Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-06-10
CoMwoponE PREnLE AND THE SEA. Ser

COMMODORE PREELE AND The SEA SER
PENT.-Cap'. Williams had made several
prizes, and he returned to port TO land his
prisoners. He was now ordered to join
the expedition agains, the enemy's post on
The Penobscot, having been put under the
orders Of Commodore SallonstalI, Of the
United States Navy, for that purpose. Ii
was while thus employed, that an incident
occurd TO Preble, that is worthy of being
recorded. m1re especially since subsequent
events have confirmed its truth. Prebls re-
lated the affair substantially as folows:-
The Protector was lying in one Of those
bays on The eastern coast, which has been
forgotten, waiting the slow movements o.
the squadron. The day was clear and
calm, when large serpent was discovered
outside the ship. The animal was lying
on the water quite moionless. After in
specting il with glasses for some time, Cap
tain Williams ordered Preble to man and
arm large boat and endeavor to destroy
the creature, or a; least to go as near il
as he could. The selection of Preble for
such a service, proves the standing he occ-
upied among the hardy and daring. The
boat thus employed twelve oars and CARR
ed a swivel in its bows, besides having its
crew armed as boarders. Prebl showed off,
and pulled directly towards the monster
As the boat neared it, the serpent raised
his head about ten feet above The surface
Of tie water, looking about it. 1t then be-
gan 10 move slowly away from the boat
PEBBLE pushed on, his men pulling with all
'heir force, and the animal being al no
great distance, the swivel was discharged,
loaded with bullets. The discharge had
no other effec, than to quicken the speed
of the serpent, which soon ran the boat
cut of sight.
There is no question that in after life,
Preble occasionally mentioned this crcum-
not loquacious, and probaly saw hat he was
relating 4 fact tina, mos, persons would be
disposed to DOUBT, and selrespect proven
ted his making frequent illusions to it.
When it is remembered that Prebie died
long before the accounts of the appearance
of similar serpent, TINT have been promul-
gated in this country were brought 10 light,
il affords a singular confirmation of the
latter. Preble stated i, as his opinion, that
the serpent he saw was from one hundred
to one hundred and fifty feet long, and lar
ger than barrel
This account Of the size Of the serp eni
undoubtedly seen by Preble, is in singular
accordance with that given 10 the writer by
an intelligent fficer of the navy, more
| than twenty years since On that occa-
sion the serpent was seen quite near, for
| fully an hour, and once was viewed under
water as it passd beneath the boat. The
writer's informant said that it was his opin.
ion that the animal was nearer one hun.
dred and fifty, than one hundred feet in
length. and he supposed him TO be about the
size Of wine pipe.
There appears an indisposition in the
human mind to knowledge that Others have
seen that which chance has concealed from
OUT own sight. Travellers are discredec
and derided merly because they relate facts
Is that lie beyond the circle OF the common
ocqistions; and the term of''trayeller's sto
RES" has lis origin more in narrow jeal
ousy, than in any prudent wariness of ex'
aggeratlon. The provincial distrusls the
accounts ef the inhabitant Of the capital
while sel(love induces even the former tc
deride The marvels oil the country. AS re
spected marine serpenis, they are vel
known to exist; the merest physical tyre
living, being familiar with the fact that
there are water snakes. This being ad
mitted, the philosopher should have 10 diff
Guilty in believeing, liz their substance, the
accounts that have been published of The
appearance Of one or more sea serpeEts or
the ocean are known 10 exceed those Of the
land in magnitude, and the difference il
size between the boa constructor, or thu
anaconda, and the ole hundred and fit,
feet Of the sea serpent, is not SO great u!
that between the mammoth and the whale
y. Fennimorc Cooper.