Bigfoot Bulletin - No 13 - 1970

Magazine Overview

Title: BIGFOOT BULLETIN
Issue: No. 13
Date: January 31, 1970
Publisher: George F. Haas
Location: Oakland, California

This issue of the BIGFOOT BULLETIN, dated January 31, 1970, focuses on debunking the theory that Bigfoot sightings are merely escaped circus gorillas. It also features various reports of Sasquatch activity and related news from different regions.

Why Bigfoot is Not an Escaped Circus Gorilla

Robert Barbour Johnson, a writer and former circus animal trainer, addresses the suggestion that Bigfoot might be an escaped circus gorilla. He asserts that this theory is highly improbable. Johnson explains that only one American circus, Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey, ever exhibited a real gorilla ('Gargantua') in 1938, with two others appearing since. These gorillas were kept in specially built, air-conditioned, glass-sided cages, and would not have survived outdoors for long due to delicate lungs. He highlights that zoos, which are stationary, also keep gorillas in indoor cages and that these animals are expensive (up to $20,000 each) and short-lived. Johnson states that no known gorilla has ever reached a height of more than 6 feet, cannot stand upright, and walk on all fours, resembling dogs more than Bigfoot. He attributes circus movie portrayals of gorillas walking upright and reaching 'King Kong' heights to human actors in ape costumes, noting that live gorillas are too dangerous to control on a movie set. Therefore, Johnson concludes that the 'gorilla theory' of Bigfoot is "completely impossible."

Reports from Lee Trippett

Lee Trippett of Eugene, Oregon, provides two key pieces of information:

1. New Bigfoot Photographs: John W. Smith of Portland, Oregon, possesses three pictures of Bigfoot. The first was taken in the summer of 1969, underexposed but showing a definite outline of hair from about 20 feet away. Two additional pictures were taken in September with an inexpensive automatic camera using color film. These, taken in daylight from 50 to 100 feet, are of poor quality due to distance and shadows but show discernible major features, comparable to the Patterson film. One print clearly shows Smith's white pickup with Bigfoot emerging from behind it in the shadow of trees. These photos were taken in the Coast Range of southern Oregon near the California border. Smith reports seeing Bigfoot on many occasions since 1967, exchanging food, watching them hunt and fish, and entering their caverns. His approach to Bigfoot research parallels Trippett's theories but does not involve ESP.

2. Flora-Fanna Research: Trippett announces the formation of an IRS-approved non-profit corporation for Bigfoot research, named Flora-Fanna Research. Its purpose is to protect all degrees of interests and allow individuals or groups to pursue their own research avenues while attracting federal tax-deductible funds. Details on administration and accounting are negotiable.

Recent Publications of Interest

The bulletin lists several recent publications related to Bigfoot and cryptozoology:

• FATE Magazine (February 1970): An article titled "Bigfoot's Ancestor?" by Mike Kohle, concerning fossil footprints from Carson City, Nevada.
• SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN (January 1970): An article on "Gigantopithecus" by Elwyn L. Simons and Peter C. Ettel.
• FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION Magazine (January 1970): A fiction tale titled "Longtooth" by Edgar Pangborn, about the Sasquatch.
• BIBLE-SCIENCE NEWSLETTER (July 15, 1969): An article titled "Search For Bigfoot" detailing research and expeditions by Dr. Bernard Northrup and his group. It also includes articles on "Minnesota Iceman" and "The Peking Man Fraud."

Report from Kitimat, B.C.

