Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-03-23
~. {. D."-1ha Sea Devil.
His Captcrr in tie River 1t. !.aw-
raHce-!he S;0:y .: TIT Monster,
and His Sirrc g'eS. IL Told ~
". j. Florence.

~ '''''"' y u'''' t'tipI ~ wv "a!
ture Of Il strange marine mou>irr may
prove interesting To yonr readers:
~. II. His HAUNT.
Last June a number Of gentlemen
lea~ed The Ste Anne Ges NouJS for
The rurpn-e Of salmon ii-hing. This
river enp;irS into the -. Lawrencc
near Cnir Chat. sohr 80 miles he
low Quehrr Thr party reached the
village al ;he mouth of the river ON
Sunday. and as they determined to
renain nn,il next DAY. sem, one pro-
posed they should devote the after
noon to cod fishing IN the hay. Boats
and tackle were provided, and unGrr
:he direction II Pierre Ma,halon, chief
nf lbe cod fishery at Ste. Annrs, the
parry We're soon in the fishing gr0ru.!s
and bu>ily engaged in baUling ir cod
and skate:
''T F"-THE FLEET.
The little fleet consisted Of three
boats, one of wtira contained Henri
Hogan. Of Montreal; Mr. Cuvii.ier.
and two gentlemen from New York.
This boat was some half mile. distant
irom the ol hers and about two miles
eff shore wien the attention of Mr..
Hogan, who -; in the bow, WAS Il
irac.td To large floating mass sume
lifrv feet from the noai \; first i.
seenel Ike the back of turtle. save
that it WAS Of bright scarlet color
Raising the anchor cauliou-lv. The
party headed the boat toward the
Sleeping object.
Il. :. L III SLOWS FRIGHT.
Wien within ten ar fifteen feet Of
the monster il raised an immense arm
'"r claw. aaI with terrific force brought
it down. striking The boat just amid
ship. cutting Y shaped slot foot
~ iGe in The vessels side, the f.aciurr
aln">i reachin- the waters edge. \
cry of horror went up as they saw
itl> enormuu- arm again raised All
speedily took the oars 10 escape tie
cnrasri n"n-Ier. which was ia-hins
ihe water in is fury
'T. * THE COMBAT.
Thrire Mr.. Hogan struck it with
hoaI.h huUk The arrival Of tie other
boats on The sceue seemed for 'npm-
rnt To 'right'n it, as il attempted to
go toward the ocean In passing
near one OF the boats the Canadian
drove his hpa,hook into i'- head
Then followed Il sceae indrScrioahip.
Raising lis h"rsr-haped head, with
the boal-bouk sill fastened to il. a
scream. II, II from Il locomotive, filed
tie h1v, while it tbra>6rtl and beat
the water into foam. All were how
intent on he rapiure of the wounded
monster. Reinforced bv nnmbrr uf
li-hing h"a'- from the store. the fyh,
brca,ne fierce. ilarpoons, boa'houk>
aad rrvO!yers cane into play. Nr.
Cuvii'ier e'npIyin- his uavv-sizpd
Cox" in'o the ANIMALS side, as they
showeu above the water. Ai.r three
hours struggle the prize was cap
luged ahh towtd ashore. Oa reach
Ing shallow water ropes were made
taS, 10 il. aud toe assistance of the
Villagers being brought into rrGuisi-
ton, i was hauled np on dry land.
IL. PITS APPEARANCE.
The body proper measured twenty
iwo feet ir length; lis girIb around
the widest part was eight feet ten
inches. Its head, shaped Ike that of
IA hor>e, was covered with thick ant!
husby hair, which hung over lis eyes
and forehead in great lunches. tie
eyes proiruIed Ike tho-e Of a lobster,
aud were as large a IL mans head
SIX larger fins. or npper-, three on
either side. measured iwo feet wide
wherr Ihcy joined the badly, aGd three
feet six inches wide on the outer edge.
One 'd these fins bad been torn by a
i"at-iook, and 20 This circumstance
;he capture was attributed From
The b,'dy Of this strange creature
long and eel-sbapcd tail was attached
giving IL the appearance of gigantic
pp!lyw"g. save that lbe entire color
was a bright scarlet.
~. VI AIRS MIGHTY ARM.
| will now try 10 drscfibe the sin
gle arm or anlenna, with which the
monster WAS armed. II was sixteen
feet long. and shaped like The trunk Of
an elephant. and measured f ur fee,
in circumference where il Joined tie
hudv. just behind ;be giIls, or breath
ing holes, in tie left side Of the GREAT
ure'S body This arm. or feeer, had
an immeIse pair of ciawS-not unlik.
those of lobster, except that they