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

The sea serpent still lives, and has an heir
for the protection of his race Captain Allen, OF
the ship Scottish Bride, which arrived at New
York on Sunday brings the latest intelligence
from his marine snakeshp the captain having
encountered the monster on the 23d instant, IN
latitude 3slG, longitude TAOS. The remarkable
feature of the meeting was that the old, familiar
serpent, fifteen or twenty feet long, and as big
around as hogshead, was accompanied by
juvenile monster Of the same species, only about
five feet in length. This meeting, as will be seen
by reference to the charts, was on the edge Of the
Gulf Stream about two hundred miles Off Della
ware Bay. But Us Captain Allen is credible WI.
ness we'll known by the shipping merchants OF
New York, and everywhere conceded to be all in
telligent man, his own narrative OF the singular
meeting will be read with greater interest than
any more studied account:
CAPTAIN ALLEN
Ia thorough type of an American skipper
sharp shrewd. blulr and honest-and has follow
ed the ocean from boyhood, rising Dy ms own
energy and merit from caDln poy 10 the COM
mand of one of the finest clipper ships sailing
from New York.
FIRST VIEW OF HIS sNAKEsHIP.
cantain Allen SAWS that on the 23d Of this
month. he descended to his cabin after fruit
less effort to get meridian observation, the SKY
being too much overcast. He was just about eat
ing his dinner when his second mate descended
the cabin stairs, and, In an excited manner, cold
him his presence was required on deck. Think
inc the shin had sprung aleak or that some other
dire mishap had befalen them, he dropped the
tempting morsel before him and ana s rusaed eo up
sembled on the starboard side OF the vessel look
ing with awe.strlcken countenances into the wa
ter. Not knowing the meaning OF their strange
conduct, he also went TO the snlp.s sue anu
sight met his eye the memory Of which will never
fade.
The weather had been thick and nasty all the
morning the heavens heavily overcast threaten
ing to pour forth deluge az any m0ment' oo aHa
But now there was dead calm, and the SURFACE
OF the sea undIsturbed by arpple. On approach
ing the side OF the vessel the captain saw In the
water beneath monster sucn as ne nau ,. neVe, T.,
length, and proportionately thick; Its head was
yery large and nat, while at each slde on the ex-
treme edge, were set two bright, scintillatlng
eyes, which, he says looked dangerous anu "ck io
the crocodile about three inches In length, which
hooked together and formed an inpenetrable
armor. Its belly was OF tawny yellow color, and
altogether hideous. 1t was accompanied by O
smaller specimen of its own species, and may
have been its offspring. This was but a 1ew 1eet
in length, but In shape and color, closely resem-
bled the larger one.
TIE EFFECT UPoN THE SAILORS.
All the efforts OF the captain to have the sailors
make some attempt to capture II were aOortlfe.
They looked upon It as something supernatural,
and were not disposed to medde with II. Tne
thing was about four feet from the vessel, was
lying but few feet below the surface OF the
water, and was easily dlscernible TO al on BOARD
The captain gave orders to have boat lowered
to attack the monster, but In the meantime the
attention OF the smaller one was called to the
presence OF the vessel. 1t raised Its head lew
inches above the surface, and then went toward
its larger friend and seemed 10 tell 1t OF the cir.
cumstance; but whatever transpired between
them the larger one raised Its head as though TO
investigate Its surroundings, anu tnen, win an
easy motion 1t dropped into the ocean. In disap-
nearing, it went head downward, and its body
described circle like hook, its toll rising out
OF the water, which, the captain says, tapered OH
to sharp point.
TIE STORM THAT FOLLOWED.
The calm that had beset 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 oy tne waves
which ever and anon broke over her with relent,
less fury, and during the whole Oh thls ieariui
night the sailors would not go on deck without
lanterns. such vas their fear OF meeting the mon
stcr Now and then they would go to the cap
tain and ask his opinion en- the proDaOlliiy Oh
that occurrence; but he being no wiser tnan
themselves, WOulu iduSl ~ thSA iSoto' AiiN ~
them 20 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 uneXpressed dread of the reap
pearance Of the monster.
TIE CArTAIN'S THEORY.
Captain Allen thinks that the monster came
from the regions OF Florida, where he has often
heard of similar creatures from other snlpmaS'
ters and by following the warm current 0f the
Gulf stream 1t reached the position where he found
1t. In his opinion it is q deep water auimal; and
he 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