, 1877-08-21
AN AQUATIC MONSTER.

The men working al The Government dixie IN
the Mississippi! River, opposite Quarantine Sta.
ttun, tell very curious story concerning 4
singular monster fceu In the water at TINT pont
on the 9Th inst. The reporters informant IN
the case is Mr. Thutnns Eagan, one Of the work.
men alluded 10, who lises at 1ii2i South Seventh
street, In this cfty, who was himself the FIRST to
discover this strange aquatic alual, md tu Gail
tic attention of his fettow.latorcrs oft. Il was
about 10 o'clock in tho morning, and the LAY 20
clear and bright Tint there could lie no optical
Illusion resulting from any unusual condition
Of the atmosphere. !.
Mr.. Eagan states that his attcntIon was fret
drcctc! t1 peculiar movement Of the water
ntuut fnrty feet abure where liz was work
ing on the dixie. The mutton seemed to be
caused BY r'und bsiy rolling over ard
ie,lec. throwing the waves a fopt high
with caetl revolution. Thc object rolled
iii this manner until II reached point lnn,c,l-
ateIy opposite Eagan and his fellow.worktncn,
at no time being. perfectly still. II fenlaiue,l
comparatively quiet, however. 1ong enough for
the men IL. get good nigh. Of a part u its
body. though, II was plain That not moro than
was about ten feet Of the middle portton of the
body partly lftc.l above the wafer, and though,
the hcnd WIS Visible several times, the tail was
not seen al all, ond lhus no necuratc cstl1nate
bark Of tic monster wns covered with course
black Or dark brown scales, much like those of
tho alligator, while the under portion OF the
body, brought frequently to view ~ the NOM
eter turned over, WIS observed 10 he of dark
Mississippi catfish. The head. most curl
GUS to relate. was that OF dog,
the ears and eyes being plainly
Iisccrnihle, whllo the mouth or bi1l was III the
pcrfcet shape Of .pclIean's, and murc than y
fopf In 1nNrth. Gntnr f1f fhn mon tEt In n
good look at tho head anu ezra declare TINT they
were covered with Thick coating of hair, black
fl color. and hanging down III long, stringy
loeks. l The ,,, cars were long and pendant Ike
The monster shook thcul as II to rid hls head Of
tue dripping water. From the long BILL l,e
threw stream OF water, ut Intervals, r,,uri,
iike the tpouttnE ot whale, md With noise
water we're thrown ut least tno feet high, about
minute apart Tho reptile had ritfer elk legs,
or four legs und two huge leg-llkc tns. al
any ratc, two Of these members were lu,eh
were thrown out of md alouE the SURFACE Of tic
watcr rs II they wcre being used a. paddles
for propclltng, or keeping the bndy ftll, or
turning 1t over. On tho Thick corrugated neck
of u horse, and re"shing 80 FIR down that the
etds were lost In the ~atcs. Why tho monster
paused SO long upposite the dixie cannot be sur-
missed, but It Is believed to hayc been attracted
for several times 1t was observed to turn its
head In thnt direction. Rs II curious to know tho
eAuso VI 50 much tommotion. Duu of the men
went IL nc!Nhborfng house f9r gun. but few
moments before nc returned tl'e I'onstcr turned
ovcr several times vi tth great velocity, spouted
violently, und sunk in the water. fbe event
created decided sensation among the
largu humber Of ~orkmcn engaged In
work on tho riyor 'front.' and there
was no cnl to the surtnlscs cuncern!ug the real
untl,rc III the atttrr elrht Eeyern1 f1int pItflt1