Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp

Last updated
Lizard Man
Folklore Cryptid, Reptilian Humanoid
First attested1988
Other name(s)Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp, Lizard Man of Lee County, Bishopville Monster
CountryUnited States
RegionSouth Carolina

In the folklore of Lee County, South Carolina, the Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp (also known as the Lizard Man of Lee County) is an entity said to inhabit the swampland of the region. First mentioned in the late 1980s, the purported sightings and damage attributed to the creature yielded a significant amount of newspaper, radio and television publicity.

Contents

Professor of religious studies Joseph P. Laycock described the media frenzy and subsequent cult appreciation for this and other similar claims as following a predictable "chain of events – a strange sighting, media attention, more sightings, followed by visits from curious tourists and monster hunters." [1] Researcher Ben Radford states that this is a compelling story, "but several important aspects wither under skeptical scrutiny."

History

On July 14, 1988, the Lee County sheriff's office investigated a report of a car damaged overnight while parked at a home in the area of Browntown outside Bishopville, South Carolina, on the edges of the Scape Ore Swamp. The car reportedly had toothmarks and scratches with hair and muddy footprints left behind. Sheriff Liston Truesdale noted this was the start of various claims that eventually coalesced into a story about a lizard man in the swamp. Prompted by the news of the vehicle damage, 17-year-old local Christopher Davis reported to the sheriff that his car was damaged by a creature he described as "green, wetlike, about 7 feet (2.1 m) tall and had three fingers, red eyes, skin like a lizard, snakelike scales" two weeks prior. [2] According to Davis, he was driving home from working the night shift at a fast food restaurant when his car got a flat tire. After fixing it, he saw a creature walking toward him. Davis got in his car and began to drive, but the creature was soon on top of the car. He applied his brakes, causing the creature to roll off the car, giving Davis enough time to escape. Coverage by newspapers and media resulted in increased attention for his claims. Local businesses began selling "Lizard Man" T-shirts, and the local chamber of commerce encouraged the media attention as "good for the community". [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

The increase in newspaper and media publicity prompted further reports of sightings, and the area soon became a tourist attraction for visitors and hunters. Local radio station WCOS offered a $1 million reward to anybody who could capture the creature alive. [3] On August 5, Kenneth Orr, an airman stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, filed a police report alleging that he had encountered the Lizard Man on Highway 15, and he had shot and wounded it. He presented several scales and a small quantity of blood as evidence. Orr recanted this account two days later when he was arraigned for unlawfully carrying a pistol and the misdemeanor offense of filing a false police report. According to Orr, he had hoaxed the sighting in order to keep stories about the Lizard Man in circulation. [8] [9] Reports of the creature gradually declined at the end of the summer. Local law enforcement officials speculated that the sightings were likely to have been a bear. [9]

In 2008, CNN mentioned the Lizard Man legend in a story about a couple in Bishopville who reported damage to their vehicle, including blood traces. [10] The blood traces were subsequently found to be from a domestic dog, though the local sheriff suggested it might have been a coyote or wolf. [11] In 2015, local television station WCIV featured photos and videos claimed to be Lizard Man, allegedly taken by Jim Wilson and other unidentified individuals. [12] [13] In August 2017, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division sent a humorous tweet "regarding possible paranormal activity" during the solar eclipse that passed over the area, hinting that people of Lee and Sumter counties should "remain vigilant" for sightings of the Lizard Man. [14]

Criticism

Skeptical investigator Ben Radford states that the details of Chris Davis's story do not hold up under scrutiny. Sheriff Truesdale stated that Davis's story never wavered, but Radford writes that isn't true.

Over weeks and months and repeated tellings, the details changed many times, from having scales to the "creature being packed with mud", how far away Davis was from the creature when he first saw it, and whether or not it attacked the car. Radford questioned how Davis was able to see details of the Lizard Man creature at 2 am when there was no lighting nearby in a heavily wooded area when the moon was not bright. If this was an aggressive creature, why were there no other credible sightings? According to Radford, the timing of Davis' story didn't make sense. If Davis saw the creature in the shadows while he was closing the trunk of his car, Davis still had to get back in the car and take off, yet Davis claims that the creature was so fast that it caught up to the car when he was doing 40 mph (64 km/h). Reports vary with the source that Davis told the police about the attack two or more weeks later.

