In the newspapers of the 19th century were several times items published dealing with the existence of sea serpents. According to the item published in this newspaper was the large sea serpent which existence sometimes was denied and sometimes assured finally killed op 3°10” South latitude and 131°50” West longitude by the crew of the American whaler Moningalcha (other newspapers called her Monongahela) using spears. The length of the sea serpent was more as 103’ and with a maximum circumference of more as 49’. Another Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 13 March 1852 supplied more details. It referred to a letter published in the American newspaper New York Tribune written by the master of the Monongahela. The sea serpent was killed on 13 January with harpoons and died with a terrifying scream. The length was 103’7”, the head measured 24’6” and the circumference was 49’4”. Just like a whale there were in the head of the serpent blowholes. The skeleton was with care preserved and of the complete monster was a drawing made. The Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant dated 23 March 1852 published a large transcription of the letter and said that the serpent was killed on 14 January by the Mongahela of Bedford master Charles Seabury. A Scottish sailor made a drawing of the serpent which had a long and flat head, a tongue with a heart shaped point, a pointed tale, a back colored black and brown, yellow flanks, a small white line on the belly while the skin contained a huge amount of bright train like water but which burned like turpentine. Because the whale was to large was she cut in parts, the skin stripped, the skeleton cleaned and was tried to take the head on board.(1)
Note
1. There are several websites dealing with this catch like http://www.tomlytle.com/Preface.htm and http://www.strangemag.com/seaserpcarcsshuk.html. The last website said that the master was Jason Seabury and that the Monongahela never returned to Bedford but apparently was lost with the remains of the sea serpent on board. For a reconstruction of the appearance of the serpent see on the website http://frontiersofzoology.blogspot.com/2011/05/repost-dale-drinnon-reconstruction-of.html
