Historic Cryptid Headline: December 15, 1911 - Fighting Monster Of The Deep Pursues Ship
East Oregonian
December 15, 1911
“FIGHTING MONSTER OF THE DEEP PURSUES SHIP.”
Houston, Texas. - An unknown monster of the deep, forty feet in length, copper colored and with a head over 15 feet in width, for four days and nights played tag with the fishing schooner Mendocino and when the schooner failed to respond, vainly tried to push it out of the sea.
The fish appeared the second day out, coming to the surface about a half mile astern of the Mendocino and all of the day it could be seen leisurely trailing the vessel, rolling over and disporting itself as it kept pace with the ship.
For three days the fish kept astern of the vessel when it decided to perfect a closer acquaintance. Putting on speed it came abreast of the ship and started some antics which caused no little concern aboard the ship. Running along side it would scrape itself against the side of the vessel, scoot ahead and then roll and lay on its back until the vessel caught up. Then it would dive under the vessel or swim around it as if in play.
Evidently the fish became disgusted over the failure of the vessel to play and planned a fight. The watching sailors suddenly saw the fish, sweeping leisurely astern, suddenly disappear. A minute later the vessel shook from stern to stern as though hitting a rock. It keeled a little, but righted itself as the fish came to view at its side. Diving again and again the fish jammed its blunt nose on the bottom of the vessel, the result being only a tremor.
Failing to make the vessel play or fight the fish rose to the surface and with a mighty slap of its tail on the water sank from view. A few moments later it was sighted a mile astern, swimming from the ship. That was the last seen of it.
The monster evidently was well along in years for it was covered with barnacles some as large as a saucer. Revolver and rifle balls fired from the deck of the Mendocino at close range had no effect.
“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
The Minneapolis Journal
August 7, 1906
“Lake Ada Has A ‘Sarpint.’”
Mysterious Creature Seen on the Water by Pine River Men.
The Salt Lake Herald
March 25, 1899
“SEA SERPENT STORY.”
Two-Headed Hairy Monster That Weighed Seventy Tons.
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.
The Evening World
September 18, 1922
“60-FT. MONSTERS RAID FISHERIES.”
Fishermen Scared Away After Narrow Escapes.
ST. JOHN’S, N.F., Sept. 18.
The Midland Journal
March 11, 1887
“The Wild Man Of Ohio.”
A Curious Creature Seen Among The Hills of Holmes County.
Wauwatosa News
September 17, 1909
“Fish With GooGoo Eyes.”
Same Being About the Size of Locomotive Headlights.
Iowa County Democrat
June 6, 1879
“The Lake Champlain Serpent.”
A Resident of Maquam Sees and Describes Him Minutely.
The Eagle
August 21, 1895
“VIRGINIA’S SWELLING TOAD.”
A Queer Batrachian That Strongly Resembles a Fish.
The Essex County Herald
August 22, 1879
“The Sea-Serpent’s Rival.”
A Reptile Thirty Feet Long and Probably Fifty Years Old - A Story Western Newspaper Readers are Asked to Believe.
Mineral Point Tribune
June 21, 1883
“Ohio Monster.”
A Beast or Reptile Which Startles the Good people of Ohio.
The Superior Times
August 11, 1906
“Snake Milked The Old Brindle Cow.”
Farmer Finally Discovers Mysterious Thief.
First Laid To Witchcraft.
But Finally Bossy and the Reptile Were Found Meeting by Appointment and Now the Latter Is No More.
Northern Wisconsin Advertiser
July 12, 1900
“Monster With Many Horns. Tall Story from Wisconsin”
The Logan Republican
September 18, 1907
“Bear Lake Monster Appears.”
Leviathan Comes from Lake and Devours Horse While Men Shoot At It.
The Saint Paul Daily Globe
September 30, 1890
“Bitten By A Vinegar Rone.”
Deadly Effect of a Sting of an Almost Unknown Creature.
The High Point Review
January 8, 1914
“Unknown To Science”
Strange Animals Believed To Exist In Africa.
Particulars Have Not Been Made Public, But Professors Of Natural History Are Inclined To Credit The Report.
The Washington Times
September 7, 1920
“Bather Fights Octopus With Knife As Weapon!”
Delaware Life Guard, Enveloped By Score Of Tentacles, Cuts His Way To Freedom.
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Richmond Indiana Palladium
August 11, 1838
“The Devil’s Lake.”