The Mermaid Con September 13, 2015
Author: Beach Combing | in : Contemporary , trackback
Before starting out his research on swindles and confidence tricksters, Beach would never have imagined that there could be a mermaid con. This one came from the Gold Coast in Africa and was reported by the head of British administration there in 1923. Not Eve Pos, 6 Oct 1923, 3
A rogue will tell a picturesque tale of how when walking along the coast he has rescued a mermaid who has become entangled net return for this act of kindness she has told him that ships laden with gold have been sunk off the coast, and that the Queen of the Mermaids has the sole privilege of recovering this gold, which she distributes among the industrious and thriftly. She never encourages laziness and only helps those who can show they have saved money. The rogue explains that he gave the mermaid £100 to show that he was a worthy man and that two or three days later she handed to him £200 which the Queen of the Mermaids had sent from one of the sunken treasure boats. The bait invariably succeeds, and the dupe hands over his savings to the swindler, who promises to use his influence with the mermaids in doubling the amount.
The Gold Coast Mermaid con is impressive as far as it goes. But the best of them all is this one from Cumbria in the North West of England. In fact, Beach is almost supine with admiration.
At Ambleside, in the Lake district, a curious swindle was recently perpetrated. A showman set up a booth, and when he had gathered a crowd, called out, ‘Walk up, walk up, and inspect this curious phenomenon—a real live woman fish, the only one existence The place was crammed, the curtain rose, and a young woman, dressed all black, appeared on the stage and said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I am the woman fish. There’s my marriage certificate. My husband’s name was Fish. He was killed last summer through the fall of a scaffolding, and as has left me with four children unprovided for, I will take the liberty to go round and make collection on their behalf.’ Tam Her, 4 Aug 1894, 6.
What happened to Mrs Fish once she set out collecting? Was she booed, lynched, or showered with coin? And her poor orphaned children? The very fact she made the collection suggests she got away with it.
Any other mermaid cons: drbeachcombing At yahoo DOT com After all, if there are two…
19 Sep 2015: Chris from Haunted Ohio Books writes in with this mermaid con. 1904.
