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Alexandria Gazette & Advertiser
Alexandria, Virginia
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Mr. John Beers reports the capture of a 30-40 foot sea serpent-like creature in a cove at Brown's Point near Middletown Point, New Jersey. Harpooned by boats after musket shots failed, it was killed and skinned; features include a large throat, oil-rich liver, and knife-sharpening skin.
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SEA-SERPENT CAUGHT!
New York, June 7.
Sea Serpent, or something like it, captured.
We have conversed with a Mr. John Beers, a resident of Middletown, county of Monmouth, (N. J.) who arrived in this city on Wednesday night last, and states that a monstrous creature, between 30 and 40 feet in length. and 18 feet round, was captured on Monday last in a cove at Brown's Point, near Middletown Point: The monster was discovered for two or three days previous, having the appearance of a large log floating, with two bunches, which afterwards proved to be fins. Two men shot balls into him from muskets, which had no effect. He continued floating about, but was unable. from the shallowness of the water, to get off. Five or six boats were then rigged and manned, and went in pursuit, and succeeded in putting five harpoons into him, which drove him on the shore, where they lanced and killed him. The creature has been skinned, and it required two horses and six men to drag the skin about 200 yards, which is to be stuffed, and will be brought to this city on Tuesday next. A number of old whalers and other seamen have been to view it, and they all declare that they have never seen any animal of the same kind, and from the description given of a Sea Serpent, they consider it one of that species. That he had no entrails, no heart, but a liver which produced 4 barrels of oil, had six rows of small sharp teeth. The upper part of the tail is about seven feet, and the lower about three feet; the skin is of a leadish color, and will sharpen a knife like a stone. The throat large enough to pass a large man.
Advocate,
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Location
Brown's Point, Near Middletown Point, Monmouth County, New Jersey
Event Date
Monday Last, Prior To June 7
Story Details
A monstrous creature resembling a sea serpent, 30-40 feet long and 18 feet around, was spotted floating like a log with fins near Brown's Point. After musket shots failed, boats harpooned it five times, driving it ashore where it was lanced and killed. Skinned, it required two horses and six men to move; features include no entrails or heart, a liver yielding 4 barrels of oil, six rows of sharp teeth, a leadish knife-sharpening skin, and a throat large enough for a man.