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| Elk River at Addison, WV (Webster Springs) Source: City Data |
Back in 1946, newspapers across West Virginia were eager to run a story about an octopus found in Thomas, WV. Found by a couple of children, at least two of these creatures were uncovered in the Blackwater River, with up to six more being seen swimming through the cold, turbulent waters. But this wasn't the first time a similar marine creature would be found in a West Virginia River.
In 1875, a cuttlefish was allegedly making its home in the Elk River in the Addison/Webster Springs area!
According to an article in the Weston Democrat dated 15 November 1875, two brothers were in their skiff, going down the Elk River. Mr. James Andrew Thorpe (who had recently been suggested to serve as the Sergeant at Arms for the State Senate) and his brother, Zachariah, had just passed an area of the river known as Blue Hole, rumored to be so deep that it was practically bottomless. They were approaching a fish reservoir built by Samuel Given, landlord of the Addison Hotel.
Suddenly, their attention was drawn to a loud noise and splashing. That's when they saw a horrific creature just tearing it up in the fish reservoir. The creature's body was the size of a barrel. Its eyes were "large, bright, and horrid." It had a horny jaw resembling a hawk's beak. And, it had multiple sucker-covered arms, 8-10 feet in length.
These arms were used to push itself through the water, its head trailing behind. As it noticed the brothers, it grabbed a nearby tree branch and swung itself, Tarzan-style through the air at them. Luckily, James was able to grab an axe and chop off two of the creature's limbs, which plopped down into their boat.
After rowing to safety, the brothers brought the limbs to P.F. Duffy's store. The idea was to have them taxidermized and sent off with several other local oddities to Philadelphia for the upcoming Centennial celebration. Meanwhile, a few of the townspeople vowed to catch this local devil, and others pondered on the debate as to whether the creature's existence indicated the possibility of subterranean streams and lakes. As the Addison/Webster Springs area is known for its hot springs and various salt sulfur wells, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch!
Article: Freshwater Octopus in Thomas, WV
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| The Weston Democrat 15 November 1875 |
What a fascinating and mysterious story! The account of the alleged freshwater cuttlefish in the Elk River is one of those unusual pieces of local folklore that perfectly blends mystery, eyewitness accounts, and the imagination of the people who witnessed it. The vivid description of the creature and the attempts to explain its possible origin make this story especially intriguing. I always enjoy discovering strange historical tales like this and finding unusual forms of entertainment along the way, such as Thor Fortunes.
ReplyDeleteThe Elk River Cuttlefish is such a bizarre and fascinating addition to West Virginia cryptid lore! You usually expect sightings of large terrestrial creatures or lake monsters, so reports of an anomalous cephalopod-like beast in Appalachian freshwater rivers really stand out. Sifting through vintage regional newspapers and uncovering forgotten river legends takes plenty of dedication. In the evening, when I step away from reading spooky folklore and want to clear my head, taking a quick mental breather on https://luckycapone.at helps me decompress and reset. Appreciate you documenting these obscure Tri-State mysteries, Theresa!
ReplyDeleteStories that mix local history with folklore are always interesting, especially when old newspaper reports and regional legends are involved. Looking at how unusual events were described at the time can reveal a lot about how these stories developed. More information: winairline casino
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