The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-03-19

4 0ou0toe PollyWoI.
Last June . number Of gentlemen
leased the Ste. Anne des Mouts for
the purpose Of salmon fishing. This
river empties into the St Lawrence,
near Cape Chat some $50 miles below
Quebec. The party reached the
village at the mouth If the river o,
Sunday. and - they determined to re-
main until next day. some one pro-
posed they should devote the after
noon to cod fishing in the bay. Boats
and tackle were provided, and under
the direction Of Pierre Mathalon. chief
Of the cOd-6shery at st. Anne's the
party were soon IN the fishing grounds
and busily engaged in hauling in cod
and skate.
The little fleet consisted Of three
boats, one Of which contained Henry
Hogan Of Montreal. Mr.. Cuvillier,
and two gentlemen from New York.
This boat was about half q mile from
the others. and about two miles Of
shore, when the attention of Mr..
Hogan, who sat in the bow, was
attracted to large floating mass about
fifty feet from the boat. At first it
seemed to be like the back Of turtle.
save that it Was Of a bright scarlet
color. Raising the anchor cautiously,
the party headed the boat toward the
sleeping object. When within ten or
fifteen feet of the monster it raised an
immense arm or claw. and with terrific
force brought it down. striking the
boat just amidship, cutting a V shaped
slot q foot wide in the vessels side, the
fracture almost reaching the waters
edge. A CRY Of horror went I'D as
they saw this enormous arm again
raised. All speedily took to the oars
to escape the enraged monster, which
was flashing the water in its fury.
Thrice Mr.. Hogan struck it with a
boat hook. The arrival of the other
boats on the scene seemed for a mo-
ment to frighten it, as it attempted to
60 toward the ocean. In passing
near one of the boats. the Canadian
drove his boat hook into its head.
Then followed a scene Undesirable.
Raising its horse-shaped head, with
the boat hook still fastened in 1t, a
scream, as If from q locomotive filed
the bay, while the monster thrashed
and beat the water into foam. All
were now intent on the capture Of the
wounded monster. Reinforced by
ishing boats from the shore. the figh,
became fierce. Harpoons, boat hooks.
revolvers came into play. Mr.. Cuvil-
lier emptying his nsvy-sized Colt into
the animals sides rs they showed
above the water. After three hours
the prize was captured and lowed
ashore. On reaching shallow water
ropes were made fast to it, and the
assistance Of the villagers being
brought into requisition, it was hauled
up on dry land.
The body proper measured twenty
two feet in length. its girth around
the widest part was eight feet ten
incheA Its head shaped like that Of
q hose. was covered with thick and
busy hair, which hung over its eyes
and forehead in great punches. The
eyes protruded like those Of lobster,
and were - large as q mans head.
Six large fins, or Aippers, three on
either side, measured two feet vide
where they join the body. and three
feet six inches wide on the outer edge.
One of these fms had been torn BY q
boat hook. and to this circumstance
the capture Was attributed. From
the body of this strange creature q
long and eel-shaped tail was attached.
giving it the appearance Of gigantic
pollywog. save that the entire color
WAS . bright scarlet.
Twill now try to describe the single
arm or atenna with which the monster
was armed. 1t was sixteen feet long
and shaped like the trunk Of an
elephant. and measured four feet in
where it joined the body
just behind the gills or breathing holes
in the left side Of the creatures body.
This arm or feeler had an immense
pair of claws-not unlike those Of the
lobster, except that they were Of
enormous size, and the teeth being
treble rowed and shaped As daggers.
The gigantic mouth also showed three
rows Of teeth as large as those Of
whale. The tongue Of this terrible
sea devil weighed over ton and filed
two large hogsheads.
The above facts were communicated
10 me BY Mr.. Southern, the comedian,
Who formed one Of the fishing party.
w. j. Florence in the Detroit Free