A Monster in the Sound

The Portchester Journal assumes the responsibility for this story:

“Last Friday [August 10, 1877], while a gentleman and lady were sailing on the Sound, between Byram shore and Captain’s Island light, their attention was attracted by a queer hissing noise, and a roaring sound, and they soon discovered, not an eighth of a mile distant, a monster of the deep advancing rapidly. This monster stood up straight, was apparently as large round as a hogshead, and showed an enormous head and exhibited not less than fifteen or twenty feet of his length. Her advanced a short distance in this upright manner, when, with a roar and a hiss, he sank completely out of sight, only to reappear in a few moments uncomfortably near the boat. No wonder the party made haste for the shore, and were soon out of harm’s way. The monster evidently is neither whale, porpoise nor shark, and what it is is still an open question. Our informants are trustworthy people, and not given to telling fish stories.”South Side Signal, Babylon, New York, August 18, 1877

Thanks for this historical item from Jerome Clark.

Thank you all for these successful initial weeks of the 2007 release of MA, which will make it easier for anyone looking for specific reports and writing these books. Appreciation.