The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-03-22
Relief from Politics,
TnE LATEST SEA>sEnRnp IN : How "14taa 14taaEs
W" ,Mo5G5BrrK' Kk'SH11sys Was SLAIN ax2"~.''"l

+" ItoNoLUEUs SANDWICH ISLANDS, j an
F8.ATkis evening l was invited to- the
office ofa prominent firm in business
here, to listen to q remarkable story
concerning a sea serpent. I found
in the back room two gentlemen, Of
I my acquaintance and q third whom
| did not know, a. bronzed featured,
full bearded man, about fifty years of
| age. He was introduced to me as
Capt. Fowler, of the brig Albatross,
which had, just arrived from "a trad
ing expedition to the South Pacific.
On the roand table in the centre of
the room was the log book of the Al!
batrose; there were also four glasses,
a pitcher of water and a square bot
tie containing Holland GIN I am
thus particular to describe the de-
tails Of the table ID order to prepare
for what followed, and TO add that
neither Capt. Fowler nor myself
made any use Of the bottle, but
stuck to the water and Manila ci-
gars. After few minutes talk on
general matters, the Captain opened
his book and read the following,
which I was afterwards permitted to
copy: ~> -.. ,Il.,o
November 10, latitude Gill SOUTH.
longitude 1925 west. Little while
after six bells this morning, second
mate, on watch, sent for me to come
ON deck. Albatross was headed west
southwest one half south; wind light
and unsteady from northwest; every.
thing set that could draw log aver
aging four knots. Mate pointed to
something about mile and a half
to windward, over starboard bow,
and said he could not make it ont.
When first seen be thought it was q
native piroque. While he was look.
ing at il, it went under the water and
came up about 500 yards nearer the
brig. lie then thought it was 8
sperm whale, and looked for the
spout, but there was none. At this
time it was about two miles away,
aud lay for a minute or more almc ct
motionless. Then it suddenly raised
up about twenty feet toward the AL
batross; it waived its head from side
to eide a full minute, and then dived
under the water Then the mate
sent for the captain. .'...,,.
Very soon after | got on deck the
first mate came UP and I ordered all
hands called. By the time they were
all mp I concluded it was great
snake, and that he might attack the
brig. / ordered the mate to load the
tour pound carronade with heavy
charge OF bullets, and to- get out the
two bomb guns from the arm chest.
The boatswain and one man was or"
dered to the carronade and the rest
of the crew were armed with axes
and whaling lances. [ took one Of
the bomb guns and the mate the 9th d,
er. | sent the second mate to the
wheel with orders to, keep her off a
little and get as much as possible out
of her way without shifting any
thnlng. m9onU fo vrh H.!' Ill. ..s.
The serpent kept coming toward
the brig lie dived Grand
then came.up, and each time he nwas
about, 1 So or 200 01yaFds 1earer!s-.I
When he came up he stuck his shead
in the air and, locked at us for Ia few
seconds, then he jumped ahead and
went under. Two or three times he
put his tail in the air Just for a secs
ond and I could see. it swishin2 in
the water as lie Went down. When
he got within about 800 yards of us
he took a longer look than before,
and I could see with my glass that
his body was round like a aenake's and
covered with scales, His eyes were
wide apart and very large; he did
not open his mouth, but could see
where his jaws came together very