Bob Titmus of Kitimat, B.C., Canada, reports on Sasquatch activity in his area:

• Track Reports: Most track reports received over the past year have proven to be large Grizzly Bear tracks.
• Indian Sightings: Two reports of Sasquatch sightings by Indians from Masset on Graham Island were received but could not be investigated.
• Shotgun Incident: Early in the year, three residents of Kitamatt Indian Village claimed to have shot a 'Buquas' (B.C. Coastal Indian name for Sasquatch/Bigfoot) with a shotgun in Khutze Inlet. They stated the creature ran off screaming into the woods. Titmus was unable to investigate due to the delay in reporting (4-5 weeks) and his own recovery from surgery.
• Whistling Scream: While combining Sasquatch hunting with work on a stump ranch near Porphyry Creek (14 miles east of Hazleton, B.C.), Titmus heard a peculiar whistling scream on two different nights, which he identified as a Sasquatch call. Despite the scream being close to camp, no tracks were found the following day due to the ground conditions. He notes at least three highway sightings near Porphyry over the past twelve years.
• Yolla Bolly Country: Titmus advises that the Yolla Bolly country in California could be productive, as Bigfoot creatures migrate southerly through the area in late November and December, returning north in May and June.

A Log Rolling Sasquatch?

John Fuhrmann of Portland, Oregon, shares an incident reported by a grocery store owner:

• Frightening Experience: In August 1967, two men were hunting varmints in a wilderness area south of Burns, Oregon. They had placed their tent and supplies on a large log (20' long, 3' diameter) suspended 18 feet above the ground by a rope over a tree limb. Upon returning at night, they found the log had been rolled about 6 feet, positioning it directly under their hanging pack of food. The rope had rubbed bark off the log, indicating something had reached the pack by standing on or jumping from the log. There were no tracks due to the thick layer of pine needles. The men could not budge the log themselves and were so shaken they left the area. Fuhrmann believes this incident suggests Bigfoot, as a bear would lack the intelligence to roll the log, and a human would have simply untied the rope.

A Little Misfiring in the No. 4 Cylinder and a Worn Differential, Wouldn't You Say?

This section features a cartoon by KIRK depicting a Bigfoot-like creature.

Another Creature and Track Sighting

On November 23, 1969, at the Calkins Ranch on Neimi Road near Woodland, Washington, a visitor named Charles Kent reported seeing what he thought was a bear standing upright in the moonlight about 30-40 yards away. When he and other youths went to investigate, the creature was gone. At the site, they found 18 tracks, not those of a bear, measuring 11 3/4 inches long and 14 inches wide. The boys' imprints measured from 1/2 to 3/4 inch in depth, while the mysterious visitor's imprints were 1 1/2 inches deep. Most tracks were obliterated by cows by morning, but several photos were taken. This information was sourced from THE LEWIS RIVER NEWS.

Germans Read Of Sasquatch

News of the Sasquatch has reached Hamburg, Germany, though the name was lost in transit. The magazine *Praline* published a story titled "Is This Lady from Prehistoric Times" over a picture of Roger Patterson holding two footprint casts. The article describes the "Prehistoric Man" of Canada, mentioning researchers, reporters, policemen, fanatics, and spiritualists tracking it. It quotes Patterson's warrant: 230 cm tall, 350 pounds, shoe size 58, and female. Sheriff Gallagher reportedly saw the "monster" and nearly used it as a radiator mascot. Despite doubts, journalist John Green plans an expedition to catch the creature, noting its presence in the U.S.A. A competition between Canadians and Americans is mentioned. This information was provided by Mrs. H. Andres.

Other News Items and Reports

• Bossburg, Washington: Roger St. Hilaire, Rene Dahinden, Roy Fardel, and Dennis Jensen report no new track or creature sightings in the area since December 13th. They are maintaining a vigil, with a plane available and patrolling river banks by boat.
• San Jose Mercury News (January 4, 1970): An article titled "Is There A Real Bigfoot?" reports on five youths from Los Gatos who found Bigfoot tracks in the Los Padres National Forest while hunting wild boar.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The BIGFOOT BULLETIN consistently focuses on reporting firsthand accounts and evidence related to Bigfoot and Sasquatch sightings and tracks. The editorial stance is one of serious investigation and documentation, aiming to present credible information to its readers. The debunking of the circus gorilla theory highlights the bulletin's commitment to distinguishing between plausible explanations and the unique characteristics attributed to Bigfoot. The publication also serves as a platform for researchers like Lee Trippett to promote their work and organizations, and to share recent findings and related news from various sources, including scientific journals and popular magazines.