The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-07-19
rhe Sea Serpent Of History Caught.

A most extraordinary event has
occurred at Oban, which give in
detail, having been an eyewitness
TO the whole affair. alludo to the
stranding and capture OF tho verita-
bic seq serpent in front OF the
Caledonian hotol, George street,
Oban. About 4 o'clock In the even
ing an animal or fish, evidently OF
gigantic size, was seen sporting in
tho bay near Heather island. It's
appearance evidently porplexed a
large number Of spectators assem-
bled on tho pier, aud several tele.
scopes wero directed toward it. A
careful look satisfied us that il was
OF the serpent species, 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 tho
direction of Malcolm Nicholson, our
boatman, they headed tho monster,
and some of tho boats wero within
thirty yards OF it when it suddenly
sprang half length out of tho water
and mado for tho opening. A ran
dom fire from several volunteers
with rifles seemed to have no oifoct
upon it. Under Mr.. Nicholsou's s
orders the boats ranged across tho
entrance Of tho bay, and by their
shouts aud screams turned the mon
ster's course, and it headed directly
for tho breast wall Of the Great
Western hotel. One boat containing
MIR. Campbell, the Fiscal, had a most
narrow escape, the animal actually
rubbing against it. Mr.. Campbell
and brother jumped overheard, and
were picked up unhurt by SIr. John
ID. Harlie, saddler, in his small
yacht, tho Flying Scud. The AMI
NAL seemed thoroughly frightened,
and rs tho boats closed in tho vol-
unteers were unable to fire, owing to
the crowd assembled on shore. At
a little past six the monster took the
ground on tho beach in front of tho
Caledonian hotel, in George street,
and his proportions arc now fully
visible. In his frantic exertions,
with his tail sweeping tho beach, no
ono dared approach, Tho stones
wero flying in all directions ono
seriously injured n man called Bars
noy Barrows, and another broke tho
window Of the Commercial bank. a
party of volunteers under Lieuten-
ant David Monzio now assembled
aud fired volley aftor volley into tho
neck, according to tho directions of
DR.. Campbell, who dill not wish, for
scientific reasons. that the econGsura-
ton OF tho head should be damaged.
As thero was bright moon, this
continued till nearly ten o'clock,
when MIR. Stevens, of the CONNER.
cial bank, wadod in and fixed n
strong rope to the animals head,
and by tho exertions Of some seventy
persons 1T was securely dragged
above high water mark. Its exact
appearance as it lies on the beach is
ms follows : The extreme length is
lOl foot and the thckost part is
about 25 feet from the head, which
is III feet in circumference. At this
part is fixed a pair of fins, which are
4 feet long by nearly seven feet
across the sides. Further back is q
long dorsal I'm, extending for at least
IL or l3 feet and five foot high in
front, tapering to foot. The tail
is moro Of a tlattened termination to
tho body than anything else. The
eyes are very small in proportion
and elongated, and gills of the
length Of a foot behind. There are
no external ears, and as DR.. Camp
bell did not wish the animal handled
until he communicated with some
eminent scientific gentlemen, we
could not ascertain if there were
teeth or not. Great excitement is
created, aud the country people are
hocking in to view it. This morning,
Mr.. Duncan Clarke, writer, took
possession OF tho monster, in tho
rights of Mr.. McFee, of Appin, and
Mr.. James Nicol, writer, In tho
naine of the crown.-Glasgow NeWs.