The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-06-08
CAUGHT AT LAST.
The sea Serpent of History
Makes hKS Appearance.
OH aho Scotch Coast.

OlA inc 9COtCA OOd4SBs
A most extraordinary event has
occurred at Oban, which / give in
detail, having been eye witness to
the whole affair. ] allude to the
stranding and capture of the VERT
able sea serpent, in front of the
Caledonian hotel, George street,
Oban. About four O'Clock, May
I5, an animal of fish, evidently, OF
gigantic size, was seen sporting in
the bay near Heather Island. Its
appearance evidently perpIexed 6
large number of spectators assem-
bleh on the pier, and several tele-
scopes were directed toward it. A
careful look satisfied US that 1t was
of the serpent species, 1t was carry
ing its head 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 ham
dy. Under the directions Of NAL
colin Nicholson, our boatman, they
headed the monster, and some of
the boats were within thirty yards
of it when it suddenly sprang half
Its length out of the water, and
made for the open sea. A random
fire from several volunteers with
rifles seemed TO have no effect upon
it. Under Mr.. Nicholson's orders
the boats now ranged across the en-
trance of the bay, and by the
screams and shouts turned the mon
ster's course, and 1t headed directly
for the breast wall of the Great
Western hotel. One boat contain
ing Mr.. Donald Campbell, the Fis.
cal, had a most narrow escape, the
animal actually rubbing against it.
Mr.. Campbell and his brother jump
ed overheard, and were picked up
unhurt by Mr.. John ID. Hardie, sad
Ter, IN his small yacht, the Flying
Scud. The animal seemed thor
onghly frightened, and as the boats
closed in the volunteers were una
BILE to fire more, owing to the crowd
assembled on the shore. At little
past six the modster took the
ground on tho beach in front of the
Caledonian hotel, in George street,
and his proportions were now fully
visible. In his frantic exertions,
with his tail sweeping the beach,
no one dared approach. the stones
were hying in all directions; one
seriously injuring a man called
Badly Barrow, and another break
ing the window of the Commercial
Band. A party of volunteers I'M
der Lieutenant David Monte now
assembled and fired volley after
volley into the neck, according to
the directions of DR.. Campbell,
who did not wish, for scientific rea-
sons, that the configuration of the
head should not be damaged. AS
a bright moon shone, this continued
until 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 ex-
ertions OF some twenty folks 1t was
securely dragged above high water
mark. Its exact appearance as it
lies on the beach is as follows: The
extreme length is l0l feet, and the
thickest part is about % feet from
the head, which is IL feet in circum-
ference. At this part is fixed pair
of fins which are four feet long by
nearly feet across the sides. Fur
Their back is long dorsal fin, ex-
for at least II or 13 feet,
and five feet in front, tspering to
one foot. The tail is more of a
flattened termination to the body
proper than anything else. The
eyes are very small in proportion
and elongated. and gills of the
length of 2 IL feet behind. There
are no external ears, and as DIR.
HauonhaIl did mt NUiah thu animal
handled until he communicated
with some eminent scientific gen.
tIemen we could not ascertain if
there were teeth or not. Great ex-
element is created and the country
people are flocking in to view it.
This morning Mr.. Duncan Clerk,
writer, took possession of the mon
ster, in the rights of Mr.. McFee, of
Appiu, and Mr.. James Nicol, writer,
in the name of the Crown.