in mind you huntemen hold
And drink the water on the "Free hold."

(Freehold is the name of the paddock where the animal is supposed to be).

Mr. R. McKay, Box 44A, Sydney, writing to Mr. B. A. Estoppey, of Briagolong, concerning the strange, wild animals seen in parts of Gippsland, writes:--

     "I believe they are animals of an unknown type, but where they come from or disappear to, is beyond the ordinary man's comprehension.
     "What they feed on is questionable. The celebrated Tantanoola "tiger," away back in the nineties, was seen by one man leaping over a wire fence with a full grown sheep in its mouth. Mr. Hannagan, a surveyor who was working with a party in the locality saw, a few days later, a small half-starved looking tiger. Then a Mr. Donovan, some weeks, later, saw a strange animal worrying some sheep, and he shot it. This animal was said to have been a European wolf! The wolf was stuffed and put on exhibition. When Hannagan and other people who had seen the tiger (or tigers) saw this wolf, they said it was nothing like the animal they saw. They also said that if an unknown species of European wolf could reach Australia and run wild, so could a tiger! which to me seems a pretty good argument.
     "Some years ago, at Sodwalls, in the mountains west of Sydney, a lioness was said to have been on the prowl. Then a farmer trapped and killed a large, powerful unknown yellow colored animal. But again the people who had seen the lioness, said that this animal was not it, which makes everything more confusing, but which tallies with the record from Tantanoola.
     "These lionlike and tigerlike animals have been, seen in Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, now and then. Sometimes two or three years will elapse between their appearances.
     "Take no notice of scoffers. They are always with us. The people to be scoffed at are those who say that the men and women in the country do not know a dingo or a wombat from a lion or tiger. What would they say to a record I have of a large black hairy animal of the gorilla type that was seen in the rocky bush about forty years ago at Braidwood, N.S.W.? It was seen by many people. It used to come from somewhere about dusk every evening and sit on some hillside boulders. It seemed quiet enough and inoffensive. It was never captured nor killed. Everyone in the locality was frightened to go near the place at night.
     "At Harden, N.S.W. a couple of years ago a full grown Iion came around. It was seen by several people. One woman saw it chewing up a rabbit. One bright moonlight night it came to within twenty yards of a road repairing gang's camp and was seen quite distinctly. It terrified the horses. The men had no fire-arms, and did not know what to do, but it did not molest them or their horses."

"The people to be scoffed at are those who say that the men and women in the country do not know a dingo or a wombat from a lion or tiger."

This remains a common argument in favour of supposed-cryptid sightings to this day - that locals have a closer connection to the wildlife in their area and are therefore less prone to misidentification. There is also the connotation that local country folk are no-nonsense salt-of-the-earth types and, as such, are immune to flights of fancy.
However, such stereotypes are simply inaccurate. Everyone is subject to the same perceptual and cognitive distortions which creates "monsters" and other strange beasties as the following examples demonstrate:

TRARALGON, Friday
The Gippsland mystery animal, which many persons have declared to be a tiger, has reappeared between Traralgon and Yarram. On his way across the range, on the Gormandale road, Mr. F. Morres, traveller, of Melbourne, saw kangaroos and wallabies bounding across the road. A few seconds later the "tiger" crashed through the bush and crossed the road. It resembled a tiger in every way, Mr Morres said. A large wombat, said to be the Gippsland tiger, was captured some time ago, and was sent to the Melbourne Zoological Gardens, where it died.