Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-09-10


the tact OF The existence in or waters ola
very singular aquatic animal, Of the snake
species, hut because the gentleman who FIRST
gives his signature, WILLIAM MALONE, Esq
HAS heretofore been rigid unbeliever IN the
existence of any such aninhal-and because
The letter has never before been published.
Boston Patriot.
United States schooner Scieper.a
Gloucester Harbour. dug. PC. 1919 I
Strive have the homer OF reporting to YOU,
that we have had the qualification of seeing
the aquatic animal. Commonly styled the SEA
SERPENT. Between and 10 this morning,
we were proceeding in the schoorer's boat,
with Midshipman Blake aud four men, from
the inner harbour to Norman's Wac Point. for
the purpose OF taking angles there, and mea-
surlny the western shore. When almost of
Delivers neck, We discovered the Murine
Monster the outside of us, distant about 80 or
40 Yards. The men were ordered to lie on the
oars. tie very soon passed the stern OF the
boat under water, but so near the surface that
we could distinctly mark his progreSs.-He
rose on the surface, within us, not more than
20 yards distant. where we had fiue view of
him, as his side was towards us. He then
tackled slowly and stood for Ten Pound ISL
aud. We rowed after him. He continued "a
bout twenty minutes playing backwards and
forward between that Island and Stage Point
Perceiving evident symptoms that he was d
verse 10 the noise OF the oars, they were or
dered 10 he laid in. and the boat was sculled
we again came very near him. as 10 ehserve
that we could get fine sight of him iron,
Stage Point, and that some of the instruments
might enable us accurately TO determine his
length we pulled in. and landed. Hehowever,
seemed desirons OF avoiding our Inspection,
and made slowly out Of the harboar. We had
a good view OF him from the Point, although
mol III position TO use our instruments. On
landing, the boat was immediately seut TO the
schooner, with orders for her 10 get under
weigh, and come down being in hopes, that
by means of the IL pound carronade, We should
De able TO give good account of Kim, il he
chose to play around us. About IL O'Clock we
mad sight OF him AT distance, OFT the har-
bour.
From our first discovering him until we lost
sight OF him from stage Point, was about lralf
AN hour. The weather was calm and perfect
~ clear and our distances from hlm, and
viewing him in different situations, and per-
forming vari0ns evolutions enabled ms 10 form
aPretty correct OpiuiOn Of his size length COL
our, and motions His head, which did not
appear more Than two or three feet above wa
Ter, was about three feet IN circumfeI enCe
andtSOmethug AatIeued, like that OF the COP
per headed snake. Ills body was much larger
than his head; bnt we eau give 10 accurate
opinion OF lis circumference. One OF us coun-
ted thirteen, and the other fourteen pTotuber.
anceS Oh his hack, the centre of each about
seven feet apart His head was generally d.
bove water, aud its end, about 10 or IL feet
from The first bunch: We did moi see his tail
but from the eudof the head to the fourteenth
Il.
He was of dark brown, or rather mud CO.
lOnr. His motion was sometimes very rapid
and he would dart under water with great We
iociiy, as In the act OF seizing prey. At other
times he lay nearly still on the surface In
turning he was rather slow, and made a con-
siderable wake. He appeared in swimmipg
much liAe the fresh water snakes his motion
partly horizontal aud partly unduatory We
are perfectly certain that the protuberauces
are not caused by his motion in swimming
as they were equally apparent when he was
nearly Stlll, always maintained the same
relative positions.
From having been long acquainted with a.
quatIc animals, and accustomed 10 marine ap
peArances, could not be deceived This
description OF him is coDsOnant with the
view OF Nj Blake, aud the men who were
with us. Some one OF us was viewing him
with good glass The whole time MIR Blake
once saw the white colour under Lis throat,
as he made dart under TO seize someth
knowing your fOBdneSs for natural history
we have given ysu this haSty, but minute ac-
count. trustin1 that yen will accept il DIS a tes-
tImoiIy OF our great respect.
We have the honor TO be, with high regard
Your obedient servants
WI. MALONE,
CIiEEVER FELCH,
Chaplain u. 5. Nury,
Com. WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE,
Commanding Naval Officer,
Boston Station.
N0UGt-We understand that the Con-
stelIaiion iIigate is fitting our With all
possible dispatch, and viii probably sail
by :he middle Oh this month on southern
cruise. On her joining Commodore Per-
| ~, his flag will be il0isied OH board the
! ConieIlainn
| II will be seen by our Gibraltar news,
that The u. 5. slip Erie, at ihelas dates,
vas cruising Tor d pirate. The resi- oil
! the squadron had sailed for different
! places. Nothing is said of The late arlesla
! non. IN. y, Gaz.
NORFOLK, Sept. Our own town
continues remarkably bealhy-never
more 80 we believe AZ rIe heaItiIesi period
OF lire year. The weather has been very
temperate, and we have had no spells OF
excessive beat yesterday was as warm
as any day We have had l0r several weeks
and tie thermOmeierw onis up to SIS.
Hcr0id
Murder most foui."-The neiglIbor.
/ hood of puuuo Chanel Haa auaiu hecnme