THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE — SEPTEMBER 26, 1909
Mermaid the Crew Saw.
In one of his voyages Hudson and his came upon “An island whereon were 40 or 50 sea-horses (Walruses), lying asleepe, being all that it would hold, it being so full and little.” Nor were his observations confined to the humdrum, bears and walruses, for he tells us with solemn conviction, “This morning one of our companie looking saw a Mermaid, and calling of the companie to see her, one more came up, and by that time shee was close to the ships side, looking earnestly on the men; a little after, a sea came and overturned her: from the Navill upward her back and breasts were like a woman’s, (as they say that saw her) her body as big as one of us; her skin very white; and long hair hanging down behind, of colour, blacke; in her going down they saw her tayle, which was like the tayle of a urposse, and speckled like a Marcrell. Their names that saw her, were Thomas Hilles and Robert Rayner.” There you have the observation and the foot notes, can you doubt the truth of the story?
The Salt Lake Tribune. (Salt Lake City, Utah), 26 Sept. 1909. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
