The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-08-20
AN ABLE JULY MONSTER
Fishermen Not Only Saw Ii, But
Were Soaked With Water by
81. Louis Globe. Democrat.

A party of FIVE persons, all gentle
men, arrived at Gallena, ILL.,, last Fri
day, form q four days visit to Fish
Tramp Lake about three miles below
this city, place not only famous
among anglers hereabouts, but as
being the same body Of water in
which was discovered the huge SER
pent, fish which created so much ex-
oitement among people generally and
discussion among naturaiists especial
ly. about ten years ego.
The Intense interest which was
then excited has been greatly mag
nified by the fact that this particular
monster, Judging from reliable and
dssmied accounts that have been re-
ceived, has again made his appear.
ance, and was seen by every one Of
the five gentlemen comprising the
party above referred 10 On the after
noon Of the day previous to their de
parture. 49,"
ave we're out 10 the middle of the
AXE trolling for salmon and pike"
said ole OF the number Oh being
questioned, "and we're drifting along
almosz imprecepiibly on its perfectly
smooth surface toward the western
extremity, propelled by tho light
bretzs prevailing from the east,
when suddenly the water about us
became fearfully ag,tated, the boat
commenced TO hease and rock, and
sc were wondering, with blanched
faces, what could be the cause of the
phenomenon. when, before a single
word could be uttered, sight pre-.
sented itself which not one of US
will ever forget to our dying day,
though we live to be as old as Methu-
selah. Can / describe it in detailf
said the narrator in response to an
inquiry. "Yes, TOR itso wildly i'm.
presetd itself upon my mind that,
we're / an artist, ! could draw the
scene with Iifelike perfection and ac'
lcuracy. was looking down into the
lake from the stern sheets ofthe boat
to discover, if possible, some cause
for the singular movement Of the
xater, which threateded to submergt
lus, when, like dash, there emerged
from its SEEKING breast, and moi
more than ten rods away, half fish
half serpent monster, fully thirty fee
lin length, the exposure from extremi
lty to extremity being complete as j
isy upod the wafer after reaching tn
surface.
Its appearance was hsrsiicd b!
about from the huge creature ex
sctly like that OF 8 fftifpl horss
which sent column .. water int
1.-THE air ike the spuuting Of q whale
the mist from which completely So tu
rated cur clothing. The he. d an
body Of the animal to its middl
were shaped like that Of sturgeon
, With long, narrow 'cp I'm aud fol
ward fin on either side just back
the gills. The eyes were black an
, b, al. like and Two holes for sp1utin
or throwing water were plainly dc
cernible on top OF the head. III
body from the centre to the after ez
/ tremity was that Of o serpent, with
out fms Of any kisd, the tail tapel
, ling TO a point Ike that Of o pill
snake.
"The hideous monstroslty lay pror
4 upon the water for hslfa dozen SCI
onds or more, when it starred Tor Oh
: mouth Of the lake, swimming wit
great velocity, ils body partly out I
!, the water. Stricken with awe mil
gled with terror, we watched IL
J. silence until it passed out into ii
: Mississippi. when it dove downwal
Oh reaching The channel aud vi
seen 10 more. Fortunately, Ada
Bell, q Trustworthy gentleman Of th
q city, was with Us, aud was also oil
Of tho party who discOyered the hu.
j. marine mons,rosity Of tee years 81
and describes It as being identical
+, the sane in size and general appea
! ance 10 that which we witnessed Il
:. afternoon before We struck camp 4
" Galena, and expresses the opiniC
, that iis home Is in one Of the pa
- TALLY submerged cayerns viii
abound along the bayous ia the :
b cinity Of New California"
10 A remarkable thing, il may
ir said, about Fish Trap lake Is is G
IRENE depth, the bottom 10 sor
D. places never having been reach
With any Of the lines used in Souu
ing. II sets directly back IRON I
b, Mississippi river, aud isa mile and
quarter in length and half mile
breadth. its banks being border
with heavy timber and thick shru
=. tery. Its junction with the MissI
!. lippi Is formed by a mouth thirty
' forty rods wide. IL was formerly
yeritable haven for anglers, but ali
the discovery Of the half.fsh q
be half-seTpent monstrosity Of ten yeI
ago II has been deserted, except
j" the more intrepid Eportsmen.
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