New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-31

The reports concerning these have not come from ig
norant and unreliable men, but from such gentlemen
as Colonel Thomas II. Perkins, OF Boston Chaplain
Brookiine James Prince United State. Marshal Rev.
Arthur Lawrence OF StOckDridge; Hon. LOnsOn Nash
OF Gloucester, and b. r. Newhai OF saugus as well a.
from intelligent captains sailors and fishermen. would
gladly the details OF these reports but only
III lnis article that am surprised to hnd.sach sub
own. in The Boston Journal and The cape A nm
speed usually and in the OF cutting
water our accounts so agree that cond give a COM
pete account IN the words OF others written years since
am frequently asked: II there be such thing as
sea serpent, why Is he not OiteDer scent " I must
frankly say Il do not know" and yet present
some suggestions which satisfy my own mind In the
first place large animals not numerOuA Eagles
less abundant than mosquitoes. elephants than mice
whales aan snd
keeps himself at the bottom Of the excepting in the
season. II this true. the dates just given would
prove II to be, the time is short when 1t may DO ex
10 the surface In calm weather. but plunge into the
water again soon as tho wind raises the least wavo
the case almost always think 1t has been so in every
case but which have noticed. so that the cond-
may be that Ike the rrea, sea turtles IL is most
In the night. when IL would be least observed; aud
but au inutesmsl portion of Its surface is any time
being scanned by tho human eye -
/ have described the object which came under my
observation. shall not attempt to classify It, Whether
the mammalis reptilia or pisces whether
II be ophian cetacoan or sauran must leave 1t TO the
naturalist to determine am no stranger by the sea-
love for its beauty aud grandeur in calm and Storm
well as fondnes for the sudy OF Its teemng lfe both
animal and vegetable, minute well as gigantic, has
led spend eighteen summers upon Its very verge
This experience makes sure that no one who
what did would eyer entertain the suggestion that
II q school OF porp0lses, Rrampus. or horse
mackerel. Because have been deceived by these
floating spar, or mass Of seaweed II does not fol
low that others have not seen genuine monster Pro-
lessor Siiliman In his Journal Of Science. says I'VE
are ourselves skcptca. We do not how such ey
idonce presented by Dr. Jacob BigelOw. In our
forms us that vi" would be In precise conformity with
seas see no chance to doubt that some huge animal
wth outward form much like serpent did sometimes
visit these shores"
Professor Richard A Proctor writes: " Naturalis sta
nave Deeh Tar less ncrsduous than tho general puDlc
we CONFESS We do not we'll SEQ how such chain OF prob
abilities can lie readily set aside" Professor Gosse
says Are not the facts sufficiently weghty TO restrain
u. from rejecting 80 great amount OF testimony
express my own confident persuasion That there eIs;
some oceanic animal OF Immense sigo which has not
been receiveq into the category OF scientific zoology
Professor j. o. wood remarks that cit docs require
courage TO face the alternative OF being either
ridiculed as AN ignorant fool or denounced as con-
temp,iblo impostor but snch IL the ordeal through which
all have 70 pass who venture 10 assert that they have
seen the s-~serpenL'
There many grains Of trgth In this ASSERTION, yet
have regretted that offered my report to the
lie for am confident that tho timo will come whsn ts
candid Judgment will be assured or the existence Of this
dcnizsn OF the deep.