The Placer herald., 1868-11-28
A Wonderful Sea Monster Killed. THE
Veritable Sea Serpent Caught at Last.

Hsrper's Weekly of October contains a
picture of a wonderful sea monster recently
killed near Easlport, Maine. The Bangor
Wing gives the following detailed descrip
ton of it:
The strange animal recently captured near
Eastport, meagre reports of which had reach
ed us, arrived in this city few days ago,
and has been on exhibition, during which it
has been visited by our citizens, all of whom
have expressed their wonder as we'll at the
remarkable size of the monster as at its
anomalous character. The animal, part
beast and part fish, is over thirty feet in
length, and girts twentyoue feet. 1t has
one enormous dorsal fin, two side belly fins,
and broad sbsrk>Ike tail. About one third
Of its length from it's tail, in connection with
small fins it has two huge legs, terminating
in web feet. Its mouth make line five or
six feet in length, the whole extent Of which
is set With inuumerabls small teeth, very
much resembling in size and shape the ker.
mel of species Of sharp'ponled popcorn.
1t has series Of gills which overIay each
other like the hounces once the style in
ladies' dresses. Its immense body, which
WAS estimated to have weighed, when cap
tured, eleven tons, had 10 framework Of
bones, and its most solid portions consisting
of cartilage, incapable of preservation. Its
skin is dark and tough, Ike that of the ele.
phant aud rhnocsrous.
There is no record Of his species; to none
is it n greater wonder than to ualuralists,
whose attention is being drawn to it, Among
others who have had the opportunity of seeing
it ID Professor Baird OF the Smithsonian In.
sti'ute at Washington, who is as yet unable
to place it in the known lists Of the animal
kingdom. II is indeed a veritabe wonder
calculated to excite popular curiosity, and to
invite the researches of the scientific.
At various times during the past fifteen
years strange monster, believed to be n
huge serpent, has been reported seen in Lake
Utopia. in New Brunswick, just across the
STATE line; but as these reports iu each in.
stance rested upon the testimony Of but one
or Two individuals, they we're generally dis
credited. Latterally. however, the reports
ed ss to take the story out Of the realm Of
fiction. On Sunday, August Sd, the mon
ster wac discovered near the shore on the
west side Of Eastport Island, where Passa,
moquoddy Bay is connected with Lake
Utopia by marsh quarter OF II mile long
Being attacked by musks,ry it struck for the
marsh, and probably for the Lake, which
WAS undoubtedly its home, and before icing
rendered incapable Of locomotion il bad
worked its way with its fins and legs a num-
Der of rods The report Of it's presence at
once spread to the town attractiup LARGE
number 10 the spot to aid it's destruction.
1t received some seventy muskst balls. and
although attacked in the forenoon, it showed
signs Of life the following day.
Thus the northeastern portion OF our State,
with the assistance of New Brunswick, has
the honor Of producing tho nearest approach
to veritable sea serpent, which is destined
to make popular sensation wherever ex-
hbited. 1t is to be at Po rland during the
forthcoming State Fair, and ia thence bound
for Boston, New York, and other principal
cities.