THE LAFAYETTE ADVERTISER — MAY 3, 1890
THE MERMAID MYTH AGAIN.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA., April 19.—The Evening Metropolis has the following: W. W. Stanton, mate of the schooner Addie Shaefler, now lying at the market-house dock, while fishing for bass 300 miles off St. Augustine drew in his line and found entangled therein the strangest fish, if it is a fish that has ever been caught. This strange creature is about six feet long, pure white and scaleless. The head and face are wonderfully human in shape and feature. The shoulders ark well outlined and very much resemble those of a woman and the breasts are well defined and show considerable development; while the hips and abdomen continue the human resemblance. In all there are four flippers, two of which are placed at the lower terminations of the body and give one the impression that nature made an effort to supply the strange creature with lower limbs.
Mr. Stanton confesses to quite a fright on first sight of his queer, prize, which on being drawn on board gave utterance to a low moaning cry, which might easily have been mistaken for the sobbing of a baby. It is extremely unfortunate that Mr. Stanton did not succeed in keeping the creature alive, which he thinks might have been done, as the strange object lived two days after being taken. The Addie Sheafler has been thronged all day by curious visitors, who express much wonder and astonishment at the strange object. Mr. Stanton after visiting several ports and showing his queer catch, will donate it to the Smithsonian Institute. The fish or mermaid is in a large six feet jar, in alcohol.
The Lafayette Advertiser. (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.), 03 May 1890. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
