The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-07-15
TWO CURIOUS CREATURES.
"The Scaly Brothers-Half Fish and Half
Man."
From the Utica Observer.


Promeuaders alone on one of the prom
inent Cincinnati thoroughfares a few
days ago probably noted the brilliantly
decorated poster covering the window Of
a dingy-looking little saloon, and calling
attention to the remarkable boys on ex-
hibition within, who were characterized
on the bill as "The Scaly Brothers--hali
fish and half man." and heralded as "the
greatest wonder of the age"
Among others who the otl er day in.
vested dime in the enterprise was an
Enquirer scribe, and depositing his ducats
in the hands of the crier doorkeeper, he
passed the dark portals and entered q
small room beyond the bar, where, upon
entrance, he found himself in the pres
ence of the living curiosit;es. The boys
were devoid of clothing, and, with the
exception of trunk about the loins,
they were in conGition similar to that
in which they had been born. The
uncle of the children, in whose care they
now are, related to the reporter the his
tory of the children, who gained quite a
notoriety from the sensational stories
which, hardly year ago, emanated from
a correspondent away off in the wilds OF
the mountainous region of Kentucky.
The elder of the two, who rejoiced in the
name of William Harrison, is twelve
years old, and his brother, sprightly
little fellow of eight, answers to the
name of George Munro. They are the
children Of George Elan, and were born
in Morgan County, Ky. Their mother
was Miss Wells, and healthier, stouter
woman would be hard to find, while the
husband, too, enjoys good health, and
the only ailment he possesses is weak
back. Out of the eight children born to
Mr.. and Mrs. Elan, three of that num-
Der came into the. world covered with
scales, which in time hardened aud as
sumed the appearance of the skin Of an
alligator, being divided in squares in
much the same manner. as such. OF
these three, two are now in this city,
while the last one, little girl Of three
years.. at the homeof her parents, who,
a short time ago, removed to farm near
the big tunnel on the Kentucky Central
Railroad, about eight miles back of Gov
ington. Of the other five children in
the family only two lived, and one OF
these, young girl of sixteen, is said to
be the beauty OF that part of the coun.
try. To say that the sight of the
brothers is pleasant one would be a
slight preTarication, but as an inexpli-
cable freak of nature, and studying the
phenomenon as such, one becomes in
terested in the details of their lives and
habits, that for the moment all else is
forgotten. There seemed to be slight
difference in the composition of the scaly
substance which covered both boys, and
on the elder the skin seemed to be of a
harder growth than that of the younger.
One peculiarly. about them is that Just
at this time of year the boys shed their
coat of scales, and it will not be until
fall that another one will be furnished
them. Upon the thigh of the eldest this
casting-oh' process is most plainly re-
yealed, and here the hide, lit seems
proper to use the term in such case,
assumed the appearance of a piece OF
dressed leather made from the skin of an
alligator. This is remarkably true, even
to color, which is of q dark hue. Al
though at their birth not one inch of
their bodies escaped the covering, con-
stant washing has kept the growth from
their faces, which shows plainly, how
ever, the marks where the same has been.
The boys cannot stand heat, their
bodies being devoid of pores; to perspire
is luxury unknown to them. Although
the art of swimming has not yet been
acquired by them, they love the water,
and while at home the "branch" was
their padding place, and their parents
found it next to impossible to keep their
clothing dry. Taking this iuto consid.
Grafton, the term "half fish" seems to be
hardly applicable, and skin-shedding
would call attention to something even
more repulsive-snakc like. They are
unable to close their eyes tight, and in
the trial the balls seek an upward pass
age, in the same manner as those of a
representative of the finny tribe. George,
the eight.year.old, is the brighter of the
two, and he is shrewd one. The only
education they ever received was when
they attended country school in Morean
County for one term of three months.
George, the little one, learned very fast,
but Willie, the elder, seemed to be back
ward. Both have been very healthy all
their lives, and the only time sickness
touched them was when the oldest son
was taken down with q fever. As soon
as his uncle related this, George Clipped
in: ayes, and don't believe be had the
fever then; he just played it on because
he had to pack in wood" They anuse
themselves by perpetual wrestling, and
the roughest handling seems to have no
effect upon their hardy little bodies. The
flies which congregatcd in mass meeting
upon them seemed TO bother the lads,
who, as soon as they become warm, are
attacked with an itching sensation, which
they say is not the most agreeable thing
in the world. The elder seemed to be in
more torture than the other yesterday,
and, in ftful moods, he would pick away
viciously at growing little patch. Both
children have full round faces, and they
would instantly be taken for brothers by
their resemblance to each other, which is
great. The arms of George are very
Slight, but in every other particular he
was we'll proportioned, while Will is de-
cidcdly fat. The eyes of the latter have
been drawn and contracted in q manner
painful to behold by the strange disease
which has made him victim, and he
recently lost the sight Of his left eve.