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features with the naked eye; and it did not, either in approaching
the ship or after it had passed our wake, deviate in the slightest
degree from its course to the S.W., which it held on at the pace of
from 12 to 15 miles per hour, apparently on some determined pur-
pose. The diameter of the serpent was about fifteen or sixteen
inches behind the head, which was, without any doubt, that of a
snake; and it was never, during the 20 minutes that it continued in
sight of our glasses, once below the surface of the water; its
colour, a dark brown with yellowish white about the throat. It had
no fins, but something like the mane of a horse, or rather a bunch
of seaweed, washed about its back. It was seen by the quarter-
master, the boatswain's mate, and the man at the wheel in addition
to myself and officers above mentioned."
This is unassailable evidence from the best source possible—
the observation of several educated men used to the sea, and set
down in a sober, official report. A letter was printed shortly after-
wards in the Globe newspaper, giving an account of the appear-
ance of a similar monster seen from the American brig Daphne,
20 degrees further south, soon after it was seen from the
Doedalus.
Captain W. H. Nelson, of the American ship Sacramento,
reported catching a glimpse of a strange sea-monster on 30 July
1877, on latitude 31°59'N, longitude 37°W. John Hart, the man at
the wheel, had a better view than Captain Nelson, for he was the
one who first caught sight of the creature and the Captain did not
arrive upon deck until it had proceeded some distance. Some 40
feet of the creature was seen above the surface, and its girth
appeared to be about that of a flour barrel. Indeed, it resembled
an ichthyosaur.
An account from an officer of HMS Plumber ran as follows:
"On the morning of 31st December 1848, lat. 41 degrees 13'N.,
and long. 12 degrees 31' W., being nearly due west of Oporto, I
saw a long, black creature with a sharp head, moving slowly, I
should think about two knots, through the water, in a north-west-
erly direction, there being a fresh breeze at the time and some sea
on. I could not ascertain its exact length, but its back was 20 feet,
if not more, above the water, and its head, as near as I could
judge, from 6 feet to 8 feet. I had not the time to make a closer
features with the naked eye; and it did not, either in approaching observation, as the ship was going six knots through the water,
the ship or after it had passed our wake, deviate in the slightest her head E. half S. and S.S.E. The creature moved across our
degree from its course to the S.W., which it held on at the pace of | wake, towards a merchant barque on our lee-quarter and on the
from 12 to 15 miles per hour, apparently on some determined pur- port tack. I was in hopes she would have seen it also. The offi-
pose. The diameter of the serpent was about fifteen or sixteen cers and men saw it, and [those] who have served in parts of the
inches behind the head, which was, without any doubt, that of a world adjacent to whale and seal fisheries and have seen them in
snake; and it was never, during the 20 minutes that it continued in the water, declare they have never seen or heard of any creature
sight of our glasses, once below the surface of the water; its bearing the slightest resemblance to the one we saw. There was
colour, a dark brown with yellowish white about the throat. It had something on its back that appeared like a mane, and, as it moved
no fins, but something like the mane of a horse, or rather a bunch _ through the water, it kept washing about; but before I could exam-
of seaweed, washed about its back. It was seen by the quarter- ine it closely it was too far astern."
master, the boatswain's mate, and the man at the wheel in addition The following account of a sea serpent was communicated to
to myself and officers above mentioned." the Illustrated London News on 25 September 1853:
This is unassailable evidence from the best source possible— "We hand you the following extract from the log-book of our
the observation of several educated men used to the sea, and set ship Princess, Captain A. K. N. Tremaine, in London Docks, 15th
down in a sober, official report. A letter was printed shortly after- instant, from China, viz.: 'Tuesday, July 8th, 1853; latitude (accu-
wards in the Globe newspaper, giving an account of the appear- rate) 34.56 degrees S.; longitude (accurate) 18.14 degrees E. At 1
ance of a similar monster seen from the American brig Daphne, p.m. saw a very large fish, with a head like a walrus, and twelve
20 degrees further south, soon after it was seen from the fins similar to those of the blackfish, but turned the contrary way.
Doedalus. The back was from 20 feet to 30 feet long; also a great length of
Captain W. H. Nelson, of the American ship Sacramento, tail. It is not improbable that this monster has been taken for the
reported catching a glimpse of a strange sea-monster on 30 July great sea-serpent. Fired and hit it near the head with rifle ball. At
1877, on latitude 31°59'N, longitude 37°W. John Hart, the man at eight, fresh wind and fine."
the wheel, had a better view than Captain Nelson, for he was the The monster was seen by the entire ship's crew, and also by
one who first caught sight of the creature and the Captain did not Captain Morgan, a passenger.
arrive upon deck until it had proceeded some distance. Some 40 Another sea-serpent was seen by Dr Biccard, of Cape Town, in
feet of the creature was seen above the surface, and its girth February 1857, and again, a month later, by Mr Fairbridge and
appeared to be about that of a flour barrel. Indeed, it resembled others. Dr Biccard was at the lighthouse at Green Point at about 5
an ichthyosaur. pm in the afternoon of the day in question, when he was sum-
An account from an officer of HMS Plumber ran as follows: moned by the lighthouse keeper, and the following account is in
"On the morning of 31st December 1848, lat. 41 degrees 13'N., his own words:
and long. 12 degrees 31' W., being nearly due west of Oporto, I "I proceeded to the lighthouse and from thence I saw on the
saw a long, black creature with a sharp head, moving slowly, I water, about 150 yards from the shore, a serpent. I borrowed a
should think about two knots, through the water, in a north-west- _rifle from Mr. Hall (the father-in-law of the lighthouse keeper),
erly direction, there being a fresh breeze at the time and some sea _and fired at the animal. The ball fell short in front of it by about
on. I could not ascertain its exact length, but its back was 20 feet, four yards. The animal did not move, and then I fired a second
if not more, above the water, and its head, as near as I could shot, the ball striking about one foot or one-and-a-half feet from
judge, from 6 feet to 8 feet. I had not the time to make a closer _ it. The serpent then, apparently startled, moved from its position,
and straightened himself out, and went
under water, evidently getting out of the
way. He was invisible about ten minutes,
at the expiration of which interval he reap-
peared about 200 yards distant, and, I
should say, about 40 yards farther off. He
then came right on towards the place where
I first saw him; but before arriving there,
my son, who had joined me, fired at the ani-
mal. Unluckily the discharge broke the nip-
ple of the rifle, and I was thus prevented
from further firing. Upon reaching the
place which he first occupied, and then
stood right into the bay, and soon after-