Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1856-11-20
The Sea Serpent


The existence of an immense marine
animal, with the form and motion of ser
pert, has long been believed in Norway
Many traditions, as well as recorded attes
tations of sea, serpent, on the Norwegian
coast, have been preserved for many years
Among other accounts, the missionary
Hans Egede, declares that he witnessed a
dreadful sea monster, resembling huge
serpent, in 1874, in 81 degrees of attitudes
Its body was as bulky as ship, and three
or four times as long. In Pontoppidon's
Natural History of Norway, the existence
of this animal is recognised. The learned
bishob syas, II have questioned its exist
ence myself, till that suspicion was remov-
ed by full and sufficient evidence from
credible and experienced fishermen and
sailors, of which there are hundreds who
can testify that they have annually seen
him." He also publishes number OF
documents from persons Of great respecta-
bility, all going to show that an enormous
monster exists on that coast, which appears
to be about six hundred feet long, that it
lies in the water in many folds, and these
appear like SO many hogsheads floating in
line at a considerable distance from each
other.
An animal resembling the description
given of the sea serpent, was stranded on
the island of Stronsa, on of the Orkneys,
in the year 1908. 1t was examined by
many individuals, and was afterwards bro
ken up, and the SKULL the upper bones of
the swimming paws, portions of the verte-
br@, &c, were preserved and deposited IN
the Royal College Of Surgeons. An able
paper relating 10 this animal was prepared
BY DR.. Barclay, and read before the Wer-
merriam Society-and may be found among
its transactions. This animal measured
fifty-six feet in length and twelve in cir
cumference. The head was small-and
the neck slender, extended to the length of
fifteen feet. 1t had blow-holes. and some
thing like bristling name; also three
pair of fins or paws, connecting with the
bodv-the anterior ones measured four feet
in length, and their extremities were some
what like toes, being partially webbed.
The skin was smooth, without scales, and
Of greyish color, and the flesh was like
coarse, ill-f1avored beef. Many afidavits
of respectable individuals, as well as other
circumstances, go far to show the existence
Of such an animal as is above described
In the same year, 1908, an animal of q
similar kind was seen by Mr.. Mclean, the
parish clergyman of Eigg, on the coast of
Coll, near the Isle of Gamma, one of the
western Isles of Scotland. He followed
the boat into the mouth of creek, and ap-
pears to have frighteded the worthy clergy
man very much. He was also seen by the
crews of thirteen fishing boats, who were
much terrified, and fastened to the, shore
as fast as possible.
II is stated bv Dr.. Hilbert that the
great sea serpent has been recognized oc-
casionally in the Scotland seas, and he
specifies one which was seen off the Isle of
Stonness, Vaeley Island and Dunvossness.
Sir Arthur de Capel Brooke, in his
Travels in Norway" makes allusion to
this aninaal-which according to the state
ment of many fishermen and others, was
seen in the Folden Fiord in 1917. 1t al
so made its appearance in 1919 off Otersun
in Norway, and according to Captain
Schilderup was seen daily during the whole
month of July-when the weather was
very warm, it appeared to be doing in the
sunbeams. Captain Schilderup estimated
its length at 600 feet. The Bishop of
Nordland testifies that he saw two sea SER
pents about eight miles from Drontheim
the largest Of which appeared to be
about 100 feet long. Again it is stated
that in 1922, one of these monsters with a
body as large as an OK, and a fourth of a
mile long, appeared off the island Loroe,
near Tinmask- and was seen by many of
the islanders.
The most recent account of this mon
ster in that quarter, is believed to be con-
tained in the newspapers Of Drontheim in
1887. The account says that "since the
beginning of dog days the serpent has
been seen at various parts of the coast.
One of the seems to have remained con-
stantly during the summer near Storfosen,
at the Kergqang islands. Several fisher
men have been 50 dreadfully frightened at
the sudden appearance of the serpent SO
near their boats that they did not know in
what direction to escape. The serpent did
not attack, but followed the boat for some
distance, and the men in their hast so over
exerted themselves, that two persons were
confined to their beds. Very credible per-
sons affirm that the length Of the sea SER
pent may be taken at 600 or 500 ellis, or
more-as when those people were near its
head they could not discover its tail. Its
greatest thickness is near the head. These
observations were made within few days,
and among others, by q credible, sensible
man, who with his two sons was on an is
land where they landed, and where the
serpent after following their boat, swan
slowly BY"
So much for the sea sepent on the coast
of Norway. What has become of the sea
serpent which was wont to honor the
North American coast with q visit? He
has not been seen for years. Has some
stalwart fisherman or "old salt" been shak-
ing harpoon at him !-Boston Portfolio.
FREMoNr's VorE-NEw ENaLAND.-
The N. Y. Ii5une says:
Fremont has larger electoral vote, with
California, than any other defeated candi-
date ever had; and MI. Buchanan small
er proportion of the whole popular vote
than any other man who was ever chosen
President by the people.
New England gave her entire vote to
Washington, and now gives it to Fremont.
No Presidential candidate intervening