The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-06
FISH WHICH HAD HANDS.
QUEER EXPERIENCE OF THE CREW
OF THE ABBY GHEEN.

From the Philadelphia Times.
Capt Gheen OF the schooner Abbie Gheeu,
now lying at Bulson street wharf, Camden,
saw strange things of Cape Ha.teras on his
voyage TO this port. He does not claim TO
have seen the SEA serpent, but be did see
a number of monsters of the deep that put
all well-credited sea stories in the shade.
The captain is a man whose veracity is not
doubted The captain brought his vessel
from Rio de Janeiro, and it was when twenty
miles north of Cape Hatteras that he ran
into a school of sea monsters such as he had
never before seen.
The monsters were sighted by one of the
crew. They were nearly 100 yards ahead
OF the vessel and were apparently rushing
toward her. When first seen by the sailors
they thought the ship was running into a
floating island, some of which are often
seen at sea. They soon changed their
minds, however, when they got closer and
saw big fish that no one could recognize
as having seen before. The school opened
to let the ship pass and then at once closed
in and followed her. They foated all
around her and greatly impeded her pro-
gress
Although the vessel was going at speed
of seven knots an hour, the monsters fol-
lowed along in its wake and several more
ones SEEMED 10 CLUTCH lOlQ OF Dn6
vessels side and let itself be carried along.
After they had followed the boat for
several hours the crew began to grow I'M
easy as to their safety, and called upon the
captain, who heretofore had not been aware
of the chase
He sent for his glass and, going aft, made
survey of the school, which he describes as
resembling a low rocky island. He said
they were larger than the average sized
sharks, being about ten feet in length and
varying from the size of bucket to a tub
in circumference. They seemed TO De run
ming a race, and were having a great battle
among themselves.
They had four long arms, on the end of
which were claws that resemhled the hands
of an ape. These arm-like things extended
from each side of the body. Discovering
that they were a new species of fish, he i'm
mediately communicated the fact to the
first mate with orders to try and capture
some of the strange monsters.
The mate gave orders to the crew, who
were more or less frightened, but were
waiting the chance to "skeer" the brutes,
and when they were told of the captains
orders they nearly jumped out of their
shoes. The boat was searched for weapons,
and soon the deck was covered with har-
poons, boat hooks, fish hooks and every
other kind of implement used in catching
fish.
the boat-hooks were first used in their
attempt to catch the fish, but unsuccessfully.
The fish seemed to know what was needed
of them, and they used their 'handsn to
protect themselves from being caught.
Groups of two aud three of the monsters
would grab the rod of the b7at-hook and
pull them away. Eight of these hooks were
taken from the sailors. The arms of the
fish were about six feet long, said Capt.
Gheen.
The sailors became alarmed. thinking that
some i'll omen had caused the serpents to
follow the ship, and they thought they were
going to be lost. They told the captain that
they thought the ship would never reach
port. Some rushed to the forecastle and
others to the captains cabin in their en-
deavors to escape from the supposed
"Jonahs"
By this time the fish had become more
daring, and would swim alongside the boat
and grab the sail lemons and traces. At last
the captain became so exasperated at the
men that he ordered them to cast the lines
which they use in catching drum and stur-
geon. This the crew reluctantly did. The
lines were baited with huge pieces of cod
fish and cast over the side. They were
handled by the fish the same as they handled
the boat-hook. They would grab the line.
with their hands" and try to tear them
apart, and if one was not successful two or
three others would come to his aid.
All the time we were trying to capture
one of them, " said the captain, "they would
keep up yell that sounded like the bark of
a coyote. AT last the men were successful
They had indeed caught one of the fish, and
they began to haul him in. When the re-
naming fish saw their captured brother
they made great efforts to rescue him. They
grabbed at him while the men were hauling
him up along the side of the boat, and once
or twice one of them succeeded in getting
his claws over the fore rail. At last we
had him on deck, and such hilarious yell
as the crew gave out at that happy moment,
and the scene on deck, is indies cribable.
THE captured monster foundered all
over the deck, but his maneuvers were
quickly stopped by the use of an ak; we
soon cut his head off. In another hour we
had caught two more of the huge mons .ers,
but these must have been young ones, as
they were a great deal smaller in size
than the rest, and probably did not know
how to evads the hook
This was strange monster" said Capt
Gheen. 1.-THE body was round, and about
the size Of small barrel, and the back was
covered with thick scales, resembling the
SC ales of gumtish, while the belly resem-
bled the hide of a porpoise. The head was
about as large as an ordinary sized bucket,
and was norrifying to gaze upon. The eyes
were as large as a dollar and greenish in
color They made my blood run cold when
| saw them.
1--WE all held consultation and decided
to have the fish cooked. One of them was
carefully cleaned and cut into huge chunks,
and ordered the cook to prepare it for
supper. l thought that they would not be
fit to eat and ordered the others thrown
overheard, which was done. But weren't
in the water ten seconds before the
others, which were still following us,
began battle over which should have
the feast. They grabbed them with
their hands and in the battle a number
of others were killed. and in their wild
attempt to get a meal they chased after
one Of their dead number and they were
lost from our view in short time and we
continued our voyage unmolested.
But t. go back TO the eating of fish.
Why, when the pot stew was served up no
one could tell it from a mess of boiled cod
fish, and when boiled by itself tasted like
shad."
Capt Lehman Lake, who for a number
of years commanded the pleasure yacht of
W. l.. Elkins of the Atlantic Refining Com
pany, states that three years ago, while
cruising in South America, he had similar
experience.
Origin Of "5is Names Dennis"
From the Pittsbwrg Dispatch.
Whence, by the way. comes the phrase,