Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-09
GAVE HER FRIENDS A SCARE.
Closing Tn on Sea Serpent at Merwin's
 Point Yesterday.

Closing In on Sea serpent aL MerWln
 Point Yesterday.
 A young woman well known in local society scared the wits out of a party of her friends who made a last visit to the shore at Merwin's Point yesterday. The water was extremely rough, white caps bounding on the shore ten feet high apparently and sixty feet long To an old tar the sight was beautlful, but to the land lubber rather alarm ing Not during the summer before were the waves so high; the water twas just right" for the expert swim mer. Many were taking advantage of the surf and many were knocked over as soon as they stood up by the force of the water. It was surely a great day. Suddenly there appeared most singular spectacle about twenty feet from where the spectators were stand ing. The object appeared at intervals of a few seconds and then what ap- peared to be it's yellow ugly head would rise above the water for a minute or two, shake itself in evident anger and disappear. Then it's green coils would rise above the screaming, white capped waves, lash themselves in paroxysms that sent the women of the party scampering with fear to the veranda of their hotel, where they watched the antics of the strange object and warned those in the water of it's proX- imity. The greatest excitement pre- vailed, of course, for all supposed that the inevitable summer sea serpent had come along to pay it's farewell visit, and not caring to pass the winter with it the timorous bathers left the water. It was then noticed that one of the young women of the party was not accounted for. She had been seen i'll the water for only a short time, up to about the time the sea serpent present. ed itself. As she was not good swim mer it was instantly surmised that harm had come to her and expert swim mers of the party armed themselves with oars, at the suggestion of she cautious lubberS, and went in quest of the sea serpent. This was not .iif- ficult matter. for that object was visi- ble every other moment. Its green coils glistened in the sun and sent shivers mong the spectators. Still not a sight of the missing young lady was obtained. A party went out in a boat and after a great deal of knocking about and danger of being capsized by the angry waves, cut off, as it were, the serpent from escaping to sea. while those in the water armed with oars closed in on the object that was turn ing the queerest somersaults, exposing it's glistening green coils every other minute in the warm sun. Tie chase was exciting and those on shore experi- enced all the sensations of the apparent danger of those in the water.
 The pursuit was on about 10 minutes and a great crowd had gathered, for it was a great day for shore dinners, and large crowds had come out from New Haven and Bridgeport for q change of diet as well as air Such commotion was not experienced at the west shore in years. Had it occurred earlier in the season campers and cot tagers could have retired for the rest of their lives by sub-renting their ac- commodations. At length. however. the sea serpent showed evidence of tiring, and the pursuers closed steadily in. One fellow, more presumptuous than the rest, poked the serpent with his oar and to the amazement of the rest and the spectators on shore, scream from the serpent rose above the noise of the water. The serpent was the young lady of the party. She wore green stockings and yellow cap and the agitated state of the water gave her every opportunity of playing sea serpent, though she had no idea she was doing it with wonderful sue cess. She was simply diving under the rushing waves, and she had the great est time in her life. So had the spec tators and her anxious friends.