2. The pros and cons

 

 

At the time these events occurred I was returning from a
em-lit scientific exploration in the badlands of Nebraska, in the United States.
In my capacity as substitute teacher of the Museum of Natural History in Paris, the government
French was de-legacy me to that expedition. After spending six months in Nebraska,
I arrived in New York, loaded with precious collec-tions, by the end of March. My return
France was set for early May. Pending from mo-ment,
I was busy classifying my mi-neralógicas, botanical and zoological riches. it was then
when the incident occurred Scotia.
I was well aware of the issue that dominated today. How
it could not be? I had read and reread every American and European newspapers, but
vain. The mystery intrigued me. Unable to form an opinion, it ranged from
end to end. There was something, there was no doubt as unbelievers inviting them to put
the finger on the Scotia.
Upon my arrival in New York, the problem was more than ever can-dente. The hypothesis
floating island, the elusive reef, held by some people little
compe-orities had already been abandoned. For, indeed, how could one
I pitfall navigate with a prodi-gious quickly without a machine inside? That quickly
when traveling is what also did reject the exis-tence of a helmet
Floating, the huge remains of a shipwreck.
There were thus only two possible solutions to the pro-problem solutions that congregated
two well dif-renciados sides: on one hand, those who believe in a monster of a force
colossal, and other, which is pronounced by a boat "submarine" of a great power
driving.
However, this hypothesis admissible after all, could not resist
investigations in both worlds. It was unlikely that a private individual
you-see his disposal a mechanical device that naturale-za. Where and when would
I could build it, and how you could keep secret its construction?
Only a government could have a similar machine de-structive. In these
disastrous times when man strives to increase the firepower
war is possible that a state can try to build such a weapon-Decree.
After the guns' chasse-pot "torpedoes; after the torpedoes, the rams
sub-sea; after these .... reaction. At least that can be expected.
But there were also abandoned the hypothesis of a war machine, to the
government statements. I case of a matter of public interest, since
transoceanic communications affected the sincerity of the governments could not be
questioned. Besides, how could he admitted that the construction of this boat
sub-marine had escaped the public eye? Secrecy in a matter
such is very difficult for a par-ticular, and certainly impossible for a State whose
accio-tions are stubbornly guarded by rival powers.
Following investigations conducted in England, Fran-cia, Russia, Prussia, in
Spain, Italy, America and even in Turkey, was definitively rejected
a submarine monitor hypothesis.
This brought the monster afloat again, despite the in-unemployed teasing with it
He peppered the press, and, in that way, the fevered imaginations were allowed to inva-dir
for the most absurd a fantastic phantasmagoria of ichthyology.
Upon my arrival in New York, several people had done me the honor of consulting me
on the phenomenon cues-ment. I had a work published in France in fourth and two
volumes, entitled The Mysteries of the great seabed, who had found a
well received by the scientific world. That book made me a specialist in that
domain, quite dark, of Natural History. Soli-cited my opinion, locked me in a
I could absolute negative while rejecting the reality of the fact. But soon cornered me
I was forced to explain categorically. "The honorable Pierre Aronnax, Professor
Museum of Pa-ris "was ordered by the New York Herald to formulate an opinion.
I had to avenirme it. No longer able to keep quiet any longer, I spoke. I discussed the issue
from all points of view, politically and scientifically. Very dense ar-ticle
I published in the issue of April 30, down hereafter I give an extract.
"So? I say ?, after examining one by one the various possible scenarios and
rejected any his-position, it is necessary to admit the existence of an animal
Mariner extraordinary power.
"The great ocean depths are full-mind us unknown. The probe has
could reach them. What's in those distant depths? What creatures inhabit? What beings
They can live to twelve or fifteen miles below the surface of the water? How are
bodies of those animals? Just can be conjectured.
"The solution that has been subjected me PUE-take the form of the dilemma. O
well we know all the varieties of creatures that populate our planet or not
We know. If you do not know them all, if Nature has still secrets for us
ichthyology, nothing more acceptable to admit the existence of fish or cetaceans species
or even new genres, an organization essentially adapted to large
funds that inhabit inaccessible to the probe layer and a acontenci-ment
either, a fantasy, a whim if you will, at long intervals leads them to the level
upper ocean.
"If, however, know all living species, we must necessarily look
the animal in question in-between marine creatures already cataloged, and in this case I
in-Dinaria to admit the existence of a gigantic narwhal.
"The common narwhal or sea unicorn often attains a length of sixty feet.
Quintuplíquese, decuplíquese that dimension, give yourself to that cetacean force
propor-tional to their size, their offensive weapons auméntense and animal ob-will
Desired, bringing together officials estimated by Shannon proportions, the
exi-Gido instrument for drilling Scotia and power needed for cutting
