The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-24
BURNING 4 SEA MONSTER.
How the Inhabitants er Spring Luke Beach
Dispose Of Whale aud It's Bones.

SpRfSo LAKE BEACH, May %. Last even
ing the beach was crowded with the residents
and visitors Of Ocean Beach, Sea Plain. Spring
Lake Beach. and the adjacent villages Oi Sea
Gid and Manasuuan. to witness the cremation
Of the great whale. II had como in from the
ocean with the last storm and lodged high on
the beach in front Of the Monmouth House. 1t
was first sccn far of shore. floating ike m up
turned ship. Tho fishermen Of Squan dared
not launch their boats through the ugly surf.
and the monster was left TO tho sea for the night.
Next morning 1t was cast up on the sands, dead.
An examination showed that 1t had gone through
n terrible battle. A few yards back Of the head
tho body had been frightfuy torn and tho
vcrtchra broken. No one sccmod cntcrprising
cnougi 70 uti,izr the opportunity OF saving IFS
oil. and the whale, said Ia measure sixty feet in
length. was lett all dav aud night on the beach.
In the morning II wis buried beneath five foot
Of sand. directly in front. Of tho Monmouth
DESPAIR Of having this dead elephnnt on his
hands. or rather on his bcach. asked the fisher
men, What shall we do with IL ~
:" Burn II up" was the answer.
" 10. all OF you. and get wood Mr.. Ovictt. got
2bnT carris sc on E & " sra ree PAINE ,he
to glory" said Bonfacr, promptly.
Twenty-Five men, with spades and shoyels
were soon nj work digging the snnd from
around and beneath the stranded levinthan. At
7P NJ. last night thor work was finished and
the whale lay IN n grave Of sand the sides ris-
Over II were hcaped four cords NJ dry hickory
wood, aud under its body wore forced two grcnt
loads Of groom brush. At . r. W. the funeral
pile was completed. Four barrels of kerosene
oil was poured over the corpse and then tho
words were given
stand back Look out for an explosion. Mr.
| Ovictt set IRE To- the pile!"
Tho cottagers. fishermen. workmcn, and en-
plovccs II the Monmouth House rctrcnted to tho
| hluf bounding the beach, There VIVA II pun ~
| dense black smoke. Il burst Of flame. ne though
| from gunpowlcr. sharp report OF the cNplod-
ing oil and the great bones OF the vcrtebru were
| torn assundcr Portions Of them were thrown
| into the sea- and other portions TO the top Of the
| o'clock tho sernc was beautiful. Tho burning
! oil rose in ntful spurts. lighting up the waves
| and showing their deep sea green. At II =. NJ.
| Mr.. Mathy ordered moro wood into the sand
| drift grave Of the whale. and now fires helped to
consume this visitor who dared TO die on the
! shore Of this aristocratic watering place The
! light Of the fire upon the beach So near to
| S1unn recalled tho old stories OF the time when
| the Sand Spaniards Of this place used to tie a
! lantern to the head Of horse. carry the rope TO
! His forcfoot. tie it short, and then drive him
! slowly along the coast. the dipping lantern tell
/ ing the incoming vessel that here IL could an
| Choir safely. when. in fact. to anchor there was
death. Thanks to the life saving service. such
! their feelings Of humanity. the people Of the
| New Jersey coast have made their sand hills
| blossom with the highest civilization. Instead
/ of seats made along the shore Of timbors from
! the wrecks, Spring Lake Beach and Squan arc
! to have. this season, resting places made from
the gigantic sections Of the vertebra of its cro-
| mated whale.