ABSTRACT
ANNAPOLIS MARYLAND
GAZETTE
THURSDAY MAY 28, 1818
200 YEARS AGO
A GREAT SEA SERPENT
BOSTON, MAY 14
Following is an account
of the “Sea Serpent” seen on Saturday last. The
respectabilityof the
source, and the annexed certificates , places the matter
beyond a doubt.
We think Capt. Woodward
has had a greater view of this serpent than was possible
for one to have seen of
the serpent seen last summer off Cape Ann.
AFFIDAVIT
I , Joseph Woodward,
master of the schooner Admant, out of Hingham, on my
passage Penobscot to
Hignham, on Saturday last, just after noon at 2 o'clock PM,
Agementicus bearing WNW
ten leagues distance , discovered 'something' on the waters
surface, looking to the
size of a ships long boat. Supposing it to be a wreck of some
vessel,
I made towards it and on
approaching it, to my crew and myself surprise , discovered it
to be a monstrous sea
serpent, which drew himself into a coil, and darted forward
with
amazing velocity.
Because of the winds, we needed to stand on another tact to follow
him,
and as we did again he drew
into a coil as before and came across our bow about sixty feet
distance.
Having a gun charged with
ball and shot I discharged the contents of it at his head. The
ball and shot were distinctly heard to strike him and rebound as
if I fired against a rock.
He shook his head and tail
terribly, again went into a coil and came towards us with his
mouth wide open. We had
charged the gun again and intended to discharge into his mouth,
but being so close I did
not fire. He came close, under the bows of the schooner, his
head
on one side and tail on the
other, and played with us about five hours.
My crew and I have had
the best opportunity yet of anyone to view him. I judge him to
be twice the length of my schooner, say 130 feet, his head the
size of a long boat, say 14 foot. The body below the neck is at
least 6 feet diameter, head large in proportion to the body,
tail like a squid, the body dark color., his whole appearance was
most terrific.
His manner of throwing
himself into a coil and placing his tail to throw himself
forward with great force, appears to be done with great ease.
Signed at Hingman , May
12, 1818 : JOSEPH WOODWARD
Having read the above
statement of Capt. \Woodward, we certify the correctness of it.
PETER HOLMES
JOHN MAYO
Plymouth ss May 12, 1818
Personally appeared JOSEPH WOODWARD, PETER
HOLMES & JOHN MAYO,
made oath, the above statement is just and true, before me.
JOTHAM LINCOLN, JR.
Justice of the Peace.
Maryland Gazette,
Annapolis, Maryland May 28 1818 by HARRISON H. 2018
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