026`� PERPETRATED A GIGANTIC �f3 ° 7 NGERSOLf -
PRESS
AND SCIENTISTS', HOAX ON
,
OF CONTINENT
,
Ten ThousandtPeople Present When Climax of "Mystery" Came
About After Months of Affix loos Speculation as to Dreadful
Hotel, known in ,care as the
Fan
y'
Creature_ Inhabiting Pond;
The Confession Famous
"BummOr's Roost," lvhleh was loantetl
,"wi
»�
°.fy.„: �. „y g, �'ak ,r ,£
University's Emissary.
'. y y
of a
j
j rf;
`•�
Where our post office now stands,
li In private -conversalto1) this gentle
i 4�y s ep
eP, ;x
,r
man was quite voluble+ when his favor-'
avor
-touched
ire subject wall :upon, and his
The most
{? pub deception ever
rase etafives of the press from many
lexplanationof the disturbance of the
,s..
s�
the
practised on the public of more than
l52 years ago, the launching' of a.
,patsies Pieces came, saw and returned.
filled with wonder until the matter was
water wes nOt the action of the sup•
Posed- creature \[self, b ct was -caused
it
"mystery" which stirred the press of
ap read over the whuts•: va"t, y.
by the prey of the _monster when at
r �
the continent, brought scientific In.
g
Thls'condition oP ahaira had been icept
tacked and in the act or bens devour
g
vestigatora Trmn near and tar, antl
up for -maths, and the val'ioue expect'-
ed. This explanation, given with. all
-.
+i ? i•
,tor many: months remained "un• :
euces of those who had•claimetl co have,
Professional importance and "e<
cathedrtlj"
elf,
solved,".is one'Of the most dlverting
'seen it were eagerly believed. By some
so to Speak, was at once
by his llstenerai
3' i a§.
a °'a:-
chapters In the history of Ingersoll..
it was said a traveling menagerie hxd
a .accepted All night long
figs came driving' into,
>jfy) ✓
Y>�':
The Placid waters of a pond
lira alligator On their hands, and ou its
town, every place
p: 3 ,
sa °'' "f
which then occupied the site. of'. one'.
Inpersoll's
apparent death ft was trana(Siretl to the
pond; where It.was have
was congested, and shake-
g downs were
In evidence
evidence a goat available Place.
p
%•,
e s wo
..,-
^
/t j ',f,
of public parka was the
supposed to re-,
B were at a Doablernfil and
sigZ f{r�. ,��1'si-`�L.
_-111
It V {-p'ry�A,'fy.W d
eil
scene of the hoax which An one
Faired vitality and \vas now the inter-'
butchers and bakers ivere at their wft's
day had a ' randstand" of at least
f9
eating source. of observation.
Others claimed it exceeded In size any
end It was a Dparent . that this featpre
,,the occasion had beeq
Aa Utno aLeaal ivL4s'o�;.
Th la bridge I, one of the play to Difr' of Ingersoll -and attracts the eye of
t0,1100 people. The Incident, or chain
alligator known to exist which, of
overlooked,
In the moral ng oL the eventful day
the'vlaltor. _ -
of Incidents, Is. beet described, In a
picturesque article from the Pon of
course, Intensified the Interest, Learned
bodies all over the eomttry,
early gun fire, which was always a fee.
interest, -not
utterance. At. Janata, as the waters
healed his card and began the Cancer -
Mr. James Sinclair, regarded as the
wets rllscus-
slug the unusual phenomenon until the
pee ut was necessary to
waken ouf•cftfzens; or our visitors. All
subsided, an object eanee Into view• and
fro 'the shore
sallon by saying he had called to protest
official historian-_, of Ingersoll, and
subject aroused interest SIP tine neigh-
night long thestreetswere alive with
came the warning
the "boys" on the raft to It, mighty
to Against the outrage that had been per -
Detraled
l,one
of its most venerated citizens,
boring republic, and our local mystery
expectant and wondering people, Ind
careful," "take no chances," "give
on such .a large number of
ItPeople. -many Of them like himself, I.
