Originally posted by search-rescue5-1
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The Disappearance of Douglas Legg
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Originally posted by Gray GhostI first heard of the Legg story back in the mid-nineties when supposedly the Navy guy came forth claiming he saw a skeleton. It came back to the front of my mind when I read about it again in James R. Burnsides' Exploring the 46 Adirondack High Peaks.
In the mid 1980s, a skeleton was found in the area of Santonini, but it turned out to be the body of a hiker missing since the 1950s.
I was doing some research into the disappearance/death of Leslie Wiggs, aka Howard Gilroy. His skeletal remains were found between Santanoni Peak and Panther in June 1988. Gilroy, is somewhat of a legend-of-sorts in among 46er lore and the discovery seemed to answer many hereto unanswered questions. Forensically, it appears as if he possibly broke his leg in foul weather on Oct. 10, 1958 and died of exposure in the col between the two peaks............. Blaa, blaa, blaa, that's neither here nor there.
During that research, I ran into a few interesting tidbits about Douglas Legg. In August of 1993, David Adair (Prairie Home, MO) contacted NYSP after reading about several bones being found on an island in Newcomb Lake (later determined to be non-human in origin). He then led them them to -THIS- island and told them, that while deer hunting in 1973, he came across the skull and several long bones of what appeared to be human child.
He also states, and this is where it gets dubious, he did not consider reporting the find, as he had only a limited time to get back to his ship and he felt the hassle he would have to go through, did not warrant reporting the incident. {as an aside, I have seen this before in my 15 years as a death investigator in Western, NY}.
Subsequent extensive searches in 1993 failed to turn up any additional remains. I am to understand that NYSP held this information as very credible and I believe it is still thought that the remains are somewhere on the Island. The remains, at this point would be SIGNIFICANTLY scattered though.
Additionally, there was a small land bridge between the mainland and this island in the summer of 1971 (when the disappearance occurred).
That's what i stumbled across anyway. Take from it what you will."I can feel your anger. It gives you focus. It makes you stronger. " Supreme Chancellor
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Mavs, nice beer.
That is the story I heard too, but NYSP and SAR dog handlers debunked it. I thought the isthmus went to the smaller island, but I do know both "islands" (technically, at the time one was a penninsula) were searched multiple times during the effort in '71, by grid and by dog team.
Was Gilroy the body Phil Jordan led searchers to during the Stephen Thomas search? That's not the name I remember.
Later,
Hans"Come to the Forest, where the other you lives!"
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Originally posted by TrailpatrolMavs, nice beer.
Originally posted by TrailpatrolThat is the story I heard too, but NYSP and SAR dog handlers debunked it. I thought the isthmus went to the smaller island, but I do know both "islands" (technically, at the time one was a penninsula) were searched multiple times during the effort in '71, by grid and by dog team.
Originally posted by TrailpatrolWas Gilroy the body Phil Jordan led searchers to during the Stephen Thomas search? That's not the name I remember."I can feel your anger. It gives you focus. It makes you stronger. " Supreme Chancellor
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Thanks for the info. Mavs. This story is a real haunter. Also, interesting info. on the lost hiker. There has gotta be a record out there of deaths and (still) unexplained disappearances in the Adirondacks. If anyone has any idea if and where a source like this exists, let me know. I think it is more than worth a hiker's time to read up on tragedies like this. It really makes one realize what they risk when traversing dangerous terrain.
As far as Douglas Legg, a couple of guys I have talked to who helped in the search are convinced it was foul play by a family member, but they never had the proof to pin it on the individual. Now that is totally hearsay, but that's what i've been told.
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Originally posted by Gray GhostThanks for the info. Mavs. This story is a real haunter. Also, interesting info. on the lost hiker. There has gotta be a record out there of deaths and (still) unexplained disappearances in the Adirondacks. If anyone has any idea if and where a source like this exists, let me know. I think it is more than worth a hiker's time to read up on tragedies like this. It really makes one realize what they risk when traversing dangerous terrain.
There's Legg of course, discussed here in depth.
I discussed the Gilroy-Wigg case (on Santanoni) a little in the other thread. I have more.
