MYSTERY OF SCOTTISH LOCH

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 69, 14 December 1933, Page 9

MYSTERY OF SCOTTISH LOCH

Strange Marine Monster QUESTION IN HOUSE OF COMMONS (British Official Wireless.) (Received December 13, 7 p.m.) Rugby, December 12. A strange marine monster alleged to have been sighted in Loch Ness, Scotland, at different times during the last few month’s by at least fifty people, has aroused mucth diccussion in the British Dress* It was to-day mentioned in the House of Commons, when a member asked if, in the interests of science, an investigation could be made, and whether a Government Department could be invited to observe and photograph the strange creature. The Secretary for Scotland, Sir Geoffrey Collins, would not agree that there was an adequate reason to suspect the presence of “any baneful monster in the loch, and thought further researches could properly be left to private enterprise and zealous press Ph Lo°ch r 2O miles in length and 750 feet deep in places. The alleged monster is described as 20 feet lon, and corresponding to no known species. RESIDENTS’ STORIES “Eyes Like Motor-car Lamps” Whether people elsewhere believe in the existence of a Loch Ness, monster or not, Highlanders are convinced that the watery depths harbour some fantastic and abnormal creature, wrote Mr. Percy Cater, the special correspondent ot the “Daily Mail” from Loch Ness, Inverness, last month. ■ , . v . „ I have talked to many people who have told mb how they have seen the monster. Altogether at least 100 persons are reputed to have set eyes on the strange beast, which is said to be 30ft. long and to have eyes like motor-car lamps. Their testimony is impressing Inverness, whose leading citizens think that the Scottish Fishery Board should take immediate measures to examine the phenomenon. x ~ It is suggested in some quarters that by the use of submarine nets, such as were employed during the war, trawling boats would have a chance of capturing the monster. Mr. A. J. Gray, of Foyers, an omnibus driver, whose route takes him daily by Loch Ness, says he saw the creature on a sunny day two months ago. He describes it as having a big, hairy head very similar to a cow’s without the horns. I saw its back distinctly,’ he said. “It was about 14ft. long. I accelerated for about 400 'yards when I first saw itaheatl, but when I jumped out of the omnibus the monster was still about io yards in front of me. It was swimming at a furious rate, parting the water from ■its neck like a motor-boat. Three passengers in the omnibus also saw it. “Careering at High Speed.” Scores of watchers during the last few weeks' declare that they have seen the monster completely or partly. One described it as a fantastically huge black mass, careering at high speed and threshing the placid waters ot the loch to foam. , , , .. Once it was seen on land, when the observer vaguely likened it to a dragon, but usually it remains in the water and is seen only on bright, sunny days. The evidence has now become so reputable and so widespread that at last the voices of the scoffers and the incredulous are -silent. Ih Inverness, the Highland capital, there is one topic of conversation —“the beast”—as by one accord everybody dubs the uncanny denizen of the loch by this sinister title. Nobody can decide whether the monster is fish, animal, or reptile. Some think the loch harbours a survival of some prehistoric creature which may have been released from the earth’s recesses by the great blasting operations required for the making of the new Inver-ness-Glasgow motor road. Others believe “the beast” to be some strange occupant of the deep which, by mysterious means, has strayed from the North Sea, and is unable to regain its freedom. In any case there is disquiet, although the Highlanders draw comfort from the fact that “the beast” shows no desire to molest humanity, and on the contrary seems (ka timid disposition, diving as soon as il is seen. • Two Humps on Back. It swims at a terrific speed, and only its black back with. two pronounced humps is generally visible. A minister told me solemnly to-day that science might consider whether it was not possible for a prehistoric type to survive in favourable circumstances. . ■ There are people who tell of a similar creature seen 50 years ago—a camel-like monster-which emerged from the loch and frightened school-children. Educated men have said in a hushed way that Locli Ness has always been queer.” They tell you that although the greatest sounded depth is 754 ft., there are deeps which have niver been plumbed. Divers who have explored 200 ft. below the surface have come up awed by their experience. They have reported. that “stretching down to apparent infinity there are - gloomy caverns like great cathedrals.” Some people believe that in one of these watery grottos the monster, has. his lair, sallying forth from time to time in search of food, to the consternation of the Highland crofters. A combination of Loch Ness and a monster is enough for even the most hardened imagination. People tell you “the loch never gives up its dead.” There have been numerous fishing accidents on Loch Ness, but the bodies have never been recovered.