In late November 1896, two American boys from the Florida town of St. Augustine were rolling along the coast when they discovered a huge monster half buried in the sand. The boys immediately informed the only scientist in the city at that time - the doctor DeWitt Webb. The doctor reached the carcass the next day and saw the incredible: it was not a whale at all, but a pale pink mass of half-decayed flesh.
She had nothing that could even hint a little about the origin: no bones, no eyes, not any shape. Webb estimated that the carcass weighs about five tons, and decided that it was a giant octopus. The man took several tissue samples, and under his leadership, the body was transported deep into Florida, where it became a real attraction: hundreds of people came to see and take pictures against the background of the monster from St. Augustine. What happened to the find next is unknown: probably, due to the incredibly strong smell that it exuded, it was buried, and possibly drowned in the sea.
People lined up to be photographed at the find.
The Florida monster was named "giant octopus" (also known as "giant octopus"). In general, in theory, there were two types of giant octopuses: actually, a real giant octopus that lives at the bottom of the ocean and usually weighs no more than 30 kilograms, but there is a hypothetical monster that attacks ships. Actually, Webb decided that a monster was thrown onto the beach: how else could one explain a five-ton carcass without the slightest sign of a spine?
Edison Emery Verill, professor of zoology, who at the time was the main authority on shellfish in the scientific world, also confirmed Webb's theory.
Scientists could not calm down with the find for a whole century. The samples that Webb collected have been examined numerous times. In the 1970s, analysis confirmed that the Florida monster was in fact an octopus. Then it was a fantastic discovery: scientists came to the conclusion that the length of the tentacles of this giant reached 30 meters. Another analysis was carried out in the 1980s, and it also confirmed the existence of the monster.
But this theory was nevertheless refuted: in 1995 biochemical analysis of samples became possible, they were studied in more detail. As a result, it turned out that the mass is the remains of a whale. In fact, it is fat that is released when the body decays.
A giant octopus attacks the ship.
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But finds, like the Florida monster, were washed ashore around the world at different times. They are all called globsters. Usually it is flesh, which has absolutely no defining characteristics. It was the globsters who strengthened the sailors' belief that monsters lived at the bottom of the sea that attack ships. It is about such monsters that stories have been circulating for thousands of years. By the way, some people still believe in their existence: cryptozoologists believe that such remains belong to animal species still unknown to science. Moreover, there is even a theory that they do not live in the sea, but in the land: the remains are often found half-buried in the sand. So this is a great justification for where this terrible creature came out from.
Stronsay monster.
The Florida monster was the first officially confirmed globster to be photographed and examined, but other monster stories are known to science. So, there is the Stronsay monster, thrown on the coast of Great Britain in 1808. He was considered none other than the sea serpent.
Globster Trunko.
Another famous monster is the globster Trunko, who was nailed to a South African beach in 1924. Then there were even eyewitnesses. People saw how an unknown creature, similar to a polar bear, fought with killer whales for several hours. The body, covered with hair, was later washed ashore. However, no one could study the find in such detail. But still, in the 2000s, it was found out that there was no wool: in fact, it was fabric fibers.
Globster on the coast of Chile.
Even in the 21st century, such findings have always given rise to fantastic theories. So, in 2003, a giant body 12 meters wide and weighing 13 tons was discovered on the coast of Chile. It was not immediately identified, but later they still found out that it was the carcass of a sperm whale.
Author: Daria Lukyanova