The Free Press Is Indebted to' Mr.
had been invested- with, the dignityof
the vicinity of the pond-. Was tenanted
the Pike." The professor had Mecttned
a representative position In the Interest.
l Sinclair for the following, which he
some resuscitated prehistoric creature
the night through and the'atlll myeteri-.
it and I declared It tobe a ,"ba1rM"
�Of :science, etc. He stated that he war
j writes the heading of "What's
and instances of suspended aphoatfon
Dug exhibition was interesting the mul-
creature. In the meantime the bays
nn a citizen of the United Staters and woul {
where exhumed: fromtilea records o[ the
titude The professor was by this Wee
0
the rat had
[ got a view of It.'aad ln•
not be hnPosed upon in title way,
That in the Pond 7". from,paraonal
past.''The mysterious action. of this
a central figure, and doubtless Peeling
stoutly. ,steering (heir' unwieldy craft
"Well," said his listener, what do
observation. :Mr. Sinclair chuckles -
creatucer war¢ encircled with the ill-
his prominence, .became' more dignified
towards j,, when within ttelkmlr'.dp-
.you
In(end,. to do about it?' ' "Well, I in-
when he recalls the special train,
P
most -exactness and lie nonan earance
ip
In. his attitude, and eventually lapsed
tance,-plunged, the pike Into IL
A'tend to get together the
g greatest num-
crowded with Londoners, which ar. '
only 'seemed ' to edit : further excite
fnto a..,cold chillt5' toward his puss-
mighty shout torte (am the aaginbitd
her possible of this
0 grossly insulted DOW.
rived on the day of the exposure.
only...
tionera; IAPR before the hour appoint-
for 'the flood
Dan it urle. "Nell done, boys:' An-
tltude and compel. you to make amends
ed tile- opening of gates
other pike was let go at It, and, about-
for Your deception."
WHAT'S THAT IN THE POND?
WATERFOWL DISAPPEAR
'waterfowl
the vicinity of the pond. was thronged
by a sleepless and hungry
ing from the shore renewed with in.
creased "boys"
A. COUNTER-ATTACK.
This
The it was said, had en--
crowd.
volume. The oh. iho
Wall, what do you suppose I intend
�Aohtg:.
. was the question each was ask-
tirely disappeared. At all events they
A SPECIAL. SITE.
raft were now IntenaelY excited, ►nd
jvith 3'ou?. If you don't take the
ing his neighbor when the mysterious
became so intensely. interesting that
a press representa-
The. professor. and
ahem ettingauhe noose ready when OM
of first train leading out of this town I will
manifestations began
eg to make their ap-:
demand was made: In the Interest o[
rives were fven a special -site from
ht In a Is h
g B t of the rppt,
have you locked up, Don't run away
pearante in .what was then known as
"Village
the nbitc In Y
P gen7for nd b several or
which to 'view the event: Field glasaea
sesAll.
stumbled and fell Into the water.
- WRW the idea that you are, the first
the Pond" in distinction from
the leading papers for the privilege of
.and telescopes wale making their-
THE DEATH AGONIES,
.'American citizen'. who has met disat
t-
the otllw ponds In the neighborhood,
witnessing the capture or destruction of
pearance, and everything was now In a
This was attributed by the. people an
POIRtment in this country. Some wears
The pond in question was Parthus pond
this mysterious source of W&der, that
state -of-readiness. At .last the gates
the shore to the death'agonlas of the
ago Your people thought you could wipe
of the present, and -for days aBS-nights
Ia day was appolnted, and as this mat-
were about to be opened and men with
doomed creature striking the Mfg. Now.
us out in a very short time, but found
• men could be .seen, some armed with
it,had Passed beyond the limits of
guile were .ready to deal the fatal blow ,ever,
the. man soon scrambled an board
[heir mistake when.our lads tan your
Shot guns, prepared to give [he monster
merely local interest, it. was decided than
Should alive not be "deemed
and succeeded In getting the noose over
countrymen o.I, the cliff at Queenston
-.a doing reception...
a public .holiday would be too most up-
,capture
possible. A heavy 'raft was also'got
the carcase and pulling It as tight as
Ilelable on the Niagara. River and f
AL frequent intervals the placid sur-
proprlate and awordingly the. 24th of
In readiness, with ropes and pike poles
their united strength. could, as iM rope
don't. know but Some of the clothes are
face of the water would be thrown Into
May,. then aPProaching.' was set apart
and such other Implements as were
was a heavy one. ':
y ..
lying. In the, bushes yet."
violent. commotion As If some unseien,
force had
(or the-perforntence. which being duly
thought suitable to cock a dangerous
Orders' were at once Issued to tlwe
the Rate in miler to Permit the
Thus .ohs professor. did not know, but
�aid'he 'would find out the truth of It
suddenly exerted its intlughce
',. or come to the surface antl tllaappearod:
adeertiseIII was look¢rl toward to with
'much
task.:"Attest the .word was passed, and
'the gates' prepared' to open. The In-
Pri[t-to
be mooted shorewards. After soma. dit.
