The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-16
HERE'S A SEA-M0NSTER.
HEAD LIKE A SHARK, TAIL LIKE A
SINGING RAY.

IL Was Caught by Capt. Moody of
Lishtship 10, I'm so Feet of Water,
Near the Mouth of Chesapeake
Bny-Clinging Under It's Bat-Lake
Fins Were Two Little Creatures of
the Same Kind--Prof. Brooks of
Johns Hopkins Thinks 1t Is a spe-
cies of Singing Ray-NothinS Like
1t 10 BE Found in the Books.
Baltimore, June 1A-Lightship No. 40,
anchored off Cape Charles at the mouth
of Chesapeake Bay, has made a catch
that is puzzling the naturalists who have
seen 1t. 1t was a triple catch. for the
creature that Capt. William Moody
brought up on his hook had two small
members of its family attached to its
as fsh, reptile or animal is a point stu
awaiting decision, but all who have seen
them agree that they are the most hid
eous monstrosities ever given up by the
oceans waters.
Time hangs heavy on the hands OF the
lightship crew, obliged as they are to be
on station day In and day out for months
ut time without changing their loca-
ton. and they frequently drop over a
fishing line to relieve the monotony. Capt.
Moody is considered one OF the expert
anglers of the crew, and generally bats
his hook in such a way as to get some
thing worth saving. At times 1t is a big
Goldfish which drifts down this way with
the Gulf Stream from the Banks, and oc-
casionally he pulls up shark and nm
tshes him with the hArpoon kept handy
for the purpose. One bright morning re-
Gently the Captain put on his hook a
tempting chunk of fat pork and cast
II overheard. taking care to put about
six inches OF steel chain between the
small rope used for the line and the hook
itself. He then lighted his pipe and began
TO fix some rigging which needed better
splicing. An hour or so later be thought
he would take a pull on the tackle and
see II there was anything at the other
end He pulled and felt very energetic
counter-pull. He took both hands and
braced himself. but 1t seemed as II a ton
of stone were on the other end.
Boys I've got a bite and it's a big
one" he yelled to a group OF the sailors
who were playing cards few feet away.
Most likely another shark" remarked
one OF them as he came to the Captains
aid.
etooo py Win ndfpoon anu Tackle. res
emily there doomed through the water
such head as no man aboard had ever
seen before. Great toggiing. ugly eyes
projected from IL. on either side of o
blnnt snnnt, and below was a mouth glis-
tening with a double-row OF teeth so for
rnidable that they might have put shark
10 flight. Then. as the monster slowly
rose two great FMS. looking like the wings
OF a bat, feebly beat about projecting
from thick. black. glistening body. Fin
aMy, a long, rope-like tan appeared,
thrashing the water into foam. The men
stared with wonder and horror at the
grisly appsrition. Then one Of them, with
tenderer nerves than his companions yell
ed: cut the line"
NO" shouted Capt Moody, that's my
devil and I'm going 70 have him aboard"
Hell be safer dead then" sold tho
man with the harpoon, casting his wea-
non.
II penetrated the back. killing the ere l.
ture almost instantly. After much dir
hculty the prey was hoisted aboard. when
two tiny replicas OF Il detached them
selves from beneath It's folded nns, and
Topped about the deck lashing their long
tails In few minutes they were dead.