The Blue Belly Story (overview)

Starting in the early 1700's, reports from pioneers traveling through the then unsettled wilderness of what would become Clay County Kentucky described a strange man-like beast that would follow, hunt, and attack the pioneers.  This 'beast' would often go unseen and would terrorize pioneers at night by tossing twiggs an stones at them in the darkness. Though there are various documented stories that attest to such they are largely treated as campfire stories. However, accounts of this beast go further back than the earliest pioneers. To the days before the white man settled the America's. The Cheerokee tribes and other Native Americans familiar with the area had many encounters with this beast.


Many Native Americans refused to hunt in the southeastern lands of Kentucky and would often take longer treks to various hunting spots so as to avoid this creature in his stomping grounds. The Cherokee had a name for him, "sa-go-knee-gay -- ewws-quo-lee --ja-ski-na ". Which means "The Blue Belly Devil" or "Blue Belly" for short. Also note that the spelling is not correct for the Cherokee writing system, but is spelt as the words are pronounced. Much of the oral history of Sagoknee Ewwsquolee Jaskina/Blue Belly Devil is forgotten among many Cherokee tribes. Perhaps the stories of Blue Belly were nearly wiped out due to the "Trail of Tears". Which you can read more about here:  Trail of Tears

Although other tribes of Native Americans describe other similar beast, none have as horrific of descriptions as the Blue Belly. They say that when the beast gorged on various animals (deer, elk, bear) its stomach would swell and look like a large bruise yellow, brown, and the predomunate color being blue. It is said that it often ate animals whole with very few exceptions. After several days or a week the beast would regurgetate the bones into a pile on the forest floor and naw on a piece here or there. One would postulate that in order to eat an animal as large as a deer the jaws of the beast would have to dislodge like a snake, assuming the stories are accurate. And the beast had a temper and was extremely territorial. It would attack hunters viciously and would follow them for days. Many who encountered the beast were never seen again.

The Cherokee often attributed magical attributes to the Sagoknee EwwsquoLee Jaskina.  The Blue Belly beast was said to be able to appear and disappear at will. Vanish without a trace. Though this could be more 'folklore' as opposed to science, but all things dealing with cryptozoology involves some folklore. Its said that many who looked into the eyes of the beast found themselves in a trance like state unable to move. Perhaps this is nothing more than pure terror? Imagine seeing a 7ft thing in the forest with large sharp teeth. I would say that you too would not move out of shock.

 Blood and Gore became Blue Bellies trademark. Everywhere this thing went, death and violence followed. Near game trails and river banks piles of bones, picked clean of meat, lay in a crumbled mess.  As a warning or perhaps as a form of 'play' the beast was said to have hung the intrails or rather the internal organs (and other body parts) of his victims  in trees making a crude forest decore that only depraved minds would appreciate.

 Perhaps the land of "Ken-Tucky' (Dark and bloody ground) got its namesake for this very reason? The beast was described as being 7ft tall despite being hunched over. Covered completely in dark brown shaggy fur (or grey depending on the testimony of witness) with the exception of parts of the face, stomach, and palms. Its arms were long, and when relaxed its knuckles dragged the ground. The legs, in comparison were quite shorter. The eyes have been described as small while other stories claim large eyes. Teeth were yellow, sharp, and in a state of decay. One thing that remains consistent in all the stories is the large blue belly of the beast.

Now, this information from old Cherokee's could be a modern invention to scare young children as there is very little collaberating information and data to back up these claims of pre 1700's Southeastern Kentucky. But we do know that after the 1700's activity of a beast of similar description was witnessed by settlers and pioneers alike. Maybe the Cherokee became inspired by these tales and told a few of their own or maybe the beast has been here a long time?

 How long this creature has lived in the area, no one is certain. Some claimed it followed the Irish settlers here while others claim it was an African demon that had followed the slave trade from Africa to the Americas. Of course it could just be this animal or 'magical being' is native to the area, but all theories are worth exploring. Certainly, the possibility of European folklore describing a real living mythological creature living in Southeastern Kentucky is not that far fetched? Well perhaps, but the body of evidence is growing. And this one article is just to outline some of the history of Blue Belly, but more evidence, theory, and testimony is yet to come.
Speaking of European folklore, the closest description I've found so far in Europe to Blue Belly would be the Krumpus, a German demon that would punish bad little boys and girls during Christmas for being naughty. But then again, the Krumpus doesn't eat little boys and girls nor requires offerings. But I'm getting ahead of myself.





