(Joe Mulhatton, the veracious traveler of wide renown, is in the city and has unearthed a remarkable story of adventure and the capture of a mermaid. The following contains the full details of an unusual, and of course true story, as graphically communicated to The Herald by the above-named gentleman.)
    The Cleopatra causeway, almost half way along the coast between Redondo and Santa Monica has always been recognized as a wild, picturesque section and a great natural curiosity. It is only recently, however, that any of the bold navigators of the numerous pleasure boats that pass near that part of the coast have attempted sailing their frail craft among the hidden rocks and bold promontories that nature has there hewed out. It remained, for Col. Tom Lewis, the assistant postmaster of this city, and Mr. Van Dusen his chief, to explore the place and immediate waters, and in doing this they with others who were with them met with a most remarkable adventure.
    Mr. Lewis invited a number of well known gentlemen to accompany him upon the first pleasure cruise of his new yacht, the Blue Grass Belle, which came off the ways in San Francisco the week before last. Those accepting the invitation were: Col. Bob Northam, Postmaster Van Dusen, Jim Meredith, Capt. H. Z. Osborne of the Express, Col. Bob Kerns, Col. Blanton Duncan, Col. George Miles, Capt. John Morris, Judge George Wooley, and J. F. Cosby the Figueroa street millionaire.
    On Friday last the Blue Grass Belle with the above named gentlemen aboard after a splendid sail under a free wind reached the neighborhood of the causeway at about 4 o clock in the afternoon. It was full tide and the handsome boat had but little difficuity, with skilled hands aboard, in threading her way among the rocks and reefs and finally the anchor was heaved among the columns of the Cleopatra causeway itself. As the Blue Grass Belle was lying there rocking upon the swelling waters in the shaded cave, with the pillars of stalactite and stalagmite and other beautiful formations about them. Colonel Lewis, who is an expert swimmer, suggested a plunge into the cool, clear brine, and exploring some of the chambers and caves which opened into the large one in which they then were.
    Captain Osborne responded and the two dived and then swam towards an opening beyond which is the Spirit cave. Judge of their astonishment when once inside to discover that it was peopled by beings closely resembling the mermen and mermaids that by many are supposed to be purely mythical, the steep banks and projecting crags being crowded with these interesting creatures. As the two swimmers approached, the mermen and maidens plunged into the water, seemingly in abject terror at the intrusion and sight of beings so alike themselves.
    One of the strange creatures was not to disappear, however. After a short, sharp struggle Tom Lewis and Captain Osborne captured a female. With some difficulty she was taken out of Spirit cave and into the larger and main entrance, where, with the assistance of Postmaster Van Dusen and fob Northam she was placed on board the boat and secured in one of the handsome staterooms.
    The head bears a very close resemblance to that of a human being and the neck, shoulders, body, arms and hands are almost identically the same, though on a much smaller scale. The hair with which the head is graced is nearly four feet long, fine in texture and coal black in color. Her eyes are perfectly-formed, are grayish blue and are fringed in silken lashes. The eyebrows are well defined and describe beautiful arches. From the hips down the creature resembles a fish in shape, and that portion is covered with fine scales and is replete with fins. In the water and near the surface both scales and fins are radiant in iridescent colorings. Locomotion on land is very difficult but it is extremely active in its favorite element. While thoroughly amphibious, the class seems to make use of its ability to remain on land and breathe air, only to rest from its sports or its pursuit of food.
    The screams and cries of the female captured by Messrs. Lewis and Osborne, at the time the struggle with her took place, are said by those who heard them to have been heartrending. She resisted the enforced separation with every effort and artifice. Once in the power of the captors she became subdued and quiet until the boat was reached, when again she struggled violently and screamed. It was all that Colonel Duncan, Jim Meredith, Bob Kerns and Postmaster Van Dusen could do to get her on board the yacht. After being placed in the stateroom her rage seemed to give way to grief. Sobs and moans took the place of cries and screams and these, together with mute appeals from her large, intelligent appearing and really beautiful eyes touched more than one heart.
    She is the finest specimen of a mermaid ever captured outside of the Japanese waters, and it was not known until last Friday that any mermaids and mermen existed on the California coast. On Saturday Colonel Lewis had the interesting but unwilling captive brought to the city and placed her in a large aquarium for which he has had constructed in his residence, where she is the star attraction of the neighborhood and where she will be visited by many hundreds of people anxious to see this, the first mermaid captured on the California coast.
    In order that there might be no doubt as to the truthfulness of the foregoing, the following well-known citizens have appeared before Col. James Buck, the Holienbeck notary public, and testified as follows:
    “Know all men by these presents that we, Col Tom Lewis, Capt. H. Z. Osborne. H. V. Van Dusen, of the city and county of Los Angeles, did capture and bring to the said city of Los Angeles, on Saturday, June 8. A. D. 1895, one certain amphibious creature commonly known as a mermaid, and that the same is now in an aquarium standing in the grounds of one Tom Lewis, on Figueroa street, in the said city of Los Angeles.

Sworn and subscribed to this 15th day of June. A. D. 1895. (Signed)

THOMAS LEWIS
H.Z. OSBORNE
H. V. VANDUSEN
JIM BUCK

(Seal) Notary public in and for Los Angeles county, California.

    Great excitement was reported last night as prevailing on fashionable Figueroa street over this addition to its population. The residence of Col. Lewis is beginning to be the Mecca for curiosity seekers. The discovery and capture is of the greatest scientific interest.

The Herald. (Los Angeles [Calif.]), 16 June 1895. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.