This so-called "entity" encounter only appeared in the ufology literature when British "skeptical" ufologist Peter Rogerson included it in his "INCAT" catalogue.
Rogerson said that at the approximate date of September 14, 1932, at 11:00 p.m., in Roscoe, Ohio, USA, "Mr. Adams Jnr was returning home 5km west of Roscoe when he saw an animal in an apple tree, and called his father Glen to help investigate. The thing swung down to the ground and they could see that it was an ape like creature, about 1.2m tall, with a sort of chain around its neck. Their police dog was unwilling to tackle this thing, which eventually went back into the woods. There were a number of other witnesses, including Homer Goodin who shot at it without success."
Rogerson said the source was "Arment 2006 p250", citing several newspapers: Coshocton Tribune, 20 September 1932; Mansfield News and Lima News, both 21 September 1932; Van Wert Daily Bulletin and Zanesville Signal, both 22 September 1932; Zanesville Times Recorder and Coshocton Tribune, both 23 September 1932; Zanesville Times Recorder, 24 September 1932.
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[Ref. tr1:] "THE ZANESVILLE TIMES-RECORDER" NEWSPAPER:
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Claim Big Ape Roaming Woods Hardesty FarmSeen by Residents Chandlersville and Vicinity Several TimesA big ape roaming the woods on the Henry Hardesty farm, one mile east of Chandlersville, is causing fears in the neighborhoods and residents of the vicinity are on the watch lest the beast leaves his favorite haunts and visit their own barnyards, especially at night. Hardesty has seen the ape twice, at night, and heard it crashing around in the woods on another occasion. Neighbors have seen it in the daylight, it is claimed, but none of them has been able to give an accurate description of it other than it is an ape. Sheriff William Curtis has been notified of the ape's presence in the woods but no organized efforts are now being conducted for either capturing or killing it. Believed to have escaped from a circus, the ape has made itself at home in the Hardesty woods and refuses to leave. |
[Ref. tr2:] "THE ZANESVILLE TIMES-RECORDER" NEWSPAPER:
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Ape Near Chandlersville Over Four Feet TallThe big ape roaming the woods on the Henry Hardesty farm, one mile east od Chandlersville, is believed to have escaped from the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus about the time the show played in Zanesville and found its way to the woods where it is roaming at large. The ape has a white ring of hair around its neck and is easily distinguished from a human being, it is said. Persons having seen it claim the ape is over four feet tall. No efforts have been made to dispose of the ape as it may be valuable if taken alive. |
[Ref. ct1:] "THE COSHOCTON TRIBUNE" NEWSPAPER:
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Ape Reported at Large Near ChandlersvilleCHANDERSVILLE, O., August 11. -- The citizenry of this Muskimgum co. village today were alarmed over reported that an ape was at large in the countryside east of here. Henry Hardesty, prominent farmer, declared that the saw the ape twice and another farmer, John Shilling, also confirmed the story. Hardesty described the animal as being about four feet tall, heavily coated with hair and with loose-winging arms. The ape, it was reported, only makes an appearance at night when he forages in barn yards for food. A large circus recently showed in Zanesville and efforts are being made to determine if the animal escaped from a circus. A hunt probably will be organized to run the animal down - but the search, it was said, will be conducted in the daytime. Meanwhile, doors were being barred and windows kept locked in homes in the vicinity and no one ventures out at night without being in a crowd large enogh to repulse an attack of the ape if one is made. |
[Ref. ct2:] "THE COSHOCTON TRIBUNE" NEWSPAPER:
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Perpetrator of Ape Hoax Gets Fractured Rib as Buddies FledAn "ape" roams the hinterlands in the vicinity of Roscoe. If you don't believe it, interview any of the group which Tuesday night invaded the "ape's" stamping grounds near a vacant cabin in the hills West of Roscoe with the avowed intention of putting a stop to the "silly" rumor. The Coshoctonites came away in a mad rush, trampling each other underfoot, banging into trees and injuring their leader George Gutting, Main St. butcher, who was the instigator of the hoax. The stampede started when a gigantic, hairy figure dropped from the heights of an apple tree in the midst of the skeptical group. Men scattered in all directions. Harold Bring stepped over small trees and didn't start to jump until he ran into tall timber. He was first away, followed by Noah