Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-08-30
Correspondence "fthe Buffalo Republic.
The Monster Snake Taken.

Correspondence of the Buffalo Republic.
The Monster Snake Taken.
PERRY, Wyoming Co. N Y, Aug Is, 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 iusns
nature of this character in lake but four miles
long and not quite three quarters of mile in
width. At any rate it has never been doubted
DANIEL SMITH, an old whalesman, came here
about two weeks since, after hearing of the ap-
pcarance of the creature, and while here had the
good fortune to see him. He Immediately sent
to Y. for an old shipmate of his and his irons
and on Friday last, both arrived with harpoons,
cordage, and everything necessary to catch a
monster. 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 monster, and who had obtained no glimpse
of him, laughed at them for their pains; but they
kept on with their preparations in spite ofsneers
and jeers. Boats have been stationed all over the
lake for upwards of eight days, and the two
whalesmen had sharp look out kept all the time
besides watching themselves.
The lake has several outlets, the largest of
which runs through this village and finally empt-
les into or becomes the Genesee river. In the
Vicinity of this outlet he was seen first, and on
Sunday he came to the surface, displaying about
30 feet of his long, sinuous body, remaining how
ever but few moments. The boats were on the
watch all Sunday night The whalesmen had
1880 feet of strong whale line in their boat, the
end of which ran ashore and fastened to a tree
On Monday morning everything was on the
alert. The shores were lined with towns peo-
pie and strangers, and everybody seemed much
tad no inn nj nd
appearance between the whalesmens boat and
the shore, revealing 20 or 30 feet of his length.
He lay quiescent upon the surface, when the
whalesmen's boat moved slowly toward him.
Mr. SMITH, of Covington, posing Lilly-ron in
the air, Ga Lilly iron is a patent harpoon, hea-
wv cutting knife being attached by the middle to
the end of the iron by rivit. AS soon as the
knife enters the body of an animal, this movable
Blade turns at right angles to the wound, and
being entirely blunt and fiat one side it is i'm
possible to extrcate it except by cutting out.)
When they had got about ten feet from the ami
NAL the iron wlistied 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 then making The wa
ter boil in every direction, he described rapid,
toanling circles and arcs OF circles, with such a
swittness the eye could scarcely follow him.
Then he darted off in another direction towards
the upper part of the lake, the suddenness of his
movement almost dragging the boat under water
Line was gradually given him, and after the space
of half an hour, it was plain that his strength was
almost exhausted. The whalesmen then came
ashore and gradually hauled the line in. The
body was within 81 feet of the shore, when re-
newed life appeared to have been given him, and
with one dart he carried nearly all the line out
This was his last great effort. He was slowly
dragged ashore, amid the widest excitement and
tumult cverknown in the vicinity of Silver Lake
Four or five ladies tainted upon seeing the mon
ster, who, although ashore, was flashing his bod V
into tremendous folds, and then Strengthening
himself out in his agony, with noise and power
that made the very earth tremble around him.
The harpoon had gone entirely through thick
muscular part of him, about eight feet from his
head.
The snake, or animal, is SO feet inches long,
and is a most disgusting looking creature. \
thick slime covers its hideous length quarter of
an inch thick, which after being removed is al
most instantly replacedby emulation. The body
of this creature is variable in size. The head is
about the size of full-grown calls Within 8
feet of the mead, the neck gradually swells up to
the thickness of a foot in diameter, which contin-
ues for Is inches, and then tapers down the 9TH
Ell way, constantly increasing in size, however,
rs it recedcs from the head, until the body of the
monster has diameter ofover2 feet i'll the centre,
giving a girth of over feet. 1t then tapers off,
towards the tail, which ends in a fin which can
be expanded i'll the shape OF fan until it is feet
across, or closed i'll a sheath. Along the belly,
from the head to the tail are double rows of fms.
foot in ength-not opposite each other, but al
ternately placed. The head is most singular
affair The eyes are very large, white staring
and terrific. Attached to the edge of the upper
and lower lids, which are like those of q human
being, transparent film, or membrane is seen,
which, while 1t protects the eye of this animal,
does not interfere with its vision, 1t has no nos
tfils or gils, apparently. The mouth of this SER
pent, Is underneath lis almost n counterpart of
the mouth of the fish called sucker, possessing
the same valvular power, pursed up-but it can
be stretched so as TO take in a body of the diam
eter OF foot or a foot and a half. No teeth can
be discovered. hard bony substances extends
in = parallel lines around the upper and lower
part of the head. Its color is dusky brown on
the sides and back, but underneath the belly is
OF dirty white. 1t is sinuous like snake, but
has along its back, and on each side, row of hard
substances, knob-like in shape-the largest raj
sed inches from the surface OF the body, extend
ing from head to tail.
The news of the capture spread like wildfre,
and before night hundreds of people from the
ncighborng towns and villages had collected to
see this wonder. The animal still has the har-
poon in him. 1t passed through the muscular
portion of the back ahd touched no mortal part
lie lies in the water, an ingenious contrivance of
ropes having been placed on him while he was
on shore, keeping his body in curve, prevent
ing him from getting away, or proving danger
Gus. He can use but his head and tail, with
which he occasionally stirs up the water all
about him for rods. He keeps his head under
watercxccpt when he rears it up as if looking
around, and presents n most fearful aspect
When rearing he expands his mouth and exhibits
a cavity blood-rcd, most terrible TO look upon.
As he does this air rushcs forth with heavy,
short puff / have no more time to write you.
The hotel is full, and people have great difficult
" in getting a meal i'll the village. Some OF
them go up to CASTLE to get their meals. The
whaesmen contemplate keeping the monster in
his present position until an agent of MIR. BAR
NUM- arrives, who has been telegraphed. He is
expected here tonight. Very truly your friend
and subscriber. y. NJ. L.
Eg Frank Marryatt, in his Mountains
and Molehills.' tells a story of an old Judge
in California, who was an habtual frequen-
ter OF the bar-room, and who. with his rich j.,
mellow voice, would exclaim 10 the crowd:
Come. boys. let all take drink
Gladly the Ioalers would surround the bar,
and each call FOR his lavorite beverage; but
when Ill was finished. the Judge would OBJ