Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-21
The snake OF the silver Lake Caught.

The snake OF the silver Lake Caught.
The Wyoming County Times having stuck at
the contamination cf its snake story-that is,
having, for the sake Of the well-kept hotel, and
the villagers who take boarders, too long de-
fered its capture-the Buffalo Republic has yo-
lunteered the consummation through cores
pondent, who does the thing arlistically, as fol-
lows.
PERRY VILLAGE, Wyoming Co., N. Y.
August 10, 1855.
MEssRs. EDIToRs: This part OF the country is
wild with excitement The immense snake, with
various descriptions Of which the papers have
been crowded for two weeks back, is at length
captured. You have undoubtedly heard all the
particulars of his appearance, the many doubts
and sneers as TO the existence Of husuS nature
of this character in lake but four miles long
and not quite three-quarters of a mile in width.
At any ra it has never been doubted. Daniel
Smith, an old whalesman, came here about two
weeks since, after hearing Of the appearance OF
the creature, and while here had the good fortune
to see him. He Immediately sent TO New York
for old shipmate Of his and his " irons, " and
on Friday last both arrived with harpoons, cor
dage, and every thing necessary TO catch mon
ster. Many strangers, who are stopping at the
Walker House in this city, attracted to this part
OF the country by the excitement in regard to the
him, laughed at them for their palms, but they
kept on with preparations in spite Of sneers and
Jeers. Boats have been stationed all over the
lake for upwards of eight days, and two whales
men had sharp lookout kept all the time, be-
sides watching themselves.
The lake mas several outlets, the largest OF
which runs through this village and finally emp
ties into or becomes Genesee river. In the
vicinity of this outlet he was first, and on
Sunday he came to the surface, displaying about
thirty feet Of his long, sinuous body, remaining,
however, but a very few moments The boats
were on the watch all Sunday night. The whale
men had twelve hundred feet of strong whale
line in their boat, the end of which ran ashore
and fastened TO tree. On Monday morning
everything was on the alert. The shores were
lined with towns people and strangers, and every
body seemed very much excited. About nine
O'Clock the animal made his appearance between
the whalesmen's boat and the Shore revealing
twenty or thirty feet of his length. He lay qui-
escent upon the surface, when the whalesmen 5
boat moved slowly toward him, Mr. Smith, Of
Covington, posing lilly-iron in the air. "a
lilly-iron is patent harpoon, heavy cutting
knife being attached by the the middle to the
end OF the iron by rivet. As soon as the knife
enters the body OF an animal this movable blade
turns at right angles to the wound, and being en-
tirely blunt and flat on one side il is impossible to
extricate't except by cutting out When they
whistled through the air, and went deep into his
body. In moment the whole length of the
monster was lashng the air, at bound revealing
his whole enormous length, and them making
the water boil IN every direction, he described
rapid, foaming circles and arcs of circles with
such swiitness the eye could scarcely follow
him. Then he darted off in another direction
towards the upper part of the lake. the sudden
ness OF his movement almost dragging the boat
uulnr ad,,al IL,
and, after the space Of half an hour, i was plain
that his strength was almost exhausted.
The whalesmen then came ashore and gradu-
ally hauled the line in. The body was within
fifty feet of the shore, when renewed life appear
ed to have been given him, and with one dart he
carried nearly the whole line out. This was his
last great effort. He was slowly dragged ashore
amid the widest excitement and tumult ever
known in the vicinity Of Silver Lake. -Four or
five ladies tainted upon seeing the monster, who,
although ashore, was lashing his body into tre-
mendous folds, and then Strengthening himself out
IN his agony with a noise and power that made
the very earth trembe around him The harpoon
had gone entirely through thick muscular part
of him about eight feet from his head
The snake or animal is ffty-nine feet FIVE in
ches in length, and is most disgusting looking
creature. A. slime covers its hideous length a
quarter of an inch thick, which, after being re-
moved, is almost instantly replaced bv oxidation.
The body Of this creature is variable in size The
head is about the size Of a full grown Calls
Within eight feet Of the head the neck gradually
swells up to the thickness Of foot in diameter.
which continues for fifteen inches, and then Ia
pers down the other way, constantly increasing
IN size, however, as il recedes from the head un-
I'll the body Of the monster has a diameter of over
two feet in the centre, giving girth of over six
feet. II then tapers off towards the tail, which
ends in fin, which can be expanded in the sha De
Of fan =
sheath Along the belly from the head to the
tail are double rows Of fins a foot in length, not
opposite TO each other, but alternately placed.
The head is most singular affair. The eyes
are very large, white, staring, and terrific At
tached TO the edge Of the upper and lower lids,
which are like those Of human being, trans
parent film membrane is SEEN which while il
protects the eye Of the animal, does not interfere
with its vision. II has no nostrils or gills ap-
parently. The mouth Of this serpent, or what
ever II may be, is underneath: is almost a counter
part Of the mouth Of the fish called a sucker,
possessing the same valvular power pursed up:
but 1t can be stretched so as 70 take in a body Of
the diameter Of foot or a foot and a half No
teeth can be discovered hard bony substance
extends in two parallel lines around the upper
and lower part OF the head. Its color is a dusky
brown on the sides and back, but underneath the
belly il is Of a dirty white II is sinuous like
snake, bat has along its back md on each sido
row Of hard substance, knob-lke in sha pc the
largest raised four inches from the surface Of the
bony extending from head to tail
The news Of his capture spread like wiIdire,
and before night hundreds Of people from the
neghboring towns and villages had collected 10
see the wonder The animal still has the harpoon
in him. u passed through the muscular portion
Of the back and touched no mortal part He lies
in the water, an ingenious contrvance Of ropes
having been placed on him while he was on shore,
Keeping his body in curve, preventing him from
getting away or proving dangerous. lie can use
but his head and tail, with which no occasionally
stirs up the water all about him for rods. lie
keeps his head under water except when he rears
i up rs # looking around, and presents most
fearful aspect. When rearing he expands his
mouth and exhibits a cavity blood red, mos,
terrible 10 look upon. AS he does this air PUSHES
forth with heavy short puff.
have no more time 10 write you. The hotel
is full, and people have great difficulty in getting
meal in the village Some Of them 90 IN 10
CASTLE 10 get their meals. The whalemen CON
template keeping the monster in his present posi-
ton until an agent Of Mr.. Barnum arrives, who
has been telegraphed. He is expected here To-
night. Very truly, your friend and subscriber,
0. NJ. z.
De-