This is the transcript for the above video. The interview is of Richard Mason of Colchester, Illinois in 2021. It was conducted by Dr. Michael Lorenzen, University Archivist at Western Illinois University with the assistance of Bruce Ackers.
When the creature (Bigfoot?) came up over the hill, there was a large oak tree at the top. At the base of that tree, I noticed what looked like a walking stick and an arrowhead. I have no idea where they came from or how they got there, but it struck me as interesting.
About two weeks later, my parents were camping at the same area, around campsite 52 or 54 near the restroom. I brought them pizza around 5:00 in the evening. While we were sitting at the picnic table, I saw three children—probably eight, nine, or ten years old—playing about 70 yards away along a trail. They moved from right to left, and after they disappeared, a small creature (juvenile Bigfoot?) stood up from the briars behind them. It appeared to be about three and a half to four feet tall, with reddish-brown hair and long hair hanging from its arms—some strands looked nearly 18 inches long. When it raised its arms, I could see through the hair and make out tan-colored skin underneath. It had long hair on its face and legs as well. My first thought was that it looked like someone in a werewolf costume.
When the children came back along the trail, the creature ducked down into the briars and hid. The kids stood nearby laughing and playing, unaware that the creature was less than ten feet away. After they moved off again, it stood back up and began mimicking them—copying their gestures, wobbling around, squatting, and standing just as they had. When the children returned once more, it crouched down again. Eventually, the kids passed directly through the area where it had been standing and headed back to their camper. I never saw the creature again. I later documented that encounter with the BFRO in August 2012.
I was asked if I could provide the exact location so it could be documented on a map, and I agreed to show the specific spot where the larger creature had gone over the hill and where I witnessed this smaller one.
Later, my nephew from Oregon came to visit. He didn’t believe in Sasquatches, but one night around 12:30 a.m., I suggested we go to the east side of the lake near the gun range to try some calls. I gave a small whoop, and almost immediately a clear whoop came back from about 100 yards away. There were no people around—just one house in the area. My nephew was startled and asked what it was. I told him it was the only thing I knew that could make a sound like that. He admitted he hadn’t believed before, but after hearing that, he had to reconsider.
On another night, we returned to the same spot near the Lemoyne River, about half a mile south. I gave another whoop, and this time a long howl-scream—lasting about ten seconds—came back from the river bottom. It sounded like a dominant male. Even though it was far away, the sound carried clearly, and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Those were the main experiences I’ve had at Argyle.
There are additional cases documented on the BFRO website, including one involving a primatologist who reportedly named what he encountered. I believe I know the general location of that sighting as well.
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