Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-06-20
HE SAYS HE'S QUEER.
Description Of Human Being Who
Lives In Cave on Licking Rivera
Man said TO be Covered with a
Growth of Snakes.

Growth of Snakes.
Cincinnati Sun.
Some miles up the Licking river,
and on the west side, just in the edge
of a small grove of trees, is the mouth
of cave, almost concealed by guam
Iity of brushwood that is piled over it.
For years past man has occupied
it as a home. Who he is and where
he came from no one knew until quite
recently. He shuns all observation.
and avoids mingling with the rest of
mankind. When people go into his
cavern home he retreats back into the
cave and conceals himself Ii the dark
But persons who have succeeded in
getting tolerably near him say he has
the appearance of being ompletely
covered with a heavy coat of hair,
which, on close inspection, appeared
| to be animated.
Armed with the above facts, Sun
reporter took skiff, pulled up the
Licking, got out near the mouth of
| the cave, and concealed himself.
For hours he had been waiting, and
Just at sunset he saw a movement
among the brushweod over the mouth
of the cave, and then the form of a
man emerge from it. After gazing
cautiously around, he started off In an
opposite direction from where the re-
porter was concealed. By this time
twilight had settled down on the
fields, and afraid of losing HIN in the
gathering darkness, the sunbeam con-
cluded to wait at the mouth OF the
cave until he returned. In about fifty
minutes he came back, and jdst as he
started down in the cave he was con
fronted by the scribe. At first he
seemed startled, and made movement
as if about to lun, but when assured
that no harm was intended he stopped.
When told what was wanted he
laughed, and in a very pleasant voice
said that this was the first time he had
ever been interviewed. 1t was now
quite dark, but it was observed
that he wore no clothing, while his
body seemed covered with something
that was constantly moving. He was
asked what was the cause of this, but
eyadcd the question at first, and at
last related the following story: My
name is Henry Carrigan. was born
in the little town of Mariwether, Co
welta, Pa. Here my father, VIM. G.
Carrigan, owned a large family gro
Gerry store. | was a sickly child, and
instead of going to school | was al
lowed to run out in the fields about as
pleased. 1t was while leading this
kind of existence that learned to love
BIRDS and wild animals, and began to
study their natures. In the course of
time became SO absorbed in this pur-
suit that lost all interest in every
thing else. About the time | grew up
TO manhood my father died and, be-
coming little dissatisfied, and hav-
ing no near relatives, my mother and
only sister being dead also, [ took
what money my father left me and
came south. When | arrived IN Gin
cinnati | became possessed with a
strange desire to wander through the
fields again, and acting upon the i'm
pulse, came through Covington, and
before my tramp had ended came here
and by accident discovered this cave
tits in a secluded spot, and the thought
why not live here2" Immediately
suggested itself TO me. ! determined
to do SO, and it has been my home
ever since. The cave is of equal tenn
perature throughout the year, and as
| was not going into society when my
clothes wore out | did not call on
tailor AS for food, | had berries and
fruits in the summer, while traps and
snares furnished me with meat, and
the Licking furnished me with fish.
Two Hints struck together is my mode
of getting fire"
But what has that to do with the
peculiar appearance of your skim"
asked the Sun ran.
He laughed, and answered: Come
into the cave and | will tell you "
When they had passed down into
dark, damp room the reporter lighted
the boat lantern, which he had
brought with him. The moment
light was made he started in horror
His body was covered with thousands
of snakes ILe seemed a mass of hiss
ing, venomous flesh. 1t was positive
ly blood-curdling to look at him His
bead was literally alive with the crea-
lures. Every HAIR, which hung below
his waist, was a serpent. His beard
was but a lest, where a dozen broods
moved, Squirmiug and Kissing and
poking their heads into his nostrls
and ears in the most confidential
manner. If he opened his mouth he
had to be careful, or his teeth would
be buried in a snake. His eyebrows
and lashes were filled with wiggling
little reptiles. Every moment or two
he would brush one out of his eyes.
All over his breast, and along his
arms and legs was an icy weight of
snake. Under his armpits they lay
coiled, cold and clammy A close eX-
animation show that they allswere
attached to HIM by their tails Those
on his body and liHabs were 4 dun
color, and short ugly little heads,
blood red tongues, and vicious eyes
Those on his head and face were
longer and darker.
After gazing at the man for fully
five minutes the reporter finally
caught his breath, and exclaimed:
"In the name of God, man, what is
the matter with YOU" He pushed a
snake away from his lips, and said
L am q scientific wonder. This room
is damp; while far back Wonder in the
dark comes the sound of dripping
water There is whore l spend most
of my time Impossible, you say 2
There is where you, as we'll as the
profession, are at fault. 1t
has been claimed that standing in
water is fatal to human life This is
true only when the water is Of a diff
ferent temperature than the human
body. The reason is, that when the
water IS colder than the body the
mouths of the pores, which complete
ly stud the surface of the mucous
coating, are CLOSED, perspiration ceases,
and death will eventually ensue. On
the other hand, when the water is
warmer than the body. the blood is |
heated beyond. its. normal temperature,
and the nervous system is acted upon.
But when the water and the body are
the same temperature, it stands to
reason that no bad effect will follow.
Such has been the case with me-
There is one thing [ can't explain:
Where is the source OF the warmer
stream of water which passes through
the cave! 1t is exactly the same tenn
perature of my body. There remains
but one thing more for me to explain, |
and that is the origin of this snakey
covering.