The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-09-04
A SKA SERPENT THIRTY FEET LONG
SEEN IN rPORTLAND lHARBOR.


Promising that Portland Harbor is
not watering place IN went of lsqn-
n1ef visitors, trust that you VIII bear
with me when state that the Eerita-
BILE sea serpent has been seen in this
locality. have had long conversa-
tion with Mr.. S. B. Beckett, of Port
land, who has actually seen it. Mr..
Beckett is an elderly gentleman of
good standing in this community, and
must say that his narrative Impress
ed me as that of a truthful man. /
understand that he has given some at
tention to the study of natural histO-
ry,. and he is evidently q careful OBJ
server. On the evening of July 6, he
was crossing from Cape Elizabeth to
Portland by the bridge of the road
connecting these two places, which
passes by an arm of the sea-, The
houEaWas a little before s O'Clock.
The skies are bright with twilight here
at a much later hour than in a more
southefiy latitude. His attention was
attracted by a group Of boys who
we're looking at sometobject upon the
north side of the bridge. On reaching
them he saw an animal which he is
quite certain appeared to be. of the
serpent kind, swimming just under
the water, in curved lines, and with q
horizontal motion. The head of the
serpent rose quite to the surface, and
resembled that of seal more nearly
than that. of any other animal. He
says also that il reminded him of d
bull dog. The head and neck were
frequently upon the surface, while the
body. was generally few inches be-
low it. The neck, for about three feet
from the head, was much smaller than
the body, which appeared 10 be at
six inches in diameter. and in the lar
gest part Has large" says he, Has a
mans hat sf'' p
The opportunity. for this animal was
such that its size and motion could be
noted perfectly, as it frequently came
within twenty feet of the bridge, and
remained in the vicinity for at least
twenty minutes. When Mr.. Beckett
proceeded to the city the animal sill
remained there. There seemed to be
joints throughout the length of the
animal, about two feet apart, or as
many as eight or ten in all; the effect
OF which was to produce little ripples
or waVelets in the water above the
body while swimming around. These
ripples or waves crossed the body at
the animal turned therippIes followed
or attended him. The cause of the
nipples Mr.. Beckett was unable to as
certain, but thronghout the entire
length the body of the animal could
be seen between these waves. 1aihs
81 The boys were continually throw
ing such small objects as they could
find upon the bridge at the serpent,
and on one occasion, when sseonsid-
cradle billet of wood seemed to strike
him, he made plunge, producing q
foam around him in the water. He
then went off to a distance of one
hundred feet or more, but soon re-
turned to the bridge. The tide was at
thistime falling, andsthe animal kept
its head directed toward the bridge
mainly, though moving in curves
backward and forward, and OCCASION
ally making a complete circle; and
when in this positionft1le lianete1S Of
Che circle was lestim ated q atA A4b6h2
twelve feet. From this and other
careful observatfoHs, the leng 9Th of the
serpent was supposed to be not less
than thirty feet. The animal was of a
dark color, and had nothing that was
observed in the shape of fins, feet or
name. His head was lifted above the
water when the billet of wood was
thrown at him, appearing very smooth
and glossy, like that of a seal. The
water at the time was within ten feet
of the rail of the bridge, and during
consideral part of the time while Mr..
Beckett made his observations the
serpAnt came up Within twenty Get
efathe bridge. The depth Of water at
the place of observation was about
five fathoms. asaNa ~ ll.ii.e5t ~