The Bathurst Times, 4th of July 1891
The Hairy Man of the Blue Mountains
A weird tale comes to us (Lithgow Mercury) from Oberon way, respecting a fleeting glimpse of the “hairy man” which was obtained recently by two residents out near the Kanangra Falls. However, in this case we publish a narrative of fact bearing the hall mark of a well-known resident and ex-bank manager at Oberon:-
“Eleven o’clock, and we prepared to rest, but that was impossible. Strange melancholy howls broke on our ears, and Hobby informed me that the dingo was not far from our quaint camp.
The mournful inhuman cry destroys for a time all chance of sleep. At one o’clock we were aroused by a peculiar shriek, like that of some animal engaged in battle. Both of us simultaneously exclaimed, ‘What is it?’
No further sound follows, and the stillness of the camp is broken only by the raging waters that dash and splash over the huge boulders in its basin.
Sleep is now past, so, following the unnatural cry, Hobby relates to me the Kanangra legend of the wild animal supposed to live in the mountains, called the yahoo or “hairy man.” I listened to my mate with peculiar interest, as he recounted the history of the discovery many years ago of this monster.
The story runs that many years ago a hairy man was seen in the hills, and a few of them volunteered to trace the beast, mate Hobby affirming his oath to catch the same alive; but beyond the loss of calves and small stock the animals location remained hidden.
Hobby’s narration was very interesting, particularly after we heard the unearthly cry; but sleep came upon us, and we awoke to see the sun struggling to ascend the high mountains of the east.
Next day Mat Hobby proposed that I should accompany him to a large rugged mountain across the river. By severe climbing and facing many dangers, as ascend, and when climbing round the edge of precipitous rocks Hobby started and pointed out to me the imprint of a huge foot on the mud.
I looked. Yes; there it was. The print of a mans naked foot. It being now impossible to track the animal, we still clambered on. When we entangled in undergrowth, we were startled by the noise of timber breaking, and a low, growling, grating sound. We cautiously proceeded until Hobby held me in his firm grasp, and said, ‘See.’
I looked and there before me stood an animal of the baboon species on the perpendicular cliff’s. I breathlessly said, ‘Shoot him,’ but Hobby, now almost delirious with excitement, cried ‘No. I will take him alive or die.’
He approached, and my mate and this hairy man confronted each other. We agreed to grasp the arms, when to our surprise the animal swung himself over the cliff by a huge vine, and desended in that manner until he disappeared in the gorge beneath.
We stood astounded; but as night was drawing upon us we were compelled to finish our laborious descent, and so we reached our camp.
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