Barrett, Tom Fray, Joe Gallimore, Francis Head, Russ Raymer and Ed Smith. Gutting, unfortunately, was in the path of the general exodus. Just as he lead the group to the spot said to be the habitat of the monster, he tried to lead it away. Less fleet of foot than his comrades, he was caught in a "pocket" and either hurried into a tree or trampled underfoot. A physician discovered a fractured rib. Gutting organized the "ape" posse for the purpose of convincing farmers of the vicinity, many of whom swore they had seen the animal, that no such creature existed. A colored confederate in a fur coat took the role of the ape. Certain members of the group insist it was really an ape and they wouldn't return to the spot without an escort composed of Battery F. under personal command of Capt. Tom Carton. At noon today Gutting had not made a complete checked on his squad, but it was thot [thought] most of its members had returned. |
[Ref. ct3:] "THE COSHOCTON TRIBUNE" NEWSPAPER:
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Will Attempt Ape's Capture in Jackson Tp.Stories circulating about the ape reputed to be wandering in the western part of the county are substantiated by residents of the district near Roscoe. Glenn Adams, who lives about three miles west of Roscoe, was among the first to see the animal. His son returned home about 11 o'clock one night last week and, noticing some animal in an apple tree in the yard, called his father and the two investigated.. When they approached the tree the ape swung down from the lower limbs to the ground and stood watching the men. Adams had his police dog with him and attempted to set him on the ape, but the dog was reluctant to tackle the animal. After a few minutes of watchful waiting the ape returned to the woods. Homer Goodin, a neighbor of Adams, saw the ape during the day and shot at it, but failed to injure it. The ape is believed to have escaped from a circus during a recent stand at Zanesville, and is making his home in the dense woods and abandoned farms north of the Adams farm. The animal is said to be about four feet high when erect, and has about six feet of small chain attached to its neck. It seems to have an appetite for wild grapes and sweet corn, as it has several times tried to break into buildings where these are stored. Its great strength is attested by the residents, who say that wire fences have been literally torn apart by the animal. If the ape is not killed or captured soon the community plans to have a "round-up" and either kill or capture it. |
The INS news agency reported this to other newspapers who also published it. For example it appeared in The News-Messenger, Fremont, Ohio, page 1, on September 21, 1932.
[Ref. ct4:] "MANSFIELD NEWS-JOURNAL" NEWSPAPER:
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Ape Roaming In Ohio Hills Goes To Steubenville.By International News Review STEUBENVILLE, O., Sept 22. -- A large ape, reported roaming about Coshocton county yesterday, is believed to have transferred its prowling to the hills of Jefferson county, Sheriff William J. Yost said today. A miner en route to work told the sheriff that an animal, possibly an ape, leaped at him today. Residents of the hill section said that they have heard the chattering of an animal or animals recently. |
[Ref. ct4:] "THE COSHOCTON TRIBUNE" NEWSPAPER:
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Miner Reports Seeing Ape in Jefferson Co.The large ape reported seen in Jackson tp. recently may have transferred its prowling to the hills of Jefferson co., Sheriff William J. Yost said today. A miner enroute to work told the sheriff that an animal, possibly an ape, leaped at him today. Residents of the hill section said that they have heard the chattering of an animal or animals recently. Glenn Adams and Homer Goodin, who reside west of Roscoe, reported seeing an ape there during the past two weeks. |
[Ref. sr1:] "THE SANDUSKY REGISTER" NEWSPAPER:
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Think Circus Ape 'On Loose' At SteubenvilleSTEUBENVILLE, O., Sept. 22 (AP) -- An animal "with eyes as big as a dollar and making sounds like an automobile horn," was hunted in the brush at Alikanna near here today. Although none has gotten a good look at the animal, many believed it was an ape. An ape was reported to have escaped from a circus at Zanesville, about 100 miles west of here last week. The animal first made its appearance last night when it chased a man. He took one fleeting glance and "dug out" for home. His only description was that it had "eyes as big as a dollar." Other reports of the animal's existence caused deputy sheriffs to take up the hunt. An all-day search failed to reveal any trace of the animal. |
The same AP article appeared in many other Ohio newspapers, such as The Times Recorder, Zanesville, Ohio, page 1, September 23, 1932.
