Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-05-14
Aletan0rla 6ax&tte
MONDAY, MAY IA, 1877



\ most extraordinary cvcat has occurred at
Oban, which give in detail, having been eye
witrcss to the whole affair. aludc to the
strandicg and capture OF the veri;ab!e sea ser
pent in front Ct the Caledonian Hotel George
street, Ohan. About four o'clock yesterday alt
| animal or fish, evidently Of gigantic size, was
seen sporting ia the bay near Heather ls!aDd.
| Its appearance evidently perp!eXed large nun
| Der of spectators assembled on the pier, a!.i
| several telescopes were directed toward II. \
careful look satisfied US that it was of the ser
| pent species, it carrying its head fully % feet
above the water. Il number oi 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 moDster, and some of
the boats were within thirty yards Of it when
it suddenly sprapg half length out of the water
and made for the open. \ 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 entrance of the
bay, and by the screams and shouts turncd the
monsters course, and it headed directly Tor the
breast wall Of the Great Western Hotel. One
boat, containing Mr.. Donald Campbell, the
Fiscal had most narrow escape, the animal
his brother jumped overheard, aud were picked
up unhurt by Nlr. John d. llardie, saddlcr, III
his small yacht, the Flying Scud. The animal
seemed thoroughly frightened, and as the boats
closed in the volunteers we're unable to fire
more, owing to the crowds assembled on the
shore. A. a little past SIX the monster took
the ground on the beach in front Of the Gale
donan Hotel, 10 George street, aud bis FRO
portions were now fully visible. ln his frantic
eXertioDs, with his tail sweeping the beach, 90
one dared approach The stones were flying
10 all directions; onc seriously ipjuring a man
called Baldy Barrow, and another brcsklug the
window OF the Commercial Bank. 4 party ofvol-
unteers under Lieut. David ilcb2ic now assem-
bcd and fired voIlcy after volley into the ncck,ac.
cordiDg to The directions OF DR.. Campbell, who did
not wish, for scientific reasons, that the cOnhgur
alton OF the head should be damaged. As
there was bright moon, this coDlnucd Till
nearly ten o'clock, when Mr. Stevens, OF the
Commercial Bank, WaIed in and fixed strooS
rope to the animals head, anC by the eXertIons or
some seventy folk it was securely dragged above
high water mark. Its exact appearance as 1t
lies on The beach IS IS follows The extreme
lcDgh is l0l feet and the thickcSt part Is about
25 feet from the head, which is II feet 10 cir
cumference. At this part is 6xeda pair OF fins,
WnlcQ are t lccL IUuS NY uealiy iect detoso az
the sides. Further back is long dorsal tlo,
extending for at least T. feet or IS feet, and 5
feet high in front, taperiug to loot The tail
is more Of tlatteDcd termination to the body
proper than anything else. The eyes arc very
small iu proportion and cloogatcd, aud gllls OF
the length Of . feet behind. Thcrearc no cx.
tcrnal ears, aud as DIR. Campbell did not wish
the animal handled till he communicated with
some eminent scientific gentlemen we could
not ascertain if there we're teeth or not. Great
excitement is created aud the Country people
arc locking in to view It, This mornlng Mr..
Duncan Clerk, writer, took possession Of the
mopstcr, ia the righlsoI Mr. NJ Fec. of Appn,
and Mr.. James Nicol, writer, in the name OF
the Grown G!etsgo,o (Scot1nndJ Nsrs.