The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-11-11
Horrible scene Under the ocean.

The theory Of Naturalists that so few
/, bodies of human beings who die from
shipwreck come to the surface, becaus.
they are devoured by submarine mon
sters, has found verifcation in connec
ton with the Schiller disaster. i cor
respondent from Plymouth, England
relates heart rending circumstance
in connection with this calamity. Mr.
Franz Hauser, German resident OF
Iowa, lost his mother and two sisters
when the Schiller sank, which so affect
cd him that be was attacked with 9
nervous fever, and when convalescent
became very unhappy because the bodies
of his relatives could not be recovered.
The idea made SO powerful an impress
! ion upon his mind that he went to
| PenZaDcc, and after examining the des-
criptions of all the bodies which had
| been recovered, and satisfying himself
that his three friends were not among
them, he resolved 20 learn the art of
diving, In order 10 search for them
himself Purchasing complete diving
armor, he SUBMIT himself TO u
thorough course Of training, and as soon
as be could with safety move about un-
der the water he, with the|hssistance of
two professional divers, made daily
dcscents into the sea, near the wreck OF
the Schiller, to search for the bodies OF
his mother and sisters. Several descents
were unsuccessful, but one day the head
OF a young woman was seen apparently
hanging from rock, and upon nearer
approach the rock was found to be
partially cncirclcd by gigantic cutie
fish, which clang 10 its sides, and was
devoring the corpse. The monster is
described rs one of immense size, hav-
ing circular central BODY that could
not be less THAI four feet in diameter, Of I
grecnioh black hue with alternating
bright and dark spots and a Shiny sur
face. IL was rounded like dome, and
it seemed as if a portion of the human
body had been absorbed into it by the
tremendous power Of suction this mon
ster is believed to possess. It's arms
the divers counted eight-were apparent !.
~ Of immense strength, beng over
twelve feet long, and judged to be not
less than foot in diameter where they /
joined the body. Some Of these arms
chung to the unfortunate victim, others .
held fast 10 the protuberances Of the /
rock, and several were swinging through [.
the water like the trunk Of an elephant,
but twice It's size.
When Hauser saw the terrible crca-
,nre, re sprang toward il, and his com
panions bad great difficulty in keeping
him back, and Immediately gave the
signal and were hoisted up. As soon
as Hauser could speak he declared that
ne had recognized IN the female face
me of his sisters, and he was determined
10 descend again TO recover her body.
GA the plea that he was too exhausted
and nervous TO do so that day he was
induced to rest until the next morning.
Before the time arrived, however, he
vas dangerously i'll, and u lew days
hereafter died. The two survivors Of
his expedition under the sea have
made sworn statements OF the trath OF
hese facts, and it is believed that some
la, been sent to the British
authorities Of The Admiralty for com
'letc and thorough scientific search of
he entire vicinity of the Reterrier ,
edges to ascertain whether these
marine monsters feed or
ho victims OF shipwrecks, as has been !
ssertcd by naturalisls.