The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-24

IHE MERMAID BELI.-The colore6 portion OF
our citizens wcro thrown into IN intenao state
OF excitement on Saturday by tho announcement
that veritablo, gonuino and unmistakablo NOR
maid had boen washed ashore at CnIsoLa's Mill,
and was captured by tho prince Of tho apotheca-
rios, DR.. Tnorr. Numbers repaired to tho mills,
but not finding tho object Of their search returned
to tho shop, whcro they insisted on tho maid Of
the SEQ being produced. THOR curiosity was re-
loved by tho announcement thet the monster was
confined in tho cellar aud was not prepared for an
introduction, but thoy fingered around tho door,
n1ious to obtain peep at the far-famed creature
At ono tin,o oycr 500 poopo were present. and mur-
murs Of indignation, both long and loud, waro Mt
tered against tho haploss apothocary. :, Tho natu-
raj suporstitions Of tho race wero aroused and an
old tar who had crossed the line and had seen tho
wonders OF tho deep, would havo learnt Icsson In
tho art OF telling yarns Ii he had mingled with
tho crowd. Tho tales OF some old grandfather
we're repeated with tho additions gained by their
ago, and mormaids were almost considered COM
mon trash compared With the marvellous state
monts advanced, by some Of tho fiction makers.'
Some James Island negroes, on learning the cause
ofthe crowd, became very much excited and urged
tho party to roscue tho mermaid and return her
to tho water. They alleged as reason for this con
duct, that until II Was done tho would continu
to moan. and the wind aud rain would deaoiate
the country and ruin tho crops. Their importl-
mites becamo 80 fierce that Mr. TRorr WAS forced
to nppoaso them by stating that tho craaturo had
been carried baok to tho water. This assertion
quiotod tho crowd somewhat, but tho excitement
was not abated, and, on Sunday, o crowd Of acnall
negroes wcro gathered around tho drug store,
an1ioualy peoring Ia tho koy hole.
Wo seldom remember hoax that. has takon 30
well, and in which 30 many people wore victim
izod. Tho darktos firmly beloved in tho oxislance
ofthe mormaidi and wore only anxious to obtain
glimpHo Of tho wonderful creature. :. We doubt il
thoy nre yot satisfied with tho result, and iftho
bad Weather should continue they viii swear chat
it was oauBed by tho unlawful detention Of tho
mermaid from her native element.
49, IL Nl!ii"s
TIM WEATnER.-This topic has been 30 often
attended 10 that it ia difficult to present IL in an
attractive form, but tho porsovering chnraoterof
the rains Of last week entitle them to some notice.
Day aftor day and night after night have the
floods descended until patience has been exhausted
and forboaranco has ceased TO DO virtue Tho
oldest inhsbitant does not rernember d moro con-
tinued spell Of os wasther, whi{e ir. the country
tho farmers arc brooding over thor troubles and
comparing tho present to tho time Of the great
Harrison frcshot. 80 far; we hsvo received no
accounts Of any groat damage being done to the
crops; but the country Is ovorywhoro under water,
and serious approximations sro felt that the grow
ing cotton and corn will bS in5ared. Fortunately
4hn ptnak HAx1t Stt 4