Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-02-19
MU1HATTAN's --LATEST LIE,

Photographed at enormous expense 10 lTu'h'J 1
HoPKINsvILLE, KY, Feb. 6, 49,. '
The widest excitement prevails in
Hopkinsvile in consequence ofone OF 1
the most remarkable discoveries yet
made on the American continent. A |
veritable Symmes Hole has been UNI c
carthed in this vicinity. 1t is peo- t
pied by race of human beings with
tails and scales. They are amphibi-
Gus, and subsist on eyeless fish, bats,
and mushrooms, which abound in
great profusion in the wonderful {
cavern in which they were discov-
cred Yesterday for the first time, UNI
der the following peculiar circum-
stances.
A -year-old son of Col. James
Pye, of Hopkinsville, was out rabbit
hunting with number of his COM
panions, and they succeeded in chas-
ing rabbit into a lodge of rocks, the
aperture of which was, as subse-
quently proved to be, shallow ell
trance to the most wonderful cavern
vet discovered in the known world.
Little ''Billy" Pye was selected TO
crawl in after the rabbit, as the ap-
erture was too shallow to admit any
of the other boys, who were from
three to six years older, and conse-
quently much larger.
Unhesitatingly the little fellow
crowded into the opening, and as the
minutes heightened into hours and he
did not appear, and as no response
l. hoo,l 20 HE ND ninnQ'
anxious call, the alarm was quickly
given in the town and the citizens
turned out en- mdSSe, armed with
crow-bars, picks and torches, for by
this time night cast its shadow over
the scene.
For four hours the work of remov-
ing the loose rock was continued, and
then to the great joy of all an i'm
mense chamber in the cavern was
reached, and over one thousand men,
women and children cautiously en-
tered. 1t was wild, wierd, impress
sive, exciting scene, never to be for
gotten. =,
A succession of cheers reverberated
through the many halls and passages
of this strange handiwork Of nature.
The glare from the torches was re-
Elected back from great statutes OF
crystal hue and transparency thous-
ands of bats, startled from scene of
repose, dashed wildly hither and
thither, extinguishing many of the
lights and causing great consterna-
ton, especially among the ladies, as
Z many of them became entangled in
their hair and it was almost impossi-
BILE to extricate them. Several of the
ladies attempted to force their way
out of the cave, but this was simply
impossible, as the surging crowd
from without was pressing for adj
mission, and the numbers were rein
forced by continuous procession
from the town, as the news hac
spread like wild-fire.
Avenues spread out in at least tel
directions and as to which route thu
little boy had taken, Of course, III
one could conjecture, so parties of ten
twenty, or fifty scattered out through
all the avenues with candles, lamps
and other improvised torches, fol
lowed by multitude in each cas-
who had "no oil in their lamps" o
no lamps or lights of any kind
Down. down! they went on an all
ruptly sloping incline, until afte
three hours weary walking the
must have reached a level sewers
hundred feet beneath the surface
Here they struck subterranean riN
er-wide and deep-and teemin
with life in the shape of very pecr
liar looking fish, thousands upo
thousands of which could be plainl
seen for at least twenty feet beneat
the surface of these placid cryst
waters. Some of the fish were al
parently as large as an ordinary size
man, and upon closer investigate
turned QUITE be hitherto unknow
race of amphlbious human being
who can, like the alligator and 9th
amphibiUus ANIMALS, live both in al
out of the water.
Scientists have long since conten
ed that amphibious human bein
were entirely within the bounds
possibility. Yet this is the first tin
in the worlds history that the face
such an existence has been practices
ly demonstrated.
They were terribly frightened
the approach of race of beings
much like themselves, and fled in a
ject terror. They are web-footed, "a
slightly scaly like ordinary fish, al
have two immense fins, or fappe
at the umbilical cord, on the low
part of the breast. This is the gre
secret of their amphibious prosperit
Only one specimen was captured.
is female, in fact mermaid, if '
may be allowed to so call it. N
Dick Holland, proprietor of the o
era House, captured it, and has TAX
it home, where thousands of curio
people are now flocking TO see
The struggles and cries Of this pc
captive were indeed terrible. 1t to-
four stout men to hold her viz. : Jol
Young, Alex. Henderson, Jol
Wright and A. II. Anderson. II
hair is raven black and falls in gre
profusion and luXuriousness thu
feet down her back; her teeth 8
like mother-of-pearl, and her featul
too beautiful to compare to any abc
the earth.
She can articulate, and apparen
talk with great vehemence-like Of
er women. Mr.. Holland has CO
tracted with Forbes Il Bro, the pla
ing-mill men, for all immense ia
to place her in, in room under
Opera House, where the public C
see her, and where others of her 81
cies may be placed as fast as capture
1t is feared, however, that she W
hardly survive the shock to her mel
Gus system, as she has already &c
into Mysteries, and tainted as she
into the arms of Robert Guynn. I
inclement weather and change
conditions of life generally, will, II