Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-10-20
MUD MERMAlDS.
Strange HumanliIle Creatures That Live
In the Ohio River.

!
In the Ohio River.
On the sand bar in tho Ohio river
near Vevay, Ind, reside two monde
script creatures horrible in appearance
and habit. They arc amphibious In ma
ture and resemble in appearance huge
lizards with human features. When
partly submerged in the yellow waters
of the Ohio, they are strangely like hui
man beings. OF what species OF animal
they are no one knows, for it is impos-
sible to get near enough to them to judge
correctly. The sand bar in question at
low tide is covered with huge logs and
stumps Of trees, known in the river yer
nacular as snags They have been de-
posted by the government snag boats
engaged in keeping the channel clear.
When the water is high enough to COW
CT these snags, the creatures make their
home among them. When the water re-
codes, they disappear into some unknown
lair and wait for rise.
From indications they appear to be
carniyorous. Among the snags are to be
found wagon loads Of mussel shells,
fish bones and other debris OF animals.
When the river goes down, these shells
and other articles disappear only to be
succeeded by a fresh lot. This is evil
denco to those who have watched the
coming and going Of the strange things
that they live upon such food.
II has been about four years since
they were first noticed about Vevay.
The fisherman vino saw the strange
heads prouuding from tho stream had
, never heard Of mermaid, and his de-
scription was such as to cause the be-
lief IN the minds of the better educated
that, after all, the old myth might be
true in some degree.
Some days since, Captain J. NJ. Ozler
Of Coyington, Ky, who is in charge OF
g travelling art exhibition, came to this
place to make arrangements for al ell
tertainment He heard OF the strange
mermaids and paid their haunts sever
al visits in tho hope Of being able to
get glimpse Of them. In this he was
successful, going so far as to get pen
Gil sketch Of the male amphibian. Seat
ed on the bank, ho watched it swimming
within 20 feet OF the spot where he OBJ
served its movements.
From notes taken on the ground the
description as furnished by MIR. Ozier
states that tho beast is about feet in
length and should weigh about 100
pounds. Its general color is yellowlsh.
The body between the fore legs resembles
that of human being. Back of the
hind legs it tapers to q point. This
point in no way resembles tail. The
legs, four in number, resemble the arms
! and legs of the human. The fore legs
are shorter than the hind pair and are
used in the same manner US arms. The
extrenities resemble hands aud are
webbed and furnished with sharp claws
On the back and one-third Of the way
around the body appears mass of strag-
Cling, coarse hair. The skin below the
fore legs is thick and resembles elephant
hide. On the arms and about the face
| and neck it is of finer texture and
brighter yellow color than the rest OF
| the body. W -
The head of the nondescript beast Is
the most remarkable part Of It's makeup
It's devoid of hair and is strangely like
that of a human being. It's ears are
sharp pointed and stand up like those OF
dog. There is no intelligence in the
| face, which in contour is like that OF an
idiot. Mr.. Ozier declares that 1t re-
sembles to great extent the freak
known as Zip, or the What-is-it, which
was exhibited first by P. T. Barnum. In
swimming it seems to move without an
effort and does not cause much commo-
ton in the water Only its head and a
part of the slightly arched back are
shown while swimming. When fright
ened, instead of diving like a duck OF
making quick flop, the strange beast
sinks from view like stone. 1t is OK
ceedingly timid in nature fleeing at the
first approach of human being. Gin.
cinnati Enquirer.