hull of a steamer.
"Indeed, the narwhal is armed with a sort of ivory espa-da, a halberd,
in the words of some naturalists. It is a tooth that has hardness
ace-ro. They have found some of these teeth fixed on the body of whales to
the narwhal always attacks effectively. Others have been wrenched, not without difficulty, the
hulls of ships, crossed from side to side, like a gimlet pierces a barrel. The
Museum Medici-na School of Paris has one of these defenses is two
meters twenty centimeters in length and forty-eight centimeters wide in the
base. Well, suppose that weapon ten times stronger and the animal ten times more
powerful, láncesele with a speed of twenty miles per hour, multi-plíquese its mass
and a crash speed capable of producing the required catastrophe be obtained.
"Consequently, until more extensive infor-mation, I bow for
Di-sea unicorn colossal dimensions, armed not a halberd, but a
true ram as the armored frigates or "rams" of war, it seems
have both mass and engine power.
"So this unexplained phenomenon could be explained to me-us that nothing, despite
what has been glimpsed, vis-to, felt and noticed, which is also possible. "
These last words were cowardly on my part, but I had to cover to some
about my dignity and protect pro-fessor of avoiding ridiculous to laugh
Americans, when they do laugh heartily. With those words I created a
escape, but, deep down, I admitted the existence of the "monster".
The hot controversies raised by my article will die-ron a major impact. My
thesis gathered a good number of supporters, which is explained by the fact that the
proposed solution that left free rein to imagine-ing. The human spirit is very
prone to grand conceptions of supernatural beings. And the sea is accurate-mind
the best vehicle, the only way in which these may occur and develop
giants before whom the largest land animals, elephants and rhinos, not
They are more than a dwarf. The liquid mass transpor-known as the largest species
mammals, and shellfish qui-haps hide incomparable sizes and crusta-ceos
terrifying, as might be lobster crabs hundred meters or two hundred tons.
Why not? Antigua-mind, land animals, contemporary Times
geological, quadrupeds, the Quadrumana, the rep-tdes, birds, reached a
gigantic proportions. The Creator had thrown a colossal mold that the tim-po
She has been shrinking gradually. Why the sea on their ig-noradas depths, there would
I have preserved these great signs of life from another age, since no changes
never, unlike the Earth's core subjected to constant change? Why not
could keep the sea within it the latest varieties of species Titáni-cas,
whose years are centuries and centuries millennia?
But I'm leaving out a phantasmagoria that it is not possible and support. Stop it
these chimeras that time has changed for me in terrible realities! I repeat,
the opinion was fixed with respect to the natu-ture of the phenomenon and the public
admitted without argument the existence of a prodigious being who had nothing in co-mun
with snakes fabulous sea.
But against those who saw this as a pure scientific problem-solving mind, others,
more positive, especially in America and England, were concerned to purge the ocean
the fearsome monster, to ensure the com-munications sea. Publications
They specialized in industrial and commercial matters discussed the issue princi-marily
From this point of view. The Shipping and Mer-Cantile Gazette, Lloyd, the Paquebot, La
Revue Maritime et Coloniale, all periodicals in which this-ban
represented the interests of insurance companies, and with threatening
elevated rates of its po-ables, agreed that point.
Having pronounced and public opinion, were the States of the Union's first
in deciding to take practical measures. In New York preparations they were made for
undertake an expedition in pursuit of the narwhal. A very fast frigate, the Abraham
Lincoln was equipped to put to sea as soon as possible. They were opened
arsenals Commander Farragut, who hastened the gun-ment of his frigate.
But as usual, it was enough that he had taken the decision to pursue the monster
so it does not reapare-cial more. Nobody ever heard from him for two months.
No boat found him in his course. Di-cho had the unicorn knew
conspiracy was afoot against him had been so much talk about it and even the
transatlantic cable! Jokers claimed that the as-tute monster had intercepted the
a step telegram referred to it and acted accordingly.
In such circumstances, it was not known where to direct the fra-gata, armed for a long
formida campaign and provided with fishing tackle-able. Impatience was increasing
how-do, on 3 July, it was reported that a steam line was San Francisco to Shanghai
seen the animal three sema-nas before, in the northern seas of the Pacific.
Great was the emotion caused by the news. It gave no conce-or-clock
Commander term Farra-gut. Their food aboard. Their bunkers overflowing with
coal. The crew was hired full. It has no more than light-BIA's
fire, heat and set sail. He would not have forgiven half hours late. The
eat-dante Farragut wanted nothing to leave.
Three hours before the Abraham Lincoln sailed spring Brooklyn, I received a
letter written in these tér-Minos:
 
"Mr. Aronnax,
Professor Museum in Paris.
Fifth Avenue Hotel,
New York.

Dear Sir: If you want to join the expedition of Abraham Lincoln, the government
Union would welcome France were represented by you in this
em prey. Commander Farragut has a cabin at his dis-position.
Yours cordially

 J. B. Hobson,
Secretary of the Navy. "