CHASED BY A SEA SERPENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 292, 8 December 1900, Page 5 (Supplement)

CHASED BY A SEA SERPENT.

DETAILS OF AN EXCITING ENCOUN"MM.I,

There Is no doubt about it this time. The sea serpent has really and truly been seen —and struck. It was seen and .struck by Captain J. Ballard, of the steam trawler Craig-Gowiin, of Aberdeen, which arrived in Fraserburgh after a voyage of storm and stress. The monster was seen a mile or so north of Rattray Head, and this is how Captain Ballard described his experiences to a representative of the "'Aberdeen Journal":— ■ "J. Watt, chief engineer, called mo up on deck about 4.30 p.m.. saying that a whale or some exti-aoi-dimary large animal hud been following in our wake. "On reaching the deck 1 found several of lhe crew looking over the weather rail. On joining them I saw a very large animal of a dark colour, which seemed racing with us, but which was about T>o feet to windward. I had often seen whales, but: 1 at once saw tho animal was not a whale, but some sea monster, the like of which I had never seen in my life. "As it rose, several portions of the body were visible at the-one time. 'It seemed to snake -'Is way through the water, showing 'repeated portions of a dark brown body. "The animal was now uncomfortably near. We could even see that the skin was covered by some .substance like a rough coating of hair. Securing (he furnace rake to a stout, line, I threw it at the animal, but: it fell short. I again tried: this time the rake landed across the animal's back, and we suddenly drew the line. "Tne monster raised its body (the fore part) clean out of the water, and made dT-i.-t for the Craig-Gowan. 1 plainly saw tne monster rise up until Its head was over our gall' peak, when It lowered itself with a motion as sudden as lightning, carrying away the peak halyards and sending the gaff, sail, and all down on deck. "The utmost consternation among the crew ensued, and it was a time before we got matters squared up. The animal had then entirely disappeared, and we did not see It again."