Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-05-25
A Sea serpent.

most extraordinary event has occurred
at Oban, which [ give in detail. having
been eye witness to the Whole affair al
lude to the strandins and capture of the
Verltahle sea serpent in front Ct the Gale
DOMAIN Hotel, George street, Oban. About
four o'clock yesterday an animal OF fish,
evidently OF gigantic size, was seen sport
ing in the bay near Heather Island. It's
appearance evidently perplexed large
mber OF spectators Assem- bIed on the
pier, and several telescopes were directed
toward it. A careful look satisfied us that
1t was of the serpent species, it carrying
It's head fully IS 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 Nchol-
son, our boatman, they headed the mon
ster, atd some of the boats were within
thirty yards of it when it suddenly sprang
half length cut of the water and made for
the opens a random fire. from several
volunteers with rifles seemed 10 have no
effect upon it. Under Mr.. Nicholson's OF
ders the boats now ranged across the en-
trance Of the bay, ard by the screams and
shouts turned the monsters course. and it
headed directly for the breast wall of the
Great Western Hotel One boat. contain
ing Mr.. Donald Campbell: the Fiscal had
most narrow escape, the animal actually
rubbing against it. Mr. Campbell and his
brother jumped overheard, and were picked
up unhurnt by Mr.. John D. Hardie. sad
dler, in his small yacht, the Flying Scud.
The animal seemed thoroughly frightened.
and as the boats closed in the yoluntee, s
were unable to fire more, owing to the
crowds. assembled on the shore. At a
little past six the monster took the ground
on the beach in front of the Caledonian
Hotel, in George street, and his proper
tons were now fully visible. In his fran
tic exertions, with his tail sweeping the |
beach, no one dared approach The stones
we're flying in all directions one seriously |
lnJuring man called Badly Barrow. and |
another breaking the window of the Com
mercial Bank. A party of volunteers un-
der Lieut.. David MeDzie now assembled
and fired volley after volley into the neck
according to the directions of DR.. Camp
bell, who did not wish, for scientific rea-
sons, that the CONFORMATION of the head
should be damaged. AS there was bright
moon, this continued till nearly ten O'Clock
when MI, stevens, Of the Commercial
Bank, waded in and fixed strong rope to-
the animals head, and by the exertions of
some seventy folk it was securely dragged
above high water mark. Its exact appear
ance as it lies On the beach is as follows
The extreme length is 101 feet and the
thickest part is about Is feet from the
head, which is II feet in circumference
AT this part is fixed pair of fins, which
are feet long by nearly 7 feet across at
The sides. Further back is long dorsal
in, extending for at least IL feet or IS
feet, and 5 feet high in front, tapering to
Else. The eyes are very small in proper
lion and elongated, and giIs of the length
# q feet behind. There are. no external
ears, and as DR.. Campbell did not wish the
animal handled till he communicated with
some eminent scientific gentlemen we
could not ascertain if there were teeth or
not. Great excitement is created and the
country people are fiocking in to view it
This morning MI. Duncan Clerk, writer,
took possession of the monster, in the
rights of Mr.. MFee, of Appin, and Mr..
James Nicol, writer, in the name OF the
Crown.-G lacgoao Scotland Neaos. i