The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-08-03
rIIAT sNA sRMPENT

CamB Fraln tho sOa-Just ~ Common
PIthpn intended for slds'ihoW.
Nep York Herald
That SEA serpent which was haulo 4
out of the water at BIackwell'S Island
on Tuesday night was plain everyday
slde.sAow python, He came over here
to be charmed by 4 young woman with
blond viz and pink tights in q country
circus,
He was tho logical sea serpent for all
that. H0 was 4 snake, no was big anu
long aud in salt water. He came hOre
In tho British steamer Macduli, from
Singapore, which after q tempestnouI
voyage dropped anchor of Bedloe's Is
land last Saturday night, This python,
which was ono OF large lot OF animals
consigned to Donald Burns, South
street animal dealer, died from injuries
received from getting too close to n
steam pipo, and after most OF his skin
had been removed was cast into tho sen.
He aoated with tho tides, lie proceed
cd until he got among the Islands in the
East river, and daally dyiilel IN toward
BIacswelPs Island. Ito rolled over on
lis back and was carried inshore oppo'
site DR.. Stewards cottage. As a logical
sea serpent ha could not do less.
DISCOVERED!
A nurse saw tho white undor body oil
the creature on Tuesday night, and in
the faint light she was sure that sho say
human body floating in tho channel.
She gave the alarm, and attendants
came trooping down. and there WIS a
flashing OF lanterns, and great quHnti'
ties Of boat hooks aud cordage wero
produced.
James II. RYAN, n watcher on the
isinnd, threw out limo AMI draGsed the
monster lnshorH. Dr. Stewart, chief OF
the hospital stal, auperintended the
work. BY the glimmer oil tho lantern
thoro was revealed tho head Of a great
snake. The ewes were staring wildly,
tho mouth was half open, ~ in eager
expectation, and pair OF IeOIOrs pro-
jecled from tho head.
A rope was tied around the creatures
neck, then the men drew upon the line
and drow tho long body upon the land.
Their eyes bulged with asto1ishment.
Observation-Disclosures feet OF
abraded uginess was drawn upon the
shore.
THAT'S it," they said, and DR.. Stew.
art removed his hat aud said; "Men, |
think that We have here that which
will save the reputation for yeracity Of
many worthy man, and clear many
who undeIervolly bear the stigma OF in-
temperance. This is what thousands Of
persons have longed TO SEQ. This iS the
sea serpent"
THE DocroR's ERRONEOUS DIAGNOSIS
But it wasn't. BlackwelIs Island is
full OF experts on snakes. Dr.. Stewart
did not atop to consult with them or ho
might not have decided so hastily. 1t
was only after mature elaboration that
he discovered that tho creature must
DO land snake OF some kind in very
much shattered and diIheyellod condl.
ton.
The carcass was left in front Of tho
doctors house until tho morning. II
was then carefully packed in barrel
and sent over 10 New York taxidet-
mist to DO prepared for exhibition. Bs
hali.paSt five o'clock yesterday morn.
ing the telephone was again iingling,
and DR.. Stewart stood in his stockiuged
feet answering inquiries about tho sea
serpent.
By nine o'clock he had refused several
offers for It and had answered inquiries
by long distance telephone from nSnake
expert at the Smithsonian institution.
By tho carly, light of dawn the snake
was still there. but not quite SO much OF
| il. II had shrunE during the night, yet
II made very respectable showing.
And Yesterday evi.minded persons, dis
POSED 10 be ribald withal, sent tile doc
tor strong waters in jugs and doinijohns
and mado mocking inquiries about his
health. Tho doctor took 1t all good
naturally and laughed one hundred
times in rapid succession at tho time.
beloved jest about tho alcoholic ward
and snakes.