The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-05-22
CAPTURE OF A DEvlL-FISH.


Struggle with . Me.sssr Of sAs
fseiae Oesan-
psun IL v.,e,o Ccal caruascss>
An officer Of the flagship Pensacola, Of
the Pacific squadron, writing from on La
Paz, Lower California, December 3. com
municates an interesting account OF the
pursuit and capture OF an enormous sea
monster resembling Victor Hugos famous
devil-6sh. The writer Says:
The most exciting event OF our cruise
thus far was the capture to-day Of an I'm.
mense dev.i-fsh. Ever since our arrival
In these waters several huge hsh have
been observed in the vicinity OF the ship,
and much speculation has arisen ~ TO
what they were. On making his APP
pearance this afternoon our gunner, Mr..
George :. Cushman. decided to establish
mis- identity il possible. and accompanied
by Assistant Engineer Edwards, Nidship-
masters Clerk Spauliing, gave chase IN
the dingy. The hsn. swimming slowly
and near the surface Of the water, which
is yery clear here. looked like great
shapeisss brown mas. frequently throw
ing above the waves the white tips Of its
sides like the dorsal nm Of a shark. IL al
loved the boat to approach within a few
wards Of 1t without showing any symp-
toms Of alarm, when IL suddenly sounded.
The harpoon, thrown by Mr.. Cusnman.
struck, out not with sufficient force TO
hold, for the Ash freed itself and disap-
peared. after dragging the boat with great
velocity for several seconds. Another vas
seen, however, after a short search. and
was approached more successfully. As 1t
showed An indifference to our presence
equally great TO that Of its companion, We
pulled the boat directly over. and no more
than foot or two above II, and Mr.. Cush-
man. standing in the bow, plunged the
harpoon firmly into lis flesh. In an IN
slant that seemingly passive mass WAS
transformed into an infur,aied mo nsteS,
which fret threw itself bodily ont Of the
water, and then, settling down to business
sent the harpeon line whining out al
rate that would have made 1t decidedly
uncomfortable for ne had II become foul:
The strain soon came upon the dingy, and
as We were whisked along with the speed
Of an express train, we felt as though We
had applied the match 20 some mine. or
that We had been taken in tow by the gen
tleman in black himself. II WAS ride
that for novelty and speed could rarely be
equaled. Imagine our situation. IN hight
boat, with such a monster attached to IL.
which, as II rushed along, now on the sur
face, and again diving deep, threatening
10 upset us among the sharks. and YOU can
realize the intense excitement Of the mo-
ment. The only available thing in the
boat, bucket, had been made fast 10 the
HARMON line 10 offer some additional as
s,s,ance. but the fish seemed 10 regard Il
no more than a feather, and with the
buckei ont of s,eht under the water, con-
tinued 10 draw ms nm and down the bay at
| full speed. During all thi. time its efforts
had been confined 10 an effort 30 escape,
but as IT'S load grew heavy IL became bel
Iiperent. and several times turned upon
| the boat. exhibiting the full capacity of a
mouth some two feet in diameter, and
lasbinv the boat with its sides. We made
IN our minds that IL the fish decided 20
ump into the dinyy. We would Quietly
sin over on one side as he appeared al the
other. But . vigorous resistance from
boat-hook. and oars induced him 10 re-
sumo his fight IN each instance. By this
time all hands on the shin were watching
the struggle. and the whale-boat was sent
| 10 our assistance; but for fully an hour
both boats. dashed together, were tow.d
without signs OF exhaustion from the fish.
the thrust Of boarding pixies seeming only
to accelerate is speed. Finally its immense
exer.ions told upon IL. and II came 10 the
surface directly between the two boats.
where /, was placed hor. de combat by
blows from an az. and dyeing the wafer
crimson with il. blood. was towed ashore
and dragged upon the beach Y required
| tn. united exertion of nearly forty men %
| accomplish this Undertaking.
| A more formidabl. looking monster than
TIM. devil Gsh could hardly be- imagined.
| IL was shaped somewhat like AN immense