Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-08-28
EXENT OMNES.
From the Buffalo Republic.
THE MONSTER SNAKE TAKEN.
PrpDv Vrrr.c,

PERRY VILLAGE, d
Wyoming Co., N. Y, Aug. l3, 1856. (
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 a hsus
| 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 APP
pearancc of the creature, and while here had
the good fortune to see him. He Immediately
sent to New York for an old ship mate Of his
and his ''irons,' and on Friday last both arriv-
ed with harpoons, cordage, and everything nee
essary 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 Of all sneers and
jeers. Boats have been stationed all over the
lake for upwards Of eight days, and the two
whalemen had a sharp lookout kept all the
time beside watching themselves.
The lake has several outlets, the largest of
which runs through this village and finally
enpties into or becomes Genesee river. In the
vicinity of this outlet he was seen first, and on
Sunday he came to the surface, displaying
about thirty feet of his long, sinuous body, re-
naming, however, but very few moments
The boats were on the watch all Sunday night
The whalemcn had 1900 feet of strong whale
line in their boat, the end Of which ran ashore
and fastened to tree. On Monday morning
every thing was on the alert. About nine O.
clock the animal made his appearance between
the whaesmens boat and the shore, revealing
twenty or thirty feet Of his length. He lay quiz
escent upon the surface, when the whaes,nen
moved slowly towards him Mr.. Smith >of Cow
ington, posing Lilly-iron in the air, Ga Lilly
iron is patent harpoon, heavy cutting knife
being attached by the middle to the end of the
iron by rivit. AS soon the knife enters
the body of an animal, this movable blade turns
at right angles to the wound, and being entire
ly blunt and flat on one side, it is impossible to
extricate it except by cutting out.) When
they had got about ten feet from the animal the
iron whistled through the air-and went deep
into his body. In moment the whole length
of the monster was lashlng the air, at a bound
revealing his whole enormous length, and then
making the water boil in every direction, he
described rapid, foaming circles and arcs oil cir.
cles, with such swiltness the eye could scarce
ly follow him. Then he darted off in another
direction towards the upper Part Of the lake.
the suddenneSS OF this movement almost drag
ing the boat under water Line nas gradual
ly given him, and after the space OF half al.
hour, it was plain that his strength was alinost
exhausted. The whalcsmen then came ashore
and gradually hauled the line in. The body
was within fifty feet OF the shore, when renewed
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 slow
ly 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 althO' ashore was Iashing his
body in tremendous folds, and then straighten-
ing himself out in his agony, with noise and
power that made the very earth ,remble around
him. The harpoon had gone entirely through
a thick muscular part of him about eight feet
from his head.
The snake, or animal, is fi(ty-nine feet five
inches in length, and is a most disgusting look
ing creature. A thick slime covers its hideous
length, quarter of an inch thick, which, after
being removed, is almost instantly replaced by
exudation. The body Of this creature is varia-
bic in size. The head is about the size of a
ful-grown Calls. Within eight feet of the head
the neck gradually swells up to the thickness Of
a foot in diameter, which continues for fifteen
inches, and then tapers down the other way,
constantly increasing in size, however, as it re-
cedes from the head, until the body of the mon
ster has a diameter of over t,cO feet in the CEN
tire giving girth OF over six feet. 1t then tapers
off towards the tail, which ends in fin which
can be expanded in the shape of fan until it
is three feet across, or closed in sheath
Along the belly, from the head to the tail, are
a double row of fins, foot in length--not op-
posite each other but alternately placed. The
head is most singular affair. The eyes are
very large, white staring and terrific. Attach
ed to the edge of the upper and lower lids,
which are like those of human being, a trans
parent film, or membrane is seen, which, while
protects the eye of the animal, does not inter-
fere with its vision. 1t has no nostrils or gilIs,
apparently. The mouth of this serpent or what
| ever 1t may be, is underneath-is almost Coun-
terpart 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 BODY
| OF the diameter Of foot or a foot and hall.
| No teeth can be discovered. A hard bony
| substance extends in two parallel lines around
the upper and lower part of the head. Its COL
underneath the belly it is of dirty white. 1t
is slnuous like snake, but has along its back,
and on each side, row of hard substance.
knob-like in shape-the largest raised four inch
es from the surface Of the body, extending from
head to tail
The news bis capture spread like wildfirc,
and before night hundreds and hundreds Of peo-
pie from the neighboring towns and villages
had collected to see this wonder. The animal
still has the harpoon in him. 1t passed through
the muscular portion of the back and touched
no mortal part. He lies in the water, an inge-
NOUS contrivance of ropes have been placed on
him while he was on shore, keeping his body
in curve, preventing him from getting away.
or proving dangerous. 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 water except When he rears it
up as if looking around, and presents most
fearful aspect. When rearing he expands his
mouth and exhibits cavity blood-rcd, most
terrible to look upon. As he does this air rush.
es forth with heavy, short puff. / have no |