Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-05-26
THE GREAT GROUND SLOTH.
A Patagonian Animal About Which
There Ii Much Mystery.

Don Francisco Moreno of Argentina
has recently taken to England the skel-
eton and hide Of grypotherium,
/ which he found ia cave In Patagonia.
| This animal, also known as the great
ground sloth, has always been classed
among the extinct monsters, and the
finder Of this specimen himself believes
that 1t may haw" been preserved In the
Ice cold cave evse since the glacial Pc
riod. The skin, however, seems to re-
semble that Of the jemisch, an animal
which, 1t is said may still be found in
Patagonia.
More than 20 years ago Mr.. Cha
worth Musters was camped one day
with a party Of the Tehuelche Indians
on a river of Patagonia when two
South American ostriches, which the
hunters had killed and left outside the
camp, disappeared during the night
Their torn and half devoured bodies
were found next day In shallow Of
the river, to which led the tracks Of an
animal that from all appearances were
those of a mighty beast of prey. The
cordilleran puma is large animal,
but the tracks of this mysterious beast
were far larger than those Of the pu-
ma. The Indians, frightened half out
Of their wits, declared that they knew
the animal that had made these prOdi-
gious tracks. 1t was the "tigre del
aqua" or water tiger, a fierce yellow
monster that haunted their rivers and
lay In wait for the unwary swimmer
to devour him.
Further facts about this mysterious
animal have now been collected by Don
Carlos Ameghino. who received his In
formation from the same tribe of In
dans. They call the animal the "jem-
isch," believe him to be lnvulnerable
and do not like even to speak Of him.
The animal lives. the Indians say, In
caves on the shores Of rivers and lakes
and emerges from his lair only In the
night. They describe him as having n
short. broad head. hide covered with
short dun hair. short, strong legs with
long, clawed feet. like those of bear,
but webbed between the toes.
One of his first letters. containing his
famous poem on the Chilkoot having
arrived by mail In this city, was order
ed transmitted to the San Francisco
paper by telegraph. Then a difficulty
arose. Not town could make mean
Ing out of his lines, which resenbled
silhouettes of the Sierras. The San
Francisco newspaper telegraphed an
offer of 5000 to any one who could de-
cipher 1t, without avail, and the letter
was forwarded by mail. to be decipher-
ed finally by his private secretary In
San Francisco. The incident was men,
toned jokingly to the poet, and he
quickly rolled up the sleeve Of his
right arm. showing the scar Of bullet
which had passed completely through
the forearm. injuring the nerves and
cords of. the fingers. That's just to
show you" said Mr.. Miller, that,
while | am unhappily conscious Of my
bad writing, 1t is not affectation."
Ex-Governor Semple, an old friend
Of Mr.. Miller, told how the matter OF
the arrow wound In Mr.. Millers fea-
lures had come to his personal knowl-
edge. This led to a discussion Of the
cause of the poets slight lameness.
81 am not nearly so lame now as was
20 years ago." said Mr.. Miller. That
lameness was caused by another ar
row wound many years ago. never
could quite understand why the old
wound should continue to trouble me
until one day In Dawson, soon after |
had completed that long Yukon jour-
ney, chanced to scratch my finger on
my leg while taking bath. To my
surprise. found a piece Of flint, which
I drew out Of the leg. 1t was part OF
that old arrowhead, which had worked
clear through the leg. That endless
walking 'mushing.' as they call it
had done it."-Seattle (Wash.) Post-In-
telllgencpr