The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-07-19
RATHER PISHY.
The Strange Monster two Fish ermen
Captured in the Cumberland.


The Strange Monster two Fish ermen
Captured in the Cumberland.
Nashville American. 18th.
A strange marine monster was
brought 10 this city, yesterday, aud
will he put on exhibition this *
in building near the square. Bill
Orley and Dick Moley, two Did fish.
ermen, caught it in the river jusl
above the water-w0rks few DAYS
ago, and since that time it has been
fastened secured y to the river bank
by stakes driven around its body, in
addition TO which it is hog chained
by the tail to the tank. When seen
III this position yesterday it appeared
to be about the size of large New
foundland dog. 1t has webbcd feet
that were attached to the body by
legs without joints. Its body and
back except the stomach is covered
with large diamond shaped bon,
scales. The long, coarse yellow hair
growing out of these scales and the
skin, which bulges out in welts hes
tween the scales, hangs together like
that on All AngOra goat, and is AS
coarse and tough as vocOanut skin fl
bers. But its mouth is we'll worth
detailed description. 1t is certainly
the most hideous opening that is de.
veloped i'll the countenance of any an
imal extant, or told about by scien,
lists. 1t is about the size of that of a
large alligator, but shaped like that
of a shovel>nosed shark, being very
blunt at the end. And the teeth!
There are no less than three rows of
them IN both the upper and lower
part of the mouth. The teeth are all
short, diamond shaped and Jagged,
the upper rows fitting iuto the lower
rows, and the jaws working laterally
SO as to make the teeth grind to pow.
der every thing that falls into them.
The reptile, devil fish, or whatever it
is, crawls sideways like crab, and It's
eyes are placed one above the other
in the top of the skull, and bu.ges out
like the pegs on hat rack. There are
no lids to To the eyes, SO that the ami
NAL cannot wink, but it pops its eyes
III an out of the sockets 50 fast wneu
the monster is angry that the noise
made by this working Of the eyes is
similar to the sound made by cows
feet when the animal is walking in
soft, deep mud. The tail Is shaped
like that Oh a beaver, and is covered
with warts of various sizes, smallest
being about the size of dime, AMI
the largest about the size Of a half
dollar. Each of these warts seem to
possess the power of moving separate
ly from the other, and when the whole
mass gets working it is something
frightful to behold. 1t has rather
more the appearance of swarm Of
bees hanging from the limb Of tree
than anything else, and is altogether
the most sickening sight imaginable.
The whole animal is covered with
thick green slime which seems to ooze
out of its body. and especially its tail,
where it seems to originate from the
centre of the small mouths or open
ings, one of which is in the centre of
each of the warts mentioned, When
prodded with a stick the animal snaps
its eyes, grinds its teeth, and each p; r.
ticular hair stands on end, and every
inch of its body seams to writhe,
sIuirm and jerk on its own account
and in the manner and direction that
seems to give it the most comfort.
The tongue is forked and Hack ana
darts i'll and out like that of sea