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.”

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