The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1875-11-17
The Sen serpent.

The existence OF an immense marine monster,
OF singular appearance aud habits, is again chal-
longing attention. Skpetics laugh at and scen-
lists dsclaim the existence Of the sea-serpent,
because no remains OF such creature have been
found but ridieuie ana argument were alike lost
on the men OF 1917, who approached within tbir.
tY feet Of the monster 10 Gloucester harbor, and
saw Its forked tongue dart out the length OF two
feet nor would it be easy to convince the fisher
men and excursionsts of 1875. who have seen
the sea-serpent. that they were deceived By float.
ing sea-weed, or the gambols of thresher, or
the sportiye freaks Of school Of horse-makerel.
Within few weeks the sea-serpent has been
seen in various localities By the crews Of Glouces-
ter fishing vessels, by summer residents at
Swampscott aud Cape Cod aud by excursionisls
per steamer in Boston Bay. Ii is described as
having body black on the back, and head and
neck which it thrust out of the water ut the dis
lance OF several feet.
The sea serpent Is not creature OF the nine
teenth century. The ancient and modern writ
ers agree as TO the appearance Of the sea.serpent
his extreme length. his black or brownish col.
or, the fms or protuberances upon his back and
bis peculiar, horselike head. Gloucester may be
said to be the headquarters Of the seaserpenl on
this side of the ocean. 1t was here that he was
seen as early as 1899, according to JOsselyn,
when visitor to New England was told OF
sea-serpent, or snake, that lay coiled up like
cable upona rock at Cape Ann. A boat pass
ing up with English al T , and two Indians, they
would have shot the serpent bat the Indians dis
suaded them, saying that If it was not killed out
right they would oil he in daDger of their lives" 1t
was here that 6tty-eight years ago. in August
1877, the seaserpent was repeatedly seen and it
was here that, the same season. the best evidence
of the existence Of such monster was adduced
in the capture OF a young sea-serpent. This
creature was killed by farmer near Good Har
Dor Beach. with pitchfork, and after being on
exhibition for Il few days at the house of Captain
John Beach, vas carried to Boston and examin-
ed 10y a committee of the New England Linen
Society, who pronounced 1t to belong to the
same species as the great sea.serpont. l. is les-
cribed in the Register of October |, 1917 as
"about three and half feet in length, and three
inches in circumference with thiry-two protuber.
ances on the back. The head was bruised, but
the knOtty punches on the back were perfect"
On the l4th Of August, 1917, the sea.serpent
was approached by boat within thirty feet and
on raising his head above water was greeted by
volley from the gun of an experienced sports
man. The creature turned directly toward the
boat as if he meditated an attack bot sunk
down aud soon reappeared at about hundred
yards distance on the opposite side Of the boat
The appearance of the sea monster as he appear
ed on that day was the object of painting by
Jack Beach, which We believe is still in exist
ence, and copy of which, by Joseph Davis pre-
served in the Rogers family, we have seen The
sea serpent, surrounded by boats, is the principal
feature of the foreground and in the background
appears good representation of that portion of
the town as seen from the harbOr. the principal
objects OF interest being the old fort, the wind
mil the old First Parish Church, with its spire
and clock, and the Independent Christian
Church. An interesting feature of the picture
is the representation of poplar trees. which were
numerous about the town, baI have nearly all
disappeared Mass Telegraph.