The Bessemer indicator., 1893-07-22
A DEEP SEA MONSTER.
A DESPERATE FIGHT MANY
FATHOMS BELOW.
A Monster Eight Feet Long Tries to
Claw Him to Picrc--Hc Managed to
XIII the Thing with His Trusty Knife
Unlimited Number of Legs.

Sailors are said to be superstitious,
and perhaps they are. yet who is the
landlubber who has not read Jules
Verne or Victor Hugo's '.Toilcrs OF the
Sea-" The, monster described was
identical with the octopus Or giant
squid. Once in while newspapers
contain articles about sea monsters
and their doings. So, TOO, Newfound
land men and men living on the
coast OF Maine relate that living in
the deep and silent caves of the sea
is a huge lobster resembling the
smaller fish in structure, but being
very voracious. 1t is said that he
seldom comes near the shore, but
that enormous lobster shells are
sometimes found thrown up on shore
after gale. All Northern fisher
men have heard OF the monster. and
have seen them shiver in tho
cuddles of their fishing smacks us
some one describes the size and
appearance of the fish. Never having
seen it myself, i do not know how far
the general impression is correct,
but have no doubt that it exists,
and will relate the story us it was
told me by Il Newfoundland diver:
when the Anglo Saxon, n ship
laden with costly merchandise, as
many will remember. ran into Chance
Cove. on tho Newfoundland coast
striking reef and sinking, the gov
ernment at once took steps to have
all that the unfortunate vessel con-
tanned removed. There were over 100
persons on board, but not single
one escaped.
LAS soon us possible divers were
brought to the spot, but it was ditii-
cult to go down. The first day we
got below we could do little but lay
out the plan OF operations. The ship
was on her side, the stumps of the
masts turned toward land. l had
never gone down before in water SO
far north, and the place was SO wild
that was timid. Lines were at
tached to our bodies and the ends
fastened in the skiif above. so that II
any diver pulled his line he was at
once drawn to the surface. We
walked around the bottom and around
the ship with our feet weighted to
keep us from rising. The water was
pale green, and ] could notice OBJ
jects quito plainly for many yards
distant. There was huge break in
the bottom OF the ship. while her
stem was STAYED in, and so was her
stern.
"One afternoon while my two men
remained above repairing their div
ing apparatus ] went down alone.
We were now removing the bales
from the after compartment by the
break in the stern. Tho method OF
raising the goods was to lower down
heavy hooks, which could be fastened
outside. Some Of these bales or
cases would float and some would
rest lightly on the bottom ] had
selected large case which / was
about to move when. happening to
turn my eyes. saw outside huge
creature moving toward the vessel.
had never seen anything like it be-
fore. Its body seemed to be several
feet high and about eight feet long
and il had on each side an enormous
arm.
"There seemed to be an unlimited
number OF legs attached to the hid
eous beast. Its color was dull
brown. notified over with dark soots.
Two round, shining black eyes were
in it's forehead, pnd two supple
horns, each resembling an enormous
whip, likewise came out OF his head.
All this noticed in one glance. A
numb terror seized me. and involun-
tarily | moved for the outlet from
the ship. But. as il knowing what |
intended, this brute, looking straight
at me with its fright'ul, motionlcss
eyes, walked or rather crawied di-
rectly toward me. hurried, in the
hope of being able To seize the hang