Sea Serpent

The Boston Galaxy has this account of his late appearance :-
''The veritable Sea Serpent, the real Simon Pure, is back again in our waters. For a few days past, there have been rumours amongst the inhabitants of Nahant, that this Lord of the Ocean had approached near enough to several of the fishermen while engaged in their daily avocations—not to shake hands with them, readers, for that would have been beneath his dignity but to give them a friendly and condescending nod, as much as to say, here I am once more, driving my small subjects by shoals up to your hooks and nets. On Wednesday evening he was seen by several gentlemen off what is called little Nahant, where, liking the accommodations, he probably slept, and on Fast day morning, sailed leisurely round the point on which the billiard-room is situated, followed by the straining gaze of the visitors at the place, who examined with great curiosity the length of his wake, for being a prudent fish, and knowing that it rained, he took good care not to expose himself in the shower. For ourselves, happening to be in the neighbourhood, and hearing the cry of "Sea Serpent," we made the best of our way to the height from which he was said to be visible, and there we certainly saw the place where he might and ought in honour to have been, but where at that moment, to the best of our belief, he was not, unless indeed the aid of the microscope is essential to his discovery. In sober earnest there can be no doubt that some very large Marine Animal is near our shores. Many during the last week had opportunities of seeing him, and describe his length and appearance in the same manner as the monster was described who visited us some years since.

Philadelphia Daily Chronicle.

A party of 80 or 100 ladies and gentlemen embarked yesterday morning on the steamer Connecticut, for the purpose of taking an excursion in the lower harbor, with the expectation of getting a view of his Serpentine Majesty. About 12 o’clock, when the steamboat was half way between Nahant and the Graves, the monster was seen approaching. A number of gentlemen took the small boat and made directly for it, but unfortunately did not run upon the animal as was intended, owing to a little mismanagement in rowing. The serpent came within an oar’s length of the boat, and without appearing at all alarmed or uneasy, took a slight curve towards the steamboat, passed under her stern within fifty or sixty feet, and then disappeared. We understand it was the opinion of those in the small boat that he might easily have been struck but unfortunately there was no harpoon on board. At this time his motion was not undulating, as has sometimes been stated, but rather like an eel or common water snake. It has been reported that there has been three or more of these strange creatures seen lately, one of which is supposed to be 150 feet in length. We would recommend some of our sporting friends, who are skilled in the management of a whale boat, and the use of the harpoon, to make an attempt upon the liberty of the marine monster, and there is but little doubt he might be taken.
     The foregoing account is furnished by a gentleman who was one of the passengers and had a good opportunity to see the serpent from the small boat, and whose certificate bearings is also corroborated by several other gentlemen with whom we have conversed who were on board the steamer.
     The excursion of yesterday has afforded a much better opportunity of seeing this strange animal than has occurred for years, and it is not inconsistent with the whole tenor of the statements that have been made at different times by great numbers of persons for the last fifteen years, since a monster of this description was first announced in our waters. It is admitted on all hands, that the appearance of a marine animal of this description would be a most extraordinary, occurrence.
     But it may be said as an offset, that it would be still more extraordinary, if so many witnesses should be so grossly deceived, as would be the case if no such animal had appeared. One or the other of these extraordinary difficulties is presented for the belief of the public, and we are of the opinion that it would not require so great a stretch of credulity to believe in the existence of such an enormous Sea Serpent, as to believe that so many persons could be so greatly deceived. We learn that a gentleman fired at him with a musket from the steamer, but without effect.
     The shot was given before he had approached so near the steamer, as he did a few minutes afterwards. The first thing that attracted the attention of those who were in the streamer, was a peculiar appearance in the water at a distance, supposed to be occasioned by a shoal of small fish that he was apparently pursuing. Three distinct appearances of this kind were observed at the same time afar off, and the steamer made for one of them in pursuit of which the serpent appeared to be. It is therefore inferred by some one of the passengers that there are three of the strange animals, as has been before stated.

— Boston Centinel.

The Times of this city and the Post of Boston, have been sparring it on the subject of the respective merits of the firemen of the two cities. If the following statement of the Post is to be relied on, the Times may as well give up the controversy for a bad job—he may consider himself already as pumped quite dry. "Our Department had strong thoughts of pumping out Boston Bay last summer, and they would have done it if the hotel keeper down at Nahant had not begged them to desist, and assured them by so doing they would drive off the Sea Serpent, and spoil his summer's business. One or two companies threatened to do it some day this fall, between sunset
and dark—and we should not be surprised any morning to find the water all out, the bottom cleaned up, and a small village built in the centre, with three lines of half hourly stages running to the city, and all well patronized. We don't do things here by the halves. Will you throw water with us now, Mr. Yorke.

—N Y Transcript.