The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1855-08-29
TAKEN AT LIST.


gives an account Of the capture of the great
snaEe Of Silver Lake, by an oldwhaleman by
the name of Daniel Smith. According to
this correspondents account, Mr.. Smith WIS.,
tied tae lake, and after satisfying himself of
the presence of the monster, sent to New
York for assistants, together with harpoons,
cOrdage, &c. After stationing boats all ov-
er the lake, and keeping strict watch for
eight days, and being laughed at by visi
ters, the monster made his appearance and
was captured. But we must let the
correspondent tell the balance of the
story himself. though the latter part
of his letter savorsstron gly of humbug,
"a bait,--a sell TO keepthe hotels full the
balance Of the season:
"This lake has several outlets, the lar @.
est of which runs though this village, and
finally empties into, or becomes Genessee
River. In the vicinity of this outlet he
was seen first, and on Sunday he came to
the surface, displaying about so feet of his
long sinuous body, remaining, however, but
few moments. The boats were on the
watch al! Sunday night. The whalemen
had 1900 feet of strong whale line in the
boat, the end of which ran ashore and fas-
tened to tree. On Monday morning ev-
erything was on the alert. The shores
were lined with towns people and strang-
ers, and every body seemed very much ex-
cited. About O'Clock, the animal made
his appearance between the whalemen's
boat and the shore, revealing about go or
80 feet of his length. He lay quiescent on
the surface, when the whalemen's boat mo-
we'd slowly toward hm-Mr. Smith of Gov.
ington posing lilly-i in the air, "a lilly
iron is patent harpoon,a cutting knife be
ing attached by the middle to the end Of
the iron by rivot. As soo1 as knife en-
ters the body Of an animal this movable
blade turns at right angles to the wound
and being entirely fiat and blunt on one side
tits Impossible to extrcate it except by
cutting OUT when they got about 10 feet
from the animal the iron whistled through
the air and went deep into its body.
In moment the whole length of the mon
ster was lashing the air, at bound reveal
ing his whole enormous length, and then
making the water boil in every direction he
described rapid, foaming circles. and arcs of
circles, with such swiftnes the eye coull
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 a
half an hour it was plain that his strength
was almost exhausted. The whalemen
then came ashore and gradually hauled the
line in. The body was within so feet o
the shore, when renewed life appeared to
have been given, 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 la1ies tainted
upon seeing the monster, who although a.
shore was laehing his body into tremendous
folds, and then Strengthening himself out in
his agony, with noise and power that
made the very earth tres,ble around him.
The harpoon had gone entirely through a
thick muscular part of him about feet from
his head.
The snake or animal, is 80 feet inches
long. and is a most disgusting looking crea-
ture. A thick slime cevers his hideous
length, 1 of an inch thick, which after being
removed, is almost instantly replaced by
exudation. The body is variable in
size. The head is about the size Of full
grown calf's; within feet of the head the
neck gradually swells u, to the thickness Of
!, foot in diameter, which continues fo: 6
inches, and then tapers down the other way
= constantly increasing in size However, as il
recedes fuom the head, until the body OF
the monster has diameter OF over two feel
. in the centre; giving girth Of over six feet
1t then tapers off towards the tail. which
, enls in fin which can be extended in the
: shape OF "a fan until it is three feet across, O
closed in sheath. Along the belly from
4 the head to the tail, are double rows OF fin
foot in length-not opposite to each othe
. but alternately placed. The head is mos
singular affair. The eyes are very large
white, staring and terrific. Attached to tn
edge Of the upper and lower lids, which are
\ iike those OF human being, Transparent
), film or membrane is seen, which, while j
;, protects the eye Of the animal, does not in
terfere with its vision. He has no nostri
or gills apparently. The mouth Of this ser
pent, or whatever he may be, is underneath
e LA almost the counterpart of the mouth
u Of the tish called the sucker, possessing th
e same valvular power; pursed up but il ca
be SO stretched as 10 take in body Of th
II diameter of a foot aud half. No teeth ca
j, be discovered. A hard bony substance ex
ii tends in two parallel lines around the upps
Dr. and lover part Of the head. His color is
i. dusky brown on the sides and back, but un
,e derneath tie belly it is Of A dirty white.
.5a