By Dan Lindholm
I was contacted by Ruth recently and she shared this great story
and correspondence with the late great Dr. Bindernagel. It’s not only very
interesting as it occurred several years prior to the Patterson/Gimlin film and
contains very good descriptions, but it’s also great for us to now have a small
window into the process and even personality of Dr. Bindernagel himself.
[Original Message]
> > From: <xxxxx@mail.xxxxxx.net (John
Bindernagel)>
> > To: <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.net>
> > Date: 9/23/04 9:58:24 PM
> > Subject: Re: FW: Connecticut sighting
Hello Ruth,
Sorry to be so slow
replying to your very interesting and exciting message. I really enjoyed
reading your excellent description of the sighting and the conditions and
commend you for the many details.
(Ruth) “He stood like
a human, with his huge arms at his sides, fists clenched. Simultaneously, my
horse leaped forward, and to the side.
....... I was able to see that his head was conical, his body and
extremities were massive, and he had a flat profile, like a human, not a
bear. His face was also black. He stood straight, not hunched over like a
gorilla.”
Great description, is
there any chance of you attempting an eyewitness drawing from memory? That
would be very helpful and a real contribution. If you are able to do so I will
tell just why your report is somewhat exceptional and at the same time very
helpful. (You have included something not often reported but very significant
and something which is very convincing regarding its existence as a real
animal.)
“I hope this report
is helpful. “
Yes, it is.
“I feel that it should be documented, even at
this late date, since I have noticed that there are very few reports from the
state of Connecticut.”
True.
“(please do not publish my address)”
No problem.
“I know what I saw
there thirty years ago, and would be willing to take a polygraph as to the
veracity of this report.”
A helpful and convincing offer, even if unnecessary.
Thanks again. Looking forward to hearing
from you again. And again, sorry about taking so long to reply. I have been up
the BC coast all summer collecting reports and following up on them. I am just
now back and catching up on email messages. Yours is the best of the lot!
best regards,
John B.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ruth Xxxxxxxxx
To:
Sent: 8/24/04 1:30:41 AM
Subject: FW: Connecticut sighting
I think that you
have an ethical site, which is why I am sending in this belated report. At the time of my sighting, in 1964, I had
never heard of Bigfoot...and I doubt many on the East coast had. Whatever Sasquatch are, I don't believe they
should be shot. I am 58 years old, now, but I remember the incident vividly.
It was early August
in 1964, and I was taking a break before I went on to the University of
Connecticut. I was riding my horse,
Somerset, a huge, 17 hand Clydesdale/thoroughbred cross open jumper that I kept
stabled at a stable on Xxxxx road, in Stamford, Connecticut.
We had crossed
through several fields and woods, part of which were on an 300 acre estate
which at that time was owned by a Morgan Guarantee Bank CEO. Upon his death the
land, which adjoins the Reservoir which at that time supplied the Stamford
area, was left in his will to the State of Connecticut.
Anyway, we had
crossed a creek onto a trail which was not far from the base of the reservoir,
and wound up a hill heading toward the reservoir. There was a swampy area to my
right, and up the hill, on my left, were several Native American burial mounds surrounded
by bushes, some blueberry, I think.
One of the mounds
had recently been subject to a small dig by the Smithsonian, and then
closed. My horse became agitated, was snorting,
and sidestepping- I was afraid of his losing his footing, and slipping down the
hill. I did notice that the smell of the
swampy area was quite unpleasant. I continued further up the hill, trying to
control and reassure my horse, when suddenly, in one fluid motion, a huge being
covered in medium length black hair stood up from behind the bushes.to my left,
where he had been crouching.
He stood like a
human, with his huge arms at his sides, fists clenched. Simultaneously, my horse leaped forward, and
to the side. I don't know how I managed
to stay on him, and still stare at this creature, but in that few seconds, I
was able to see that his head was conical, his body and extremities were
massive, and he had a flat profile, like a human, not a bear. His face was also black. He stood straight, not hunched over like a
gorilla. He was at least eight feet tall-my horse was, as I indicated previously,
17 hands tall, a hand being four inches in measurement. I am five feet, six inches, my torso is
probably three feet, and this creature was taller than me astride the horse,
even counting for the grade of the hill.
He was only a few
yards away! My horse was uncontrollable,
panicked, and we raced up the trail. When I was able to look back over my
shoulder, we were not being pursued. We
galloped the few miles home, terrified.
When we reached the
stable, the manager reprimanded me for my horse's condition, being lathered in
sweat, and jumpy. I told him, and a few others
who boarded horses there, what happened, but they all joked, and didn't believe
me. The manager said that perhaps I had
seen a black bear...but bears weren't found in that part of Connecticut, at
that time. And this creature was much taller than any black bear. I'd seen
plenty of them in New Hampshire.
The general
consensus was that my horse and I had probably been frightened by a bum wandering
in the woods, or a large black dog. Well, I know what I saw, and will never
forget it.
Years later, I read
about Bigfoot. I wrote one California organization
in 1974, but never received a reply. I know, now, that if he had wanted to harm
me, he could have easily, in one stride, reached me, and knocked my horse off
balance, and down the side of the hill. Or he could have stepped in front of
me, and caused my horse to rear backwards.
Also, his hands were
at his sides. balled into fists, but not raised threateningly. He didn't utter
a sound. In retrospect, I think he was
more curious than anything. He was definitely not afraid of me. I had the sense
later that he may have wanted me to see him, or perhaps he wanted to get a
closer look at us. Otherwise, if he had remained crouched behind the bushes, I
would never have seen him. having my hands full trying to control my horse.
This is why I am against killing these intelligent, apparently hominid beings.
Some of the doctored
photos I've seen of Bigfoot are laughable, such as the one with the overly
exaggerated shoulders, and tiny head, seen from above... The being in the
Patterson film, aside from having breasts, seems most like what I saw. Also, the way it turned it's head was similar
to what I was able to glimpse.
I've never been back to that spot, and to
this day, even living in Virginia, I am afraid to be in the deep woods alone. I
am also convinced that the way to track these beings is on horseback, not on
foot...they seem to be curious about a human on a horse. I’ve noticed that a rider will often be able
to approach a herd of deer quite closely, without causing them to panic.
I hope this report
is helpful. I feel that it should be
documented, even at this late date, since I have noticed that there are very
few reports from the state of Connecticut.
I know what I saw there thirty years ago, and would be willing to take a
polygraph as to the veracity of this report.
Mrs.Ruth Xxxxxx
The witness’ full name and address have been excluded per
her request.
Blog post by Dan Lindholm
