Year: 1877

A few weeks ago the Globe Democrat
contained an account of a wonderful


aquatic monster which was seen in the


Mississippi river, near Quarantine station


opposite the government dixie. The


strange reptile was described by a num-


ber of persons who saw it as having
head similar to that of dog and the bill


of a pelican, through which 1t spouted


stream OF water in the manner of a whale.
1t was observed to disport itself in the
water for ten minutes, and then to disap-
pear from view. The monster was re-
ported TO be all the way from thirty to
one hundred feet in length. OF course,
there were a large number of people
ready to discredit the story, notwithstand


ing it was duly attested by many credible
witnesses, prominent among whom was
Mr.. Egan, one of the employees on the
dixie works, well known for his probity of
character. Though a sharp lookout has
beer kept up by the people living in the
vicinity, no sign Of the curious animal
has been discovered since it disappeared, ,
and even those who felt certain that had
seen it began to suspect that they
were the victims of too lively imagina-
tion. But circumstance happened re-
Gently which no longer permits doub.
that such monster does inhabit the wa
ters of the Mississippi, and that it is of

even more fearful proportions than were
at FIRST attributed TO it. On that day a
German farmer named Jacob Erst, living
miles below St. Louis, was riding along
the river bank, when he discovered an
unusual and singular object stretched out
on the sands, close by the waters edge.
The river bank at this point is very low,
starting at the edge of the water with a
wide sand bar and extending at least 100
feet before reaching the low bluffs that
serve as outer banks. Erst first took the
object to be an immense cottonwood log
or tree that had been washed ashore by
the last food but seeing that it moved,
he soon disceraed that it was an animate
being of most nonstrous DIMENSIONS
Somewhat overcome by fear and excite
ment he galloped away in haste, and,
reaching a neighbours house, few hun
dred yards distant, related this discovery.
Upon brief consultation it was decided
that the neighbor and his two grown sons
t. 10 al,
and see whether the monster was real or
fancied. Arriving at the spot indicated, ,
the reptile was discovered still stretched
out 'on the sand, and not more than n
hundred feet from where the men stood q.
II was the meridian of day, and the sun
pouring down it hottest rays. The mon
ster lay in the sand, summing himself, and
evidently oblivous to all surroundings.
A hasty survey was taken by the party,
and it was agreed that it was at least sew
enty feet in length. The head, as de-
scribed originally by Eagan, was shaped
much like that Of dog, but Mr.. Erst
maintains that it bore a still greater re-
semblance 10 the sea lion though several
times larger. The pelican shaped bill
was also observable, and this was esti-
mated to be five feet in length, being very
sharp and pointed and having the appear
ance Of nh immense horn or tusk for use
in offensive warfare. The body was the
size of -four barrel and covered with
brown, shiny scales-as large as human
hand. Along the neck was also observed
the name, long and tangled like that of a
horse. 1t had six legs, and on each side
n huge fin for paddle. The tail was
long and gradually tapering TO the end,
was set off with spreading fan-like fin,
and the edges Of the tail were indented so
ms to give it the semblanco of a double
edged saw. Occasionally the monster
shifted its position as if to get more COM
fortably fixed, moving the feet carefully
and one at time and swinging the tail
around in way that threw the dry sand
in all directions. The horses that got a
sight at it reared and plunged so they had
TO be taken to the rear and be tied. The
men returning to make further observa.
tons. For ten minutes the monster lay
like gigantic Leviathan, with his short
angular legs outstretched and his immense
tail whipping the sand like mammoth
broom. With this exception no portion
of the body moved and he gave forth nc
sound save an occasional puff, loud and
sonorous, similar to that of the sea cow
The men watching it halloed at differen


times, hoping to arrest its attention, bu
it did not design to turn its eyes in thai
direction. A rife shot was fired by one
of the young men, James Stevens, haC
no more effect than if it had been a drov
OF water, the ball gancing off and falling
out into the river. Finally the men con
cluded to descend the bank and approach
it from the rear. This they did will
great caution, but had not proceeded
more than thirty feet along the sand whel
the monster, for the Iirst time, discovered
that enemies were near and began NOV
ing. The outstretched legs were draw
up under the ponderous body, wh:cl
swayed moment or two like floatini
log, and then, with a sudden motion
turned completely over, its new position
being within five feet OF the water. Tn,
men seeing it was about to escape int
the river, opened brosdside with thre


rifles and shotgun. 1t was evident tina
the leviathan felt the yollov for ha uttar
ed deep and tremuous snort as If in pai


and rolled over again, this time landin


in shallow water. Immediately turning


his head toward the current, he made ra
pid progress from the shore, putting wit
horrd noise and spouting water four o