Another case that I have researched quite a bit (and have a good deal of info on) is the case of Thomas Carleton. You might be interested in that one. It's fascinating. PM me if you want more i've got a ton on it.
There a few more off the top of my head, Steven Thomas, Alain Dufresne, ect... ect...
I guess with what I do, I'm drawn to these mysteries/deaths. Odd, huh."I can feel your anger. It gives you focus. It makes you stronger. " Supreme Chancellor
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Originally posted by Mavs00I wish I would have seen this thread awhile back GG (this is the first time I've seen it), but here is what I know.
Refresh my memory on Thomas Carleton. Name is familiar, but don't recall the incident. Who are the other ones that were never located?
HansLast edited by Trailpatrol; 04-25-2006, 07:27 AM."Come to the Forest, where the other you lives!"
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"Lost In the Wild"
Strongly reccomend a new book from Borealis Books/Minnesota Historical Society Press, "Lost in the Wild" by Cary Griffith, which is available from Amazon.com. Publisher's Weekly description: "details the travails of two hikers who lost their way for several harrowing days in separate incidents in the Minnesota and Ontario wilderness and emerged alive and relatively unscathed thanks to the efforts of search-and-rescue professionals and volunteers. Hiking alone in a remote area with a changeable climate in October 2001, medical student Jason Rasmussen ran into trouble on the first day when he ventured onto a wrong path and became lost in dense forest. The hapless Rasmussen next lost a crucial map and eventually abandoned his tent, food, and hat and gloves as he tried to recover the trail. By contrast, young Dan Stephens was a savvy canoeist and guide who, in August 1998, on a routine search for his next portage, fell, hit his head and wandered away from the inexperienced group of Chattanooga Boy Scouts he was leading.
The details of the SAR operations are very complete. I know a lot of the people who were on the Rasmussen search, including the dog teams that found him.
Sometimes, things turn out the right way.
Stay safe,
HansLast edited by Trailpatrol; 04-25-2006, 05:58 PM."Come to the Forest, where the other you lives!"
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Originally posted by TrailpatrolRefresh my memory on Thomas Carleton. Name is familiar, but don't recall the incident. Who are the other ones that were never located?
Weather was typical fall, started that AM, sunny 60's, rain in the afternoon, turning to snow by PM. Temps did not get out of the 30's for the next week and nightly low were teen's to 20's. He had some (??) cold weather gear and a sleeping bag, but no tent, or campstove.
Lots of theories on this one. Few facts.
There is a few other ones out there too....."I can feel your anger. It gives you focus. It makes you stronger. " Supreme Chancellor
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Interesting. I'm sure there are plenty of remains out there that will likely never be found, at least not in our lifetimes. I used to do volunteer SAR work in PA, and it's fairly easy to miss things in the dense underbrush like we have around here.How is it that you are heading west? Well, we face north and then really sudden like turn left.
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Originally posted by SasquatchInteresting. I'm sure there are plenty of remains out there that will likely never be found, at least not in our lifetimes. I used to do volunteer SAR work in PA, and it's fairly easy to miss things in the dense underbrush like we have around here.
Another current ongoing search is north of Watertown, likely to be scaled back as of today in day #8. I was there yesterday; it was much worse than any Adirondack dense brush I have ever searched in. In 8 hours of type-3 grid searching my team only was able to walk a total 2.5 miles through the stuff in our assigned block.
It is highly unusual to have so many unsolved cases in such a short period of time."Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth." -Walt Whitman
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Old Movies
All this reminds me of an old movie I saw in sixth grade one time. It was based on a true story about a man who took his step-son and step-daughter hiking in the Adirondacks back in the 50's or 60's. Anyway, they ended up getting lost and then the father ended up having a heart attack or something and so the kids had to live on grubs, slugs, and baked beans for a few days before they were found.
I don't remember who played in the movie and who the story was based on but I'd be interested in finding out what the title of the movie was. It'd be interesting to watch it again.
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"Cold River"
Originally posted by mountainboy12983I'd be interested in finding out what the title of the movie was. It'd be interesting to watch it again.
Both the book and the movie (DVD) are available from Amazon.com.
Hans"Come to the Forest, where the other you lives!"
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