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Story
September 27, 1837
The North Carolina Standard
Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
A correspondent reports a hoax sea serpent at Nahant resort near Boston, made of barrels and canvas to attract visitors, anchored intermittently and exposed by two gentlemen at night, disappointing marvel enthusiasts.
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THE SEA SERPENT.
A correspondent of the New York Era, writes from Nahant, a peninsula in the town of Lynn, about 14 miles northeast of Boston, giving a full account of the famous Sea Serpent. Nahant is a place of fashionable resort, for sea air; fishing and bathing. The proprietors thought it necessary to add to the attractions of his establishment, that of a Sea Serpent, and accordingly had a very splendid one manufactured of barrels, kegs, &c. covered with coarse canvass. The head was made of plank, and so contrived as to be about 8 feet above the water. This serpent was anchored off the shore, never oftener than once a week, and sometimes was not allowed to appear for a month; at which periods he is exhibited for a short time, and at night concealed near the shore, by sinking. The head is so contrived that a person can move it about with oars, without being detected. The whole affair was blown, by two gentlemen, who suspected the hoax, and visited his snakeship by moonlight.
Thus have the lovers of the marvellous been cheated out of a vast deal of enjoyment.
A correspondent of the New York Era, writes from Nahant, a peninsula in the town of Lynn, about 14 miles northeast of Boston, giving a full account of the famous Sea Serpent. Nahant is a place of fashionable resort, for sea air; fishing and bathing. The proprietors thought it necessary to add to the attractions of his establishment, that of a Sea Serpent, and accordingly had a very splendid one manufactured of barrels, kegs, &c. covered with coarse canvass. The head was made of plank, and so contrived as to be about 8 feet above the water. This serpent was anchored off the shore, never oftener than once a week, and sometimes was not allowed to appear for a month; at which periods he is exhibited for a short time, and at night concealed near the shore, by sinking. The head is so contrived that a person can move it about with oars, without being detected. The whole affair was blown, by two gentlemen, who suspected the hoax, and visited his snakeship by moonlight.
Thus have the lovers of the marvellous been cheated out of a vast deal of enjoyment.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Deception Fraud
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Sea Serpent
Hoax
Nahant
Deception
New York Era
Marvelous
Exposure
What entities or persons were involved?
Two Gentlemen
Where did it happen?
Nahant, A Peninsula In The Town Of Lynn, About 14 Miles Northeast Of Boston
Story Details
Key Persons
Two Gentlemen
Location
Nahant, A Peninsula In The Town Of Lynn, About 14 Miles Northeast Of Boston
Story Details
Proprietors at Nahant resort created a fake sea serpent from barrels, kegs, and canvas to attract visitors, anchoring it off shore intermittently and moving its head with oars; two gentlemen exposed the hoax by visiting it at night.