(Other Hominoid) The Chatawa Monster
The Chatawa Monster is a cryptid that is said to inhabit the swamps around Chatawa. The monster is reportedly responsible for strange claw marks on trees and unexplained missing chickens, and it is said to resemble Bigfoot. Tradition holds that the Chatawa Monster escaped from a wrecked circus train near the Tangipahoa River. Other sources claim the monster was an escaped monkey from the local Kramer's Lodge or a story created by older students at the nearby St. Mary's Institute.
The "Chatawa Monster" is a cryptid from Mississippi folklore, said to be a large, ape-like creature resembling Bigfoot. The legend claims it escaped from a circus train that derailed in the swamps near Chatawa, Mississippi, and is associated with strange claw marks and missing chickens. There are alternative theories that the legend originated from escaped animals from Kramer's Lodge or was an elaborate prank by students at the nearby St. Mary's Institute to prevent runaways.
The legend's origins
Circus train:
The most common version of the story is that a circus train carrying unusual creatures, including a half-man, half-ape hybrid, derailed near Chatawa. After the crash, the creature's cage was broken, and it escaped into the swamps.
Abduction prevention:
Some suggest the legend was created by older students at the St. Mary's Institute to scare younger students away from running away from the boarding school.
Escaped animals:
Another theory is that the monster is a misidentified escaped animal from Kramer's Lodge, which was known to have exotic animals.
Physical description
Appearance:
The monster is generally described as a hairy, human-like creature resembling Bigfoot or an ape-man.
Abilities and habits:
It is said to make strange noises, leave claw marks on trees, and is sometimes blamed for unexplained missing chickens.
Evidence and sightings
Key encounters:
- 1955: A group of campers reported seeing a large, hairy creature with glowing eyes, leading them to evacuate the area.
- 1995: A family reported seeing the creature while hiking and managed to take a blurry photograph.
- Highway patrolman: A local highway patrolman reported seeing a fleeting, upright, hairy creature ducking into the woods at dusk while on his tractor.
Lack of definitive proof:
There is no definitive proof of the creature's existence, and many believe the legend is a combination of local folklore, tall tales, and possibly misidentified animals.
