The Ottawa free trader., 1877-06-16
CAUGHT AT LAST.
The Sea Serpent Of History Makes His Ap-
pearance off the Scotch Coast.


pearance off the scotch Coast.
4 most extraordinary event has occurred at
Oban, which l give IN detail, having Deen an
eye witness to the whole affair aIlude 10
lhe stranding ana capture of the verltable sea
serpent in front OF tho Caiedonian hotel,
George street, Oban. About four O'Clock yes
terday an animal or fish, evidently of gigan-
tic size, was seen sporting in the bay near
Heather Island. Its appearance evidently
perplexed q large number of spectators as.
:embIed on the pier, and several telescopes
were directed toward it, A careful look sat
isfied US that II was Of the serpent species, it
carrying its head fully twenty-five feet above
the water. A number of boats were soon
launched and proceeded toward the bay, the
crews armed with such weapons as could be
rot handy Under the directions Of Malcolm
Nicholson, our boalman, they headed the
monster, and some Of the boats were within
thirty yards Of it when it suddenly sprang
half length out Of the water and made for the
open. A random fire from several volunteers
with rifles seemed to have no effect upon it,
Under Mr. Nicholson's orders the boats now
anged across the entrance OF the bay, and by
ae screams and shouts turned the monsters
curse, and it headed directly for the breast
Ill of the Great Western hOtcl. One boat
cotaining Mr.. Donald Campbell, the fiscal,
M a most narrow escape, the animal actu-
Ill running against it, Mr.. Campbell and
hislrother jumped overheard, and were pick
cd p unhurt by Mr.. John ID. Hardie, sad
dlel in his small yacht, the Flying Scud
Ihelnimal seemed thoroughly frightened,
- ands the boats closed IN the volunteers were
LrGsaie 10 fire more, owing to the crowds as.
sembled on the shore. At little past six the
monster took the ground on the beach in
front OF the Caledonian hotel, in George street,
n
his frantic eXertions, with his tail sweeping
The beach, no one dared approach The stones
were flying in all directions one seriously
iniuring man called Badly Barrow, and an
other breaking the window OF the CONNER.
cial bank. A party ofvolunteers under Lieu
tenant David Menzie now assembled anG
fred vCllcy after volley lrto the neck, accord
ing to the directions Of DR.. Campbell, who
lid not wish, for scientific reasons, that the
confgUration of the head should be damaged.
As there was bright moon, this continued
ill nearly ten clock, when Mr.. Stevans, of
The Commercial bank, waded in and fixed a
strong rope to the animals head, and by the
ey erticns of some seventy folks ii was secure
" dragged above high water mark. Its cx-
act appearance as it lies on the beach is as
follows: The extreme length is 10l feet, and
The thckest part is about % feet from the
head, which Is Il feet in circumference. At
this part is fixed 4 PAIR of fins, which are 4
feet long by nearly seven feet across at the
sides. Further back is y long dorsal fin, eX-
tending for at least 12 or Is feet, and five feet
high in front, tapering to one foot, The tail
is more of aattened termination to the body
proper than anything else. The eyes are very
small IN proportion and elongated, and gills
Of the length of 21a feet behind. There are
no external ears, and as DIR. Campbell did not
wish the animal handled till he communicate
ed with eminent scientific gentlemen, we
could not ascertain if there were teeth or not.
Great exctem ent is created, and the country
people are fiocking in to view it. THIS morn
ing Mr.. Duncan Clerk, writer, took posses
sion Of the monster, in the rights of Mr..
AIcFee, of Appin, AMI Mr. James Nicol, witt.
er n the name of the crOwn.-GL0SQ0ir NctrS.