Historic Cryptid Headline: June 20, 1867 - The "Sea Sarpint" Once More.
The Kenosha Telegraph
June 20, 1867
“The ‘Sea Sarpint’ Once More.”
The Oswego, (N.Y.) Palladium with a great deal of gravity tells the following story of how a Great Sea monster was lately seen in Lake Ontario. A party had been out on the Lake boat-riding. We quote the following account of what they saw from the Palladium:
“On the return of the party, when opposite the hill upon which the Sheldon residence stands, some three hundred feet from the shore, and about 10 o’clock, the occupants of the boat, who were singing at the time, heard a peculiar noise which attracted their attention. About two hundred feet ahead of them, and within one hundred feet of the shore, they saw what they at first thought to be a log floating in the water. The peculiar noise was repeated, and this time it was apparent that it came from the vicinity of the “log.” The steersman headed the boat towards the “log,” as he said, for the purpose of “rescuing the cast-away “bullfrog.” Immediately after the boat’s head was turned, the party all saw a most horrible sight. The form of a huge snake was raised fully fifteen feet into the air, and brought down into the water three or four times in succession. A noise similar in nature to that heard previously, but greatly increased in power, was heard; the reptile settled into the water, and with its horrid head elevated about two feet above the surface, began to move off toward the lake, repeating the noise, which sounded like a bellow of a bull, and lashing the water in foam for a distance of at least forty feet behind the head.
When the monster raised its head first the two ladies who sat facing the scene screamed and fainted. The other two, though terribly frightened, kept their eyes fixed upon the monster until it disappeared. The men seemed paralyzed by the sight and state that they were unable to make a stroke of the oars. They were not near enough to see the shape of the head, but say that the body of the animal was at least two feet thick at the neck, and gradually increased in size down to the water. The belly seemed of a light color, and the back black.
We did not see this thing ourself, and simply give the statement as it is made to others by the parties who saw the sight; and we feel assured that, while some may attribute it to hallucination, and endeavor to account for it on the theory of heated imagination, none who know the parties will for a moment doubt their perfect sincerity. The ladies are not yet recovered from their fright, and the men say they hope never again to be compelled to witness such a fearful scene.”
“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.”