Part 18
We read here that the underpart of the head appeared almost white, and several feet of its belly too (read of the underpart of its neck, or of its throat). Further Mr. GAFFNEY goes on: “I supposed and do believe that the whole of his belly was nearly white”. This is very remarkable, for Mr. GAFFNEY seems to be familiar with sea-animals, as porpoises, &c., and a very good observer, and his conclusion is quite right from a zoological point of view. Very remarkable is the animal’s demeanor after the shot. Apparently furious, it directed itself suddenly to the shooter, but when very near to him, it sank down like a rock and appeared again far away. This manner of acting will afterwards be described again in Norway. Again its manner of disappearing is described as sinking like a rock. The mode of turning too is just the same as is mentioned every where.
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=41=.--1817, August 14.--(See also n^o. 41 on p. 164, p. 167, p. 168, p. 168.) (_Report of a Committee_, 1817.)
We read in the letter from Mr. LONSON NASH to the Committee that he himself saw the animal:
“I saw him on the 14th. instant, for nearly half an hour. I should judge he was two hundred and fifty yards from me, when the nearest. I saw him twice with a glass for a short time, and at other times, with the naked eye. At that distance, I could not take in the two extremities of the animal, that were visible, at one view with a glass...... His motion is vertical..... His manner of turning is well described in Messrs. Pearson’s and Gaffney’s descriptions..... I saw, at no time, more than eight distinct portions; though more may have been visible..... I believe the animal to be straight, and that the apparent bunches were caused by his vertical motion.”
The Chairman of the Committee, the Hon. JOHN DAVIS immediately wrote to Mr. LONSON NASH the following letter:
“Boston, September 2, 1817.”
“Sir”,
“Your letter of the 28th. ult. to the Committee of the Linnaean Society, and the accompanying depositions, were duly received, and were yesterday communicated to the Society. The Committee are greatly obliged to you for your ready compliance with their request. In these sentiments the Society unite, and I am charged with the agreeable office of communicating to you their vote of thanks for your very acceptable labours. What you have thus accomplished will go far in giving some precise and accurate conceptions on a subject, peculiarly exposed to exaggeration and mistake. This evidence, with some additional documents, will probably be published. The Committee will not make their final report on the subject of their Commission until evidence shall be procured respecting some other reputed appearances of like description, particularly one at Plymouth in 1815.”
“We have been informed that the animal at Gloucester was once seen, and it was said by a woman, lying dormant very near the shore. The Committee wished this intimation to be given to you, that if it should point to any material circumstances, the evidence might be taken.”
“The last we hear of the object of our inquiry is of his appearance off East Point on the 28th. ult. This we gather from the testimony of captain Toppan, and his crew, of the schooner Laura, coming from Newburyport to Boston.”
“It appears by your letter, that you had sight of the animal. A letter from you, giving a detailed account of your observations, would be particularly acceptable.”
“We understand that a gentleman in Gloucester, (Captain Beach) has a drawing, supposed to be a good representation of the animal. Some information respecting this drawing would be agreeable; how far it is considered by those who had the best view of the animal as a correct representation, and whether the person possessing it would be disposed to permit an engraving from it to be annexed to the publication of the evidence, and on what terms. Yours very respectfully,
“Jno Davis.”
“We have already read the report of the appearance of 1815 (n^o. 34 and 35); the intelligence of the encounter on the 28th. of August we will communicate afterwards (n^o. 48). The answer of Judge NASH, omitting the intelligence about the animal reposing on the rocks (this report has been discussed some pages further on, n^o. 45) runs as follows (See _Report of a Committee_, 1817):
“Gloucester, September 9, 1817.”
“Sir”,
“Your favoured of the 2d. inst. has been received. The vote of thanks of the Linnaean Society for my services was highly gratifying to me, not simply on account of the high consideration I entertain for the members of that laudable institution; but likewise for the agreeable manner, and respectable channel, through which their vote of thanks was communicated to me.”
