The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-28
NEW SEA MONSTER
IS SFOUR-LEGGED
Amphibious Freak Is Fin
less and Fur Coated-It
Travels by Bounding

No one is asked to believe this yarn
The author of 1t himself says so. for it
is about a new and altogether astonish-
ing sea monster seen ON the west coast
of Tasmania-a four-legged thing with
a dog-sized head, a we'll groomed fur
coat and lively, bounding habit of
travelling. 1t disappeared in the sea. But
to begin
The story is told by Hartwell Conder
the Tasmania state mining engineer
and printed In Australian papers just re-
ceived in this country. says the London
Daily News Mr.. Conder, who is en-
gagged in offio;al prospecting in the lit
tie known country between Masquarie
harbor and Port Davey was so i'm
pressed by the thing, as vividly de-
scribed to him by two of his companions
that he hurried the news along to head
quarters over the telegraph wires. The
monster, he confesses at the very start
was so strange that the men who saw
It and l myself anticipate quite cheer
Ally the smiles and incredulty of those
%4o read this account" He adds, phil
osophically, mo one is asked to believe
it"
"The ANIMAL he proceeds to relate,
was seen by Oscar Davies, foreman
prospector, and his mate (W. Harris),
who are working under myself. I
have known both of them for consider
able number of years and can guarantee
absolutely their sobriety, intelligence and
accuracy. They were walking along the
| coast on April 20, just before sundown
| on a calm day, with small waves rolling
| in and breaking on the shore, when at a
distance of about half mile they no.
| ticed a dark object under the dunes
which surprised them by showing signs
| of movement.
..They advanced toward itfand finally
came within gunshot. When about 40
yards off it rose suddenly and rushed
down into the sea. After getting out
about 30 yards it stopped and turned
round, showing only the head above five
seconds and then withdrew under the
water and disappeared
"The characteristics are summarized as
follows
1T was 10 feet long.
"It had very small head, only about
the size of the head of kangaroo dog.
1T had thick, arched neck, passing
gradually into the barrel of the body.
1T had no definite tail and no fms.
ut was furred, the coat in appearance
resembling thai of a horse of chestnut
color we'll groomed and shining.
1T had four distinct legs.
1T Travelled by bounding. e., by arch
ing its back and gathering up it's body.
so that the footprints of the fore feet
were level and also those of the hind
feet
'-1t made definite footprints These
showed circular impressions with a di-
ameter (measured) of nine inches.
There was no evidence for or against
webbing The creature Travelled
very fast. A kangaroo dog followed it
hard in its course to the water. dis
tance of about 70 yards, and In that dis
tance gained about 80 feet. When first
it's hind legs. Its height, standing on
the four legs, would be from three feet
six inches to four feet.
Both men are quite familiar with seals
and so-called sea eopards that occur on
this coast They had also seen before
and subsequently pictures of sea lions
and other marine animals, and can find
no resemblance to the animal that they
saw.
..Such are the details,' concludes Mr..
Conder. when the humorists have en-
joyed themselves at our expense the men
of science may be able to connect this
account with others which have come
forward from time to- time of strange
beasts in our oceans. That no imprint
was taken of the footprints. and no mark
ing out made of the form in the sand
no one regrets more than we do. The
next tide swept over them. and they are
gone