Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-02-24
At Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 14O register
ed letters were stolen from a mail
pouch at the union depot.

ters, armed with sticks and scythes
with . regiment of Amazons bringing
up the rear. marching in order, with
their aprons filed with stones, assem-.
bic at the blast Of horns, which eau bs
heard for six miles. to resist the
landing Of the constablss. These con-
stables are charged with the eviction
OF the few crofters-mostly widows. it
10 sa'd-who cannot pay the arrears of
rent agreed upon in the settlement
with their laird. Beacon fires blaze on
the hilltops, and the islsnde,s threaten
to resist to the last. Here 10 splendid
chance for Mr.. VIM. Black to write a
new novel. With al open yacht, out
IN northern blizzard, managed by
wild-eyed, unkempt boys protecting a
tair English stranger. and Il few plo-
lures OF the ferocity and bravery of a
dossn crofter widows under the lurid
glare OF an immense fire upon crag of
Skye, and the thing would be done.
Tho Harpsrs ought to order it at once.
Robert Pratt, master in the u. 8.
navy. writes to Prof. Spencer F. Baird,
Of tho Smithsonian institute, that
while III command of the coast survey
schooner. Drift. August 20, 1878, S
miles north Of Race Point, Cape Cod,
Mass, weather calm, he saw at about
200 yards distant from the vessel some.
thing like an immense proboscis, stick
ing straight up out Of the sea about 80
feet high aud about as big around as
barrel. In color it was dark brown;
it seemed smooth. aud water poured
snt OF the top. While he was examin-
ing 1t with glass it curved gracefully
and disappeared in the sea. A half
hour later tho same thing again ap.
peared. but this time at an angle OF
about 20 degrees, running it's length
out of the water So or 40 feet, and
much nearer the vessel than before.
Mr. Pratt looked carefully but could
see no eyes nor mouth. In few mo-
ments tho monster beneath became
alarmed and moved off with great
speed leaving q heavy and we'll mark
ed wake behind 1t. As the great
trunk curved down to the water the
second time q narrow, tall flu appear
ID above the water, just at its base.
Mr.. Pratt says he is familiar with
whsles, and that the animal in question
could not have been a whale. The
question 10, what can be the size
aud appearance Of the monster which
has such q s"sneller" AZ the one describ.
ede When it Is remembered that the
truuk was longer than tho height of a
large two story house. and over two
Fset thick, the stupendous size of the
snimal may be better imagined. The
above we collate from Mr.. Pratt's
sttsr recently printed by Forest aud !
Stream. OF course the report coming
- 1t dues Is entirely reliable, and to
'how that tho observation is not an
'olated one, we aid Forest and
'tresms's editorial remarks as follows: |
-"ln connection with the above re-
bort the following Is of great interest:
We learn that IN 1869 Mr.. Charles
unkin. one OF the topographers of the
J. s. coast survey. while engaged in
work near Ma.m,cus,
If the coast Of Maius, observed, at a
distance Of about half a mile, what he
imposed to be . ships mast. sticking
traight out OF the water, and inclined
It moderate angle to the surface.
Ibis soon disappeared, leaving great
Wirl in the water, such as would be
ccasionsd BY the submergence of some
args mass. Nothing of this kind was
gain observed in the course of a
sojsurn in the borhood,
nd the existence OF any wreck in that
pot was stoutly denied"