The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-09

at a jump The demoralized printers in the
offices of the Post and Republican threw down
their sticks and rushed to the street.
conference Of Democratic politicians was
being held at the rooms Of the Congressional
Committee. The earthquake broke up the
meeting entirely, those present seiZing their
hats and evincing desire 10 fee the wrath to
come. In the residences some who had retired
early sprang from their beds and ran out of
doors 10 find their neichbors doing the same
thing. Washington has not been so excited
since Mr. Cleveland was inauguated. Much
anxiety was felt for the safety Of the Washing
ton Monument but n careful examination
shows that IL sustained no injury.
A SCIENTIFIC VIEW or THE SEA SERPENT.
For some time past very frequent views Of
the sea serpent have been had. according to
the newspapers, by excited individuals, whose
active imaginations have revealed this tradi-
tiOnal monster Of the deep ia ali sorts Of pic
turesque forms. Prof Gill, Of the Fish Com
mission. who is familiar with ancient and mod
ern sea -scrpent literature, does not believe in
the existence Of any such monster as that
which is reported To be disporting itself in the
Hudson River. The negative evidence he says
is very strong as presented 90 the scientific
mind The true serpent is an air-breathing
animal, and could not exist indefinitely be-
meath the surface Of the sea. Such monsters
were common IN the crctaceOus age OF the world,
and their remains are common enough ia the
deposits OF those times, but nothing remotely
resembling them is found in the deposits OF
later geological ages.
The sea bottoms Of these later ages arc in
many parts of the world now above the sur
face and open 10 the inspection Of biologists.
III any descendants Of the ancient monsters had
remained alive traces of them he thinks would
assuredly be found. There are monsters of the
shark family which grow 10 an immense
length and swim with an undulatory motion
which might cause them TO he mistaken for
serpents hut they have no power OF raising
their heads above the surface and gazing about
them as reported of the Hudson River speci-
men. Moreover, the deepsea inhabitants Of
the present age are descendants of littoral spe-
cies of former ages, the reptilian species hav-
ing ceased 10 exist. There are TO be sure, real
sea scrpents Row inhabiting tropical seas
swimming upon the surface and sometimes
climbing on shipboard, some species of which
are poisonous, but they are little fellows from
one 20 four or five feet in length.
On the other hand, Prof. Goode, also of the
Fish Commission, does not wholly discredlt the
statement that a monster as yet unknown TO
science, of reptilian shape aud having the
power and habit of lifting its head far above
the surface of the sea, may still be in existence
he has been told by acOmmander ola revenue
vessel for whose trustworthiness he can vonch,
that a creature of this character, as large
around as an ordinary stoyepipe and with a
head on it, once made its appearance in the
vicinity of his vessel in the Pacific, raising its
head far above the surface of the sea. Prof.
Goodies informant was not talking "for publi-
cation" aud was not the kind Of man who
would be likely 10 deceive or be deceived in
such matters. From time 10 time captured
creatures, which are reported to be sea serpents,
tall into the hands of naturalists, but when
submitted 10 the tests OF science they uniform
ly prove 10 be abnormal specimens of familiar
forms, such as basking shark aud the garfsh.