Connecticut western news., 1880-01-07
A Human MOnstrosity.
FRIaHTFUL DEFoRNnTY OF A MICHIGAN PAUPER-A MAN WHO IS HALF TURTLE WITH Fiss ldkE FISH


 wIrh fliss LIRE FISH.
 |. .,;z., ... = :-. --- ;,.s, Ocean of the 27th, writing from Battle Geek, Michigan, tells a remarkable story of the discovery of a monstrosity in the poorhouse of that State, known as "the turtle man." The correspond ent says he visited the poorhouse to sat isfy himself as to the truth of the nu- merous stories he had heard regarding this creature. The keeper of the insti- tuition introduced him to the monstros- lty, calling the four feet high dwarf, who stood beside him, by the name of Samuel Keene. He says: Keene, at the command of the keeper, managed, by singular side movement of body, and pushing his slouch hat from his head by his queer-shaped claws. to make courtesy. As he stood before us, bareheaded, he presented the most wonderful specimen of man amalgamat- ed with the animal kingdom that can be imagined. On speaking with him he apparently understood every word, but lacked sufficient intelligence to frame & reasonable answer, just as dumb brute csn comprehend, but cannot give an in- telligent reply. In stature this singular being IS short, thick set, and flat rather than round. His legs and arms are short, the hands turning outward, the same as turtles, and instead Of fingers the widened palm ends in webbed claws. The feetare fashioned in the same man. ner, and when he walks it is with side- long, ambling gait, moving the entire side of the body in the manner peculiar to tortoise. In his actions and talk he has a slow, measured, jerking style. The inside of his dirty clay 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 appearance and color of the under part of 8 turtle. It was reported that he had shell upon his back. but upon animation it was found to con- sist of tough layers of cnticle, 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 muItikind or of different con- struction in tissue. 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 flat face and head coming to a point on the top, the same as that of 8 snake. He is almost constantly moving bis head or eyes from side to side. The back portion of his cranium is directly perpendicular to the neck and covered with short, bristly, black hair, but no hair grows on any other portion of the l Sly< I1oka n few bristles at each corner of the mouth. The nose is fiat, like an Ethiopian's. g.. The mouth extends from jowl to fowl, very wide, and furnished with full set of teeth. He constantly keeps his mouth open with large tongue lolling out, and it is this, more than anything else, that causes his unintelligible jargon. But the eyes are the most striking DOT tion of his features. The whites are ex- cessiyely large and rolling, the pupils small and black, look directly ahead, and possess a wild, staring, yet fascinat. ing glare, very sharp and piercing, and glistening from underneath the broad eyebrows. In temper he is perfectly do c1le and harmless, unless aroused to an. ger, when he is sullen and snappish. In habits he is not very social, scarcely eve1 says anything unless spoken to, and, ,wher young, never mingled with the boys ol engaged in juvenile sports. His parents wroe very poor, and both died when ht was very young. He has brothers anc sisters well off in worldly goods and re spectacle, but they refuse to suppor him, and he is pauper upon the char ity of the town.
 l CAUSE OF THE DEFORMITY.
 The cause of this terrible deformity is said to be 8 fright received by th' mother previous to the child's birth It furnishes one of the most startling proofs of prenatal influence on record The parents resided near Diamond Lake, and, being very poor, oftel caught fish for food. While fishing ou of boat one day with her hands jus touching the water and holding the line an enormous turtle, attracted by ths moving fingers, suddenly jumped uf and bit her. She never recovered fro D the fright, and when the child was bor n a few months afterwarl, it had indeIibl, stamped upon its entire body the form Of the turtle. It was not so noticeable at first, but grew with it's growth ant strengthened with it's strength. Tht first habit which was noticeable was it desire to creep turtle-f fashion, even af5e it could walk. Afterward, upon ex animation by doctors, the joints of tht arms and legs were found to be double and turned outward, like tortoise. A the horrible truth grew upon tn, mother, the child became loathsome tc her, and it was probably to shame an6 grief that the early death of the paren was due. During boyhood it was found Impossible to educate the boy beyond s few words which he utters hourly. Al he has no memory of facts or incidents he cannot tell even his age, or anything connected with his life, and all is to him blank. He exists only in the present, and, like the brute, seems to have nc care for the morrow or sorrow for the past. In summer his greatest deIigh is to go in bathing, and he will remain under water long time. When a boJ he had to be constantly watched lest he should drown, as his friends feared. He childhood as he had to be fed, his claws or fins not being large enough to grasE food, but lately he has learned to feeC himself. He is fondest of vegetable food and fish, but will eat anything he sees the rest of his fellow w-companions eat He seems to have no passion o1 anect1Cn Gnd csEres no more for opposite sex than for his own. He takes the greatest pleasure-which ii the only sense he seems to possess-in tending baby, and for our amusement the keeper brought in an infant. Sam's features lighted up with smile which would have done credit to an Egyptian idol. His mouth opened still further and his tongue protruded as he saw the child. Sitting down in chair anc crossing his dwarfed limbs to for m { cradle he tenderly took the poor un tr, inf, lcRk c,t Eor