Throughout the world their are tells of various large hairy beast. Some friendly and others as wicked as one's imagination will allow.
In Ancient Egypt there was Shezmu, in Africa there is Eloko, Germany the Krumpus..etc. Could these be the same beast? Europe tells tales of Trolls? Were trolls real at some point in hisory and where did they go? Do they have any connection the large hairy beast of the world or even Blue Belly? I'll answer those question in another article. Moving on....

The Blue Belly stories were never taken seriously until the late 1700's Clay County, Kentucky.  During the Salt, Coal, and Timber boom is when strange things began to be reported. Most are stories passed down through the generations, but there are a few newspaper reports after some extensive investigating. In the fall, as Salt was booming in the county, this 'beast' could be seen wandering the forest, often watching from wooded areas as miners, loggers, and settlers continued with their daily routine.  There were a few run-ins with the beast, according to oral accounts, but nothing like what was to come.

At the dawn of a new century, Clay County was in a grip of fear from 1805 to 1808. This time is referred to by 'old timers' as the 'The Great Terror of 1805'. It was a year wrought with hardships, struggle, fear, and missing children. In that year Salt was being mined more than every in Clay County. And has since been blamed for what was to come.
Something about the salt triggered the 'beast'. And the rest was history.

First, dogs went missing. Many of the dogs in small communities would bark all night long and then one night, without a whimper, they were gone. Next to be affected by this phenomena,  livestock would go missing who's bones would be found in nearby wooded areas picked clean of meat and tissue weeks later. Old Timers say that if you had 5 hogs you would be left with 3. If you had 8 sheep you would be left with 4. And so on and so on. It was bad.
This was blamed on wolves. And this a logical train-of-thought. However wolves had not been seen for sometime nor were any tracks found to suggest wolves. But what they did find was startling. Large deep humanoid imprints in the mud. Often 3 or 4 feet apart with dragging marks on both sides. And just as odd as the prints were, they would abruptly disappear! They would come to an end as if the beast had leap into the air!

Next to go was the Salt bags. Homes would be ramsacked and the only thing taken was salt. Miners too noticed large amounts of salt that they had mined had went missing. Trails of salt could be seen leading to nearby forest, but the trail never lead to any recovery of the stolen salt. This was blamed on thieving neighbors or on unknown people passing through. Arguments between neighbors ensued, but nothing came of it, but hurt feelings, and bitter grudges.

Then, children went missing.

By the fall of 1805, a total of 10 children went missing. The oldest was 11 and the youngest was 3.  Search parties were called, but no children were ever found. On occasions various articles of clothing could be found scattered about the forest, but that was it. Doors were fasten shut, and no children were allowed outside when it got dark.
 In the fall of 1805, it was said that not only did the settlers learn of the horrible truth of the 'blue belly beast man', but also learned of its insatiable apatite for salt. It loved the taste, smell, and texture of salt. This witness by a young girl, Rachel Smith, who after hanging clothes out to dry found the beast tasting salt out of the salt shaker on the kitchen table. It smiled as it rubbed the salt on its face according to an interview of Rachel I found in an old newspaper article. Nothing more was mentioned as to what happened next as the article abruptly ends.

The fall of 1805 was a terrible year for those living in Clay County. No one was sure what was happening. Neighbor became paranoid of neighbor. The entire county was in a grip of fear.
In August 22nd, 1805 Miram Isum went missing. She was 6 years old. A very responsible child older timers say. Her father after coming home from work (Ezekial Isum) realizing she was gone got his brothers and went searching for the girl. His brothers had just traded for some hunting dogs and they went searching by the nearby creek bed in the woods. Half way the dogs refused to move, and ran away. Over a bluff, the Isum clan was stunned to see a large beast standing near the creek bed. His head cocked back with two little girl legs sticking out of his mouth.

Manchester Town Square circa 1800's

The brave men went slid down the bank and fought with the beast. Some old timers say the girl was pulled out of the  beast's mouth while other say she was spat up. Either way, the girl was said to be alive, and the beast disappeared deep into the woods once more. After the dust had settled Ezekials brother (whose name I still not sure of) was dead  as he had  been flung against a tree. Dead on impact.
Miram was the only child besides Rachel (and an unknown boy) to survive an encounter with Blue Belly.