[Ref. tr3:] "THE ZANESVILLE TIMES-RECORDER" NEWSPAPER:
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Continue Hunt For Ape Near SteubenvilleSTEUBENVILLE, O., Sept. 23. -- AP -- The rural neighborhood here continued apprehensive tonight as posses continued a search for an animal believed to be an ape which was reported roaming the woods near here. The posses reported finding tracks that resembled those of an ape. They expressed a belief the animal was living on berries, nuts and small game and his in the woods during the day but came around the river at night. |
[Ref. eg1:] "THE LANCASTER EAGLE-GAZETTE" NEWSPAPER:
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Thinks Ape Is Tramp In FursBELLAIRE, O., Oct. 13. -- (AP) -- Captain John Hummel of the Bellaire police department has offered an explanation for the "ape" that has frightened residents of eastern Ohio in recent weeks. Captain Hummel says it is a tramp garbed in a discarded fur coat. When last seen the "ape" was on Boggs Island in the Ohio river opposite Bellaire. Several weeks ago, the "ape" was reported to have chased several residents of a nearby village. |
Note: the same AP news brief was published in many Ohio newspapers in the same manner. For example:
The Evening Independent, Massillon, Ohio page 1, October 13, 1932
The Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, page 1 October 13, 1932
The Wilmington News-Journal, Wilmington, Ohio, page 1, October 14, 1932
[Ref. pr1:] PETER ROGERSON:
September 14 1932 (approx. date) 2300hrs.ROSCOE (OHIO : USA) Mr. Adams Jnr was returning home 5km west of Roscoe when he saw an animal in an apple tree, and called his father Glen to help investigate. The thing swung down to the ground and they could see that it was an ape like creature, about 1.2m tall, with a sort of chain around its neck. Their police dog was unwilling to tackle this thing, which eventually went back into the woods. There were a number of other witnesses, including Homer Goodin who shot at it without sucess [sic]. Arment 2006 p250 citing Coshocton Tribune 20 September 1932 + Mansfield News + Lima News both 21 September 1932 + Van Wert Daily Bulletin + Zanesville Signal both 22 September 1932 + Zanesville Times Recorder + Coshocton Tribune both 23 September 1932 + Zanesville Times Recorder 24 September 1932 |
Hoax:
The only indication of a hoax in all these reports is a hoax performed by George Gutting, who was skeptical about the reality of ape sighting reports. As told in the newspaper The Coshocton Tribune for September 16, 1932 [ct2]: Gutting apparently organized that someone disguises as an ape and frightens the posse sent after him.
Gutting tried to show the ape sighting reports were a hoax by organizing his own hoax... but it did not work out fine, obviously.
Apes:
Of course there is no ape in the wild in North America, except those qho escaped captivity in circuses, zoos, homes etc.
In April 1932, the movie theaters in Ohio show a movie with Bela Lugosi titled "Murders of the Rue Morgue", from an Edgar Allan Poe story, about "a "Beautiful girl" confronted to a "Giant ape...". Even for people who did not go to see the horrot thriller, the advertising for the movie appeared in the local newspapers (ex. The Coshocton Tribune, page 10, April 5, 1932.) "Tarzan the Ape Man" was also shown in May 1932, involving dangerous "apes".
