The Elk River Cuttlefish

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

The Weston Democrat 15 November 1875