Anon. "That Serpent-Fish Monster," The San Diego Union (23 October 1873)

The account given in the Union yesterday of a mammoth sea monster seen by Capt. Charlesworth, of the yacht Cygnet, and the venerable Dr. Squills of this city, last Tuesday in a cove on the Peninsula, created considerable commotion, especially among the members of the Academy of Sciences. The Academy held a special meeting, and the UNION’s account was read by the Secretary. Several members spoke of the serpent-fish, and all confessed themselves unable to classify it with any of the known families of the great deep. When they adjourned they all went sailing over to the Peninsula, in hope to obtain a glimpse of the wonderful visitor to our harbor.
Every sailing and row boat on the bay was out with parties all day long, the occupants being anxious to obtain a glance at the serpent-fish, but keeping a respectful distance from the cove where he was seen.
Charlie Kauffman, of this city, and Pete Thompson, of Los Angeles, who happens to be here visiting, went prospecting for sights on the Bay yesterday. They are the only ones that we could learn of who went up into the cove, and they only sailed up part way. Charlie said they saw a terrible commotion in the water about a hundred yards from the point they reached. He said the water seethed and foamed and that a large black surface, resembling a whale’s back, was seen above the surface of the water several times. They came back to the city as they had promised a friend not to be gone long.
It was reported last evening that a number of scientific gentlemen had made arrangements to go over to the cove this morning and take a plaster cast of the impression (if not obliterated by the action of the water) left by the monster in the sand and mud, when he was first seen by Capt. Charlesworth.

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