Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-27
MONSTER OF ISSOIR.
MYSTERY OF THE FOURTEENTH Ar.
RoNDIssEMENT OF PARIS.

singular Disappearance Of Many Inhabit-
ants Of the Quarter-Enticing Its Vic.
Tins With BIusic-Death Of the Gir.ntis
Spider.
For many years it is undeniably stat
ed that in the fourteenth arrondisse-
ment of Paris-called the tomb of Issoir
"a number of persons living in that
quarter had mysteriously and periodic
ally disappeared. The most careful re-
searches, the most minute inquiries, the
most skillful agents of the police had
failed to discover the least trace of them.
Every year successfully some inhab-
ltants of this quarter would suddenly
disappear, leaving their friends over
whelmed with grief and anxiety. 1t is
also stated that these strange, inexpli-
cable facts always occurred in the early
spring-from the Goth to the last Of
March-and without regard to age or
sex.
First notary disappeared It was
thought he had used his clients funds
and fled to parts unknown. Then an old
woman, returning late one night from
market. was the next victim. then q Ia
borer going home from work The last
victim had been q young girl-a flower
maker out late delivering her goods.
From that time she had as completely
disappeared as if 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 We're at home asleep.
AS the time was drawing near for one
of these periodical mysteries the chief
of police became very anxious and in
stituted strict surveillance, confiding
the matter to a number of the most skill
full of his assistants, hoping the COM
bined efforts of so many jealous agents
would surely be crowned with success.
You will now see the result.
One mght-this fact can be verified
by applying to the Office of the prefec-
ture-a policeman about 3 O'Clock in the
morning heard distant musical song,
which seemed to come from the bowels
of the earth. He listened and fancied
the sounds came from an opening in the
center of the street, at the foot of an
enormous rock called the tomb of Is
soir, or the Giants cave.
1t may be interesting to state that this
rock derived its name from q legend
that great giant had been 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
before-the policeman waited, listening
to this peculiar song, when he suddenly
saw yourg man approaching. He
knew from his costume that he was q
countryman lately arrived i'll the city.
This young man also seemed to hear
the subterranean sounds, first walking
slowly with peculiar wavering step,
as if in cadence with this musical chant,
then faster and faster as he drew near
the fatal rock, until he ran with such
velocity that in spite of the warning
cries of the policeman he was swallow
ed up in this mysterious opening. With
out taking moment to consider the
policeman recklessly followed, first fir
ing his revolver and giving one or two
vigorous blasts on his whistle
AT this signal several of his comrades
quickly arrived. The musical chanting
had ceased, but they could hear in the
dark, cavernous depths the mufflcd
sounds of n desperate struggle.
BY the aid of ropes and ladders they
succeeded i'll entering this mysterious
chasm. The light of their lamps reveal.
ed sickening sight.
The countrynan was lying on his
back writhing in the grasp of an un-
known monster, whose horrible aspect
froze the agents of police with terror.
1t was as large as a full grown ter
rier, covered with wartlike protuber.
ances and bristling with coarse brown
ish hair. Eight jointed legs, terminated
by formidable claws, We're buried in the
body of the unfortunate victim. The
face had already disappeared. Nothing
could be seen but the top of the head,
and the monster was now engaged in
tearing and sucking the blood from his
throat
As soon as they recovered from theil
horror and surprise dozen balls struck
the body of this sanguinary beast.
He raised up on his legs, greenish,
bloody liquid flowing from his wounds,
and, with friShtful cry, expired.
The first policeman, who had giver
the alarm, was lying unconscious in one
corner Of the cavern, where he had fall
en-, distance of 80 feet
1t was with great difficulty they sue
ceeded in removing the two bodies and
the unknown monster from the cavern
The poor countryman was dead, but tht
policeman was soon restored to life.
The agents Immediately sent for the
commissioner of police, who summoned
q naturalist in great haste.
The first established the identity o.
the victim; the second declared tn,
creature lying before him was gigantic
spider. The species had been considered
extinct for centuries-ever since tn,
days before the deluge 1t was called
'Arachne gigans" and was said to hav'