Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-10-19
MUD MERMAlDS.
Strange Uumanlike 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 are 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
er these snags, the creatures make their
homo among them. When the water re-
cedes, they disappear into some unknown
lair and wait for rise.
From indications they appear to be
carnivorous. 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 fresh lot. This IS eyl-
dence to those who have watched the
coming and going of the strange things
that they live upon such food.
It has been about four years since
they were first noticed about Yevay.
The fisherman who saw the strange
heads protruding from the stream had
never heard of a 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 Covington, KY, who is in charge OF
q travelling art exhibition, came to this
place to make arrangements for an en-
tertainment. He heard Of the. strange
mermaids and paid their haunts sever
al visits in the hope Of being able to
get a glimpse Of them. In this he was
successful, going so far as to get a PEN
Gil sketch of the male amphibian. Seat
cd on the bank, ho watched it swimming
within 20 feet Of the spot where ne OBJ
served its movements.
From notes taken on the ground the
description as furnished by Mr. Ozier
states that the beast is about feet in
length and should weigh about l5O
pounds. Its general color is yellowish.
The body between the fore legs resembles
that Of q human being. Back Of the
hind legs it tapers to point This
point in no way resembles a 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 as arms. The
extremities resemble hands and 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.
The head Of tho nondescript beast is
tho most remarkable part Of its makeup.
1t is devoid of hair and is strangely like
that of human being. Its ears are
sharp pointed and stand up like those OF
a dog. There is no intelligence in the
face, which in contour is like that Of an
idiot Mr. Ozier declares that it re-
sembles to a great extent the freak
known as Zip, or the What-is-it, which
was exhibited first by p. 7. Barnum. In
swimming it seems to move without an
effort and does not cause much commo-
ton in the water. Only its head and
part Of the slightly arched back are
shown while swimming When fright
ened, instead of diving like duck OF
making a quick flop, the strange beast
sinks from view like a stone. 1t is ex-
ceedingly timid in nature, fleeing at the
first approach of human being. Gin
cinnati Enquirer