“You request a detailed account of my observations, relative to the serpent. I saw him on the fourteenth ultimo, and when nearest, I judged him to be about two hundred and fifty yards from me. At that distance I judged him (in the largest part) about the size of a half barrel, gradually tapering towards the two extremes. Twice I saw him with a glass, only for a short time, and at other times, with the naked eye, for nearly half an hour. His colour appeared nearly black--his motion was vertical. When he moved on the surface of the water, the track of his rear was visible, for at least half a mile.”
“His velocity, when moving on the surface of the water, I judged was at the rate of a mile in about four minutes. When immersed in the water, his speed was greater, moving, I should say, at the rate of a mile in two or at most three minutes. When moving under water, you could often trace him by the motion of the water, on the surface, and from this circumstance, I conclude he did not swim deep. He apparently went as straight through the water, as you could draw a line. When he changed his course, he diminished his velocity but little--the two extremes that were visible appeared rapidly moving in opposite directions, and when they came parallel, they appeared not more than a yard apart. With a glass, I could not take in, at one view, the two extremes of the animal, that were visible. I have looked at a vessel, at about the same distance, and could distinctly see forty five feet. If he should be taken, I have no doubt that his length will be found seventy feet, at least, and I should not be surprised, if he should be found one hundred feet long. When I saw him I was standing on an eminence, on the sea shore, elevated about thirty feet above the surface of the water, and the sea was smooth.”
“If I saw his head, I could not distinguish it from his body; though there were seafaring men near me, who said that they could distinctly see his head. I believe they spoke truth; but not having been much accustomed to look through a glass, I was not so fortunate.”
“I never saw more than seven or eight distinct portions of him above the water, at any one time, and he appeared rough; though I supposed this appearance was produced by his motion. When he disappeared, he apparently sunk directly down like a rock.”
“Captain Beach has been in Boston for a week past, and I am informed that he is still there. An engraving from his drawing of the serpent has been, or is now, making at Boston, but I have not been able to ascertain how far his drawing is thought a correct representation.”
“Respectfully, Sir,
Your most obedient,
Lonson Nash.”
Mr. W. D. PECK says of this declaration (_Mem. Am. Acad. Arts Sc._ Vol. IV. Pt. 1.)
“The account of it by Lonson Nash Esq. Justice of the Peace in Gloucester, from his own observation, is perfectly free from prejudice, and as clear and satisfactory as can be expected of an object at a distance of two hundred and fifty yards.”
Remarkable in this testimony is again the considerable wake the animal leaves behind it when swimming rapidly. Easy it is to explain why the speed is greater under water than when partly visible above the surface of the water. Those parts viz. which are above the surface must be borne by the body hidden under water, consequently this carries a burden, and the speed, it is evident, cannot be so rapid as when the animal is quite under water, in which position each part of the animal’s body is carried by the water itself, and not by the individual. It has no burden to carry, it is specifically lighter, and the speed can reach its maximum.--Remarkable too is the fact that the animal, when swimming under water, does so just below the surface, and causes the rippling of it. This is a habit of Pinnipeds.
Where Mr. Nash thinks that the apparent roughness is produced by its motion, I am convinced that he is right. He could not distinguish its head from its body, which cannot surprise us; both are of the same thickness, when seen from aside, and I believe too that the seafaring men, more accustomed to look with a glass, distinctly saw the difference between head and neck. Moreover the mode of turning, its length of more than seventy feet, its sinking down like a rock, when disappearing, need not be spoken of; they were mere repetitions of former statements.
I am sorry I have not been able to get a look at Mr. BEACH’S figure.
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=42=.--1817, August 15.--(_Report of a Committee_, 1817).
“I, James Mansfield, of Gloucester, in the county of Essex, merchant, depose and say: That I saw a strange creature, of enormous length, resembling a serpent. I think this was on the 15th. of August, A. D. 1817. I should say he was from forty to sixty feet in length, extended on the surface of the water, with his head above the water about a foot. He remained in this position but a short time, and then started off very quick, with much greater velocity than I have seen him move with at any other time. I saw bunches on his back about a foot in height, when he lay extended on the water. His colour appeared to me black or very dark. It was a little before six o’clock P. M. when I saw him. I should say, he moved a mile in five or six minutes.”
