New-York tribune., 1885-07-22
THE NEW SEA SERPENT.

Il is at such season as this, when all the cur
rents Of life runlow, when everybody Is trying TO
get rs far away rs possible from the necessity Oh
doing anything, and when the average man insists
that he alone shall be permitted 10 defy the laws
of health by taking stimulaDts when he Deeds sed-
atives; II Is at such q season that the newspaper
man feels like swearing eternal friendship with
any one who will develop sensation even OF the
mildest type Therefore. the latest news from the
West from rrepressbe Chicago. that is to say,
must be Welcomed with as much esfason as the
exaltation of the mercury may seem to warrant.
1t is our old friend the Soa Serpeut, whose unex-
pected advent in Lake Michigan constitutes this
warm weather intelligence, aud we hereby extend
the aipper Of friendship aud fraternity to him.
Hitherto he has demanded the ocean for his theatre
Of action, and noby, if somewhat bewildsriugly,
has ne disported himself therein. But now he con-
descends TO inhabit fresh-water lake. and to ex-
hibit himself in all his glory to tho mariners
thereof and, moreover at precisely the right
season.
Ii Is strange that tho opposite appearance OF Sea
serpents immense rdttlesnakes and blacksnakes
enOrmous specimens of eooseberrie and pumpkins,
etc., ai OF about the period when the heavy work
of the world is intermtted, should be regarded as
juslfying sceptlcIsm as to the particulars OF
these interesting natural history notes. but IL is
Men ARE desperately wicked. and some oven 30 so
far az to assert that such stories are invented.
But this shows mere ignorance, for the mass OF
incredible matter always revolving through news
paper space, to saw Is 50 great that according 10
the calculations fQuetelet, who wrote 80 learnedy
en- the doctrine OF probabilities, il would take
never mind how many years to exhaust the supply
at the present rate OF consumption or course,
however the case of the Sea Serpent is different.
.-t. tl,.tt
seen IN Lake Michigan, and gives full particulars
as to size, length. structure and general appear
ance throwing In the names andaddresses ofat least
two alIe-farng men who took observations OF the
great snake, there is nothing for it but to accept
the information and hope humbly for further in
formation in small bills.
No sea Serpent has heretofore been known to re-
side in any of the American lakes. but it is ccr-
tainly high time that Nation of iify-eght millions
should possess an indigenous serpent of Its own,
and not be reduced to the Illuminating necessity Of
holding an undivided interest in an international
marine oplidcan Of uncertain gcncalogy contra
dicsry appearance and generally doubtful ante
cedcnts Lake Michigan sea serpent may indeed
be regarded by jealous persons as possible rival
10 the BartLoldl Statue, but Chicago Is not small
enough for such subtertugs as that. Depend upon
IT. the Western Sea SeIpentis a genuine Developments
of the region. With It's body as big round as beer
barrel. its eyes tho size Of dollars, Its crocodile
Jaws, scrraicd teeth. flowing name and hattened,
oar-shaped tail. il is, II not exactly thing of
beauty, certainly joy forever to the Queen City
of the West. Hereafter. when the serpent has been
caught. az caught he must be to vindcate the en-
ergy and persistence of Chicago, he may serve as
crest of the city, and. artistic bronze on the
summit OF lofty marble column, acquire as much
fame broad as the Lions of St Mark, which history
associates with the splendor OF the Venetian Repub
lie We congratulate the Lake Michiganders. and
especially the Chcagoans upon their brilliant md