The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1877-05-26
CAUGHT AT LAST.
The Sea Serpent of History Makes
His Appearance of tho Scottish
Coast.
From the Glasgow News, !

From the Glasgow News,
A most extraordinary event hos oc.
CURED at Oban, which l give IN detail,
having been eye witness to the whole al
fair. I allude to the strending and cap.
turs of the veritable sea serpent in front
of the Caledonian Hotel, George street,
Obau. Abou. four o'clock yesterday an
animal or fish, evidently, OF gigantic
size, was seen sporting in the bay near
Heather Island. Its appearance evil
IDENTITY perplexed a large number OF spec
tators assembled on the pier, and several
telescopes were directed toward II. A
careful look satisfied US that it was of
the serpent species. it'carrying its head
fully twenty-five 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 directions 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 open. A random
fire from several volunteers with rifles
seemed to have no effect uponit. Under
MIR. Nicholson's orders the boats now
ranged across the entrance Of the bay,
and by the screams and shouts turned
the monsters course, and it headed di.
rectly for the breast wall of the Great
Western Hotel. One boat. containing
Mr.. Donald Campbell, the Fiscal, had a
most narrow escape, the animal actually
rubbing against it. Mr.. Campbell and
his brother jumped overheard. and were
picked up unhurt by Mr.. John D.
Hardie 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 more, owing to the crowds assembled
on the shore. At little past six the
monster took the ground on the beach
in front of the Caledonian Hotel, in
George street. and his proportions were
now fully visible. In his frantic exer-
tons, with his tail sweeping the beach,
no one dared approach. The stones
were flying in all directions; one seri-
onsly injuring man called Badly Bar
row, ana another breaking the window
of the Commercial Bank. A party of
volunteers under Lieutenant David Men
zie now assembled and fired volley after
volley into the neck, according to the
directions Of DR.. Campbell, VINO did not
wish for scientific reasons, that the con-
| fisuration of the head should be dana ged .
AS there was brigh. moon, this contin-
ued till nearly ten o'clock, when Mr.
Stevens, of the Commercial Bank, waded
in and fixed q strong rope to the animals
head, and by the exertions of some
seventy folk it was securely dragged
above high water mark. Its exact ap.
pearancr rs it lies on the beach is as fol.
lows: The extreme length is l0l feet
and the thickest part is about 20 feet
from the head, which is IL feet IN cir.
cumference. At this part ls fixed pail
OF fms, which are 4 feet long by nearly
across at the sides. Farther back is a
long dorsal fin, extending for at least Il
or Is feet, and 3 feet high In front, taper
ing to foot. The tail is more of fiat
than anything else. The eyes are very
small in proportion and elongated, anc
gils OF the length of 21a feet behind
There are no external Ears, and as DR.
Campbell did not wish the animal han
died till he communicated with somt
eminent scientific gentlemen We couIc
not ascertain if there were teeth or not
Great excitement Is created and thu
country people are tlocking in to view it
Mr.. Duncan Clerk, writer, took posses
sion of the monster. in the rights OF Mr.
NJ Fee, of Appin, and MIR. James Nicol
writer, in the name OF the Crown.