Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-08-15
THE SEA SERPENT OF HISTO-
RY CA UGHT.

A most extraordinary event has oc-
CURED at Oban, which | give in detail,
having been an eyewitness to the
whole affair. | allude TO the strand
ing and capture Of the veritable sea
serpent in front of the Caledonian Ho-
tel, George street, Oban. About four
o'clock in the evening an animal or
fish, evidently Of gigantic size, was
seen sporting in the bay near Heather
Island. Its appearance evidently per-
picked large number Of spectators
assembled on the pier, and several tel
escopes were directed toward it. A
careful look satisfied us that it was Of
the serpent Species carrying its head
fully twenty feet above the water. A
number Of boats were soon launched,
and proceeded TO the bay, the crews
armed with such weapons as could be
got handy. Under the direction of
Malcolm Nicholson, our boatman, they
headed the monster, and some Of the
boats were within thirty yards Of it
when it suddenly sprang half length
out of the water and made for the
opening. A random fire from several
volunteers with rifles seemed to have
no effect upon it. Under Mr.. Nichol-
sons orders the boats ranged across
the entrance OF the bay, and by their
screams and shouts turned the mon
ster's course, and it headed directly
for the breast wall OF the Great West
ern Hotel. Ono boat containing Mr..
Campbell, the Fiscal, had a most mar.
row escape, the animal actually rub
bing against it. Mr. Campbell and
brother jumped overheard, and were
picked up unhurt by Mr.. John d. Har-
die, saddler, in his small yacht, the
Flying Scud The animal seemed
thoroughly frightened, and as the
boats closed in the volunteers were
unable to fire, owing to the crowd as
sembled on shore. At a little past six
the monster took the ground on the
beach in front Of the Caledonian Ho-
tel, on George street, and his proper
tions were now fully visible. In his
frantic exertions, with his tail sweep
ing the beach, no one dared approach.
The stones were hyingin all directions
one seriously injured a man called
Barney Barrows, and another broke
the window Of the Commercial bank.
A party of volunteers under Lieuten-
ant David Menzie now assembled and
fred volley after volley into the neck,
according TO the directions Of DIR.
Campbell, who did not wish, for scien-
tific reasons, that the confguration Of
the head should be damaged. As
there was a bright moon, this continu-
ed till nearly ten o'clock, when Mr..
Stevens, of the Commercial bank,
waded in and fixed a strong rope TO
the animals head, and by the exertion
of some seventy folks it was securely |
dragged above high water mark. Its
exact appearance as it lies on the
beach is as follows The extreme
length is 10l feet and the thickest part
is about 25 feet from the head, which
is IL feet in circumference. At this
part is fixed pair of fins, which are
4 feet long by nearly seven feet across
the sides. Further back is a long dor
sal fin, extending for at least IL or 13
feet, and 5 feet high in 'front.' tapering
to foot. The sail is more of fiat
tened termination to the body than
anything else. The eyes are very
small in proportion and elongated, and
gills of the length of p feet behind.
There are no external ears, and as DR..
Campbell did not wish tho animal
handled until he communicated with
some eminent scientific gentleman, we
could not ascertain if there were teeth
or not. Great excitement is created, |
and the country people are hocking in
to view it. This morning, Mr.. Dun.
can Clark, writer, took possession OF
the monster IN the rights of Mr.. Nc
Fee, Of Appin, and Mr. James Nicol,
writer, in the name of the crown
GldSqOiC NeirS.