THE SEA-SERPENT | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 12, 1902

THE SEA-SERPENT.

On Nov. 22 the Hydrographic Office of the Navy Department at Washington received a report of Henry H. Neligan, one of the regular observers of marine events designated by the chief hydrographer. It was mailed in Liverpool, where he arrived on Nov. 10 on the steamship Irada, of which he is third officer. The following is his report:—

Oct. 26, 1901.—At 11 A. M. to-day, in latitude 27 degrees 26 minutes N. and longitude 90 degrees 18 minutes W., passed a large sea-serpent appearing about 100 feet long. The head had a blunt, square nose, and was ejecting water to the height of two or three feet from its nostrils. The animal, or fish, had three distinct sets of fins and a tail lying across like a porpoise. On its back was a series of humps like a camel. It was heading about east (true) and moving slowly.

HENRY H. NELIGAN, Third Officer Steamship Irada.

The latitude and longitude mentioned are in the Gulf of Mexico about one hundred and twenty miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi. The word “true” in the report means that the monster was heading exactly east, and not easterly by magnetic compass. The responsibility of Mr. Neligan is vouched for by the officers of the hydrographer’s office. These officers believe in the existence of the sea-serpent. That monsters existed on land in prehistoric times all admit, and it is believed that their disappearance has been due to constantly changing climatic conditions, but there has been no practical change in the sea. One of the hydrographic officers states that he has seen small sea-serpents in the Indian Ocean, and has always believed that larger species existed.

Years ago we accepted the existence of the sea-serpent, on the testimony of a captain of such sobriety, taciturnity, and general sense, and whose account of what he had seen was so circumstantial, that it seemed impossible for him to have been deceived.—Christian Advocate, Dec. 26, 1901.