Nell, you can't make a mistake, the
While at soma distance the same thing
interest and, as the result proved;
a greater interest had evidently been
terest'and excitement was now.at fever flea ley this. was accomplished, and with
place le marked by a monument, 216
would happen. For `a brief period all
taken . by. paroles at a, distance
thetr burden in tow they multa,vote4
heat; and the slaughter or capture of -
loot high, and a figure of the man on.
top It
would be still, mdy. to be repeated in
,than
could possibly be imagined, so much so,'
thin most mysterious creature about to reach the shore. -
As yet the creature, whatever It ores,
,the of who did the trick, l:tis
,name was Brock: NOW, r
Professor.
some more rennuo part of ;.the pond,
giving nhe of loins ampre-
that, when"the time arrived. were ut-'ta
demand
he accomplished.
- As the water began to lower. and this was completely submerged. except when
-
your
beat plan is to treat the whole thug :ts
ature Sporting
blows creatures cxtin itself without re-
P g
terry unable to meet the for
food or accommodation.
hideous ' creature about to. be;_revealed 19t n'vulri.'happen to -roll orer, when
Rlimpse could be had of u, tnaugh'
a a Joke, congratulate yourself on the fact
that you came to Canada In time to help
a veaiing its. character. Hence the
f
STRANGERS :APP EAR
the more. nervous of. the'femafe spec- y,.a(
tatora began, to show algae of fainting torenew the excitement on MOrr.
ue celebrate the 88th_-blrthday. of her
.mystery`
-
However, as the dA., ,as d^.awing
It was now evfdac
and the crowd nearest the water began t that the Ivy, on
moat gracious majesty Queen Vic Wria.
AROUSED SUPERSTITIONS
•
near strangers began t9'ma.ke their ap- to move back. Tile people In the virtu-. the raft .were Unable to land their Santa
Nowt professor, white we are talkie x
allow,°one to. point outdo the.
As a matter of. course this sltuatlon
'without
pears, and added `td the number of Ity of the professor were eagerly watph- .unassisted. Light lopes'- were (brown
Ina his An lndiwldiaal; them and on being secured to the prize
you mistake
you' article. On your arrival here instead
could not -long continue exer-..wondering
tieing the superstitious element among
and puzzled spectators. every movement.
Among the number •were representa- a little the worse of liquor, addressing 'willing hands were ready to lend: la+
herder
gKCind In touch With our people, you '
kept`'+ loot,
' our. citizens. Conectura and imagina-
J
list nc to coinPkU the
some some. ( the professor, said,. "Boss, how would a e, and .In
t Ca' nor local that task a team of hose. to uD
do .throw
66� and In your every move-
men fi" showed. a di�posltlort to. be left
f
lion began to Give dorm as to. the .cause
i:. Canadian museums, end also a It to In a dog and of what
Canadian) a prone It wouldado to It?" to the waist's edge and a nloul. kRR1oR
ut In
voice, stout
Relyingj doubt on your a
tlo(F'knowleage
.this most singular exhibition:. The
re_
Ineut individual who was known as the chain 'attached to the object, which waaI
still or
plying. .said. still ofi you'll get
Slid
tiBE'knowledge xnd the reports that had
had
press
frees heroine interested amid the wonder-
ereuD
professor from scientific hated riot in thrown In;' whereupon the first; speaker as-yet'in .deep water, and dragatnt(; an
circulated through the preys of year
ful and unaccountable phenomenon was
"far
t
the United, States,'.: who an-iverl a day said "he could lick the man that said `the bottom, was not yet discernible.
country, winch I moat say were gross
t spread and wide with .the Dural re-
'or two prsvlous. This gentlenum wail that," and If be was alive when, this PROFESSOR. EXCITED.
ly exaggerated, but which we did not
1 suit that the more it was discussed the
the became interested
very. reticent. However,. he .came Ire-
literature
tt•ouble twee over he'd do 1L:
. Ii-hlle the crowd bf people in every
feel bound to refute: it is possible too.
that you might have
more Until
cups
- nightly groups of .people mold'. he seen
paced. with rr and sketches; of sit
kno;vn prehlsl O; is crnaturea. He'.[ound
However,'. the parties Were quieted', dtree.tlon prevented the movement of the
and no 'further disturbance permitted,
received.a'can-
fldentiai tip' that would have been
you.
