Paris Michigan - 1938

In the summer of 1938, Robert Fortney was 17 years old and jobless in the midst of the Great Depression. As he fished from the banks of the Muskegon River near Paris, Michigan, he was startled when a pack of what appeared to be large feral dogs emerged from the woods nearby.

Fortney remained silent, but the sensitive noses of the dogs quickly picked up his scent. Since he had been small game hunting earlier in the day, Fortney had his loaded rifle nearby. As the dogs approached, they assumed the group posture of a pack on a hunt. Fortney picked up the gun and fired a shot into the air.

The dogs cringed and turned to slink back into the forest, all except one: a huge black dog with unusual eyes.

The Muskegon River

"They were blue," said Fortney. "What kind of dog has blue eyes?" The big dog and Fortney considered each other for a long moment, less than ten feet separating them. Fortney fired another shot over the head of the strange dog. Then to Fortney's shock and amazement, the black dog stood up on two legs and cast a glare that sent shivers down his spine.

"It reared up on its hind legs and stared at me," said Fortney in a phone interview in 1987. "It may be that I was just scared, but I swear that dog was smiling at me."

After a few seconds that seemed like several hours, the black dog returned to all fours and followed his pack into the woods. Fortney was so shaken by the experience he told only a few close friends and family members about it. It remained a secret until 1987, when Fortney heard the song, "The Legend" on WTCM. He couldn't believe his ears, and felt a great sense of relief that maybe he wasn't crazy after all.

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