St. Louis Post Dispatch
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Contributed by Gigimo
Description: A Human Dog. Birth of an Infant with a Dog's Head and Feet.
Date: March 25 1881Newspaper published in: St. Louis, MO
The astounding rumor that a baby, half human and half dog, had been born in the neighborhood of Eighteenth and Morgan streets this morning was current upon 'Change, and was regarded simply as an absurd hoax. A reporter, however, went out to the place indicated, and after a great many inquiries was directed to an old two-story frame house, which had evidently seen better days, and which is situated on Orange alley, the thoroughfare running east and west between Franklin avenue and Nineteenth streets. A trip was made up the shakiest flight of stairs which it has entered the human mind to conceive, and being careful of the weak places on a porch the reporter at last secured admittance to a room which served as bed-room, parlor,kitchen and dining-room for a small, but interesting family of African fellow-citizens. A large negro woman was lying on the bed with a weight of bed-clothing upon her. She is what used to be called a "likely" woman, weighing close to 200 pounds, and displaying an undraped arm of which a coal-heaver or a blacksmith might have been proud.
"I'm looking for Samantha WILLIS."
"That's my name," said the lady in the bed turning away from the wall and grinning at the scribe.
"I understand that you have had a child?"
"Huh! Huh! I done hab free of 'um. -N'f ole man doan keep's mouf shut I'll des turn to an hab free or fo' mo'!" At this sable sally the colored ladies and gentlemen about the bed laughed uproariously and "Samanthy" looked to the reporter for more conversation.
"Yes, I heard that," said he, "but they said that one of them had a queer head!"
"Well, gimme a dime, boss, 'n I'll show you the chile; it is queer for sho'"
The dime changed hands, the coverlet was thrown down, and a little ebony cherub about eight inches long was fished out of the intricacies of the bedding. He was clothed like Lady Godiva in the legend of Coventry, simply with purity, and at first glance there was little to distinguish him from the average African infant. A close inspection showed, however, that his head was exactly like that of a dog. It was covered with fur rather than wool, and the facial contour was just that of a young bull pup's. The nose and mouth projected almost an inch from the balance of the countenance, and the ears are long, pendulous and like a spaniel's. It has the power of moving its ears, which it does continuously, and is apparently a strong, healthy child although Dr. CARSTAIRS says it cannot live. The whole body is covered with very fine and short hair almost like the down on a peach, it is so soft and almost imperceptible. The hands are all right but the feet are malformed, there being a very perceptible dew-claw on the left ankle, and the whole foot is that of a dogs. The right foot is amorphous, simply being a piece of flesh not deferentiated into toes. The other two children have none of the marks of the dog upon them except their ears, which are pendulous like their brothers and their bodies are covered with the same downy fur. Mrs. WILLIS was attacked by a savage dog about three months ago and badly bitten in the side, and Dr. CARSTAIRS traces the lusus natura to that cause. He thinks two of the children will live, but that the one who is most strongly marked with canine characteristics will die.