THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE — AUGUST 01, 1867
A MERMAID IN CHARLESTON—AMUSING SCENE—The Charleston
Courier contains the following:
A rather novel and sensation, which came near resulting seriously, however, occurred in connection with the heavy rains on Saturday. A report was circulated that a mermaid had been brought in by the high tides and washed ashore to the foot of Trade street, near Chisholm’s mills. A large crowd went through the rain and mud to the spot indicated only to be disappointed in not finding it.
It was afterwards reported that the marine stranger had been captured and taken to the establishment of Dr. W. G. Trott, the well-known druggist at the northwest corner of King and Broad streets, and that it had there declared the rains would continue and the winds blow until it was released and returned to its proper element. The report spread so rapidly through the whole city that in less than half an hour Dr. Trott’s doors were besieged by the crowds of freedmen and a few white visitors, determined on seeing the wonderful though apocryphal denizen of the deep. Dr. Trott, who had been made the victim of some wag, although taken by surprise, received his visitors quite cooly, and endeavored to pass it off as a joke. The crowd, however, which continued to increase, was not so easily satisfied. Some one reported that the pilot boat Wild Cat had just come in with a message from outside, stating that unless the mermaid was brought and delivered over the bar
