The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-06

The sea serpent still lives, and las an heir
for the protection of his race. Captain Allen, OF
the ship Scottish Bridc, which arrived at New
York OH Sunday, brings tie latest intelligence
from his marine snakeshp, Ire captain having
encountered the monster oil the 23d Instant, In
latitude 3s.lG, longitude 7i.os. The remarkable
feature OF the meeting was that the DID, familiar
serpent, fifteen or twenty ;eet long, anu as big
around ns hogshcad, was accompanied by
juvenile monster Of the sanio species, only about
five feet In length. This meeting, as will be seen
by reference 10 the charts, was OH the edge OF the
Gulf Stream, about two hInircd miles or Della
ware Bay. But as Captain h'tcn is a credible wiz
ness, well known by the shipping merchants Of
New York, and everywhere conceded to be an In
telllgent man, his own narrative OF the singular
meeting will be read with g-eater interest than
any more studied account:
CAPTAIN ALSsS
Is thorough type OF an American skipper
sharp. Bhrcwti, blum and nonrst-and has follow
cd tile ocean from boyhood, rising by his own
energy and merit from n caoin boy TO the com.
mand Of one Of the finest clipper ships sailing
from New York.
FIRST viEw OF HIS sSAKEsmIr
Captain Allen says that cn the 23d OF this
month, he dcscculGd TO his cabin after fruit
less effort TO get q meridian observation, the sky
being too much overcast. He was just about eat
Ing his dinner when his second mate descended
ttlc CuUlil III cNCltcu manner, tOlU
him his presence was required on deck. Think
Ing the ship had sprung nlcnk or that some other
dire mishap had befalien them, he dropped the
When he arrived on deck lie found the crew rs.
sembcd on the starbOarl side OF the vessel, look
Ing with awe.siricken counienances into the va
conduct, he also went to the ships sidc and n
sight met his eye the memOryof which viii never
fade.
THE SERPENT on SECOND yIEw.
The weather had been thick and nasty all the
morning, the heavens heavily overcast threaten.
Ing to pour forth deluge at any moment, agd
But now there was dead calm, aud the surface
OF the sea undlsturbed by ripple. On approach
Ing the side Of the vessel, the captain saw I'm the
seen before. II was about twenty five feet In
length, and proportionately thick; its head was
very large and nat, while Mt each side, on the eS
treme edge, were set two bright, scIntillatIng
eyes, which, he says. looked dangerous and wick
cd. Its back was covered with large scales, like
the crocodile, about three inches In length, which
hooked together and formed ali inpenetrable
armor. Its belly was OF tawny yellow color and
smaller specimen or It's own species, and mas
have been It's offspring. This was but n few feet
IN length, but IN shape anu color, closely rcscm-
THE EFFECT UPON THE SAILORS.
All the efforts OF the captain to have the sailors
make some attempt IA capture 1t we're abortivc.
They looked upon II as something supernatural,
and were not disposed to mcddle with It. The
thing was about four feet from the vessel was
lying Int q few feet below the surface OF the
WATER and was easily dIsccrnible to all on hoard.
The captain gave orders to have O boat lowered
TO attack the monster, but In the meantime the
attcntion OF the smaller one was called to the
presence Of The vessel. II raised It's head few
inches above tile surface, and then went toward
Its larger friend, and seemed to tell It OF the cir.
cumstancc; but whatever transprcd between
them the larger ono raised Its head rs though to
Investigate It's surroundings, nnd then, with nm
pearing, II went head downward, and its body
described circle Ike Il hook. Its tail rising out
OF the water. which, tile captain says, tapered or
to sharp point.
THE STORM THAT FOLLOWED.
The calm that had bcsct the vessel In the MORN
Ing now gave way to strong northwest breeze,
that as night closed around, burst into Storm
accompanied by vivid lightning and rolling thun
der. The ship was tossed about by the waves
less fury, and during the whole OF this fearful
night the saIlors would not go on deck without
lanterns, such was their fear or meeting the mou-
stcr. Now and then they would go to the CAP
tain and ask his opinion en the probability OF
that occurrence; but lie being no wiser than
them go to their work. About morning the
storm died away, but until the following day.
when they came in sight OF land, the brave men
entertained an uncNprcssed dread OF the reap
pearance OF the monster.
THE CAPTAINS THEORY.
Captain Allen thinks TINT the monster came
from the regions OF Florlda where he has often
heard OF similar creatures from other shipmns
tcrs, and by following the warm current Of the
Gulf stream 1t reached the position where lie found
IL. In his opinion, 1t is deep water anlmal; and
lie accounts for Its appearance so near the surface
by the fact OF the dark day, and the monster not
knowing how high up lie was.