The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-10-07
PROBABLY UNTRUE.
A Victim of the Schiller Disaster Found
in the Clutches of Devil-Fish.

snip hocH1IeI Has JlSC come TO ugnC. Ii
is remarkable not only for the manner
IN which it became known, but also be-
cause it leads to the strange discovery
concerning the existence of carnivorous
monsters inhabiting the bottom of the
sea. Naturalists must read this account
inasmuch as it will explain why so few
Of Che bodies Of human beings drowned
IN foundered ships ever come to the
surface. While portions OF wrecked
vessels are often found floating even in
mid-ocean, not one in a thousand of per-
sons lost is ever discovered yet natural
causes, such as the development of gases
by internal decomposition, should bring
the corpses to the surface in floating
condition. IF the world is to believe
what two of the divers who went down
to the bottom last week to examine the
wreck of the Schiller on the Reterrier
Ledges, tell Of what they saw, and which
experience third young man, who was
with them confirmed with his life, the
explanation is now made that there are
monsters of the deep who
LIVE ON HUMAN FLESH.
Hauser, whose body was buried few
days ago at Penzance, near Lands End,
was o native of Luxenburg. His moth
er and two sisters were on the Schiller,
intending visit to their old home, while
he remained in Iowa. Upon the news
of the wreck of the vessel he became so
deeply affected that he fell into a raging
fever. When he became conyalescent
he made inquiries whether the bodies
of his relations had been found. He OBJ
satisfactory information in the
States, and at last resolved to make a
personal effort on the spot. He came
across the ocean, and at once went to
Penzance, where at last he gained the
certainty that neither of the three corp
ses had been recovered. Thereupon he
employed two experienced divers, pur-
chased a complete diving armor, and
submitted to course of training under
the instructions of the two men he had
AS soon as able to move
about under water, and accustomed to
the heavy suit he determined to descend
into the sea where the Schiller had gone
down and search for his mother and
sisters. Several descents were without
success though the remains of the YES
sci were seen, yet no body could be dis
covered. But one day as the three men
were silently moving about among sharp
pointed crags and reefs, and being a
distance away from the
wreck itself, Franz Hauser was startled
by the sight of what appeared as the
head Of female form. It seemed to
hang from the top of reef some 10 feet
high. He directed the attention of the
others by pointing towards it. Slowly
the three stepped forward in the direction
of the reef. Nearing the spot pitiful
and heart-rending scene presented itself.
What was supposed to be female head
was such in reality, yet little of the body
to which it belonged could be seen. The
corpse was firmly held in the clutches of
GIGANTIC CUTTLE-FIsH,
which, with it's enormous arms and ex-
tended suckers, clung to it and to the
sides of the rock like wild beast feast
ing on it's prey. The sight, say the two
divers, was shocking, yet awe
They describe the cuttle-
fish as having a circular central body
that could not be less than four feet in
diameter, of a greenish black hue, with
bright and dark spots and a
shiny surface. It 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 monster is believed to possess. It's
arms-the divers counted eight--were
of immense strength, being
over twelve feet long, and judged to be
not less than a foot in diameter where
they joined the body. Some of these
arms clung to the protuberances of the
rock, and several were swinging through
the water like the trunk of an elephant,
bnt twice its size.
Such was the view the three divers
had as they approached this reef, and
Franz Hauser made sudden spring for
ward towards it but he was held back.
His associates knew that by going any
nearer they would expose themselves to
attack from the monster, for which they
were unprepared. They gave the signal
to tie boat and all three were immedi-
ately hoisted up. Having the covering
removed from his head, Franz Hauser
declared that he had recognized in the
female face one of his sisters, and he
was determined to descend again to res
cue her body from being devoured by
the submarine monster. His wish was
not gratified, however, he being too
nervous and his strength too much ex-
hausted, and it was agreed to make an
attempt, next day or the day after. But,
on the morning, young Hauser was de-
lirious, and he fingered on in a parox
ysnlal condition for some days, till death
closed his eyes. The two survivors of
his expedition under the sea have made
sworn statements of the truth of these
facts, and it is believed that some pre-
senta ton has been sent to the British
of the Admiralty for a com
plete and through scientific search OF
the entire vicinity of the Reterier Ledges
to ascetain whether these tremendous
creatures do feed on human victims of
G shiDwreck