The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-08-28
ONLY ONE SINCE rnE FLooD.

ONLY ONE SINCE THE FLOOD.
a Monster of a species Supposed to be
Extinct Killed In Paris Ansr 1t Had
slain Several Human Victims.
Once Wei.
For many years it is undeniably stat
ed that in the fourteenth srrondisss-
ment OF Parls-called tho tomb Of
Issoir-a number Of persons living in
that quarter had mysteriOusly and
periodically disappeared. The most
careful researches. the most minute in
buiriea, tho most skilltul agents Of the
police mad failed to discover the least
trace Of them.
Every year successfully some iuhabi-
tants OF this quarter would suddenly
disappear, leaving thoir friends over.
wheimed with grief aud anxiety. II Is
also stated that these strange, inexpli-
cable facts always occurred In the carly
spripg-irUm the Goth to the last OF
March-and without regard 10 age or
sex.
First a notary disappeared. II was
thought he had used his clients funds
and He'd 70 parts unknown. Then an
old woman, returning late one night
from market, was the next victim, then
n laborer going home from work. The
last victim had been young Glrl-a
| flower maker out delivering her goods.
From that timo she had rs completely
disappeared as II the earth had opened
and swallowed her up. Strange TO say,
no children had been among the VIC
tins
This peculiar fact was accounted for
in this way. These mysterious disap-
pearances always occurred late at night,
when the children were at homo asleep.
As the time was drawing near for these
periodical mysteries, the chief OF police
became very anxious. and instituted u
strict surveillance, conlding the matter
10 a number Of the most skillkul OF his
assistants, hoping the combined efforts
OF 30 many jealous agents would surely
be crowned with success. You will see
the result.
One night--this factcan DO verified by
applying TO tho office OF the project
urea policeman, about o'clock in tho
morning, heard q distant musical song,
which seemed To come from tho bowels
OF tho earth. He listened, and fancied
the sounds came from al opening in the
center OF the street, at tho foot Of an
enormous rock called the tomb Of ls.
soir, or the Giants cave.
1t may be interesting to state that
this rock derived Its name from legend
that great giant had boon buried there
many years before the Christian era,
and this rock had been placed there to
mark the tomb.
Surprised at this strange discovery
for the opening had never been noticed
beforo-the policeman waited, listening
10 this peculiar song, when ho suddenly
saw d Young man approaching lie
knew from his costume that he was a
.couutryman lately arrived in tho CITY,.
This Young man also seemed to hear
the subterranean sounds, first walking
slowly with peculiar wavering step,
as il in cadence with this musical chant,
then faster and faster rs he drew near
the fatal rock, until he ran with such
Velocity that in spite OF tho warning
cries OF the policeman lie was swallowed
up in this mysterious opening. With
ont taking a moment to consider the
policeman recklessly followed, first fir
Ing his revolver and giving ono or two
vigorous blasts on his whistle.
at this signal several OF his comrades
Quickly arrived. The musical chanting
had ceased. but thoy could hear in the
dark, cavernons depths tho muiiled
sounds Of q desperate struggle,
By tho aid OF ropes and ladders they
succeeded iu entering the mysterious
chsstn. Tho light OF their lamps re-
vealed sickenng sight, ..
Tho countryman was lying on his
back writhing in the grasp OF an un-
known monster, whose horrible aspect
froze tho agents OF police with terror:
Il was as large as a full grown terrier,
covered with war,like protHberaaces
and bristIing with coarse brownish hair.
Eight ioin,ed legs, terminated by for
midabie claws, were buried in tho body
Of the unfortunate victim. Tho face had
already disappeared. Nothing could be
seen but the top OF tho head, and tho
monster was now engaged in tearing
and sucking the blood from his throat.
As soon as thcy recovered from their
horror and surprise q dozen balls struck
the body of this san=uinary beust.
lie raised up on his logs, a groenish,
bloody LIQUID flowing from his wounds,
and, with u fricht!ul cry, expired.
Tho fret policeman. who hau giVcn
the alarm, was lying unconscious In one
corner Of tho cavern, whore no haa
fallen, distance OF 30 feet.
Il was with great difficulty thoy sue.
ceedel in removing the two bodies and
tile unknown monster from tho cavern.
Tho poor countryman was dead, but the
policeman was soon restored to life.
Tho agents Immediately sent toF the
commissioner Of police, who summoned
a naturalist in great haste.
The first established the identity OF
tho victim; tho second declared the
creature living before him was gigan-
tic spider. Tho species had been con-
siderrd extinct for Centurios-cVcr since
the days before tho delugo. It was
called iArachno giCans" and was said
to haye tho power OF nnticing its victim
bv a peculiar musical song. Mono had
been seen or heard Of for nscs, bnt it is
now believed sotuo Of these aanguinary
beasts still exist in tho dcepcst CALLER.
les Of tho catucOmbs.
The doad body Of tho spider was con-
viewed to tho Museum Of Natural His
tory, whore it was carefully stuffed aud
/ l. -t,tl