Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-09-09
UNDERGROrND MONSTERS

In former number (vol. xvii. %. S2S, wa
n n.y. some account OF a curious underground
rR,onsgeri miahocao, supposed TO exist I'm
ins,,,L,, Ut Spencer Baird, of the smithsonian
nniS..utloIl, SENDS us an interesting document
Nnch SHOWS that the belief In such a monster
at Soth l 10 Brazil. but Is shared I'm BY the
re0pe for Sn M sSas ~ In the Gaceta de Nca
Pauline Montenegro containinS n cirenn,
Stantlal account OF an object possessiny very
m Ts1e D ,he same attributes as the Minhocao.
ruary Il, 1876. The writer states that he wene
TO Concordia on private business whan ha
heard on the llth of serpent having taken
in the jurisdiction OF the village. Along with
some friends, nj. Montenegro SET out on tina
18Th 10 examine irto the foundation of the re-
port. a tradition concerning such monster
has existed IRON thine 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 IT. eed signs and tracks, which. NJ
montenegro states, positively prove the exist
ence OF such an animal
The most detailed accounts stated that here,
some i've years before, a sort OF platform OF
aoout NIFTY yards diameter had been formed
az The loot of large rock cropping out from 3
niiis'ue. ohe OF he neighbors had established
there an orchard, though no one had been
able 10 acc, uni fsr this new formation. Three
S SSSa.s & ,, however, people began 20
observe that this lite piece OF level ground
was gradually Deepening and that In ths
month of Nov, mber the base of the rock ad-
Joining 1t became exposed and worn from
some agency, notwithstanding that there was
not suflcieut " alter IN cause the phenomenon
Al the same time mighty trees were observed
TO become uprooted and 10 fall in great dis
order, While immense rocks We're moved and
shifted their foundation SO much that in the
following month Of December. during 0na
night, tbe road from Chichigus and Chuchilla
10 San Rafael Del Norte WAS DESTROYED nv a
multitude ol cracks ami ceftS which had
suddenly opened. at that time the Ground
was observed 10 be undermined, falling in at
intervals. These occurrences were observed
some three days before NJ. Montenegro and
his friends visited The place, which they saw
all 10 be in accordance with the statements
Immediately on examining the locality foe
themselves they came Ia the conclusion tttaC
there were signs not of one but VI two animals
probably o. the shape of huge fishes.
In CONNIE ncing their WORK these animals
seemed TO pursue kind Of an upheaying
movement. AS the bottem of their hiding
place was loose, shifting ground, the surface
oil THIS was seen 10 give away, while trees were
shaken out and came down crashing. The
noise of this seemed TO scare the animals
away. One of them-beleyed To have been
the male on account OF its larger size and
greater Strength-took TO the LETT in descend
ing, but always IN a parallel direction with
and along the slope of another hill. which here
terminated. As Ii broke through the bankx
OF raylne, which measured about twenty
yaraS In width, and nire feet in depth at its
greatest opening, he passed with his head
under ground. The thrOwn-up soil showed
the tracks of the head. which ieft its marks
which were broken, the broken pieces being
tour inches thick. The main part of the body
which certainly must have passed here uncoy-
cred, left its traces at the bottom Of the rayipe
Passing out from this the animal entered UPON
grc und more level and friabe, which it went
through at depth of five quarters Il . va
raS), forming furrow and leaving behind
ridge more than one vara high. Following
the raYlne for a distance of about sixty varas
1t encountered two deep bitches, when it
turned and traced its way back and an
preaching the aforesaid rayine, took TO The
bed OF a pond and disappeared perpendicularly.
The other animal, which left behind a maier
track, and therefore was believed to have
been the female, went at once TO the right, to
the outlet of the pond of water before referred
marks as the other. When it reached the
two deep bitches il turned back also, and
undoubtedly encountered its companion after
ward.
The whole ground had become irregularly
disturbed aud broken up, and the power Of
these animals Is shown by their being able not
only 10 throw up huge masses of soil but even
TO move rocks weighing more than thirty gum
tails.
The animals seem to be covered with a skin
clad with scales or plates, the marking OF
which, imprinted on the soft clay or loan, bear
much resemblance TO those of the garrob, I'm
the mud. Ii appears that the shape of theSa
animals must be like that of the guapoJe
The length of the body is at least twelve
VaraS, the height three, and its thickness l5
varaS.
A tradition about such an animal as this has
been kept up. unaltered, without cOntradic-
ton, for more than hundred years. Ii is de-
ScrlDed In general as a large snake, and called
''Sterpe," on account of its extraordinary size,
and living in chaquites. One is said to have
been killed 10y lightning the moment it had left
lis hi ing-place In the liver "Sebaco vieio.'-
Mature.