Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-08
AGALVEsTON FISH STORY.
"a Debbil-Fish on de Cable,
BY Gar"
Galveston NeWs.l

Galveston News.l
Last winter the American ship Lam
caster, while at anchor in the outer
roadstead Of this port, caught fire, and
after burning to the waters edge,
sank. In addition to a large number
of bales of cotton, the lower hold Of
the vessel was filed with cotton seed
oil cake and bone dust. The cotton
not destroyed by fire was recovered
by means OF divers, but the oil cake
and bone dust we're left in the hulk as
not worth saving. For some time
past myriads of fish have frequented
the wreck, doubtless attracted thither
by the oil cake, on which they fed,
and afforded great sport to anglers
from the city. Yesterday the smack
Rinaldo, under command Of Captain
Leon st. Marie, who was accompanied
by several friends, lett the central
wharf for the purpose offshing at the
wreck, and did so in spite of the fact
that the air was a little raw and the
sea outside somewhat lumpy, for cap
tain and crew had been down to the
sea in ships before. The party ar
rived at the wreck in safety, and were
soon busily engaged in hauling in
trout, reddish and whiting, as fast as
they could bait their lines, when sud
denly there was a great commotion
in the water in the immediate prox.
unity Of their craft, the hawser at
tached to the anchor was straight
ened out, and the yacht began to move
through the water at q rapid
rate, being towed by some submarine
monster which had fastened on the
anchor. Had any OF the party been
inexperienced landsmen, they might
have thought that the twin brother of
the whale which laid its bones to rest
on the sandy shore of Hanna's reef
some years since had come hither and
was trying to wTeak his vengeance on
them for the u%ncivil reception be-
slowed upon its relative on that mem
orable occasion, but, as remarked be-
tore, the parties were novices at sea;
or at least one of them had pl0wed the
Spanish main before eight-gun brigs
aud armed schOoners had gone out Of
date, and knew every bay and inlet in
the gulf, from the capes of Florida TO
YuOatap. Captain st. Marie was the
man, He had not visited the hecta.
comb of turtle shells erected to the
memory Of his countryman, Jean La
itte, on the island of Muquise, or hob
nobbed with Kelly, the Celtic king of
Cozumel, in the old blockade-running
days, for nothing. Like some Calves
ton politicians he knew, or thought
he knew, "a thing or two" and imme.
diately said, as the boat scooted
onward propelled by an unseen agency,
"A debbil-fsh on de cable, by gar p
The course Of the yacht was at first
straight out to sea, and was continued
for at least three miles, when some Of
the party desired to cut the cable, and
make sail for town; but to such a pro-
ceeding Captain st. Marie demurred
in the most forcible language, going so
faF az to -" his eyes if he is going
! to lose his anchor by slipping cable
in fact, he said he would as soon 20 to
Davy Jones locker With his sea-boots
on as to do such an unsailQrlike thing.
Finally, the unknown motor of the
yacht changed its course in the direc-
ton Of Point Bolivar, and ran to
within a mile and a half Of the beach,
where, just as the sun was sinking, il
suddenly released its grasp on the
cable, and the yacht came to a stop as
the anchor caught holding. ground.
The party then made sail and returned
to the city, landing at Kuhn's wharf
about 9o'clock last night. Some time
later a reporter saw Captain St. Marie
and obtained the above particulars
The captain expresses the opinion
that the monster having hold of the
cable was nothing mose nor less thar
? deyil -dish, and says he is perfectly
familiar with the creature and itl
habits, having met it frequently in The
vicinity OF Nassau, in the island OF
New Providence, off the capes Of
Florida, and In the Caribbean. buI
says he has never before known of auS
in this vicinity except small ones.
II speals for itself; is what a lad,
said Of DIR. Bulls cough syrup IN,