The history of the American Spotted Hodag

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Keep your eye on the Centralia Lumber Co’s “Hodag” recently photo graphed by T. A. Taylor, a repriut of which is given in our paper. The description of this peculiar denizen of the northern forest will be continued in next issue.

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Another chapter in the history of the "Spotted Hodag" is presented to our readers this week by the Centralia Lumber Company. If you wish the complete history of this strange freak, preserve the copies of the Enterprise, as this chanter will soon be followed by others, until you have the history in full.

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CHAPTER II

The legs are bent and apparently quite short when the Hodag is at rest and moving slowly undistuibed in its native haunts, but when aroused or seeking its prey they straighten out to a remarkable length and develop great speed. Each foot is armed with three formidable claws in front, very sharp and strong. These claws are articulated, which adds greatly to their usefulness. From the heel of each foot projects a long claw with a fish hook point. The claw is of great service in tearing to pieces the bears or other animals upon which the Hodag feeds, and also prevents slipping and sliding when he is running down steep declivities. The hook on the end of its tail is also used hor the same purpose, and by such means it can with safety maintain a brea-kneck speed down quite steed precipices in pursuit of its natural prey. It is a very inteligent animal. Its facial expression is almost human but not as much so as would appear from the photograph.

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Another chapter of "Hodag" is dished up this week by the Centralia Lumber Co. in their advertising space. Read it.

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CHAPTER III

The mouth is very prominent. The teeth form a double row on the lower jaw, as will be seen by close scrutiny of the accompanying picture. The upper jaw projects beyond the lower jaw, is pointed and as hard as flint. On its lower edge are many rows of sharp cutting teeth. The upper jaw has a rotary grinding notion when the animal is masticating its food. The sharp point or horn in which this jaw terminates is a fearful weapon when the Hodag uses it as a ram and rushes upon its prey with the speed of the wind.

It is a mot formidable beast, and its presence even in broad daylight could not fail to strike terror to the boldest heart. But is must to be dreaded at night. The noise that it makes by whetting its upper teeth upon the lower ones, once beard m Hie stillness of a summer night, will never be forgotten.

To cap the climax there is the Hodag's howl, Forty-seven wild-oats and as many loons, assisted by as many screech-owls, all attuning their voices in unison, would, figuratively speaking, not be "in it."

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The Centralis Lumber Co’s Hodag unfolds another chapter of its mysterious tale in this issue of the Reporter. Read it and protit thereby.

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CHAPTER IV

The scientific name (Bovine Spiritualis) was given to this animal on account of the popular belief that on the death of an ox, its spirit took the form of a hodag. In support of this theory it is reported by at least three reliable woodsmen that soon after Daly & Sampson lost a valuable black and white ox in the winter of 1883-4. they saw in the distance a large hodag marked plainly with white spots on a black background like the ox in question; and what is still more remarkable “D. & S." was distinctly branded on one of its horns. To this day these woodsmen smile a smile of scorn and derision when anyone in their presence presumes to cast a doubt upon this illustration of the ancient theory of transmigration.

It is true that the hodag is carnivorous, but it also feeds upon small shrubs, and the new shoots on the branches of trees are its favorite diet. It prefers the pine to all other kinds of timber. By means of the hook on it tail it pulls small trees up by the toots and then feeds upon the branches.

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CHAPTER V

The Hodag frequents the trails made by oxen in their feeding grounds, and many a poor camp watcher has come to a violent death by meeting one of these hideous, ugly brutes on a crooked, brush-covered trail.

Without any warning his legs are clasped by the long sharp claws and held firmly while the animal proceeds to disembowel him with the hook on his tail; the result is too horrifying to talk about.

All the while the beast is uttering the most deafening roars imaginable.

Such frequent encounters occurred in the summer of 1893-4 that the last legislature of Wisconsin passed a law making it punishable by heavy fine and imprisonment to engage one man alone to guard these isolated camps and care for the cattle.

Strange it is, the Hodag never attacks an ox that has the marks of an yoke on his neck or shoulders, but cows and young stock suffer occasionally, and Dan Arpin claims to have lost several horses by them, as well as a cross haul or two.

(N. B, The foregoing seems incredible and though related to us by Ed Wheelam, of unquestioned veracity, we will not vouch for its being absolutely true in every respect.

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CHAPTER VI

In every legging camp are thoe who can tell wonderful tales of these wondrous animals.

When the men are gathered around the blazing camp-fire in the evening and the wintry wind is wailing dismally outside, then doth the hodag fiend most gleefully spin his yarn. The mournful wail of the wind reminds him of the swish of the hodag's tail as it lashes the air furiously when maddened with rage or pain.

A fight between a full grown hodag and a swamp-sogger is as fearful a story, when tpld by an eye witness, as was ever read or heard. The writer here might say in way of explanation, that as the hodag is king of the highlands or hard ground, so is the swamp-sogger king of the lowlands, or wet and marshy ground. The fight always takes place at the edge of a swamp or marsh and when the combatants are evenly matched in size the battle of the Litans, or a war between England and the United States is in comparison a tame affair.

The result is always the utter destruction of one of the fighters. If the hodag, bv taking a twist with its tail around a tree ana by dragging its enemv bv main strength, succeeds in getting it upon hard ground, the issue is no longer doubtful and the swamp-sogger soon becomes an unrecognizable mass oi teeth, ciaws, nair ana bone. But it tne noaag s tail slips—

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The hodag's tail has slipped. See the change in the Centralia Lumber Co.'s "ad."

1896-08-15 No title The Centralia Enterprise and Tribune (Centralia, WI), p. 5
1896-08-15 No title The Centralia Enterprise and Tribune (Centralia, WI), p. 5

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CHAPTER VII

But if the hodag's tail slips and loses its grip, or the roots of the tree give wav under the tremendous strain to which they are subjected the hodag simply disappears from the face of the earth and joins the innumerable throng that is daily immolated on the altar of Ananias for the benefit of the lovers of fable and fiction.

Right here let us say that it has taken an enormous outlay of time and expense to bring the history of the hodag to this point and our readers can to a certain extent comprehend the sublime assurance and consumate gall of the writer in making this attempt at such a history.

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1897-01-30 The Hodag is no more The Centralia Enterprise and Tribune (Centralia, WI), p. 8

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Back to Hodag (Rhinelander)

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