The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-08-04
The Sea Serpent of History Caught.

A most extraordinary event has occurred
at Oban which give in detail, having been
an eye witness to the whole affair. Ialude
to the stranding and capture of the verita-
BILE sea serpent in front of the Caledonian
Hotel, George street, Oban. About o. clock
yesterday an animal or fish, evidently of
gigantic size, was seen sporting in the bay
near Heather Island. Its appearance evil
IDENTIFY perplexed large number of specta-
tors assembled on the pier and several tele-
scopes were directed toward it. A careful
look satisfied us that it was of serpent spe-
cies, 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 direc-
lions of Malcolm Nicholson, our boatman,
they headed the monster, and some of the
boats were within thirty yards of it when
suddenly it sprang half length out of water
and made for the opening. A random fire
from several volunteers with rifles seemed
to have no effect upon it. Under Mr.. Mich
olson's orders the boats now ranged across
the entrance of the bay, and by their
screams and shouts turned the monsters
course, and it headed directly for the breast
wall of the Great Western Hotel. One
boat containing Mr.. Campbell, the Fiscal,
had most narrow escape, the animal
actually rubbing against it. Mr.. Camp
bell and his brother jumped overheard
were picked up unhurt by Mr.. John D.
Hardie, saddler, in his small yacht, the
Flying Scud. The animal seemed thor
oughly frightened, and as the boats closed
in the volunteers were unable to fire, ow-
ing to the crowd assembled on shore. At
little past six the monster took the ground
on the beach in front of the Caledonian
Hotel, in George street, and his proper
tions were now fully visible. In his frantic
exertions, with his tail sweeping the beach,
no one dared approach. The stones were
flying in all directions; one seriously in
jured a man called Barney Barrow, and
another breakingthe window of the Com
mercial Bank. A party of volunteers, I'M
der Lieutenant David Menzie, now assem-
bled and fired volley after volley into the
neck, according to the directions of DR..
Campbell, who did not wish, for scientific
reasons, that the contigur alton of the head
should be damaged. AS there was a bright
moon, this continued till nearly 10 o'clock,
when Mr.. Stevens, of the Commercial Bank,
waded in and fixed strong rope to the
animals head and by the exertion of some
seventy folk it was securely dragged above
high water mark. Its exact appearance, as
it lies on the beach, is as follows: The ex-
treme length is 101 feet and the thickest
part is about % feet from the head, which
is II feet in circumference. At this part
is fixed a pair OF fins, which are feet long
by nearly feet across the sides. Further
back is a long dorsal fin, extending for at
least IL or Is feet, and ) feet high in front,
tapering to / foot. The tail is more of
flattened termination to the body than any
thing else. The eyes are very small in pro-
portion and elongated, and gills of the
length of q feet behind. There are no
external ears, and as DR.. Campbell did not
wish the animal handled till he communi-
Gated with some eminent scientific gentle
men, we could not ascertain if there were
teeth or not. Great excitement is created,
and country people are fiocking in to view
it. This morning Mr.. Duncan Clerk, writer,
took possession of the monster in the rights
of Mr.. M'Fee, of Appin, and Mr.. James
Nicol, writer, in the name of the crown.
G,asg0W NeacS.