The sighting
A correspondent of the St. Louis Democrat wrote that the valley was "having a new sensation", one that was "nothing less then the discovery of a wild man, for a gorilla, or 'what is it?'" "It has so near a resemblance to the human form that men are unwilling to shoot it." It had a stooping gait, very long arms and immense hands or claws. Those who had been near it described a hairy face with "a most ferocious expression of countenance." It generally walked on its hind legs, but sometimes on all fours.