The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-09-12
n. Y. Times.l
Sunk by a Sea Monster.
The wonderful Story Told by Capt. Lar
sen.

The steamship P. Caland, which arrived
from Rotterdam yesterday, had on board Capt.
L. G. Larsen and the entire crew of Nor
wegian bark which was lost in mid-ocean un-
der remarkable circumstances. Capt. Larsen's
story, which is fully corroborated by his men,
goes to show that the accounts which have been
given to the public from time to time OF danger
Gus sea monsters inhabiting the ocean are not
wholly false. Either the original sea serpent
or some powerful submarine creature of the
same race ran into the bark Columbia on
Sept. 4. in latitude Az So, and longitude 43o
"a, and injured that vessel so that she sank
within a short time after she had been struck.
The bark Columbia left London for Quebec in
ballast, on August 8, and met with variable
weather until the morning of the 9th inst,
when she was sailing at the rate of from six
to seven miles an hour before fair wind.
The sea was not very rough, and the bark was
carrying all sail and heading westward. The
Captain was on deck at five bells in the morn
ing of the 4th inst, when she was sailing at the
rate of from six to seven miles an hour before
a fair wind. The sea was not very rough, and
the bark was carrying all sail and heading
westward. The Captain was on deck at five
bells in the morning watch, when tremen-
douS shock, which shook the bark from stem 10
stern, was suddenly felt. The men who were
asleep in their hunks were awakened and,
thinking that the foremaSt had been carried
away, sprang on deck. Capt. Larsen and
three of his men ran to the port side and saw
the water discolored with blood, while the tail
and fins of huge monster were seen splashing
about in the sea which had become violently
agitated ON that side of the vessel. Atthis
moment one of the crew cried out that leak
had been sprung, and Captain Larsen and the
carpenter hurried down into the hold to see if
the bark had suffered any injuries. In the
port bow, about three feet below water mark
they found that four planks had been crushed
in for space about four feet long. A large
hole had been made, through which the day
light could be plainly seen. The water was
pouring rapidly into the vessel through this
hole Several attempts were made to stop it
up but the Captain soon found that it would
be useless to remain below any longer In the
meantime the men on deck had become terri
bly, frightened Some cried bitterly, while
others had become so frightened by the unex-
pected encounter with the sea monster that
they were for the time being almost helpless.
When Capt. Larsen reached the deck he di-
rected his men to get the boats in readiness for
abandoning the vessel. The log-book, instru-
ments, and a few clothes, with some provisions
were bundled into two boats, which were put
over the sides as soon as the excited sailors had
pldCeu u llJlle IreSn water III IneH. Inc Wa-
ter casks had been slowed i'll the hold, into
which the sea was pouring so rapidly that not
more than one days fresh water could be saved.
Fortunately, the sea was not rough and when
the boats had been launched the entirs crew
abandoned the bark. The larger boat was
commanded by Capt Larsen, while Mr.. III.
Pedeser, the mate, took charge OF the smaller
one. AT II O'Clock, an hour and half after
the vessel had received her death wound from
the sea monster the boats rowed away. Short
ly after o'clock the bark sank out OF sight.
When abandoned, the water in the hold was
within two or three feet of the deck beams.
The prospects of the crew seemed very
doubtful then, as there was very little on
board the boats, and gale might spring up
before night. An anxious lookout was kept
for passing vessels, and also for the marine
monster. Nothing was seen of the latter, but
between 2 and o'clock the smoke from
steamer which was evidently approaching
them was observed. A pole to which signal
OF distress was fastened, was hoisted by the
Captain, and the joyful intelligence was soon
passed from boat to boat that the steamer was
rapidly approaching. By o'clock the L,
Caland, Capt. Dedfes, bound from Rotterdam
to this port, hove to near by, and the entire
crew of the Columbia, II men in all, were
taken on board. The two small boats by
means of which the shipwrecked seamen had
been preserved from watery graves were then
cast adrift and the Caland proceeded on her
voyage.
WHtu seeH last evening Oh podIu lno StoSnt-
ship, Captain Larsen said that he was unable
to give full description of the monster which
had sunk his vessel. Its fins and tail could be
seen as they splashed in the water, but he got
only slight glimpse of portion Of the body
One of the sailors at first thought it might be a
whale, but no whale had ever been known to
sink vessel. A whale could not present such
an array of tail and fin, reaching from the fore
rigging to the main rigging of a vessel Of 462
tons register, but this monster did. What lit
tie was seen was much too round for that Of q
whale. 1t would certainly require an animal
of enormous size and strength to make the hole
in the bow of the Columbia What became OF
the monster after it had run into the bark ID
not KNOWN as the crew left the side as soon as
it was known that the vessel was sinking.
They then became so occupied in getting
things in readiness to abandon the bark to OBJ
serve what course their submarine enemy had
pursued. No traces of it were observed while
they were in the boats.