The A! True Arizona Stories: The Hydes - Part 3

by Crystal Coons
Apr 2, 2003

<< Part 2

The Years After
The years after their disappearance led to the story being spread like wildfire. Everyone that visited the Canyon, in some shape or form, learned the story of Glen and Bessie Hyde. The story, having being told from person to person over the years had become distorted. It was not until 1971 that storytellers could add to that story. On a commercial tour boat going down the Colorado River

Colorado River	(col-o-RA'D-o RI'-ve'r)
The river, which over millions of years of erosion, formed the Grand Canyon.

, stood a woman; a short elderly woman that blended into the diverse group. The night of the boat tour, the passengers all sat down to a campfire dinner, and the tour guide began to tell of the story of Glen and Bessie. He told the story of their sense of adventure, and of their mysterious disappearance.

The woman in the back began to chuckle, and said that she knew what had become of Bessie Hyde. She claimed that she was Bessie and that after spending all that time on the Canyon floor, with an abusive husband, she snapped and stabbed him. She claimed she left him for dead and hiked out of the Canyon to start a new life, with a new identity, away from him and his family. Dumbfounded by this discovery, the tour guide spread the word to everyone he knew once he returned to the ranger station. They were all so happy that once and for all, they finally knew what had become of the Hydes.

However, they couldn't just take her word for it. Many people researched the old woman who resembled Bessie in features and height. Researchers show that the woman claiming to be Bessie was nothing more than an elderly lady from Maryland, and not Ohio, Bessie's home state. The woman was once a psychologist and enjoyed playing mind games. And so, with this discovery, the rangers returned to their thoughts on what could have possibly happened to the couple.

In 1976, a new discovery was made. A male skeleton was found on the grounds of the man that once documented the trip that the Hydes made. He had a bullet wound to the head, and was approximately 6 feet tall.

Could this be Glen? Could this be the answers they all had been waiting for?

After many examinations by forensics officers, they determined that the age of the male found was between 18 and 22, and was a man of hard labor. This scratched all theories of being Glen, as the physique did not suit one of a farmer's, and that Glen was approximately 32 years old when he disappeared. Crestfallen, Hyde-enthusiasts returned to speculations of what could have been.

The Hyde Spirit Lives On
After most of the other running theories had been ruled out, it is believed that they died trying to accomplish the amazing. The Fangs were looked upon as the most likely cause of death. Interestingly enough, Mile 232, where they are suspected to be lost, was just a mere 45 miles from the end of the River.

A few more hours, and they would have been in calm waters, and would have cruised easily to the end.

Some say that Glen and Bessie represent the human spirit, and the love for adventure that lies deep within all of us. The desire to achieve something so great, even if they died doing it.

What ever became of Glen and Bessie, no one knows. The true end of the story lies within the Canyon walls, and deep within the depths of the Colorado River

Colorado River	(col-o-RA'D-o RI'-ve'r)
The river, which over millions of years of erosion, formed the Grand Canyon.

. Whatever the outcome was, don't look at the Hydes as failing to complete their journey. Look at them as people who had such a strong sense of determination to do something grand and amazing, at all costs.