1918: Escaped "Wild Ape" Frightens Smithtown Residents

[Nasus]

In the summer of 1918, a 90-pound primate escaped from a ship docked in Port Jefferson Harbor. The animal, probably an adult chimpanzee, roamed around the Long Beach peninsula in northern Smithtown, located between Smithtown Bay and Stony Brook Harbor, instilling such fear that some local residents refused to leave the house. The legend grew to include reports of the ape throwing rocks at dogs, and even women and children, in some instances killing them. A more reputable account claimed that ten-year-old Norman "Bud" O'Berry, who was waiting in an open car while his father and a friend went clamming, unexpectedly found himself face-to-face with the ape. The boy screamed and the animal fled. On August 22, 1918, the Smithtown Town Board paid a local handyman, William C. Clark, a bounty of $16.90 for catching the ape and killing him.

(From Newsday-It happened on Long Island)

[nighttrainmurderer]

In the summer of 1918, a 90-pound primate escaped from a ship docked in Port Jefferson Harbor. The animal, probably an adult chimpanzee, roamed around the Long Beach peninsula in northern Smithtown, located between Smithtown Bay and Stony Brook Harbor, instilling such fear that some local residents refused to leave the house. The legend grew to include reports of the ape throwing rocks at dogs, and even women and children, in some instances killing them. A more reputable account claimed that ten-year-old Norman "Bud" O'Berry, who was waiting in an open car while his father and a friend went clamming, unexpectedly found himself face-to-face with the ape. The boy screamed and the animal fled. On August 22, 1918, the Smithtown Town Board paid a local handyman, William C. Clark, a bounty of $16.90 for catching the ape and killing him.

Ahh don't believe the propoganda... I'd much rather believe it was some cryptoid like Bigfoot. Anyone want to jump on the Man-Beast Bandwagon?

Thanks a lot for the article. I enjoyed reading it.

(From Newsday-It happened on Long Island)