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Story
January 17, 1821
The Hillsborough Recorder
Hillsboro, Orange County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
Crew of schooner General Jackson sights a massive sea serpent off the Grand Banks on December 10, 1820, describing it as about 20 feet longer than their 80-ton vessel, with its head 3-4 feet out of water.
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SEA SERPENT.
In behalf of the whole fraternity of editors, as well as ourselves, we beg leave to tender our gratitude to his high mightiness "the Old Sea Serpent," for enabling us to present the following information to the public. This seasonable return of his royal snakeship "to these abodes," we cannot but regard as peculiarly fortunate. The great matrimonial quarrel in England having resulted in the triumph of the lady of the family, we were just casting about to see what else of equal importance might be seized hold of, to amuse, interest, and astonish the people.
N. Y. Com. Adv.
Extract from the log-book of the schr. General Jackson, arrived at Boston from the Grand Banks, via Marblehead.
Dec. 10, 1820, lat. 51 20. long. 54 30, saw the Sea Serpent. About 11 P. M. it being calm, the watch on deck saw something in the water, making for the vessel, supposed to be porpoises, one of our people went on the bows with the harpoon to receive them. When within about 15 feet from the vessel, found it to be a snake—called the skipper up—by this time he had come so as to touch the vessel forward and lay himself along side, moving slowly, his head passed the stern and his tail under the bowsprit. Supposed him to be about 20 feet longer than the vessel, which is 80 tons burthen. A light breeze coming up left him astern—his head about 3 or 4 feet out of water. One of the people says—'he appeared as I have seen him described in the papers.'
In behalf of the whole fraternity of editors, as well as ourselves, we beg leave to tender our gratitude to his high mightiness "the Old Sea Serpent," for enabling us to present the following information to the public. This seasonable return of his royal snakeship "to these abodes," we cannot but regard as peculiarly fortunate. The great matrimonial quarrel in England having resulted in the triumph of the lady of the family, we were just casting about to see what else of equal importance might be seized hold of, to amuse, interest, and astonish the people.
N. Y. Com. Adv.
Extract from the log-book of the schr. General Jackson, arrived at Boston from the Grand Banks, via Marblehead.
Dec. 10, 1820, lat. 51 20. long. 54 30, saw the Sea Serpent. About 11 P. M. it being calm, the watch on deck saw something in the water, making for the vessel, supposed to be porpoises, one of our people went on the bows with the harpoon to receive them. When within about 15 feet from the vessel, found it to be a snake—called the skipper up—by this time he had come so as to touch the vessel forward and lay himself along side, moving slowly, his head passed the stern and his tail under the bowsprit. Supposed him to be about 20 feet longer than the vessel, which is 80 tons burthen. A light breeze coming up left him astern—his head about 3 or 4 feet out of water. One of the people says—'he appeared as I have seen him described in the papers.'
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Nature
What keywords are associated?
Sea Serpent
Sighting
Grand Banks
Schooner General Jackson
1820
What entities or persons were involved?
Crew Of Schr. General Jackson
Skipper
Where did it happen?
Grand Banks, Lat. 51 20. Long. 54 30
Story Details
Key Persons
Crew Of Schr. General Jackson
Skipper
Location
Grand Banks, Lat. 51 20. Long. 54 30
Event Date
Dec. 10, 1820
Story Details
The schooner General Jackson encounters a sea serpent at night, initially mistaken for porpoises; it approaches the vessel, lies alongside, and is estimated to be about 100 feet long with head out of water.