THE SEA SERPENT AGAIN.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 634, 19 March 1870, Page 3

THE SEA SERPENT AGAIN.

Everybody will be glad to hear that the sea serpent has turned up again ; and what makes it doubly gratifying is that, not only does it seem in good health and spirits, but since we last heard of it it has given birth to a small serpent. There can be little doubt that the domestic arrangements consequent upon this interesting event have been the cause of its temporary seclusion. Captain Allen, of the barque Scottish Pride, was fortunate enough to meet the mother and her child on the 23rd of last month in latitude 3816, longitude 7409, and full accounts of the appearance of both are given in the American papers. It seems that Captain Allen (who has been " interviewed" on the subject by the Commercial Advertiser,) was in his cabin at dinner when he was summoned on deck by his second mate. There he found the crew assembled on the starboard side of the vessel, looking with " awe-stricken" faces in the water. He also joined them, and a sight met his eye the memory of which will never fade. About four feet from the vessel lay the monster, "accompanied by a smaller specimen of its species." It (the mother serpent) was about 25 feet in length, and proportionately thick ; its head was very large and flat, while at each side, on the extreme edge, were set two bright scintillating eyes, " looking dangerous and wicked." Its back was covered with large scales, like the crocodile, about three inches in length, which hooked together, and formed an impenetrable armour. Its belly was of a tawny yellow color, and altogether hideous. The child serpent was but a few feet in length, but in shape and color closely resembled its mother. The captain gave orders to have a boat lowered to attack the monster, but the little serpent was too sharp for him. Its attention had by this time been called to the presence of the vessel, it raised its head a few inches above the surface, and then went toward its parent, and seemed to tell her of the circumstance, upon which she immediately disappeared head downwards, her body describing a circle like a hook, thus exposing to view her tail, which Captain Allen says tapered ctf to a sharp point. The calm that had beset the vessel now gave way to a storm, much to the alarm of the sailors, who during the whole of the next night would not go on deck without lanterns, such was their fear of again meeting this disagreeable creature with her offspring. The officers and crew of the ship testify, we are told, to the truth of the story in all its essential points.