Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-10

CATCHING A MARINE TARTAR.
Some New Workers off the Coast of Flor
ida Measuring tho Devil
Correspondence New York Sun.
MAYPoRT, Fla, December 2O.-The
| New York Aquarium has for some time
had an expedition in Florida for the
special purpose of capturing shark,
or devil-fsh, for it's tanks. In the way
of excitement, mosquito bites, and
chronic duckings, we have had the full
worth of our money; but the last men
toned monster has played the adject-
i've part of himself with us. =
| He is variorsly known here as the
sea.devil, and unicorn-devil, and the
red-devil; all of these names are we'll
chosen. When we first arrived on the
shore of this marine hades, an ex-
tremely dark darkey informed us that
here was the home of the monster,
and that he grew to unknown dimen-
sions. IN our minds eye we saw his
huge form vending up Broadway, fol-
lowed by small boys innumerable. The
fish in question is huge ray, that
often reaches q width of twenty feet.
He has long, whip-like tail, and as
we subsequently found, is about as
pleasant to meet as a roaring lion. No
net was strong enough to hold him, and
he would take no notice of 8 shark
hook.
In 8 dark hour we decided to try the
effect of spear in one of his side wings.
that we supposed would heal quickly,
Our boat was dug out, the forward
part of which had been extended down.
ward to the entire neglect of the beam,
so that We were just able to fit in, five
in row, after the manner of huge
coffin. We pushed off, and moved
down the shore, the man in the bow,
harpoon in hand, thirsty for the fray.
A large shoal of mullets were jumping
ahead of us, about half mile off, and
in the centre of them heavy wave
was seen moving around that told Of
something out of the common run.
Coming nearer, the man in the bow
whispered that it was the devil-fi5b
himself, and no mistake.
huge black spot was visible. We rose
up to look, and at the same moment
the man threw the harpoon. For the
next moment all was q dreary void.
The immense creature rose from the
water like an exploding torpedo, and
came down like the weight of a pile
driver, one wing striking our boat in
the bow, crushing the frightened darkey
into both lee and windward scuppers at
once, coating him over with beauti-
full coat of slime, and threatening to
convert us all into human f1otsam and
ietsam. Yells of "Cut the rope" and
acct to the windward," wherever that
was, we're heard above the rush of
water and hiss of the line that was
going out at rate of forty miles an
hour, our brave harpooner keeping
time in wonderful series of back and
head posturing, in his attempts to keep
clear Of it. AS near as [ could judge
we were headed for Spain, half full of
water and one man missing. Looking
around, we discovered him standing up
to his waist on q shoal half q mile off,
He had been jerked overheard at the
first round; and there on the shoal he
remained for over an hour, feeling, as
he told us, like condemned lighthouse
at high tide.
It WAS evident something must be
done, and while one bailed, the rest at
tempted to haul in the line. Gradually
we drew nearer to our team, who gave
us signs of giving out. It was evident
that he never could be caught alive
SO the agony was increased by pain
of grains in his back. This brought
the blood, and we gradually came
down to common time. Amid splashes
jerks from the fish, and yells from
the men, we got fairly over him, and
sent third large whale harpoon into
him. Next minute the long whip of
a tale came over the boat, striking
old Ram, colored man, and causing
general and hasty sitting down. This
was the last effort. We foated over
the black mass, about three miles
from where we started, victors, but
yet not happy. That one lash of the
tail had laid one mans cheek oper
to the bone, and broken the skin com
pletely around his head; another was
presumptive food for crabs and sharks
on distant bank. Not one of us
came out of the race without bangs
and bruises enough to start a fair
prize.fght.
we CuG d SllG, however, IN one Wing,
and in two hours had our fish on the
edge Of the sand. A mule was then
made fast, and the great devil fish for
the New York Aquarium rose from the
sea dead as the traditional door-nail.
We measured him, and found from
wing to wing eighteen and a half feet,
and from the tip of the tail to the nose
twenty three feet. The tail alone was
eleven feet long, and as large at the
base as a mans wrist, tapering down to
a most delicate lash. Immediately
above the base of the tail are three
bony serrated stings that are terrible
weapons Of defense.
These huge rays are found in Tampa
Bay in the summer of much greater
dimensions; but we do not complain
This one was quite large enough for U.S.
We only wish our friends in New York
could have seen him.
The Young Russian CzarVitch.
The young Russian Czarevitch is a
perfect Hercules, resembling greatly in
build and stature his magnificent