The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-08-14
4 Tough Yarn.
\ LAND-COMPANION TO VICTOR HUGOS
DEVIL FISH.
From the whitehall N. w Times.

Prom the Whitehall IN. W Times
The line of the New York andCanada
railroad is being opened through a COM
paratively new country Across the
swampS and e the mountains along
the lake shore, ground has been trOdden
by men, during the past two years, that
probably never knew the tread of human
mountains contain species Of animals
heretofore unknown, the following let
ter, written by q gentleman connected
with the construction of the New York
and Canada railroad, is evidence.
To the Editor of the Times:
In hopes that your readers may know
what manner of animals inhabit the
Dresden mountain, | send you the fol-
lowing particulars of an important dis
covery that took place in this section:
Last Saturday, \. B. Meadow, walking
boss on the Dresden section of the New
York and Canada railroad, in company
with j. w. Carter, of Dresden, were
hunting over the Dresden mountain.
Each man was armed with guns, and
accompanied by Il dog. just as they
were emerged from Il wood intOanOpen-
ing, the foundation of which was a floor
OF smooth rock, they were startled by be-
holding M of the most remarkable Spe-
cies of animals ever seen by man. On
an emincncc, about fifteen feet above,
it faced the two men for an instant, and
then turned quickly and retreated.
The creatures body was about the
size of a water-spaniel in circumference,
6 feet in length and covered with Il short,
1t had a tail all Of 10 feet long, at the
end of which there were two prongs
like the tines of a pitchfOrk, each Of
which was at least foot in length, one
half inch in diameter, tapering to points
Which seemed to be like the claws of Il
bear. The head was large, with two
large yellow eyes. standing IL from
each side, like Il Holsters. On top OF the
head, between its eyes, was q dark,
ticshy-loOking horn, which pointed for
ward. occasionally moving sideways, as
the animal turned either way. The feet,
Of which there were four. We're large,
and my informants think they were
wchf0Otcd, which, if true, shows that
the animal is OF the amphibiOus order.
The most singular part of the beast
was that it possessed two long arms,
which extended out from its shoulders
certainly Is fees each way. These arms
were crcam-cOlOrcd, about 3 inches in
diameter, whilea at the ends of them there
radiated several smaller arms, each
about Is inches in lengthy and of Il blood
red color. As the animal ran swiftly,
pursued by the dog, it gave sharp, pro-
lOnged WhlneS, resembling the piteOus
wall of an infant troubled with COliC.
My infOI1nants say that. as their eyes
first beheld the wonderful quadruped,
they stood riveted to the spot at the
sight of SO queer d species of animal.
But lis the monster ran swiftly over the
rocks, his course unObstructed by any
shrubbery or tree, the immense arms of
the pursued would dart back at the dog,
while the little arms or prOngS would
writhc and twist as if in anger at the
intrusion and chase of the dog.
When the animal had led the dog
about Il quarter of a mile, it suddenly
disappeared between two rocks. The
dog ran swiftly to the opening, followed
by the two men. Meadow approached
the opening with his coat upon his arm,
when he was terrOr-striCken to per-
ceiVe the long horrible arms with light
ming sWiftneSS dart out of the Crevice in
the rock, one of them Selling the dog,
while the writing fingers at the other
arms extremity seized Meadows coat
from his arm, and, as quick as Il flash,
dog and coat disappeared into the rocky
chasm. Meadow and Carter, thorough
ly~ frightened; retreated quickly as the
piercing bowls from their dog suddenly
SStNoS". L. SUM 40 pOcolO1S my IN
mantS left the scene, and obtaining a
party, they all returned to the cave
wherein the wonderful beast had Sc
creted himself. Every effort was made
to drive the monster from its hiding
place. Guns were discharged while the
hunting party stood ii safe distance
from the hole. Stones were thrown in,
and yet nothing appeared, nor no sound
was given to denote the presence of any
animal ~ living thing in the cavern.
LOOKING FOR THE COMET.-A police
man found a man lying fiat on his back
on the esplanade at a late hour the other
night calmly studying the heavens.
Upon raising him to a sitting posture
and asking him what Ire wasdOing there,
he replied that he was "'tryin' to find
the (hic) comet" He had a copy of a
gram of the heavens. ":You see" said
this t1agstone astronomer, spreading the
! paper out on his knees and blinking
gravely, "this ere comets 'tractin' ten
ton f best strOnomers. It's tracted
mine. I'm lOOkin' for it. | read in pa
per faint visible without a glass, so I
(hic) took one. For fear one glass
wasn't 'nough | (hic) took 'nuther. Pa
per says comets between little dipper
ana great upper. Drank little dipper
Of beer, then tried Il great dipper. Wife
made a fuss bout it. Told wife I'd (hic)
dip her, too, if she interfcred. Then ]
started out to find pole star. cause
comets in that neIghborhood. Re"
'gainst telegraph pole, stumbled over
r3lG TO q wagon, but couldn't find 'er
pole star. Step'd in s'l00n and treated
myself to 'nuther little dipper. And
yet / couldn't (lfic) comet. Read in pa
per comets on line with nose of the
bear. Asked 4 man Via; "l;ac lie knows of
the bear. Man told me to bear off,
Been watcLin' for that comet mos al
night. Heavens full of dippers, bears
and (hic) pole stars. No comet"
"Vell, com NIT me" said the watch
man, "Ill show you the pole star" and
he led him where the Ninth street sta
ton light Is softly ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
natl Saturday Night.
REUNION or IL METHODIST
CHURCH.-One by one the traces of our
civil strife are happily disappearing.
The issues between North and South,
settled by the war, left a legacy of d.
: = II. - re IL =yTS "