The Monster Merely A Fake

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 21, 17 November 1950, Page 3

The Monster Merely A Fake

After 32 years, naval experts at Portsmouth have revealed that the Loch Ness Monster was merely strings of four horned mines surfacing and then sinking as they filled with water. Well, anyway folk have had a fine run for the trouble the Navy took to produce this monster. But there are some monsters which even the Navy must disclaim.

When the case for the sea sergent is examined in detail it is impossible not to be struck with the consistent and weighty character of the evidence. One of the most interesting was recorded from the steamer Umfull of the Natal Line, in 1893. This vessel was on her way to the Cape from Britain. The official report runs: “On the starboard side of the ships and about 400 yards away there rose into sight a large creature with a serpentine head and neck, moving rapidly through the water on an opposite course to the Umfuli’s. The body which exhibited three distinct humps, is described as looking like a 100 ton gun partially submerked.”

This monster was observed by several, of the crew and by some of the passengers. It was described in the log and according to the mate it was travelling at about 15 knots. About 1919 a very similar type of monster was sighted off Hoy in the Orkneys. This was the last of several years in which fishermen had seen it. If one discards all as mere imagination it is only necessary to turn to the log of the Mauretainia. Written in the handwriting of the Commodore of the Fleet, Sir Arthur Rostron, the log tells how his vessel was travelling in fine weather over a calm sea. Suddenly Commodore Rostron saw from the bridge a huge head emerge from the sea with plate like lidless eyes. Several passengers also saw it. There have been numerous other records. The famous Greenland missionary Hans Egede gives a record of seeing one. Two fellow's of the Royal Zoological Society aboard the Valhalla, recorded seeing a big turtle-headed serpent. There is an official record from H.M. Daedalus. Lieutenant Hayne, of His Majesty’s Yacht. Osborne, also records seeing a sea monster. In the Gulf of California Captain Hope aboard H.M S. Fly reported one. The instances are too frequent for these yarns to be dismissed slightly. They have ever, been seen in Cook Strait and ofi the Australian Coast.