CHASED BY A SEA-SERPENT.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2360, 3 May 1901, Page 3

CHASED BY A SEA-SERPENT.

An Exciting Adventure.

There is no doubt about it this time. The sea-serpent has really and truly been seen—and struck.

It was seen by and struck by Captain J. Ballard, of the steam trawler Craig-Gowan, of Aberdeen, which recently arrived at Fraserburgh after a voyage of storm and stress. The huge monster was seen a mile or so north of Rattray Head, and this is how Captain Ballard described his experience to a representative of the "Aberdeen Journal:"

"J. Watt, chief engineer, called me up on deck about 4.30 p.m., saying that a whale or some extraordinary large animal had been following in our wake.

"On leaching the deck I found several of the 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 50ft, to windward. I had often seen whales, but I at once saw the 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 oik; time. It seemed to snalce its 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 the furnace rake to a stout line, I threw it at the animal, but it fell short. T again tried; this time the rake landed across the animal's back, and we suddenly drew the line. " The monster raised its body (the fore part) clean out of the water, and made direct for the Craig-Gowan. I plainly saw the monster rise up until its head was over our gaff 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."