Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-04-24
y SINGULAL FREAK.
A Cleveland Boy who Was Born With
Scales on His Body Like IA Fish.

wonderful freak of nature has been
| living IN Cleveland, Ohio, for a number OF
years, and it has been kept secret until
now.
1t is boy, years old, that is in many
respects hsh. His face is handsome. but
the beauty of the boy only extends to the
neck. Below that the little fellows body
is literally covered with ii solid coating of
fish scales.
OThe boy name is Herman Schepler,
and he lives with his parents and a brother
and sister at 7SS ID st. Clair street. He
is an exceptionally bright little fellow
and Is one of the most apt scholars in his
class.
Although the boy is I years OLD, the
most intimate friends of the ScheIpter
family are not aware of the fact that lie is
so horribly afflicted, Thes parents have
taken every precaution to keep the child
condition secret. and it was only
by mere accident that the facts became
known to a reporter of the Cleveland
paper.
Herman was visiting at the house of a
friend named Fredericks on Clinton street.
where the writer saw him and made an
examination of his skin.
Tbs sight indeed was a wonderful one.
and the contrast between the pretty face
of the child and the fsh-Ike appearance of
the remainder of his body was striking in
the extreme
The scales are of a dark blue color and
cover the body so thoroughly that not the
slightest portion of skin bearing the re-
semblance of that of human being Is Wis
ible
The scales do not seem to trouble him
except In the fall of the year. when they
fade away to considerable extent and
render his body quite itchy.
After examining little "aermie" very
closely and feeling the shiny scales for
some time, the reporter called on the
mother of the atiiict, boy and interrogat-
ed her concerning her sons condition.
Mrs. Schepler at first refused to have any,
thing to say on the subject and seemed
greatly surprised and worried that the
matter should have leaked out
After a great deal of persuasion the
poor woman burst into tears and finally
admitted that her boy had been covered
with the blue scales at birth.
Have YOU any idea of what the cause
of your sons condition is. Mrs Schepler?"
queried the reporter.
'Well, the only cause to which can
attribute it is little incident that occur
red one afternoon shortly before Hermie
was born. My husband was always
great hand for fishirg, and as we lived
close to the water, he very frequently went
out and fsbed for few hours at a time.
On this particular occasion ne brought in
about dozen or so of fish, and, it being
nearly supper time, he asked me to cook
some of them for him.
Il Immediately set about preparing the
fish for his supper, and the very first one
| took hold Of large, blue pike, being
still alive, jumped out of my hands and
frightened me awfully. | screamed and
almost swooned away. Hermie was born
within few weeks of that time. and, as
| have told you, he came into the world
covered with the shiny blush scales, and
they seem to scatter more and more every
season.
Have yon noticed anything else strange
about the chid?'
No, not particularly, except that he
is just wild for water. Whenever it rains
it Is simply impossible to keep the poor
little fellow inside He will take off his
hat and run around the yard as though he
enjoyed it immensely. He loves music
and can sing nicely"