North-east of Warner Springs and 2 miles south of Holcomb in California is a place by the name of Deadman's Hole. The name is well deserved.
The mysterious deaths began in 1858 when the body of an unidentified man was found murdered at the Hole. In 1870 a Frenchman was found murdered inside
the cabin he had just erected in the Hole. In 1887 two bodies were found, in June the body of prospector William Blair was found under a bush near his
camp. He had suffered fatal neck injuries, described as 'knife wounds'. In December a young woman, Belita Melinda, was found 200 feet from where
Blair's body was found. Reports on her death varied from stangulation to "horrible mutilation".
Two of what have been described as California's best natural springs are found here (
Warner Springs).
The bodies were found in close proximity to these springs.
In March of 1888 two hunters, Edward Dean and Charles Cox, went to the canyon in search of whatever was causing these deaths. Their account was truly
terrifying:
An immense unwieldy animal, resembling a bear from the back, was taking rapid strides through the narrow defile away from the hunters. Cox said
its legs were long and the creature looked something like a gorilla.
Its hair was dark brown and the beast was more than six feet high. Cox climbed down and whispered the news to Dean. Both began to follow the
"thing." Cox, to arrest its progress, fired a shot in the air. At the report, the beast turned its face toward its pursuers.
The face was human!
Then, the creature started climbing the canyon wall toward a cave opening. Cox fired and, with a terrible cry, the monster fell to the canyon floor -
dead.
Cautiously approaching the body, the men later reported the face was Indian, but the teeth were like a bear's fangs with pointed ends. The
creature's feet were huge and covered with black hair. - A Horrible Tale
According to San Diego historian, Patrick Householder (unpublished) the beast was hauled to either Julian or San Diego and Exhibited on April 1
1888.
On April 2 1888, the
San Diego Union ran a story dismissing the whole thing as an April fool's joke and ridiculed those that had gone to view
the beast at the police station (
Hoax). After that nothing has been reported on this curious
tale.
Something or someone was killing people at Deadman's Hole over a thirty year period (as reported, who knows how many before 1858?).
Some would say that members of the local native tribes were responsible, but the indigenous tribes have always strictly avoided the area.
[edit on 12-4-2006 by Beelzebubba]
