An account in Gloucester, Massachusetts

I, William B. Pearson of Gloucester, in the County of Essex, merchant, depose and say: That I have, several times, seen a strange marine animal, that I believe to be a serpent, of great size. T have had a good view of him, only once, and this was on the 18th of August, A. D. 1817. I was in a sail boat, and when off Webber’s cove (so called) in the harbour of said Gloucester, I saw something coming out of the cove ; we hove to, not doubting but that it was the same creature that had been seen several times in the harbour, and had excited much interest among the inhabitants of Gloucester. James P. Collins was the only person with me. The serpent passed out under the stem of our boat, towards Ten Pound Island ; then he stood in towards us again, and crossed our bow. We immediately exclaimed, ‘here is the snake !’ From what I saw of him, I should say that he was nothing short of seventy feet in length. I distinctly saw bunches on his back, and once he raised his head out of water. The top of his head appeared Hat, and was raised seven or eight inches above the surface of the water. He passed by the bow of the boat, at about thirty yards distance. His colour was a dark brown. I saw him at this time about two minutes. His motion was vertical. His velocity at this time was not great; though at times, I have seen him move with great velocity, I should say at the rate of a mile in three minutes, and perhaps faster. His size I judged to be about the size of a half barrel. I saw Mr. Gaffney fire at him, at about the distance of thirty yards. I thought he hit him, and afterwards he appeared more shy. He turned very short, and appeared as limber and active as the eel, when compared to his size. The form of the curve when he turned in the water, resembled a staple ; his head seemed to approach towards his body for some feet; then his head and tail appeared moving rapidly, in opposite directions, and when his head and tail were on parallel lines, they appeared not more than two or three yards apart. Q. At what time of the day was this ? J. Between the hours of five and six, in the afternoon. so Q. How many distinct portions of it were out of water at one time } ■A' Ten or twelve distinct portions. Q. Can you describe his eyes and mouth ? A. I thought and believe, that I saw his eye at one time, and it was dark and sharp. Q. How did its tail terminate ? . A. I had not a distinct view of his tail; I saw no bunches towards, what I thought, the end of his tail, and I believe there were none. From where I judged his navel might be, to the end of his tail, there were no bunches visible. WILLIAM B PEARSON. Essex ss. August 27, i8i7. Then William B. Pearson made oath to the truth of the above. Bo 'ore