The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-24
A Marine Monster.

Mr.. Charles III. Brainerd of Boston de-
scribes in the Scientific american an attack
upon fisherman on the Florida reef by
marine monster which he calls devil fish.
The creature, from the description, would
seem to have been a gigantic cutie fish,
much larger than any one ever seen on our
coas'. The fisherman is said to be man
of immense size, weighing three hundred
pounds, and of strength in proportion to his
colossal dimensions, and yet he was power
less when clasped by the long arms of the
monster, and his life was only saved by the
prompt assistance of his companions. In
size, and its long arms, of which it has ten,
two of them being longer than the rest, are
of such strength and tenacity that when a
man Or an ordinary fish is EMBODIED within
them, there is no power of eXtrcatiOn.
These arms are furnished with sucking
cups, by means of which it attaches itself
to other bodies with extraordinary firmness
Naturalists suppose that it was creature
of this description that Victor Hugo had in
his mind in his account of the frightful
struggle of the seamen with his assailant
in the British Channel.
The waters on our southern coast and
specially in the Gulf, are frequented by
huge creature belonging to the ray genus.
known as the devil fish but although of
great size and strength, and capable of
mischief, if so disposed, it is not regarded
as dangerous or inclined to aggressive
operations under any circumstances. 1t is
shaped something like a snake or sting ray,
barring the tail, and is furnished with two
strong muscular feelers or flippers that ex-
extend in semi-circular form on each side
of the head to the length of two OF more
feet, according to the size of the fish. They
are the instruments for seizing and holding
its food. The habit of the fish is to uproOt
and carry away poles, stakes or other OBJ
| jects with which it comes in contact. 1t
is said that they have been known TO lift
from the bottom a kedge or anchor of con-
siderable size, with boats or shallops of
moderate dimensions lying in harbor, and
swim out to sea with them. There is moth
ing incredible in this, for they are often
eighteen feet in length by fifteen in width,
and sometimes larger, with strength to cor
respond. The weight of one of these crea-
lures could not be less than half dozen
tons.
Butler King, who was long time in
Congress, lived on the bank of the Savan-
nah river, where he owned a plantation.
His negroes were accustomed to fish in the
river, near its mouth, with cast net.
They would go down to the right place,
two in dugout, and if the tide did moi
serve they would go to sleep in the bottom
of the canoe, making the craft fast to d
pole thrust into the mud. On one occa-
sion, being too early for the tide, they tied
up in this way, and soon we're hard and
fast. Presently along came well-growr
devil fish, that grabbed up the pole witt
his flippers, and made off with the canoe
negroes included. And when they awoke,
half an hour afterward, they found them
selves proceeding to sea at the rate of some
three miles an hour, moved by an invisible
agency, and terrified beyond description
They cut the rope Immediately, and has
tened ashore without delay, and nevel
afterward were known to make their Graf
fast to pole in the Savannah river.