The Daily Gate City and Constitution-Democrat

November 1, 1919

“SEA SERPENT IN LAKE KEOKUK.”

Fort Madison Citizens Insist That They Have Watched Monster Swimming Around and That It Is a Hard Looker.

Fort Madison people are seeing sea serpents in Lake Keokuk. The Democrat prints this story:

Last summer a sea serpent was said to be in the river in the vicinity of Fort Madison. That it actually existed and was not a mere image of a diseased mind was shown by the fact that its presence was vouched for by three men of high repute for veracity.

The serpent after creating a furor, abruptly disappeared.

And now it has shown up again.

Recently, while boating, J.B. Worley of 2521 Hamilton street, and James Alexander, beheld a wondrous creature cutting through the water at a rapid rate. The animal was about 70 yards off when they first beheld it, and was south of the oil station. The head, somewhat resembling that of a dog, was protruding from the water about a foot, while about five feet of the back was awash. The mouth filled with cruel looking teeth, was afloat, while the neck appeared about 18 inches through.

The second sight of the creature was gained by J. Ensley of 1912 Beck street and his two sons, Robert and Herald, while they were boating. The serpent alternately submerged and came to the surface, meanwhile circling the small boat in which the people were riding. The same description of the serpent as given by Worley and Alexander was furnished by Ensley.

On the surface the above appears very much like the common or garden variety of fish story, but the recurrence of the tale and similarity of the descriptions lends the presence of the creature an air of truth.

“Historic Cryptid Headlines” showcases actual articles involving cryptids that were published within United States newspapers back in the 1800s-1900s. The articles posted here are written exactly as they appeared during their original publishing date.

-The Pine Barrens Institute

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