The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-01


Az already explained in previ,
known in history, and it is believes
theologians Of the country, that i
swallowed prophet Jonah. as no o
have accomplished the feat 1t is
pounds.
This mysterious monster Of Il
Nineteenth street, Rock Island. l
George II. Williams of the Yacht
The fish is Of wonderful interest
not alone on account Of its tremen-
dous size, but from a scientific and
geological standpoint as well, as 1t
is the only one Of its species ever
captured.
Captain Thompson was quick tc
recognize the great value of his
stupendous prize, and with charac-
teristic energy and foresight he at
once began the huge task OF pre-
! serving it To accomplish this
great task he displayed as much
courage and heroism as he did IN
| capturing the monster. AS a mat
ter of fact it required as much
nerve and fortitude to- preserve this
monster mass of flesh as 1t did to
capture, it in the terrific battle
| which lasted 80 hours.
Police Force Called Out
The crowd that swarmed around
the monster after it was gotten on
the wharf at Miami was so great
that in pure self-defense Cap
tain Thompson was forced to call
out the police force to maintain
order while he rugged up a canvas
screen around the creature. Two
men were kept busy for the entire
day passing the people in and out
so that all might have a chance to
see the monster.
In the meantime Captain Thomp-
son wired the authorities of the
| Smithsonian Institution at Wash
ington, advising them OF his re-
| markable capture and asking fol
advice and assistance in preserving
it. No response was forthcoming
the authorities evidently suspectine
that they were called on to deal
with another one of the big fish
stories" about which they were &C
customed to hear such exaggerated
statements at this season OF the
year.
Captain Thompson was beginning
to feel apprehensive regarding the
situation, whereupon DR.. Gudger, q
gentleman whose scientific attain
ments were not unknown in Wash.
ington, wired a confirmation of the
captain's remarkable claim, anc
strongly advised that in the interest
of science the Smithsonian Institu
ton should lend all possible aid IL
preserving such q rare specimen fol
the benefit of posterity.
Noted Professor Responds
The result was an immediate an
swer. with instructions as to the
nroper course to be pursued, and
also recommending that professor
J. s. Warmbeth, an eminent natural
list and expert taxidermist. who nae
ACCOMPANIED one Of Peary's polal
expeditions, be engaged to prepare
and mount the big fish. =,
But before Professor Warmbetl
could arrive" said Captain Thomp
son in relating the story OF hi
great undertaking. Il soon realized
that drastic steps had to be takel
IL I would save my prize.
1.-THE monstrous piece OF flesh. ~
ing there in the hot sun, was show
ing unmistakable signs OF decom
position. OF course. no kind OF f1sl
smells exactly like altar OF roses
no matter how fresh it may be, s
when people began complaining O
the odor and were edging ava
from it's vicinity, and when tn
board Of health took action and de
clared the carcass q menace to tn
health Of the community, l &c
busy right away.
Wires Undertakers For Help.
81 had already wired to all tn
J undertaking establishments on tn
east coast, from Jacksonville t
Key West. asking for assistance
; and also buying every gallon 9
tormaldehyde / could get.
1.-THE great lubberly carcass wa
gotten into the water and toWe
across Biscayne bay, 40 miles ou
to a desert sandpit, where, with tn
assistance of a number of hands.
set to work to save my prize.
"You may imagine what an ardu
Gus undertaking this was when :
tell you that the creatures hide wa
All of three inches thick and 8
tough we could hardly make an in
cision in its surface with our SHARP
| est knives. I tell you that We work
ed like Trojans night and day. 70
| the condition Of the CARCASS wa
getting worse all the time. Al
though the monster was nterall
de,uged with distinctions, 10 bal
| rels being required to complete th
lob. It was the most horrible ordea
| Of the kind I ever went through
and one that you may Be sure n
ouired an immense amount Of nefv
and fortitude to put over.
IL Attacked By Birds,
| while ve were working on Ii
carcass immense nocks Of gull
carbon crows and other sfniste
birds OF Prey, drawn there by th
| all-penetrating odor Of the ANNA
Iiswifled around overhead tn cloud
| that almost darkened the sky.
eat Asst ~ paid littls attsntio
"a man uRnnnnen. N ehaV IA n