Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-29
A HUMAN MONSTROsfTY.
FriKhisul DeformisY OF a Michigan Pau
psr-A - m who IL Half Turtle, wIsh

CcedS Wffting from Battle Greek. Mich.
tells remarkable story Oh the discovery
OF monstrosity in the poorhouse Of
That State. known as "thc turtle man. g"
The correspondent says he visited the
poorhouse to satisfy himself as to the
truth of the numerous stories he had
heard regarding this creature. The
keeper of the institution introduced him
10 the monstrosity, calling the four feet
nigh dwarf. who stood before him, by
the name OF Samuel Keene. He saws:
keene, at the command of the keeper.
managed, by singular side movement
ofhis body, and pushing his slouch hat
from his head by his queer-shaped
claws, TO make courtesy. AS he stood
before US, hareheaded, he presented the
most wonderful specimen of man ANAL
gamated with the animal kingdom that
can be imagined. On speaking with
him he apparently understood every
word, but lacked sufficient intelligence
TO frame n reasonable answer, Just as a
dumb brute cal comprehend but cannot
give an intelligent reply. In stature
this singular being is short, thick set,
and Hat rather than round. His legs
and arms are short, the hands turning
outward. the same as Il turtles, and in
stead of fingers the widened palm ends
in webbed claws. The feet are FASH
Toned In the same manner, ana when he
walks it is with sidelong, ambling
gait, moving the entire side OF tie body
in the manner peculiar 10 a tortoise. In
his actions and talk he has slow.
measured jerking style. The inside of
his dirty claw or fin which he held out
TO shake hands with, was of yellow
color. as were also his feet and stomach.
the skin having the same ribbed appear
| nnlnr of sEn s,c
turtle. 1t was reported that he had
shell upon his back, but upon eXamina-
tion it was found to consist of tough
layers Of cuticle, which, however, are
growing harder each year, and may
soon become ossified. The peculiar color
of different portions of his body, some
being dark and others white, has led to
! the conclusion that his flesh is multi
Kind or of different construction in tbs.
sue. Although So small, he is thirty
two years of age. The most singular
and startling feature of the monstrosity
is the head, which seems but to be
continuation of the neck, with fiat
face and head coming TO point on the
top, the same as that of q snake. He is
almost constantly moving his head or
eyes from side to side. The back por-
tion OF his craniun Is directly perpen-
dicular TO the neck. and covered with
short, bristly, black hair, but no hair
grows on any other portion of the body;
no whiskeTs or mustache, only few
bristles at each corner of his mouth.
The nose is fiat. The mouth extends
from jowl to jowl, very wide, and is fur
nished with n full set of teeth. He con-
stantly keeps his mouth open, with his
large tongue lolling out, and it is this
more than anything else. that causes his
uninteiligible jargon. But the eyes are
the most striking portion of his features.
| The whites are excessively large and
rolling, the pupils, small and black.
and possess a wild. staring. yet fascin-
ating glare, very sharp and piercing,
and glistening from underneath the
broad eyebrows. In temper he is per-
fectly docile and harm less unless aroused
to anger, when he is sullen and snap
pish. In habits he is not very social,
scarcely ever says anything unless spo-
ken to, and. when Young, never min
gled with the boys or engaged in juve-
nile sports. His parents were very poor,
and both died when he was very young.
He has brothers and sisters well off in
worldly goods and respectable, but they
refuse to support him. and he is n pau
per upon the charity of the town.
The cause of this terrible deformity
is said TO be fright received by the
mother previous to the child's birth.
1t furnishes one OF the most startling
proofs of paternal influence on record.
The parents resided near Diamond
lake, and. being very poor. often caught
fish for food. While fishing out of n
boat one day. with her hands lust
touching the water and holding the
line, AN enormous turtle, attracted by
the moving fingers. suddenly jumped up
and bit her. She never recovered from
the fright. and when the child was
born. few months aterward. il had
indelibly stampcc upon its entire body
the form OF the turtle. II was not so
noticeable at first, but grew with its
growth and strengthened with its
strength. The first habit which
was noticeable was its desire
TO creep turtle-fashion, even af-
ter it could walk. Aiterwarc,
upon examination b, doctors, The joints
OF the arms anG legs were found TO be
double and turned outward. like n tori
toise. As the horrible truth grew upon
the mother. the child becam, loathsome
to her, and it was probably TO shame
and grief that the early death OF the
parent was due. During boybood il
was found impossible TO educate the
boy beyond few words which he ut
ters hourly. AS he has no memory OF
facts or incidents, he cannot tell even
his age, or anything connected with his
life, and ell is 10 him a blank. He ex-
lists only Ia the present, and. like the
brute, seems to have no care for the
morrow or sorrow for the past. In
summer his greatest delight is TO go in
bathing, and he will remain under
water long time. lie was n constant
care to his parents during childhood ms
he had 10 be fed, his claws or fins not
being large enough to grasp food; but
lately he has learned TO feed himself.
He Is fondest of vegetable food and fish,
but will eat anything he sees the rest
of his fellow companions eat.
He seems TO have no passion
or affection. and cares no more
for the opposite Sex than for his own.