Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-09-22
SAW A HORNED SEA SERPENT
1t may have been sea serpent, gi

| Sa0tlc QSn or q marine unicorn which
First Officer Prentice seys he saw three
| days from Gibraltar while standing
upon the bridge of the British steam.
ship Bencliff, which arrived at New
York last week.
The creature had back which rose
and fell in curves; it was covered VII b
fms, and it had horn on the top of its
head. 1t was, in the opinion of the
clear eyed mariner who told about
1t, at least seventy feet long and as big
around as wine tun.
The FIRST officer called his superior,
Captain Leganger, master of the vessel,
to witness that the appearance which
he beheld was living, wriggling real.
| ity. The monster was seen in latitude
80 degrees 20 minutes north and longi
tude 16 degrees SIS minutes west, or
within about days steaming OF the
Azores. The officer knows the vessels
position so we'll because he saw the SER
pent, or whatever il was, when he and
the captain were standing on the bridge
taking the MONDAY observation.
The Benclif left Gibraltar on August
2S, and the strange creature of the sea
was sighted on August 81. The steam
ship is one OF those curved-in steel cargo
boats of the turret variety. She looks
like whale with few cottages on top
She is loaded with iron pyrites, from
which sulphur is made. This thing
with the horned head and the glisten-
ing eye, for 1t had one, seemed to be at
tracteG by the steamer.
The day was mild and the sky was
cloudless. There was just enough air
stirring to cause swell to ripple the
surface of the sea. Over the starboard
bow the first officer saw a glistening
black horn rise out of the sea, some
thing after the manner of the sword
mentioned in the King Arthur legend
Then there was swishing of water,
and he beheld abreast of the steamship,
and not more tran a hundred yards
away, q gigantic shape.
The creature was going toward Gil
braltar at the rate of about six knots
an hour, and was evidently propelling
itself by its tail. The body was bent
up and down in several curves about
six feet in depth. The form was that
of serpent. The head was concealed
in the water, all save an eye, which
seemed to direct its gaze upon the
steamship.
Near the head the body was about
eight feet in diameter, gradually taper
ing toward the tail to diameter OF
about four feet. The monster was
black in color. The body, Mr..
Prentice said the monster was cover.
cd from head to tail with fms, which
we're about as long as man's finger
and seemed to have the power OF mo-
tion.
Most remarkable of all, in the esii
nation of Mr.. Prentice, was the horn
which the creature carried above its
eye. This was about eight feet in
height and gradually tapered to 8
point. About the base Of it we're the
same peculiar fins which covered most
of the body. The horn seemed to be
solidly braced and was evidently used
| as weapon OF offence and defence.
Gas live," the captain remarked,
'sa rhinoceros of the deep %
'tIt's q behemoth of Holy Writ" ]"
calculated the mate, who had been to a
circus once.
The crew did not happen to see the
| leyiathan. The sea unicorn, for there
| are sea horses you know, began to ca.
| wort over the surface of the sea. Per-
haps it was the sight of the British flag
| which filled his heart with joy.
The creature kept its course for Glib
raltar, wriggling like snake, swim
ming like fish and bearing his horned
head with stately grace.
The first officer says that he is OF the
opinion that the head of the monster,
be it fish or animal, was about ten feet
| in length. He can furnish accurate in
formation only with regard to the eye.
He was not able to tell what the color
of the iris was, for he was not quite
close enough for that. The creature
seemed to have been attracted to the
| steamer possibly by curiosity, or posi-
bly by the strong odor of sulphur.
1t swan more slowly in passing, and
the first officer was able to get good
view of it He afterward made a rough
sketch of what he is sure he saw.
The sunlight shone upon the glitter
ing horn of the serpent, as it passed In
review, like lieutenant on dress pa
rade ssluting the reviewing officer with
his sword. Mr.. Prentice, looking over
the stern. saw the blade receding from
view, and then the horn and its bearer
diyed into the sea. The first officer es-
Inmates that he saw the serpent for q
period of four minutes.
..I do not know" said he yesterday,
when seen on board the Benefit,
"whether the thing v IS fish, animal or
devil. 1 observed it carefully, and !
have given an accurate description OF
it. am willing to stake my reputr.
ftion for veracity upon what l have
said. have been at sea many years,
vet never have seen sea serpent be-
FORE"
/ For Over Fifty Years
An OLD AND WELL-TRIED REAEDY.-Mrs