The Forgotten Mill Race Monster
The women reported that they took a drive
through Mill Race Park. Mill Race Park is located off the White River in a wooded area on
the west side of Columbus.
Approximately 3:00pm, in broad daylight, the
women parked their car near a boat ramp.
While visiting the park, they observed “a monster” lurking near the White River. They described the creature as being approximately 6
feet tall and walking upright on two legs. They
also stated that the creature was covered in
dark fur and had a pale green face.
The police searched the area but found nothing
to support the women’s claims.
Later, that same night, 11:45 pm, two other
women rushed into the Police Department.
They were frightened and extremely shook up.
They told the police that they had seen a “monster” in the Mill Race Park.
They reported that they had parked their car
and was engaged in a conversation. Suddenly,
a hairy monster with a green face jumped onto
the hood of their car. The creature tried to attack them through the windshield. The women
stated that the creature had long sharp claws.
When the police suggested the most likely explanation, a prankster with a Halloween mask,
the eyewitness’ disagreed, “This did not look
like a mask.”
When the police examined the women’s car,
they were startled to find deep scratch marks
within the hood of the car. The police searched
the park for a second time, still no sign of a
monster.
The following day, The Republic, a local newspaper, ran a story about the two separate reports. The Republic stated that the local police
believe it is a “misguided hobgoblin that has
lost their sense of Halloween timing, however,
residents should take care and keep a watchful
eye out for the monster.”
Three days after the story was printed in the paper, the monster was spotted again. Two local
men visited Mill Race Park around 4:00pm on
November 05, 1974. They spotted the creature
lurking behind trees near the covered bridge.
The two young men gave the same description,
a hairy beast that stands upright and has a light
green face.
Despite the warning issued by the police, they
decided to return to Mill Race Park that same
night armed with a pair of binoculars. The two
young men claimed that they were chased out
of Mill Race Park by the monster.
The men theorized to the police, they believed
that the creature may have been accidentally
left behind from the U.F.O.’s that were spotted
in the early fall.
The Republic newspaper continued to report the
sightings. People began gathering in Mill Race
Park with hopefulness of being able to see the
creature for themselves. The news of the “Mill
Race Monster” began to get around. The Indianapolis Star, The Courier-Journal of Louisville,
Kentucky, and The Chicago Tribune wrote articles about the monster sightings of Mill Race
Park.
Police Officer Kenneth St. John was soon appointed “Monster Control Officer.” He was appointed to address media questions and to handle reports concerning the monster.
Soon after, the park began to flood with mobs
of people; people had traveled long distances
to search for the monster. Many were armed
with weapons such as knives, clubs, and guns.
A full-blown “monster hunt” was now at hand.
The city officials were concerned for the safety
of the public and knew they had to take action
before someone got seriously hurt. Robert Gilligan, the city park director, found it necessary
to close Mill Race Park and deem it off- limits to
the public.
The last known sighting of the monster came
from city employee, Rick Duckworth, city dog
catcher. Duckworth stated that he was within Mill Race Park patrol