In Idaho folklore, Sharlie(Slimy Slim, The Twilight Dragon of Payette Lake) is the namegiven to a sea serpent much like the Loch Ness Monster that isbelieved by some to live in the deep alpine waters of Payette Lakenear McCall, Idaho.
The first reference to the sea serpentmay be the belief of Native Americans, predating western settlementof the area, that an evil spirit dwelled in the lake.
Modern history
The first documented sighting bywestern settlers occurred in 1920 when workers cutting ties at theupper end of the lake thought they saw a log in the lake. The "log"began to move.
In August 1944 the serpent wasreportedly seen by several groups of people who described it as 30 to35 feet in length, with a dinosaur-type head and pronounced jaws,humps like a camel, and shell-like skin.
In September 1946 the serpent wasreportedly sighted by a group of twenty people. Dr. G.A. Taylor ofNampa, Idaho explained that "it appeared to be between 30 and 40feet long and seemed to keep diving into the water. It left a wakeabout like a small motor boat would make."
In 1954 A. Boone McCallum, Editor ofThe Star News held a contest to name the serpent of Payette Lake.The winning name, "Sharlie", was submitted by Le IsleHennefer Tury of Springfield, Virginia. In her letter to Mr. McCallumshe said, "Why don't you call the thing Sharlie? You know –'Vas you der, Sharlie?" This was a reference to the popularcatch phrase often spoken by Jack Pearl during his old time radioshow.
Sharlie was reportedly sighted dozensof times between 1956 and the last documented sighting in 2002.
YOU ARE READING
Real Crime/Paranormal/Conspiracy Theories Book III
Non-FictionReal crime stories, paranormal stories, and conspiracy theories are discussed.