After investigating, Radford states that the polygraph test administered to Davis may have been a "publicity stunt" by Southern Marketing, Inc., a company "arrange(ing) personal appearances FOR Davis". Another curious issue was that there are no photographs of the damage to Davis's car which provide some evidence that something happened. Newspaper accounts give various descriptions of the damage to the car, and in one local newspaper Davis is quoted as saying "he escaped with no more than a scratch on his fender". Radford states that Davis's report "is quite literally incredible, riddled with both implausibilities and impossibilities. It may be sincere or it may be a hoax, but in either event no hard evidence of the creature has been found." [15] [16]

Investigator Alicia Lutz has suggested that what Davis saw that night was actually a local butterbean farmer, Lucious Elmore, who was guarding his shed that night after recent thefts. Elmore claimed he heard a car tire blow out and, thinking it was thieves, walked out to the road to confront them. Elmore said when Davis saw him, he screamed and took off. [17]

Media

In 2010, the TV program Destination Truth featured the legendary creature. [18] Children's books such as Maniacal Monsters and Bizarre Beasts include the monster in their bestiaries. [19] Linda Godfrey's 2014 book American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America includes a chapter on the lizard man, [20] and Cryptozoologist Lyle Blackburn's 2013 book Lizard Man: The True Story of the Bishopville Monster details the entire history of the creature. [21] The lizard man has also appeared on the SYFY show Fact or Faked in an episode titled "Reptile Rampage".

The original contemporaneous story ran in more than 100 newspapers across the country. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bigfoot</span> Mythical creature

Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, is a large, hairy mythical creature said to inhabit forests in North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot is featured in both American and Canadian folklore, and since the mid-20th century has grown into a cultural icon, permeating popular culture and becoming the subject of its own distinct subculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mokele-mbembe</span> Water-dwelling entity that supposedly lives in the Congo River Basin

In several Bantu mythologies, mokele-mbembe is a mythical water-dwelling entity that is believed to exist in the Congo River Basin. Variously described as a living creature, a spirit, or an extinct lineage known as sauropods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishopville, South Carolina</span> Town in South Carolina, United States

Bishopville is a town in Lee County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,471 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lee County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ogopogo</span> Mythical creature in British Columbia

In Canadian folklore, the Ogopogo is a lake monster said to inhabit Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. Some scholars have charted the entity's development from First Nations folklore and widespread water monster folklore motifs. The Ogopogo now plays a role in the commercial symbolism and media representation of the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skunk ape</span> Southeastern United States cryptid

The skunk ape is a large and hairy human-like mythical creature purported to inhabit the forests and swamps in the southeastern United States, most notably in Florida. It is often compared to, synonymous with, or called the "cousin" of Bigfoot, a prominent subject within North American popular culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongolian death worm</span> Creature alleged to exist in the Gobi Desert

The Mongolian death worm is a creature alleged to exist in the Gobi Desert. Investigations into the legendary creature have been pursued by amateur cryptozoologists and credited academics alike, but there has been little evidence found to support its existence. It can be considered a Cryptid or a mythological animal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flatwoods monster</span> West Virginian folklore creature

The Flatwoods monster, in West Virginia folklore, is a creature reported to have been sighted in the town of Flatwoods in Braxton County, West Virginia, United States, on September 12, 1952, after a bright light crossed the night sky. Investigators now suggest the light was a meteor and the creature was a barn owl perched in a tree with shadows making it appear to be a large humanoid.

In Texan folklore, the Lake Worth Monster is a legendary creature said to inhabit Lake Worth at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, just outside Fort Worth. The creature is often described as a "part-man, part-goat" with scales and long clawed fingers.

Proof Positive is a paranormal investigation reality television show broadcast by the SciFi Channel beginning on October 6, 2004, through December 8, 2004. It was shown as part of the "SciFi Wednesday" evening schedule line up in the United States along with other reality television programs as Scare Tactics and Ghost Hunters. Proof Positive ran for ten episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champ (folklore)</span> Alleged lake monster in Lake Champlain, United States

In American folklore, Champ or Champy is the name of a lake monster said to live in Lake Champlain, a 125-mile (201 km)-long body of fresh water shared by New York and Vermont, with a portion extending into Quebec, Canada. The legend of the monster is considered a draw for tourism in the Burlington, Vermont and Plattsburgh, New York areas.

In Arkansas folklore, the Fouke Monster, also known as the Boggy Creek Monster and the Swamp Stalker, is purported to be an ape-like creature, similar to descriptions of Bigfoot, that was allegedly sighted in the rural town of Fouke, Arkansas during the early 1970s. The creature was alleged to have attacked a local family. It has since become a part of Arkansas folklore. Stories of the creature influenced the 1972 docudrama horror film The Legend of Boggy Creek, which became the 11th highest-grossing film of 1972 and is today considered to be a cult classic.

Momo the Monster, also known as the Missouri Monster (Momo), is a purported ape-like creature, similar to descriptions of Bigfoot, that was allegedly sighted by numerous people in rural Louisiana, Missouri in 1971 and 1972. Unlike some other areas with similar reports of cryptids such as the Fouke Monster in Fouke, Arkansas or the Mothman in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, Momo did not become a major tourist or economic folklore attraction.

