Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-10
Mexican Gulf Monsters.

From the Galveston (Texas) News
The Cult of Mexico and Galveston bay are
both favorite resorts of many members of the
shark family, some of which attain large size,
there having been for exhibition at the
sherifi7s office for months the jaws of one of
these monsters, armed with three rowsof savage
teeth which when opened could easily be placed
over the shoulders OF large man. The mon
ster to which these sanguinary appendages per-
tanned measured when in good health l. feet
from tip OF nose to end of tail. Of the hundred
dlfferent species known perhaps half dozen
lnhaDlt these waters ana although both forml-
dable and repulsive in appearance there are
no well authenticated instances since the set
tleme1t OF the city CT their having attacked
man, although they are both voracious and
fearless when hungry, as the following incl
dent will show: Last summer, as the quar-
anime steamer Hygeia was coming in from
outside the bar, large school of PROPOSES
was playing round the vessel when the
them with an old fashioned 45caliber revolv-
er, and by a chance shot killed one. The YES
sci was stopped, the Porpoise. which would
stout moose around the tail, and lett hanging
over the ships side head down III the water.
Within q very few moments u huge shark,
probably eighteen feet in length, made a rush
Tor the porpoi>e, and, although fired upon cut
it in twain, and then shortly after made
another rush for the remainder, and bit that
In two just above the tail, which WAS left hang
ing, and made of, despite the fact that Two
pistol shots were fired in ITO its head without any
apparent effect. On the last rush the Shark 8
head was well out of water, and when fired on
was not more than three or four feet from tie
pistols muzZle.
No small degree of excitement was caused in
the city during the latter part of July, 1855, by
the visit to the Cult shores OF Il school of fish
known as the Cephutopterd canPyrus, or devil
fish, one of which was captured and placed on
exhibition. The fish captured measured eight
feet In length, and sixteen feet four inches in
breadth, and weighed several thousand pounds,
y description given at the time was as follows:
Head truncated in front ana provided with IA
pointed wing-like process separate from the
Pectoral fins, and seemingiy capable OF indepen-
dent motion. These wings, or nUrnS, provided
on either side OF the he ad are two ieet two
inches i'll length, triangular IN shape, resc mol
lnSS wings. making the transverse diameter of
the fish greater than the longitudinal with tail
included. These pectOrals from tip 10 tip
measure sixteen 1eet four inches, while the
BODY proper Is only eight feet i'll length and the
tail about three and Il half feet. The laws are at
the end of the head. The lower the more adj
Ndnced, and The transverse diameter of the
mouin measures Two feet ten inches. The eyes
are small and lateral, resembling those OF
ele pnant, and are situated on either outer side
ol the protTuuing wings, or frontal horns, and
are consequently about three ieet apart. The
tali Is elongated like whiplash, armed near
tue ROOT with "a prominently serrated spinal pro-
tuoefance. The teeth are small, numerous, HAT,
ana arranged IN many rows. The mouth when
opened could easily accommodate flour barrel.
lie nOStrliS are small ana are situated near the
angles OF the mouth, and openings when are
PROBABLY the ears, situated on the dorsitl as
pect OF the appendages OF the head behind the
eyes. Several large linear openings 1--WE on
each slde) are in the stomach. he skin is
Ioush 10 the touch, of ID DiackiSh brown, and
the belly White anu very Slllny,