Historic Cryptid Headline: June 6, 1879 - The Lake Champlain Serpent
Iowa County Democrat
June 6, 1879
“The Lake Champlain Serpent.”
A Resident of Maquam Sees and Describes Him Minutely.
Mr. Holmes Record, a farmer living on the shore of Maquam Bay, says the St. Albans Advertiser, saw on Saturday last what he believes to have been a genuine sea-serpent. He was at work near the shore with his hired man, when his attention was called to the water of the bay by a sound resembling the discharge of a gun. Upon looking out on the bay, both men saw an animal moving in a northerly direction, with a head shaped like a serpent, only much larger.
Apparently the greater part of the monster was under water, but about fifteen feet could be distinctly seen above the surface. The body was jointed and appeared like lumps connected with each other by narrow sections. After viewing it for some time with the naked eye, he sent to his house for a spy-glass, but it was too small and the air too hazy to be of much value. They saw the animal distinctly for about two hours, during which time he appeared to be about sixty rods distant, and moved slowly, and, at short intervals, he made a sound like the concussion of powder, followed by a loud roar.
The wind finally changed to the north, and the monster raised his head several feet out of the water, and, turning round, went south with greater speed, and soon disappeared from sight. Both men watched him while he was visible, and could distinctly see the outline of his shape and form. He splashed the water as he moved along, the propelling motion being apparently concentrated in his head and tail. He moved in undulations both up and down and from side to side.
Mr. Record is said by prominent citizens of Swanton to be a very trust-worthy man, with a reputation for strict veracity, and more inclined to make a story appear less than it is than to exaggerate. The monster is probably the same one seen several days ago by three respectable citizens of St. Albans, whose description coincides with that of Mr. Record; so that the existence of a lake monster is no longer a myth.
“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.”