In Malay ghost beliefs, the Orang Minyak is a supernatural creature coated with shiny black grease who abducts young women by night. The legend of the figure is first mentioned in a report from the Singaporean newspaper Berita Harian dated 12 October 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thetis Lake Monster</span> British Columbian hoax

The Thetis Lake Monster is a legendary creature and admitted hoax of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In 1972, two teenage boys claimed to see a monster emerge from Thetis Lake beach. The description of the creature that the teenagers gave matched the description of the Gill-man from the 1954 film Creature from the Black Lagoon.

The Honey Island Swamp Monster, also known as the Cajun Sasquatch and in Cajun French: La Bête Noire, is an ape-like humanoid cryptid creature, similar to descriptions of Bigfoot, purported to inhabit the Honey Island Swamp in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. It has become a part of Louisiana folklore, with many swamp tour companies in the area capitalizing on its alleged existence, which is considered unlikely by scientists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mothman</span> Modern urban legend

Mothman, in West Virginian folklore, is a humanoid creature reportedly seen in the Point Pleasant area from November 15th, 1966, to December 15th, 1967. Despite its name, the original sightings of the creature described avian features. The first newspaper report was published in the Point Pleasant Register, dated November 16, 1966, titled "Couples See Man-Sized Bird ... Creature ... Something". The national press soon picked up the reports and helped spread the story across the United States. The source of the legend is believed to have originated from sightings of out-of-migration sandhill cranes or herons.

Carmine Thomas Biscardi is a cryptozoology enthusiast, Las Vegas promoter, internet radio host, and film producer. He describes himself as the "Real Bigfoot Hunter". Biscardi has been centrally involved in several hoaxes regarding Bigfoot that have garnered widespread international media attention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reptilian humanoid</span> Beings in mythology, folklore and fiction

Reptilian humanoids, or anthropomorphic reptiles, are fictional creatures that appear in folklore, fiction, and conspiracy theories.

References

  1. ↑ "A Search for Mysteries and Monsters in Small Town America". Smithsonian. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  2. ↑ Blackburn, Lyle (2013). Lizard Man: The True Story of the Bishopville Monster. Anomalist Books. ISBN   978-1938398162.
  3. 1 2 Horswell, Cindy (1989-07-1989) "'Lizard Man' legend, kicking", Houston Chronicle
  4. ↑ Milligan, Stephen (1988-08-07) "Sightings of a monster lizard from the swamp has struck terror into a small community in South Carolina", The Sunday Times.
  5. ↑ "Sumter man killed; 'discovered' Lizard Man". The State. 2009-06-24. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  6. ↑ "Youth Who Saw 'Lizard Man' Gets an Agent". San Francisco Chronicle . 1988-08-02.
  7. ↑ Horswell, Cindy (1989-07-30) "Lizard man leaves mark/Tale still told in sleepy S.C. town", Houston Chronicle
  8. ↑ The Washington Post (1988-08-14) "'Lizard Man' Claims a Casualty"
  9. 1 2 Houston Chronicle (1988-08-13) "To keep a monstrous legend alive/Man admits lying about Lizard Man"
  10. ↑ "CNN.com Video". CNN. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  11. ↑ "DNA tests exonerate 'Lizard Man' in van attack". Yahoo! News . Associated Press. 15 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-05-29.
  12. ↑ "Has Bishopville's 'lizard man' returned? New video surfaces in case". ABC News 4. 3 August 2015. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015.
  13. ↑ "South Carolina's legend of Lizard Man reappears". August 6, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  14. ↑ "SC 'Warns' of Possible Lizard Man Sightings During Eclipse". August 18, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  15. ↑ Radford, Ben. "The Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp". Archive.org. Fortean Times. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  16. ↑ Radford, Ben. "Episode 16 - The Lizard Man of Scape Ore". Squaring the Strange. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  17. ↑ Radford, Ben (May 2023). "The Curious Case of the Carolina Lizard Man". Skeptical Inquirer. Center For Inquiry. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  18. ↑ Gates, Josh (April 14, 2010). "Ghost of Petra/The Lizard Man". Destination Truth .
  19. ↑ Barbara Cox; Scott Forbes (15 December 2013). Maniacal Monsters and Bizarre Beasts. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 13. ISBN   978-1-4824-0237-7.
  20. ↑ Linda S. Godfrey (28 August 2014). American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 278. ISBN   978-1-101-62528-6.
  21. ↑ Lyle Blackburn (7 October 2013). Lizard Man: The True Story of the Bishopville Monster. Anomalist Books. p. 208. ISBN   978-1938398162.
  22. ↑ "Results for "Lizard Man" "Scape Ore"". Newspapers.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.