“_Q._ How near the shore was the serpent?”
“_A._ About one hundred and eighty yards from the shore where I stood.”
“_Q._ Were its sinuosities vertical or horizontal?”
“_A._ Vertical.”
“_Q._ What were the size and shape of its head; and had it ears, horns, or any other appendages?”
“_A._ His head appeared to be about the size of the crown of a hat, at the distance from whence I saw him. The shape of his head I cannot describe, and I saw no ears, horns, or other appendages. I had no spy glass, and cannot describe him so minutely as I otherwise could. I have seen him at other times, but my view of him was not so good, as on this day.”
“James Mansfield.”
“Essex, ss. August 27, 1817. Then James Mansfield made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed.”
“Before Lonson Nash, Jus. Pacis.”
We have here again the statement that the animal is able to keep its bunches, when it lies extended on the water.
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=43=.--1817, August 17.--(_Report of a Committee_, 1817.) The second part of the affidavit of Mr. WILLIAM H. FOSTER runs as follows:
“On the seventeenth of August instant, I again saw him. He came into the harbour, occasionally exhibiting parts of his body, which appeared like rings or bunches. As he drew near, and when opposite to me, there rose from his head or the most forward part of him, a prong or spear about twelve inches in height, and six inches in circumference at the bottom, and running to a small point.”
“_Q._ Might not the prong or spear that you saw, have been the tongue of the serpent?”
“_A._ I thought not; as I saw the prong before I saw his head; but it might have been.”
“_Q._ At what distance were you, when you saw the spear of the serpent?”
“_A._ I should judge forty rods; I had a spyglass when I saw the prong or spear.”
“_Q._ Did the animal appear round?”
“_A._ He did.”
“_Q._ Did he appear jointed, or only serpentine?”
“_A._ He appeared jointed.”
“_Q._ Were its sinuosities vertical or horizontal?”
“_A._ Vertical.”
“_Q._ What was its colour?”
“_A._ It appeared brown.”
“_Q._ Did it appear smooth or rough?”
“_A._ It appeared smooth.”
“_Q._ What was the size and shape of his head?”
“_A._ At the distance where I was, his head appeared as large as a man’s head; but I cannot describe its shape.”
“_Q._ Did it appear to pursue, avoid or notice objects?”
“_A._ I thought it appeared to notice objects.”
“_Q._ How fast did it move?”
“_A._ At the rate of a mile in a minute, at times, I have no doubt.”
“William H. Foster.”
“Essex ss. August 27, 1817. Personally appeared William H. Foster, and made oath that the foregoing deposition, by him subscribed, is true, according to his best knowledge and belief.”
“Before Lonson Nash, Jus. of Peace.”
The first statement that strikes us is the prong or spear, seen by Mr. FOSTER. I am convinced that this instrument, seen by him at a distance of forty rods, and with a spy-glass, rising from the foremost part of the head, about 12 inches, or a foot, in length, pointed at its end, and having six inches in circumference, or two in diameter, at the bottom, was nothing else but the animal’s tongue.
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=43=.--1817, August 17.--See also n^o. 43 on p. 175.--(_Report of a Committee_, 1817).--
“I, John Johnston, jun, of Gloucester, in the County of Essex, of the age of seventeen years, depose and say: That on the evening of the seventeenth day of August, A. D. 1817, between the hours of eight and nine o’clock, while passing from the shore in a boat, to a vessel lying in the harbour of said Gloucester, I saw a strange marine animal, that I believe to be a serpent, lying extended on the surface of the water. His length appeared to be fifty feet at least, and he appeared straight, exhibiting no protuberances. Capt. John Corliss and George Marble were in the boat with me. We were within two oars length of him. We immediately rowed from him, and at first concluded to pass by his tail; but fearing we might strike it with the boat, concluded to pass around his head, which we did, by altering our course. He remained in the same position, till we lost sight of him. We approached so near to him that I believe I could have reached him with my oar. There was not sufficient light to enable me to describe the animal.”
