ALBERT OSTMAN - pt 2 - Abduction

". . . I knew this must be one of the mountain Sasquatch giants the Indian told me about." 

[Continuing in Ostman's own words as recorded in his notebook and given to John Green.]

"I was in a very uncomfortable position -- unable to move. I was sitting on my feet, and one of the boots in the bottom of the bag was crossways with the hobnail side up across my foot. It hurt me terribly, but I could not move.

"It was very hot inside. It was lucky for me this fellow's hand was not big enough to close up the whole bag when he picked me up -- there was a small opening at the top, otherwise I would have choked to death.

"Now he was going downhill. I could feel myself touching the ground at times and at one time he dragged me behind him and I could feel he was below me. Then he seemed to get on level ground and was going at a trot for a long time. By this time, I had cramps in my legs, the pain was terrible. I was wishing he would get to his destination soon. I could not stand this type of transportation much longer.

"Now he was going uphill again. It did not hurt me so bad. I tried to estimate distance and directions. As near as I could guess we were about three hours travelling. I had no idea when he started as I was asleep when he picked me up.

"Finally he stopped and let me down. Then he dropped my pack sack, I could hear the cans rattle. Then I heard chatter -- some kind of talk I did not understand. The ground was sloping so when he let go of my sleeping bag, I rolled downhill. I got my head out, and got some air. I tried to straighten my legs and crawl out, but my legs were numb.

"It was still dark, I could not see what my captors looked like. I tried to massage my legs to get some life in them, and get my shoes on. I could hear now it was at least four of them. They were standing around me, and continuously chattering. I had never heard of Sasquatch before the Indian told me about them but I knew I was right among them.

"BUt how to get away from them, that was another question. I got to see the outline of them now, as it began to get lighter, though the sky was cloudy, and it looked like rain, in fact there was a slight sprinkle.

"I now had circulation in my legs, but my left foot was very sore on top where it had been resting on my hobnail boots. I got my boots out from the sleeping bag and tried to stand up, I found that I was wobbly on my feet, but I had a good hold of my rifle.

"I asked, 'What you fellows want with me?'

"Only some more chatter.

"It was getting lighter now, and I could see them quite clearly. I could make out forms of four people. Two big and two little ones. They were all covered with hair and no clothes on at all.


"I could now make out mountains all around me. I looked at my watch. It was 4:25 am. It was getting lighter now and I could see the people clearly.


"They look like a family, old man, old lady and two young ones, a boy and a girl. The boy and the girl seem to be scared of me. The old lady did not seem too pleased about what the old man dragged home. But the old man was waving his arms and telling them all what he had in mind. They all left me then.


"I had my compass and my prospecting glass on strings around my neck. The compass in my left hand shirt pocket and my glass in my right hand pocket. I tried to reason our location, and where I was. I could see now that I was in a small valley or basin about eight or ten acres, surrounded by high mountains, on the southeast side there was a v-shaped opening aobut eight feet wide at the bottom and about twenty feet high at the highest point -- that must be the way I came in. But how will I get out? The old man was now sitting near this opening.


"I moved my belongings up close to the west wall. There were two small cypress trees there, and this will do for a shelter for the time being. Until I find out what these people want with me, and how to get away from there. I emptied out my packsack to see what I had left in the line of food. All my canned meat and vegetables were intact and I had one can of coffee. Also three small cans of milk -- two packages of rye king hard tack and my butter sealer half full of butter. But my prunes and macaroni were missing. Also my full box of shells for my rifle. I had my sheath knife but my prospecting pick was missing and my can of matches. I only had my safety box full and that held only about a dozen matches. That did not worry me -- I can always start a fire with my prospecting glass when the sun is shining, if I got dry wood. I wanted hot coffee, but I had no wood, also nothing around here that looked like wood. I had a good look over the valley from where I was -- but the boy and girl were always watching me from behind some juniper bush. I decided there must be some water around here. The ground was leaning towards the opening in the wall. There must be water at the  upper end of this valley, there is green grass and moss along the bottom.


