Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-10-21
THE SEA SERPENT.
is History in New Eng.
/ land.
R0FESSOR AGASSIz'S OPINION
Shall Barnum's 100000 Ever
be Won by the Capture
of One9
boston Herald.i

of the Galatea, and the cannon-bearing
corsair fishermen OF Gloucester, but now
she rises up serenely with renewed
Hahn of tAe ancient and veritabie sea
erpent, which has just been seen Oft the
bcks at Pigeon Cove by over fifty per-
fops, equipped with marine glasses,
rahsits and other scientific appliances.
among these wero pedagogues, artists,
-aepers and nebulous train of "their
W. b" and ali agreed that the sinuous
r had length OF good eighty
corrugated into dozen or more
&mps or ridges. The appnrition took
blace on a calm and sunny afternoon, IN
k smooth sea, and within thousand feet
bf the shore, and the serpent remained
In sight for fu twenty minutes. And
although artists or innkeepers, ideally
br convivislly inclined, or with a clear
We for attractions, might by ecumenical
kouneil b5 held us, perhaps, not the best
POSSIBLE witnesses no one can chullepge
he sohriety aud accuracy OF the 'esti.
hony given by group OF Boston school
feaehers tand men, withall, whose chast-
ened ina giuatons would rather under.
tlte the spectacle thus proVidsntiallY
soUIRMgD BEFORE THEM.
Whatever he may be, belated survi-
kor of the mesoz,lo age, or stray wan
lerer from the Asiatio seas, this mys-
FERROUS visitor has been Il favorite
Eheme in the smoky forecastles of our
e sex sea kings for well now quarter
bf millennium, ever sinos one OF the
Did colonial chroniclers described him as
Summing himself on tho rocks near
Thacher's Is island in the days OF the long
Parliament. But no one can tell
whether the new conner Is the same Old
snake THAI set the seventeenth d century
6shermen to shiyering IN their doublels,
br whether he belongs to small and
belsct family, descent from that primal
bne, AMI happily amenable to ihe Nal
Sbasian doctrines of New England. 1t
ssthe year 1877 that the veritable
ea.serpent appeared at Nabant, and
kha old Marshal Prince, with n asst
R,ead class. studied his fearful eyes and
konQue. and counted his Jumps and
wrote enthusiastic accounts Of The mon
Bier for Mi II Russtlls Columbian
Sentinel. Atilavits came in from ali
klong the north shore from scores OF
Reputable persone, who made solemn
bath that they had seen the serribie
creature. An expedition OF whaiemen
ct out from Gloucester 10 hunt him
lown, and o great shed was bu'lt near
Faneuil Hall In which 10 exhibit him
when caught; but after an unsuccessful
ktlaok Of squani, when Captain Rich
buried his harpoon in the serpent for
pyer TWO feet, the perilous quest was
abaudon d. When similar reports as to
his presence were sent out IN the foi-
1owing year, and again IN lSl9, the
IVirpinians ard Caroliniaus broke out IN
\ierisive expressions of increduliiy, and
khe Sentinel bitterly stigma,ized them
los "Southern soaffers," almost begin
hing premature internecine war.
Meantime
THOUSANDS OF CURIOUS YANKEES
pS-d Nahant iur the alleged purpose
studying this wonder of nature, and
koosumed heartily the chowders and
rich wines OF tho hotel, so tho. II they
allied to perceive the dragon Of the seas,
hey doubtless gained sight of other Ser
pents more app alling, more intimate to
heir conliguity. and not less imaginary.
was in August, 1920, that he again
,ppeared, and three veniuresome boat.
men rowe d out to within thirty yards of
him. reportine him to have black and
[naky head, the size of fire bucket, ard
wen y.three punches on his back.
Occasionally since, when trade grew
hack at The shore resorts, reports have
,eep spread of new appearances OF the
erpsnt. II has been noticed. isttsriy,
hat ,hese always came in summer. when
he hotels were la operation; aud be-
nevolent scientific person has attributed
b;, TO the fact that at that season only
"a onr E.sex waters dotted with boats,
nd tine shores with curiosity han ers, Oh
he lookout for strange sights. In the
year 1875 his saurian majesiy once more
;sited these favorite waters, disporting
himscIf between Nshant and Egg Rock,
glossy back, lizard-heaced, big
non thed, staring. eyed monster, with
,leisiosaurian fippsrs, on which he
aised himself full ten feet above the
waves.
Nor can the student of condolences
reasonably doubt that when the next
law hotel is built on the heights Of Ma
amt and walls for the shekels OF the
hummer guests, the great marine snake
ball appear once again in conveniently
ear waters, and his advent shall be
hropicled by telegraph in all the great
titles of an amazed republic. Some OF
he old fishermen along the coast profess
I,et these apparltion of the sea serpent
naSbe explained by calling it a line oi
orpoises or else
A MERRY HORSE MAcKEREL
rolicking in the water, as that species
4 Fl ,h is won't to do, swimming along
He,p ndicularly and leaving white ano
oaminp wake. But others, to whom
(orse mackerel arc as familiar as wind
tresched mainsails or dripping scuppers
cout this belief with all the quaint force
X Essex south dialect and boldly yum
md swanny that the Nahant saurian ii
true and worthy snake. on whose sin
,osities and humps and bumps their OWL
ives have dwelt in fascination.
On the memorable occasion, q year ol
wo after the secession war, when "Bar
psv,' Williams took the light-draughl
monitor Shawnee out OF Boston harbor
artain of the North Shore fishermen
made sure that the sea seTpent's last
nd come. For when the little black
ronolad reached the open roads between
darblehead and Nahant she was cleared
or action, and her great ll-inch Dahl
rren guns opened such q cannonade al
had not been heard hereaway since tnt
Chesapeake and Shannon met, back -
SI3. There was no hostile ship in sigh
md some of the wondering spectators or
hore allowed, a. they saw the grea
ron cannon balls ricochet across th'
waves, that the Shawnee's fury must b.
lirected against the royal monster o
hose northern seas, instead of being
mere bit of practice drill at the grea
inns. williams fred his colossal thun
Aerbolt until the turret got disabled
.,h;oh event came much to the relief o