Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-10-05
A RIVER SEA-SERPENT.
The Appalling Spectacle which
was Seen in the Hudson.

KINGSTON, n. ", August 80. "A
dozen or more men and boys were bath.
ing and swimming in the Hudson q short
distance north of Kingston Point, where
the steamer Daniel Drew was moored,
Sunday afternoon, about 2:30 o'clock.
They were sporting and splashing in the
water when one OF the boys attracted
attention by shouting loudly: whats
that? See, it's snake ALI eyes were
soon cast upon it, then rapid strides wei e
made for shore. Some, not satisfied with
getting out of the water, rushed naked
several hundred feet before venturing to
look around. Others, more cour-
ageous, stood and looked in
tently at the movements of the strange
object in the water. The sea serpent,
for such it was believed to have been,
was on the we It shore of the river, be-
tween Coddington's dock and Kingston
point. 1t was making its way south.
The peculiar creature is variously de-
scribed by persons who witnessed it.
Am opg the number is Captain Robert
Brush, of the schooner Mary Ann. He
says when he first noticed it its head
| was erect about five or six feet out of the
water, and it resembled Sooth Ameri-
can water snake, although considerable
larger. On the line OF its eyes it was
| about twenty inches thick. The por.
| tion of lis body visible was between fifty
and sixty feet in length, the greater por-
tion being above the water. AT dis
tance of eight or ten feet the body
was raised above the water, making
openings sufficiently large for rowboat
| to pass under. Eight feet back of the
eyes long, narrow fin appeared, which
extended along the entire top of the
body the entire length visible. The
throat was about two feet long, of a
light slate color, with many brown
spots. Every movement of the serpent
caused ruffling of the water consider.
able distance 1t would entirely disap-
pear under the water and reappear sew
eral hundred feet off. Charles Addison
describes it as, in his opinion, beng one
hundred and twenty-five feet long and
at least four feet in circumference at the
largest portion. 1t had slimy appear.
ance, and the surface of the water. after
the reptile passed, was covered as if
with oily matter elected from the SER
rent. Occasionally it opened its mouth,
which was quite large. It's eyes ap
pearcd abont the size of a hens egg.
Some of the small boys. upon being
interviewed, stated that they thought it
was large seal. They had never Sc n
nor heard of such long thing in tbs
water before. Twice between Coddipg.
tons dock and Rhineclif ferry it lashed
the water with its tail, causing the
waves to rise as ii made by a passing
steamer. Less than half an hour after
the supposed serpent passed Kingston
point the fire broke out which destroyed
the steamer Daniel. Drew, and many SUI
perstititioas persons have an idea that
the strange object was forerunner OF
the catastrophe. Specials to the World
correspondent tonight from various
points lower down the Hudson state
that it's passage was noticed along the
river On its onward course towards the
sea. 1t is believed to have been the
same one that was seen in the Hudson
in the vicini y of Sing Sing three or
weeks ago.