The Barnette Circus, with apes, was at Hamilton, Ohio, starting on the April 30, 1932. The Shrine Circus was in Cumminsville, Ohio, on May 9, 1932, featuring apes that had been part of the "Tarzan the Ape Man" movie; which was shown in movie theaters about that time. There was a circus in Zanesville, Ohio at least on July 14, 1932.
So we have at least three circuses in Ohio, and many movies, comic strips, books about "ape man", when this occurred. I do not think that Ape men movies would make people see apes that are not really there, but I do think that it explains why sighting reports of some ape in the wild would cause interest of even concern. fiction often promoted the notion that apes are dangerous, and they actually are dangerous. We can see that some newspaper also talked of the value of a captured ape as opposed to the killing of the ape.
The descriptions in the report, when there is a description, are that the creature was an ape. This is totally clear. In addition, one detail is given by witnesses; it has a white hair collar.
At least two species of apes have a white hair collar: the collared mangabey cercocèbes à collier blanc (Cercocebus lunulatus), living in West Africa, and Langur Hanuman (Semnopithecus entellus), living in south India.
Cercocebus lunulatus |
Semnopithecus entellus |
Ufological significance:
The source given in [pr1] as "Arment 2006 p250" seems to be the book "The Historical Bigfoot", a book by Chad Arment, 2006.
Obviously, for Chad Arment [ca1], this affair had nothing to do with UFOS; he used it in a "Bigfoot" sightings book.
Peter Rogerson included it in his ufology catalogue; in which he includes many reports of entities that are obviously not "UFO occupants", such as ghosts, fairies, "Bigfoot" etc. The explanation he gives is that such reports show that human imagination and human inventions always existed. On the other hand, he criticizes "ET proponents" ufologist for including such reports as early reports of alien encounters,
I found no "ET proponent" ufology source claiming this was an alien encounter or claiming this has something to do with UFOs; however, such situations do exist, it is true that some ufologist use "Bigfoot" reports for example in catalogues, books or articles claiming they are alien encounters, or claiming they have something to do with UFOs. Some ufologists, such as John Keel, claim that anything out of the ordinary is one and only one phenomenon: something "otherworldly" but not from another planet makes us see all sorts of "things", like UFOs, creatures etc. These ufologist are of course not "ET proponents".
Does this series of sighting reports show that imagination and misinterpretations were at work? I do not think so. I think the people here saw an ape that escaped from a circus, or maybe different apes. There is no proof of any imagination at work here, and no proof that any misinterpretation occurred. Apes really do escape from captivity sometimes, and no witness here described anything else than an ape.
See:
All original sources we have are newspaper reports. One should bear in mind that it is perfectly normal, and well-known, that newspaper reports are often written with the aim of making things more sensational than they are. Exaggerations are not necessarily witness exaggerations, the newspapermen can be the culprits. But let's note that in this affair, there does not seem to be any exaggeration at all in the newspaper reports.
Obviously, the modern "Bigfoot" interpretation is nonsense. How could it explain that the creature had "six feet of small chain attached to its neck"?
Of course, there are different sightings at different places, and the suggestion by Captain John Hummel of the Bellaire police department [eg1] that maybe the "ape" is some tramp in an old fur coat wandering in the wild may also explain some of the reports; but clearly not all of them, and not one of them was obviously a tramp in fur coat.
| Id: | Topic: | Severity: | Date noted: | Raised by: | Noted by: | Description: | Proposal: | Status: |
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Probable ape escaped from circus. Not UFO-related.
* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.
| Main Author: | Patrick Gross |
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| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editor: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Created/Changed By: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | August 24, 2018 | Creation, [tr1], [tr2], [ct1], [ct2], [ct3], [mn1], [ct4], [dr1], [tr3], [eg1], [pr1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | August 24, 2018 | First published. |
