Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 178, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1910 — MERMAID IS FRIGHTFUL SIGHT [ARTICLE]

MERMAID IS FRIGHTFUL SIGHT

Dugong, With Great Mouth and Big Lips, Arrives From South Africa In Tank. New York. —A “mermaid” In a tank of embalming fluid arrived from South Africa on the top deck of the American liner Philadelphia. This “mermaid” is known 801601180* ally as a dugong of the species serenla. It Is supposed to be a survival of the legend of the sea that gave rise to the belief that beautiful creatures, half human and half fish, appeared occasionally at the surface of the water and tried to entice sailors to follow them into the deep. The specimen that arrived here was hardly capable of enticing anyone anywhere, except In an opposite direction. It has a great mouth at the top of it* head and big lips Immediately belowi The chest, however, has a suggestion -of that of a- human being, and it is said that even today the dugong Is accustomed to ride upright In the waters and hold its offspring In one of its flip* pers, as a woman would her child. ‘-The “mermaid” was caught in Delag6a bay, after a 14-hour struggle. George Victor, who has fishing concessions in Portuguese East Africa, made the capture. He made every ef' fort to get it to land alive, but it live<s only a short time after it had been taken. He exhibited it in South AfriM aid brought It here tor exhibition.