“John Johnston, jun.”
“Essex, ss. August 25, 1817. Personally appeared John Johnston, jr. and made oath that the foregoing deposition, by him subscribed, is true according to his best knowledge and belief.”
“Before Lonson Nash, Jus. of Peace.”
This account is as interesting as all the other ones; though no further particulars are described, it is again mentioned that more than fifty feet of the animal’s back part were visible, lying perfectly still on the surface of the water, showing no bunches at all.
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=44=.--1817, August 18.--In the letter of Mr. S. G. PERKINS to Mr. E. EVERETT, dated Boston Aug. 20, 1817, we read:
“But on Saturday, the day before yesterday, a vessel arrived at Beverly from the bank of New-foundland. The captain and the crew report that, off Cape Ann Harbour, they saw a Sea Monster of the Snake kind, lying on the water, of immense length. That the crew were so much alarmed, that they got away as soon as they could, and that they estimated it at 100 feet long.”
=44=.--1817, August 18.--See also n^o. 44 hereabove.--(_Report of a Committee_, 1817).--
“I, William B. Pearson, of Gloucester, in the County of Essex, merchant, depose and say: That I have, several times, seen a strange marine animal, that I believe to be a serpent, of great size. I have had a good view of him, only once, and this was on the 18th. of August, A. D. 1817. I was in a sailboat, and when off Webber’s cove (so called) in the harbour of said Gloucester, I saw something coming out of the cove; we hove to, not doubting but that it was the same creature that had been seen several times in the harbour, and had excited much interest among the inhabitants of Gloucester. James P. Collins was the only person with me. The serpent passed out under the stern of our boat, towards _Ten Pound Island_; then he stood in towards us again, and crossed our bow. We immediately exclaimed: “here is the snake!” From what I saw of him, I should say that he was nothing short of seventy feet in length. I distinctly saw bunches on his back, and once he raised his head out of water. The top of his head appeared flat, and was raised seven or eight inches above the surface of the water. He passed by the bow of the boat, at about thirty yards distance. His colour was a dark brown. I saw him at this time about two minutes. His motion was vertical. His velocity at this time was not great, though at times, I have seen him move with great velocity, I should say at the rate of a mile in three minutes, and perhaps faster. His size I judged to be about the size of a half barrel. I saw Mr. Gaffney fire at him, at about the distance of thirty yards. I thought he hit him, and afterwards he appeared more shy. He turned very short, and appeared as limber and active as the eel, when compared to his size. The form of the curve when he turned in the water, resembled a staple; his head seemed to approach towards his body for some feet; then his head and tail appeared moving rapidly, in opposite directions, and when his head and tail were on parallel lines, they appeared not more than two or three yards apart.”
“_Q._ At what time in the day was this?”
“_A._ Between the hours of five and six in the afternoon.”
“_Q._ How many distinct portions of it were out of water at one time?”
“_A._ Ten or twelve distinct portions.”
“_Q._ Can you describe his eyes and mouth.”
“_A._ I thought and believe, that I saw his eye at one time, and it was dark and sharp.”
“_Q._ How did its tail terminate?”
“_A._ I had not a very distinct view of his tail; I saw no bunches towards, what I thought the end of the tail, and I believe there were none. From where I judged his navel might be, to the end of his tail, there were no bunches visible.”
“William B. Pearson.
_Essex_, ss. August 27, 1817. Then William B. Pearson made oath to the truth of the above.”
“Before Lonson Nash, Jus. of Peace.”
In this account too there is not a single fact which has not been mentioned before, except that the tail did not show bunches, while the back did. From that point of the body where Mr. PEARSON judged his navel might be towards the end of the tail, the animal had no bunches. It is probable that we are meant to read: from the middle of the visible part, where the animal seemed to be thickest. It is also probable that the animal’s external characters, though Mr. PEARSON says he believed it to be a serpent, made on him the impression of a mammal.
