Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-10-04
A HUGE FISH STORY.

HUGE FISH STORY
hAfNE88 sff 1890 SI 1@ s
The following account, duly authenticated will be seen,
copy from the last number Of the Woonsocket R Pa
tiot The statement Of Captain Powers give verbatim,
II sent to the Woonsocket paper by Mr. O. d. Byron,
who dates his letter Newport, September sth The day
which it the Monday previous (september s
while the ship he AIbaoss) becaned of Stonington,
Connecticut about five miles off land We would not rid
cue researches natural history, but say
that this story long, tough and hard to
The wind during the day had been light from the N. Z.
and about halpast p NJ, while almost becalmed
Of who had gone ao discovered him about point
off the lee bow, distant quarter Of mile Immediately
alof taking with me excellent seagass, and stationed my
self the maintop crosstrees As he neared the
vessel enabled from my elevated position observe the
peculiarly of his shape and to reconnore all his
When first he lying the surface of the water
with his head and nearly the entire length of his body sight
In this position he remained for about fifteen minutes without
any apparent motion, though from his gradual proximity to
the vessel it evident he have been under some head
After this, he slowly changed his bring
his body ahwa our bows and again appeared to remain
onary, until by the current and slight pus of wind had
drifted silently into his immediate neighborhood
The being unusually smooth and clear, the which
afforded could not well have been BETTER and the
opportunity enjoy eagerly embraced by all hands
should think his length could have fallen far short Of 10
feet The head appeared to be much the largest and
formidable part and Of an oval shape The end Of the
upper appeared to be and very blunt that of the
part much dssimar in shape that the
binary snake About ten feet from the point of the
head, and either side located thin apron Of
flesh of about four feet in length and width Directly
in and Just below appeared large ulorbed eye of
dark Color with eongate horizontal pupil surrounded by
white outline Under the throat and about line with
the eye appeared two fins ppe which seemed
to be his main dependence in giving headong motion the
huge Of living flesh which lay behind them About
eight feet still further back and the surface of the
water two other fins became visible these about feet
Iong rather and quite thin They lay horizontally
with sculing motion this circumstance led the conjec
that they might have been designed material aids
turning the body the right left The ridge of the back
considerably notched and at equ distances Of two three
feet sharp transparent prouberances of vermion color
appeared to the number Of fifteen after which the back be-
smooth far dscoverable These points horns
about eight inches long, starting with diameter of per-
haps four inches and gradually tapeng extreme point
1t is not impossible this singular arrangement may have been
wisely ordained to weapons seldefence The
mnaion of the body quite small, ending with calous
bony projection about four feet in length and nearly white
The entire body appeared to be shielded in complete
coat of mail of dark brown hue, divided into regular joints
passing around the body which slightly opened and shut
the motion occasoned when lying head to the This
singular exterior covering would undoubtedly present
vulnerable barrier against the attack of any aquatic enemy who
might chance seek the citadel of his l Its in
fexby thoroughly tested before parted company by
several weldrected shots of rifle, which left visible i'm
preston whatever and did not to disturb his equilibrium
| even in the slightest degree
At about halfpast three contiguous to each
other that fears began be entertained for the safety of the
vessel down from alo and ordered the sweeps be
put to get steer-way her in order avoid COLI
son he then lying "broadsde to- just under the
bow At this critical unctue of confusion and alarm
occurred which only be mperfecty described The
were scarcely in the water when terrible commoton
heard directly under the tforefoo jumped forward
to the aysa netngs, and looking down. could nothing
but complete cadon Of bubbng and boiling foam white
unstained Whether the serpent had taken alarm
discovering his proximity to the vessel from the noise
made by the they dropped into the water could
tell In another instant the commoon ceased and the
preached from the head foremost coming up in
nearly perpendicular line until his head struck the martin
gal with such force part the guys and carry away the
flying ib boom the boom iron The conclusion
that the whole ship tembed beneath and the
enance Of every board banchcd with fear Had
not been holding the foreopmast-stay the time
should doubtessy have fallen overheard Immediately after
this he slowly settled away, and entirely disappeared.
II being about o'clock and the wind beginning
in from the southwark and eastward hauled tacks
aboard sheeed home the topsas and gathering Roadway
on the ship, stood in for the land. Nothing
of the eviahan though every eye board long and neny
searched for his whereabouts Whether this strange nhab
Of the deep the which has been often and
described by others, is visiter in waters
4 have of knowing can only say that its appear
novel and interesting the highest degree and diff
feed entirely in its construction size, and color from any
of the deep which came under my observation dur
ing nautical life Of nearly twenty-five years
| JABEZ POWERS.