Some time later there was claims a deal was struck with the Blue Belly while others said it was just common sense, either way settlers started leaving a single bag of salt in the front of their doors.
Those that did not, their children would go missing. Some bags would not be sitting outside the door the next day while others remained. Because of this, that to this day in months of September and October small bags of salt can be found in front of the doors of many homes in Clay County nearly every Friday, and some through the week. Though the tradition is fading with time.

The details of the salt arrangement is still debated. But fresh salt is required. Whatever that may mean. 

From that time forward for the next few years, children still went missing. In the next few years somewhere around 28 kids went missing. Originally it was around 30, but it turned out that 2 teenagers around 13(girl) an 14 (boy) ran off to a nearby county (Hazard?). These two were married. But the two families of the bridge an groom did not like each other. But that is a story for another time.
So 28 kids. Give or take, were never seen again. Clay Countians felt helpless. And lived in constant fear.

A local pastor by the name of James Gray would make his way to various homes through out the week to pray for families. For their safety and for their Salvation. He would often walk kids home that had strayed too far. On one occasion as he walked one little boy home (whose name I do not know at this time) the Beast came from the woods running toward the two. The pastor stood strong, holding the small boy's hand, and praying with religious fever with his Bible held out front.

It is said the verse he repeated that day was Psalms 18:2 & 3 :

" I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
² The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
³ I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."

The beast snarled and threw rocks at the pastor and crying child. But he stood firm. The beast lost interest and disappeared into the woods. A child was saved that day.

Pastor Gray, one week after the incident, was found in his cabin dead. The scene said to be too horrific to recount. 

Many more stories yet to be told happened in those years of 1805 all the way to 1807. That is long time to be living in fear.


In 1807, The first Clay County Court met at the home of Robert Baker on April 13, shortly after the formation of Clay County as a official part of Kentucky. The first Justices of the Peace attending this meeting were Ezekiel Smith, John Haddicks, John Bates, John Gilbert, Robert Baker, Elijah Bowman and William Strong. The county was established not because of a growing settlement, but to appeal to the Governor or the Federal government to send a Marshal to investigate. This however this was ignored.

In May 20th, 1807, members of the White family and Baker family dynamited Big Creek Cave, Goose Creek Cave, and hollow opening near the river close to what would become Downtown Manchester. These caves were thought to be the homes of the Blue Belly.  Some young boys belonging to the Baker family claimed they observed the beast dragging large bags of slat into a cave. Salt bags were found in all three caves as well as bones stacked in odd manors to suggest something un-natural (the lady who told me this was not sure what that meant either, but it was something told from one generation and to the next. Worthy of note here as well. )
 Sightings after the dynamited caves dropped off drastically, with sparatic sightings throughout the decades.
Having said this, a feud between the Whites and the Bakers ensued after the mysterious horrific deaths of several family members on both sides. It was described as something out of a Jack the Ripper crime scene. Both members of each clan blamed the other for the idea of demolishing the entrance of the caves, and saw the respective family member deaths as retribution on the part of the Blue Belly Men.

The two Baker boys also disappeared at this time. They were never seen or heard of again.

So that is the story in a nut shell. The legends by Cherokee, by the English Pioneers after them, and settlers of Clay County. The Great Terror of 1805 is something that is not spoken about in Clay County.  But still to this day, in the months of September and October (during the height of the beasts activity) bags of salt can found on the door steps of little old laddies houses. A custom that has faded with time. What happened to the beast, no one is certain. But there have been sightings. With the latest (verified) said to be during  the mid to late 1980's.

I will write more on this subject very soon. Going in greater detail as I learn more. I'm supposed to interview some Whites soon (those that are willing to talk about it). Wish me luck.
All in all, after hearing details that I have not even written here, it gives me pause to think that maybe this September-October that I should start leaving some salt outside my door.

( Message from the author:  if anyone has any Blue Belly stories, photos, articles, ...etc ... Please share them with me or post on this site. Thank you for your time).

           The Legend of the Blue Belly Monster     

When writing my first blog, I never thought I would ever be telling the story of "Blue Belly".
 But here I am. I will be extremely brief as I am new to Blogger. But as time goes on I will document all the legend, facts, stories, and articles that I can find.

Blue Belly (as some have called them or him) is unique to Clay County, Kentucky.

A beast or perhaps a group of beast that lurk the hills and woods at night. More known from what some have labeled the Great Terror than anything else. Between the years of 1805-1808 was the peak of the strange activity. A tale that many Clay Countians have either forgotten or do not wish to talk about.

In the months ahead, I hope that I can do this story justice. Only time will tell. I will try to write more soon....