Bigfoot Bulletin - No 04 - 1969

Magazine Overview

The BIGFOOT BULLETIN, Issue No. 4, dated April 30, 1969, is a private newsletter edited and published by George F. Haas of Oakland, California. It focuses on the exchange of information among researchers actively engaged in the study of Bigfoot and related phenomena.

Skamania County, Washington, Reports

This section details recent activity and findings in Skamania County, Washington. John Fuhrmann reports on an expedition on March 31, 1969, with Keith Soesbe and Dan Wiggins of the 'Bigfoot Research Association'. Although they hoped to see 22-inch tracks, the snow had melted too much. They did, however, see a cast at the Police Department which was described as gigantic, showing a slender form, 7" at the ball, tapering to a 4.5" heel, with a normal walking stride of 4' 5".

Fuhrmann also spoke with Mrs. John Durrell, who found tracks on March 9, 1969. She followed prints that sank about 3 to 4 times deeper than people, observing about 15 tracks before becoming frightened and leaving. Dan Wiggins' group reportedly found other giant tracks on a nearby logging road, including both 22-inch and 17-inch prints.

Further reports mention tracks of a creature that crossed the highway near Beacon Rock, estimated at about 15 inches, with a 12-inch cast taken nearby by Andy Roberts. These findings suggest the presence of at least four individuals in the area.

The bulletin also includes clippings from the SKAMANIA COUNTY PIONEER. A March 14, 1969, article features drawings by Linda Ford based on an eyewitness description by Don Cox from March 5. A March 28, 1969, article titled "Bigfoot Hunters Comb County: New Footprints Encourage Search" discusses evidence found by organized parties and vacationers, including seven newspaper photographs.

Bigfoot Now Protected by Law

An emergency law was passed by the Board of Commissioners of Skamania County, Washington, on April 1, 1969, making it a crime to kill a Bigfoot or Ape-creature. The penalty includes a $10,000 fine and up to five years imprisonment. This is noted as the first official recognition of the creature's existence by a government body.

The Ice Man

This section covers recent newspaper articles about a frozen body found in a carnival in Minnesota, investigated by Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans and Ivan T. Sanderson. Articles from The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Arkansas Democrat, and The Detroit News are referenced. Argosy Magazine's May 1969 issue is mentioned for Ivan T. Sanderson's article "The Missing Link", featuring illustrations.

1917 Washington Report

Albert M. Fletcher of Oakland, California, recounts an experience from the fall of 1917. While working at a lumber camp on the Cowlitz River, he encountered a large, man-like creature, about six and a half to seven feet tall, walking on its hind legs. The creature was covered in dark hair, had a bearded face and large chest, and was not wearing clothes. Fletcher's co-workers had mixed reactions, with some laughing and others reporting similar sightings.

Other Reports and Mentions

Dennis Stamey of Asheville, N.C., writes that a drawing of a Bigfoot footprint used on the bulletin's cover is similar to tracks found in Australia, specifically in a banana grove on a small lagoon and near another farm.

The bulletin is seeking reporters in Alaska and asks readers for old reports from that area.

Many Smokes Magazine Article

An article in the Fall 1968 issue of 'Many Smokes', an Indian magazine, by Tawani Wakawa, titled "Tawani Wakawa Tells of the Sasquatch", describes experiences his grandfather had near Tule Lake and Mt. Shasta in California in 1897 and later. The creature was referred to as 'MATAH KAGMI', a name also noted as being used in Tibet for 'METOH KANGMI'.

Another New Word?

John Green suggests 'Mistapawe', a Cree name meaning 'large man', for the Sasquatch. The Oakland Tribune reported on an April 26, 1969, UPI dispatch about a spelling bee winner who spelled 'Zamzummim', defined in Webster's dictionary as aboriginal giants from the Old Testament.

Klamity Kourier Report

The 'Weitchpec Wigwam' column from the Klamity Kourier reports on three gentlemen from Lancaster, California (Ken Coon, Don Orr of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, and Bill Early of the Marshall's Office) searching the Bluff Creek area for Bigfoot tracks in the snow. They had found no results so far but planned to continue their research later in the year. Mr. Coon is noted as the author of a book on Bigfoot.

British Columbia Map

A map of Sasquatch country in British Columbia is available free from the British Columbia Government Travel Bureau or British Columbia House in San Francisco.

Jim McClarin's Report

Jim McClarin references an article in the July 1964 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN by Dr. Elwyn L. Simons about Oreopithecus. Simons noted that this 4-foot tall ape-like creature from 10-15 million-year-old fossils in Italy, sometimes called the 'Abominable Coal Man', arose from a separate divergence from old world monkey stock and was not ancestral to man.

Old Oregon Article

Russell Gebhart of Lewiston, Idaho, mentions an article in the May-June issue of 'OLD OREGON' titled 'In Search of the Legendary Bigfoot' by Stan Bettis, discussing Lee Trippett's beliefs.

Geographic Mentions

Snowmans Hill south of Mt. Shasta, Monkey Creek west of Big Bar on the Trinity River, and the Cowlitz River are mentioned.

Life Magazine Article

LIFE Magazine, March 29, 1968, featured an article "Mystery Man-Ape of the Cascades" by Jack Fincher, apparently only in the northwest edition.

Gun & Creel Editorial

The March 1969 issue of GUN & CREEL contains an editorial-article by the editor, L.J. Costelloe, titled "Leave Bigfoot Alone". Copies are available for 25 cents.

Bulletin's Purpose and Policy

The BIGFOOT BULLETIN clarifies its purpose as a private newsletter for active researchers, not for general circulation. It emphasizes that information sent in should specify if it is intended for publication, and confidential information will be handled as requested.

Recommended Reading List

A required reading list for Bigfoot researchers includes Robert Ardrey's 'African Genesis' and 'The Territorial Imperative', and Desmond Morris's 'The Naked Ape'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting of recent Bigfoot sightings and evidence, particularly in Skamania County, Washington, and the exploration of the creature's potential history and nomenclature through various cultural and scientific references. The bulletin maintains a stance of facilitating information exchange among dedicated researchers, emphasizing the need for clear communication regarding publication permissions and confidentiality. The inclusion of a new law protecting Bigfoot in Skamania County highlights a growing, albeit localized, official acknowledgment of the phenomenon.