Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-09-18
NUMBER A.
UNDERGROUND MONSTER

ly SSS~A1ADA&DSS SAN - AV&v - = AW1
4. A Tradition Uoncernlns Two scaly U,
~ derground Monsters In South Ams
ica-something Similar to the 4,
~ nual Yankee Ssa-ssFpsnt story.
u From Nsture.
In former number (vol. xvii. p. 80
le we gave some account Of 4 curious VI
| derground monster, the Minhocao, su,
/" posed to exist in Brazil DR.. Spence
u Baird, of the Smithsonian Institut,
+ sends Us an interesting document whic
y shows that the belief in such 4 monste
is not confined to Brazil, but il share
r in by the people of Nicaragua. In th
0acsta de M;carugua for March 10. IsSf &
!. is Z long lettgs Aigned Pauline Monten
egro," containing ciscumstantial ac
count Of an object possessing very mucl
the same attributes a. tho Mfnhocao
The letter is dated Jinotega, Nicaragua
February 21, 1866. The writer state
that be went to Concordia on private
business, when he heard on the 18th of 1
serpent having taken up its abode at 4
place called La Cuchilla, within the
Jurisdiction of the village. Along with
some friends, M. Montenegro set out on
the 18th to examine into che foundation
of the report. A tradition concerning
such q monster has EXISTED from time
immemorial." After having Travelled
on that day about two leagues northeast
from the village, they reached the spot
where the inhabitants of the neighbor-
hood had traced signs and tracks, which.
N. Montenegro states, positively prove
the existence of such an animal.
h | Tk~ LA L. A. A "a
here, some five years before, Q sort of
platform of about fifty varas diameter
had been formed at the foot of large
rock cropping out from hillside. One
of the neighbors had established there
an orchard, though no one had been able
to account for this new formation.
Three years before, however, people be-
gan to observe that this little piece Of
level ground was gradually deepening.
and that in the month Of November
the base of the rock adjoining it be-
came exposed and worn from some
agency, notwithstanding that there was
not sufficient water to cause the phe-
nOmenon. At the same time mighty
trees were observed to become uprooted
and to fall in great disorder, while i'm
mense rocks were moved and shifted
their foundations 30 much that in the
following month OF December. during
one night, the road from Chichigua- and
Cuchilla to San Rafael del Norte was de-
stroyed by multitude Of cracks and
clefts, which had suddenly opened. At
that time the ground was observed to be
undermined and falling in ut intervals.
These occurrences were observed some
three days before M. Montenegro and
his friends visited the place, when they
saw all to be in accordance with the
statements. Immediately on examining
the locality for themselves they came to
the conclusion that there were SIGNS not
Of one but of two animals, probably Of
the shape of huge fishes.
In commencing their work these ami
NAL seemed to pursue kind of m up
heaving movement. Al the bottom Of
their hiding place was loose, shifting
ground, the surface of this was seen to
give way, while trees were shaken out
and came down crashing. The noise Of
this seemed to scare the animals aWav.
One of them-believed to have been the
male on account Of ita larger sise and
strength-took to the left in descending,
but always in parallel direction with
and along the slope Of another hill which
here terminated. As 1t broke thorugh
the banks Of . ravine, which measured
about twenty varas in width and nine
feet in depth at its greatest opening, he
passed with his head underground. The
thr0wn-up soil .howed the tracks of the |
head, which Left its marks both in the |
soil and on the roots OF the trees, which
were broken, the broken pieces being
four inches thick. The main part of the
body, which certainly must have passed
here uncovered, left it, traces at the bot
tom OF the ravine. PaMing out from
this the animal entered upon ground
more level and frtahls, which It went
through at depth Of five quarters Il. .26
varas), forming . furrow and leaving b.
hind ridge moro than one vaSa high.
Following the ravine for . distance Of
about sixty varas Il ancountered two
deep bitches, which it turned and traced
its way back, and approaching the afore-
said ravine, took to the bed Of : pond
and disappeared perpendicularly.
The other animal, which left behind Z
smaller track, and therefore was believed
to have been the female, went Ut once to
the right, to the outlet Of tho pond Of
water before referred to, leaving behind
il everywhere the same marks O. the
other. When it reached the TIVE deep
bitches It turned back also, and undcubS.
edly encountered it, companioa after-
ward.
The whole ground had become irrsgu-
larly disturbed and broken up, and ths
power Of theoe animals ID ohOWn by their