Geographical Index > United States > South Carolina > Barnwell County > Report # 18632
(Class A)
Submitted by witness on Sunday, April 15, 2007.
Woman describes childhood sighting (multi-witness) on abondonned RR bed outside Barnwell
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YEAR: 1978
SEASON: Summer DATE: 06/08/1978 STATE: South Carolina COUNTY: Barnwell County LOCATION DETAILS: [Edited out] NEAREST TOWN: Barnwell, SC NEAREST ROAD: McDonald Drive OBSERVED: In the summer of 1978, my brother along with myself and a friend of mine who lived next door were playing outside on [a country road near] Barnwell, SC. Our backyard butted up against woods as well as an old railroad track that had long since stopped being used. We were not supposed to go near the edge of the yard bordered by the old RR tracks, but being kids this is exactly where we were playing when all three of us witnessed the most amazing (and at the time probably the scariest) thing we had ever seen.
We heard a high pitched screeching or wailing like noise and went to see what it was. It was in the evening but the light was still very good outside. When we came to the old RR tracks this creature came across the other side and seemed as startled to see us as we were to see it. I only saw it for about 15 seconds or so as we all just stood and stared in utter shock before I got the hell out of there, running and screaming along with my brother and neighbor back to the house!
It seemed to be at least 7 feet tall and had very long arms and was very hairy with long tufts of dark brown hair covering it's body. As best as I can recall, its face was oddly human-like in appearance yet at the same time seemed like an ape. It did not make any noise at all once we all saw each other. It just stood there looking at us but seemed to be peaceful and it certainly appeared not to be hostile. It's sheer size is what scared me so badly.
I remember running as fast as I could back to the house. If our mother had not heard the commotion and opened the back glass door, I'd have crashed through that glass door. My brother and I did not talk about this occurance for many years. When we finally did, our recollections of the event matched closely. You're more than welcome to ask my brother about this. I still recall the name of our neighbor that was there as well. I believe she still resides in Barnwell, as a matter of fact. By the way, it was about a month and a half before she returned to our house to play after we saw that creature. ALSO NOTICED: We did hear this shrill wailing noise right before the sighting. Never heard anything like it before or since. OTHER WITNESSES: Myself along with two others. We were playing and minding our own business when this creature appeared over the other side of the hill that formed the old RR track bed. OTHER STORIES: If there have been other sightings similar to ours, they are being tightlipped about it! TIME AND CONDITIONS: Evening...light was still excellent, however. My best guess would be that it was somewhere near 6:30 to 7:00 PM. ENVIRONMENT: Near a swamp...also a river nearby. The actual sighting took place near the woods on an old RR track bed. Interestingly, the Savannah River Site is located extremely close to here and is well known for all sorts of weird sightings...most say it is due to the radiation/tritium/God knows what else that has leaked from what the locals call the "Bomb Plant".
Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator :Leevon Patrick:
I spoke with the witness by phone. She had the following to add to her sighting:
The animal looked more human even though it was covered in hair. Its hair was dark brown and matted in parts. The face had an element of suprise and not malice.
The color and texture of the facial exposed skin was much like that on a dog's snout- black and rough.
She said it appeared to be over seven feet tall and very broad. The arms appeared long and hung to its knees. She recalled a musty odor associated with marsh and bottomlands.
Barnwell is still as rural today as it was in 1978. The Salkehatchie River runs nearby as well as numerous creeks and tributaries in this rolling landscape.
In the Midwest and Eastern states, sightings and track finds often occur near railroad beds -- usually abandoned railroad beds, but not always. It is suspected that bigfoots may sometimes use abandonned railroad beds at night to walk to habitation/feeding areas near those routes.
About BFRO Investigator :Leevon Patrick:
Patty Lee (photo) lives in Lake County, Florida.
- B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Colorado
- Certified Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT)
- Traveled and camped extensively in Canada, Alaska, and Lower 48
- Former manager of a high end climbing and wilderness outfitting retailer in Virginia
- Organized the BFRO's November 2007 expedition in South Carolina
Patty attended the following BFRO expeditions:
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