Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-24
"A SEA MONSTER.
Hinge Piscatorial Pirafe-One Hum
dred Feet OF serpent--A New Ma
rine %onaer-A Submarine Aufc-
crsat Rises 90 the Surfacc-ssShiver
nEsr Him hare - I.

l HSa x cSa Oh eeFpent-A NEW Ma
rine wOnaer-A Submarine Auto
crsat Rises 90 the Surfacc-stShivel
0ur Timbers.,'
From the New York Herald, March 10.
/ The monsters of the air, forest and ses
have been illustrated by such great au
thorities as Button, Cuvier and Agassiz
They have classified species, determined
the purpose, characteristics and propensi.
ties of the lesser life, and have even zone
so far as to express the belief that al
monsters Of the past and present are
known to the naturalist. The faIlacy OF
this confidence is not only evident in the
discovery of the fossil remains OF the
great hydrocaurus by Prof. Warehouse
Hawkins, but also in the appearance of q
vast sea serpent in American waters, of
Cape Hatteras, on the 18th instant, of
which the Herald has full particulars.
The schooner Saladin sailed from JAG
mel, Hayti, with cargo of copper,
bound for New York. On the 10th and
1lth inst. she had heavy weather; but as
the morning of the 18th dawned there
were only light airs and swelling sea.
About six O'Clock the captain was on deck
alone, his hands being below safely quar-
tered in their hunks enjoying those visions
that hover over heavy eyelids. The Sa-
ladin was now steering nortb-northwest,
going along at an easy pace, about forty
knots an hour. Murky and foggy drapery
obscured the brightness of the sky. As
the captain scanned the horizon he de-
scried what he considered to be a wreck
on the starboard beam, about five miles
distant, bearing east-nOrthaest lie i'm
mediately put down his helm and turned
the Saladin's head to eastward, hoping to
overhaul the object and render what as
sistance might be necessary. The captain
inserted his head in the cabin and called
GALL HANDS on DECK"
In moment the crew was upon its
higher plane, rubbing grayitating eyelids
and curious between hope and fear.
The Saladin had few provisions on
board, but was only seventy-five miles
from Hampton Roads, bearing SOUTH
southeast, and the captain, unlike the
Bombay's captain, thought of performing
an office of humanity and save those who
might be clinging to an ugly wreck.
Progress was made toward the point of
interest for few minutes, when it was
plainly evident that the Saladin was over
hauling
HUGE PISCATORIAL PIRATE,
which they soon saw was the most re-
markable specimen of marine serpent
probably ever seen since pre-Adamite
man. The good Saladin sailed on, steer
ing due east. COmmotion re;gned on
board. The Captain exclaimed, 'Is this
a dream, is this a dream ~ 1
The seamen who had just been re-
leased from the bondage of a profound
sleep thought it was, for there dead ahead
sat
AN ENORMOUS FISH, LARGER THAN SHIP,
looming up in comparison with the Saladin
as st. Peters before village parsonage.
The serpent was making Roadway about
two knots an hour and the Saladin was
rapidly overhauling her. AT half-past
seven A. NJ. the schooner hove to with the
monster twenty feet on her starbOard
quarter. Then all hands strained their
eyes from their sockets to see.
HOW THE MONSTER LOOKED
and would behave. IL was now in plain
sight with every portion clearly visible.
Its architecture was very accurately meas
ured, and the serpent was found to be
100 feet long, with body forty feet in
length and tail of sixty feet. But the
most curious feature of the monster was
an immense body of hard gristle matter
twelve feet in height, forty feet in width,
with the same length, which was entirely
void within, forming large
BLADDER-sHAPED BALLOON,
which, filled with air, buoyed the serpent
on the water, and seemed to be an agent
it could keep the surface and
commit its depredations either upon com
merce or upon the harmless inhabitants
of its own element This oval buoy had
regular ridges, running from the apex
this bladder preceded the body
of the fish-to where it joined the main
body. These ridges extended fore and
aft, at intervals of four inches, with a
regular height of two inches, and gave to
the surface the appearance of the net
work of balloon. The bladder portion
was elastic, and yielded TO the movements
of the sea, and was two inches thick, but
of a hard, dense, impenetrable character
that would resist knife or bullet On each |
side of this floating dome were two heavy |
paddles, each five feet long, by which the |
made progress. This part de-
scribed may all be considered as
ONE OF THE MOST SURPRISING WONDERS
Of the piscatOrial world. The fish proper,
which was but an appendage tailed on to
This blown-up bladder, consisted of a
heavy fishy substance, with brown sides,
and about ten feet from the dome were
two eyes, one on either side of large
horn.
From this point the fish tapered off TO
forked tail of material as heavy and as
hard as iron. Capt. Slocum declares the
tail would weigh 100 pounds to the cubic
foot, and the forks of the tail stood hOTi-
zontally in the water, but submerged four
feet, the rest of the monster sitting lightly
On the ocean wave. Capt. Slocum
FEARED TO FIRE AT HER,
10 disturb her in any way, as one move
ment of the dOcile pirate would have
crushed the Saladin to the deep. He be-
ieves that the animal has some internal |
engine by which she fills her balloon with
air and discharges it at pleasure, then
sinking out of sight. Her touch is poison
md her contact dangerous. She is ike
Iunfsh, but is really new-a balloon fish.
Had the Saladin encountered her it would
nave been Cup in balloon, boys, up in
/ balloon ~
This discovery is valuable to science
ind was made by men of entire credibility,
md the statements given are by those who
understand the sea and are enthusiastic at
he marvellous discovery.
AN EXTRAORDINARY THE
ORV 4