=44=.--1817, August 18.--See also n^o. 44 p. 176 and hereabove.--In the above-mentioned letter from Mr. S. G. PERKINS to Mr. E. EVERETT we read:
“My Brother--Colonel Perkins--went down to Cape Ann two days ago to see it. He says that he is satisfied that such an animal is there. As he stood on the shore, it came within the eighth of a mile of him, but as he did not see it so distinctly, as to be able to state all its points, he has not said any thing to the public about it.”
Fortunately Col. T. H. PERKINS wrote down his experiences in a letter, dated Oct. 13, 1820, when on board the ship _Ann Marie_, to his friend JNO. P. CUSHING. He published it in the _Boston Daily Advertiser_ of Nov. 25, 1848, after the excitement caused by the appearance of the sea-serpent seen by the _Daedalus_ (n^o. 118). The whole is reprinted in the _Zoologist_ of 1849, p. 2358, which I had the opportunity to consult. The part of the letter, treating of his visit runs as follows:
“Boston, November, 1848.”
“In the paper called the “Illustrated London News” of 28th. October, is an account given by Capt. M’Quhae, of H. R. M. ship Daedalus, of a sea-serpent, seen from his ship in August last, on her passage from the East-Indies, and between the Cape of Good Hope and St. Helena. The perusal of several articles on the subject leads me to send you a letter written by me on my passage from England to the United States, in August, 1820, to Jno. P. Cushing, my friend and then partner, residing at Canton in China. I also send you a memorandum from Commander Bolton, of the U. S. Navy, giving the report of the gentlemen of the Navy who were on board a tender called the Lynx, and who had a very favourable opportunity of satisfying themselves of the existence of the animal which had caused so much excitement. The serpent was seen in 1817, ’19, and ’20, from the _shore_, and the reports show the bunches to be produced by the vertical motion of the body when in action. From the drawings which accompany the letter of Capt. M’Quhae, there are none of the protuberances, and which would lead to the opinion that the animal seen on the other side of the Equator differs in genus from that which has been seen on our coast. The drawings of the sea-serpent seen on the coast of Norway, given in the report of the Bishop Pontoppidan, are identical with the appearance of the animal which has been so often spoken of as visiting our northern seas. T. H. Perkins.”
“On board the ship Ann Marie, at sea, lat. 46, long. 44, Oct. 13, 1820.”
“My dear sir,--When on shore I have little time to spare from business to devote to details which I am now to communicate.”
“During the past three years you will have seen accounts in the newspapers, or reports will have met you in another form of an immense sea-serpent having infested our shores in Boston Bay. The first appearance he made in the summer of 1817, in the harbour of Cape Ann. Wishing to satisfy myself on a subject on which there existed a great difference of opinion, I myself visited Gloucester with Mr. Lee. On our way down we met several persons returning, who had visited the place where he was said to have exhibited himself, and who reported to us that he had not been seen for two or three days past. We however, continued our route to Gloucester, though with fears that we should not be gratified with the sight of the monster which we sought. I satisfied myself, from conversation with several persons who had seen him, that the report in circulation was not a fable. All the town were, as you may suppose, on the alert; and almost every individual, both great and small, had been gratified, at a greater or less distance, with a sight of him. The weather was fine, the sea perfectly smooth, and Mr. Lee and myself were seated on a point of land which projects into the harbour, and about twenty feet above the level of the water, from which we were distant about fifty or sixty feet......
“Whilst thus seated, I observed an agitation in the water at the entrance of the harbour, like that which follows a small vessel going five or six miles an hour through the water. As we knew there was no shoal where the water was thus broken, I immediately said to Mr. Lee that I had no doubt that what I had seen was the sea serpent in pursuit of fish. Mr. Lee was not directing his attention to the spot which I speak of, and had not seen the foam of the water, the animal having immediately disappeared.”