Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-09-26
WHERE SEA sERPENTs ABOUND.
How They Disport Themselves In the
Great Maelstrom.


Great Maelstrom.
Alexander Lewis, an old sea-faring
man, says that sea serpents similar to
those exhibited in Tacoma are very
plentiful in north and south polar wa
tiers. He tells a very interesting story.
In 1852 he was a seaman on the Amer
lean bark Oregon, Capt Shields, sail
ing from Antwerp, Belgium, to the
Arctic sea, after seals. They passed
North cape, the northern extremity OF
Norway, $50 miles east of which is the
great maelstrom, the whirling infiu-
ence of which is felt at sea distance of
100 miles from the center. Though the
government of Norway has made care
full experiments, it has been found dam
gerous for vessels to approach nearer
than so miles of the center. On the ex1
treme outer edge of the maeistroTfl,
Capt Lewis says, the crew of the Ore
gon saw numerous sea serpents identi-
cal in appearance, and ranging from
ten to twenty-five feet in length. They
would bob out of the water now and
then alongside the ship, a pair of them
being frequently seen together. Occa-
sionally some of the sailors put off in
small boat and endeavored to harPoon
one, but they never succeeded. The SER
penis were too quick in their move
ments, and had such a ferocious look
that the sailors did not care to get too
close to them
Mr.. Lewis saws that two or three
years later, when the Oregon was about
100 miles out of Cattegat, between Dem
mark and Sweden, and entering the
North sea, the entire crew beheld most
astonishing sight. 1t was sea serpent
about 300 feet long, black in color, and
with big, round eyes that seemed the
size of a waShtub, Lewis declares.
Around each of his eyes were three
great rings. It had a dorsal fin extend
ing the entire length of the vertebrae
and sharp tail. Lewis thinks this was
the greatest sea serpent ever beheld by
man. When deserted it had its head
5 feet out of water, and was summing
itself. The ship put about and made
straight for him. When within about a
quarter of mile the serpent went UNI
der. Lewis thinks the serpent was 20
feet through at it's neck. He says that
the story sounds SO improbable that he
has seldom told it, but that Capt.
Shields, whose home port was Rock
land, Me-, as well as the other sailors,
will youch foDits truth if alive.
Lewis says that it is well known that
the waters pretty well up to the Arctic
sea are warmer than those further
south. For instance, the Goldfish leave
the Digger bank of the Norway coast in
latitude about 40 degrees every Decem-
Der or January and make their way
to Lofoten island, in latitude SO, where
are caught the greater portion of the
immense numbers of Goldfish exported
from Norway. The fish go north be-
cause the waters about Lofoten island
are warmer than those 80 degrees south.
In those warm waters in the far north.
he says, the sea serpents abound. They
are occasionally seen there by fishing
vessels, and in the summer time make
their way as far south as the great
maelstrom.
Lewis feels sure that the same species
exists in the south polar seas, and be-
lieves that the serpents caught in
Hoods canal are wanderers from south
of the equator.-Tacoma Ledger.