"All my utensils were left behind. I opened my coffee tin and emptied the coffee in a dishtowel and tied it with the metal strip from the can. I took my rifle and the can and went looking for water. Right at the head under a cliff there was a lovely spring that disappeared underground. I got a drink, and a full can of water. When I got back the young boy was looking over my belongings, but did not touch anything. On my way back I noticed where these people were sleeping. On the east side wall of this valley was a shelf in the mountain side, with over-hanging rock, looking something like a big undercut in a big tree about 10 feet deep and 30 feet wide. The floor was covered with lots of dry moss , and they had some kind of blankets woven of narrow strips of cedar bark, packed with dry moss. They looked very practical and warm -- with no need of washing.


"The first day not much happened. I had to eat my food cold. The young fellow was coming nearer me, and seemed curious about me. My one snuff box was empty, so I rolled it toward him. When he saw it coming, he sprang up quick as a cat, and grabbed it. He went over to his sister and showed her. They found out how to open and close it -- they spent a long time playing with it -- then he trotted over over to the old man and showed him. They had a long chatter.

"Next morning, I made up my mind to leave this place -- if I had to shoot my way out. I could not stay much longer, I had only enough grub to last me till I got back to Toba Inlet. I did not know the direction but I would go downhill and I would come out near civilization some place. I rolled up my sleepingbag, put that inside my packsack -- packed the few cans I had -- swung the sack on my back, injected the shell in the barrel of my rifle and started for the opening in the wall. The old man got up, held up his hands as though he would push me back.

"I pointed to the opening. I wanted to go out. But he stood there pushing towards me -- and said something that sounded like 'Soka Soka'. I backed up to about sixty feet. I did not want to be too close, I thought, if I had to shoot my way out. A 30-30 might not have much effect on this fellow, it might make him mad. I only had six shells so I decided to wait. There must be a better way than killing him, in order to get out from here. I went back to my campsite to figure out some way to get out.


"I would make friends with the young fellow or the girl, they might help me. If I only could talk to them. Then I thought of a fellow who saved himself from a mad bull by blinding him with snuff in his eyes. But how will I get near enough to this fellow to put snuff in his eyes? So I decided next time I gave the young fellow my snuff box to leave a few grains of snuff in it. He might give the old man a taste of it.


"But the question is, in what direction will I go, if I should get out? I must have been near 25 miles northeast of Toba Inlet when I was kidnapped. This fellow must have travelled at least 25 miles in the three hours he  carried me. If he went west we would be near salt water -- same thing if he went south -- therefore, he must have gone northeast. If I then keep going south and over two mountains, I must hit salt water someplace between Lund and Vancouver.


"The following day I did not see the old lady till about 4:00 pm. She came home with her arms full of grass and twigs and of all kinds of spruce and hemlock as well as some kind of nuts that grow in the ground. I have seen lots of them on Vancouver Island. The young fellow went up the mountain to the east every day, he could climb better than a mountain goat. He picked some kind of grass with long sweet roots. He gave me some one day -- they tasted very sweet. I gave him another snuffbox with about a teaspoon of snuff in it. He tasted it, then went to the old man -- he licked it with his tongue. They had a long chat. I made a dipper from a milk can. I made many dippers -- you can use them for pots too -- you cut two slits near the top of any can -- then cut a limb from any small tree -- cut down back of the limb -- down the stem of the tree -- and taper the part you cut from the stem. Then cut a hole in the tapered part, slide the tapered part in the slit you have made in the can, and you have a good handle on your can. I threw one over to the young fellow, that was playing near my camp, he picked it up and looked at it then he went to the old man and showed it to him. They ahd a long chatter. Then he came to me, pointed at the dipper then at his sister. I could see that he wanted one for her too. I had other peas and carrots, so I made one for his sister. He was standing only eight feet away from me. When I had made the dipper, I dipped it in water and drank from it, he was very pleased, almost smiled at me. Then I took a chew of snuff, smacked my lips, said that's good.


"The young fellow pointed to the old man, said something that sounded like 'ook'. I got the idea that the old man liked snuff, and the young fellow wanted a box for the old man. I shook my head. I motioned with my hands for the old man to come to me. I do not think the young fellow understood what I meant. He went to his sister and gave her the dipper I made for her. They did not come near me again that day. I had now been here six days, but I was sure I was making progress. If only I could get the old man to come over to me, get him to eat a full box of snuff that would kill him for sure, and that way kill himself, I wouldn't be guilty of murder."


next post : part three - Escape and conclusions


Nancy


"I'll spark the thought; what you do with it is up to you."