Atlantic Ocean — 8 April 1813
Shell-shaped floating monster
- As the ship “Niagara” was about latitude 43 north, longitude 65 west, a large hump was seen on the Southern horizon, “bearing N.W. distance 6 or 8 miles ahead, which we supposed the hull of a large ship bottom up. When within a gun shot of it, we discovered that it had motion.” On nearer approach the sailors thought the object must be a giant fish, “apparently 200 feet in length, about 30 feet broad, and from 17 to 18 feet high in the centre.” Whatever it was, the floating object was covered with a shell. “Near the head on the right side was a large hole or archway, covered occasionally with a fin which was at times 8 or 10 feet out of the water.” The crew intended to send a boat to make further discoveries, “but was deterred from the dreadful appearance of the monster.”
Source: Log Book of the ship Niagara, captain Merry, traveling from Lisbon to New York, cited in the Pittsburgh [New York] Republican, 14 May, 1813. 390. Case: W342