�iaadng. the astonishing spectacle. Rep
accommodation st tee Royal1'nchange
horses. in vain., constables V14d'to novel
as a substantial force of .special police them A way was made for the Dro•
seavl0e to However. you bad bet(
ter put your disappointment against
r - —
-- --
had been enrolled - fesau�, however, at the poles of lanng.
oil
your
experience and spears the account.,,
k
ALL READY,' who now allows+] every aVpelm"a of
BY;; the time this was said the pro
�
-
Intense exclteme"t. By tots tlme the
¢ntatives were 'twanged
Press foluresuitable
lessor began to realize the situation and
�j Worthy
l YY 7LJ O�
In
carcase had been moved a„me diatanre
in a suitable position aid with writ- and the professor got one I ok at It
In reply satde. "Well, I suppose it is my
only r-omse, ,
mg material Ip et ldence and the Pre-
1 moat make the best
%� p
inea
' PI2L1tEQ$ T. BQi1LRIJt
and turned deady Date coup' It in,
hminarlea-all vutteh vp, Lhe opening He
of tl -
t
osslbiel. g
E.Ih $ n tt de..+ t e r..p rv- P Put awav hla Icvaaa and
a.„gate �E''S_�-P�. 1I). .,....a ...us t, � �.,... ...ta.,a b....,..,
I �g of professor, do yOD sour tak0 any -
t••>d.tS:._i..
- Did you ever hear the story of
the greatest: hoax ever perpetrat
'en on the POOP], of Canada Ind
the United States? -
It was not the Cardiff giant,
but something equally mgenlous.
It appeared In Ingersoll more
than half a century. ago
It brought tens of thousands
of people to the. Oxfocd town.
Its suspense continued for -
months..,
It Ia told about In this special
Jngassall ediUmr. -
d
_�._
In the m¢antune an Irishman bad get
Its several manlfssf allons. lied taken
.. uu[ L° [en Von ut.
the truth I haven't had a s mar meal 1 `
q e
a look at lt, and at once man cure ed
.place durlog. this prolonged wait the [
"'ill,
alnce I. struck your town. The whore at:.'
People were kept interested and from tonffi of voice, estlalmeA, a hoax.
'tis
town has. been eaten clean out."
ever ossible 130 heave a, a hoax! The %to, of
y p Position a view
','Well, you must come home with me
a 2-year-old aeuffed w16 straw and
the Pond could beobtained;the throng loatied' lid bricks to keep It under
to supper and stop overnight.' s,+.A
For Invitation �...
-
of, people could be seen packed as close
which. the professor ex-; 'Z p
water. May the divll fly away win .'he
as they could- stand together, number-
Pressed his thanks and accepted. Just
man than planned It."
ing..well into .the. thousands. The gates -
as they had flnisheir this conversatlo '
ryryryryryry n
m9htlp re-
of the pond were: now opened and :the The -prlready , supplrecord
the teamf horses drove past with th
,the
rush bLthe pent -lip water'resem0led'a marks already recordsd; veld, ' It is
"alligator".dragging behind, and a crow40
istoir
Niagara In' miniature, adding 'that toa-
lure to the .occasion that music does
to -the, performance of the drama, and
equally appropriate, from. Ate 'reality.
From the extent of the surface It was
sometime before the diminishingof
the water Was perceptible. Binocular
glasses and telescopeswere trained over
the scene. - -
RAFT UNDER' WAY..
The raft inthe meantime, manned
by two intrepid fellows, had got midst
way with the before -mentioned imple-
ments on board, also a heavy rope, with
a. rumung noose, prepared to lasso the
monster, the professor, standing'Witll.
his Powerful glasses,' surrounded by a
RrduP of reporters' lecording his every
more than a hoax; It Is an outrage on
the people of halt the Americas con-
theent. Look at the representaUrea of
the press, sent' here at great expense,
and with great expectation, based on
,the reports circulated 'from this con•',
temptible little Canadian town."
SYMPATHY LOST.
•-This last remari
cut him adrift from
the sympathy of our people, and his
chagrin from this time on wait enjoyed
all the more.. The professor wished to
meet some of our town officials and
lodge a protest. In this he was accom-
modated, and for this purpose he was
Introduced to the member of 'the COun-
ell who would be most likely to receive
him fittingly, If not -graciously: On
meeting the -. officer the professor
ratio rig, shouting, singing; yelling
some cursing, etc.- When the profes�)¢ 1
looked at It he laughed. while WI
told was, "Well. I'll be d—d; wl'a
can I say when I get homer. k•
EXPLANATION.
It Is now fitting to give our readers
the cause Of all this excitement. When
the ate. John Stuart began to make oar
meal in the mill now known as Stuart's
>IIII I;n certain amount of offal in the,
shaft of oat hulls, to,
wae•allowed to
➢aseh ito the creek leading to the..ponJ
In leatlon There It fermented and
the tee so .formeft caused ehe distorh-
ancgon,the surface water and this (art.
,.ID:eI with the ignorance of the cause
i
the tart of the. people, led some of our
Practical joker, to our, the circmn- �.
slanle9nto A feature of our a4th of May
celeb tlon, and I think you -w111 agree
wdth�e ill ( It teas -a hgiyjfng•aicr.a=•