Monsters and Sea Serpents

The allure of the unknown depths has always captivated humanity, giving rise to countless tales of mythical creatures lurking beneath the waves and within the shadowed waters of lakes and rivers. From serpentine leviathans to horned behemoths, these monsters and sea serpents have been etched into the folklore of various cultures, serving as both warnings of the dangers of the natural world and embodiments of primal fears. The following explores some of these captivating legends, primarily focusing on accounts from North America, as recounted in the late 19th century and earlier, providing a glimpse into the beliefs and imaginations of those who once shared these tales.

One of the most enduring figures in maritime lore is the sea serpent. Across the globe, sailors and coastal dwellers have reported sightings of these elongated, often enormous creatures. The accounts are surprisingly consistent in some details, describing serpentine bodies, sometimes with humps along the back, and heads that range from horse-like to vaguely reptilian. The remarkable sea serpent has been reported at so many points and by so many witnesses not addicted to fish tales nor liquor that there ought to be some reason for him.

In New England, the legend of the sea serpent has particularly deep roots. In 1817, numerous sightings were reported off the coast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and again near Nahant. Witnesses described a creature of immense size, estimated to be around a hundred feet in length, possessing a shaggy head and prominent eyes. Despite its alarming appearance, the New England sea serpent was generally considered harmless, never attacking boats or humans. Yet, this did not deter attempts to capture or kill it. Rewards were offered to seafaring men who could bring in the serpent, and even revenue cutters were instructed to keep a lookout and prepare for action. One anecdote tells of a fisherman firing a ducking gun at the serpent’s head, only for the creature to playfully wiggle its tail and swim away unharmed.

The earliest accounts of monsters and sea serpents come from John Josselyn, a 17th-century English traveler and writer. In 1638, while exploring the Cape Ann region, Josselyn reported a sighting of a large reptile coiled on a rock. He intended to shoot at it, but his Native American guide dissuaded him, warning of the bad luck that would follow such an action.

The serpentine legends are not confined to the ocean. Reports of freshwater monsters and sea serpents have surfaced in various lakes and rivers across the continent. In 1892, four men fishing in Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin, claimed to have seen two enormous snakes with fins, each around fifty feet long. According to their account, the snakes engaged in a territorial battle, raising their heads six feet above the water and creating waves that nearly capsized the fishermen’s boat.

Even the Wabash River, a relatively small waterway in Indiana, has its own tale of a monstrous creature. Three women from Huntington, Indiana, reported seeing the river churned by a large tail, while further ahead, they observed a leonine head, complete with whiskers, the size of a young boy’s head. Supposedly, the creature, realizing it had been spotted, retreated into the depths, seemingly overcome with shyness.

Further north, in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, a water snake of considerable size, estimated at twenty-five feet in length, was sighted in one of the Twin Lakes in April 1890. Sysladobosis Lake in Maine is said to harbor a snake with a dog-like head, though only eight feet long. Skiff Lake, located across the border in New Brunswick, Canada, is believed to contain a similar creature, but measuring thirty feet.

The legends are not limited to simple serpent forms. Cotton Mather, a prominent Puritan minister in the 17th and 18th centuries, documented the discovery of a double-headed snake in Newbury, Massachusetts. This bizarre creature, with a head at each end of its body, reportedly attacked and chased a young boy before being killed.

Pennsylvania also has its share of monsters and sea serpents in Wolf Pond, a body of water said to be a relic of the Silurian age. The serpent was last seen in September 1887, when it uncoiled thirty feet of its body before a startled fisherman. The fisherman struck the creature with a pole, and in retaliation, the serpent capsized his boat before disappearing into the depths. The creature was described as having a black body with dingy yellow bands and a mottled green head, long and pointed like a pike.

In western New York, Silver Lake, near Gainesville, was rumored to be the home of a large serpent since 1855. Old settlers claimed that the creature occasionally surfaced, reminding the community of its continued presence.

Off the coast of California, Santa Barbara Island was once believed to be inhabited by swimming and flying monsters and sirens. Mexican sailors would avoid the island, fearing the strange noises emanating from it. However, the source of the sounds was eventually discovered to be a colony of feral cats, descendants of a shipwrecked tabby, thriving on dead fish and seabird eggs.

Beyond the simple descriptions of monstrous creatures, some legends imbue these beings with supernatural powers or significance. In Iowa, Spirit Canyon, a gorge carved by the Big Sioux River, was said to have been created by a dragon-like spirit. The size and ferocity of this creature instilled fear in the local Native American tribes, who avoided the area to prevent becoming its victims.

The Huron tribe believed in a monstrous serpent named Okniont, who possessed a horn capable of piercing trees, rocks, and hills. A piece of this horn was considered a powerful amulet, bringing good luck to its possessor.

The Zuni people of the Southwest tell of a plumed serpent dwelling in sacred springs. They were careful not to harm the venomous snakes that infested the plains of Arizona, believing that killing a snake would lead to a decrease in their water supply. The agatized trees of Chalcedony Park are believed to be the result of divine arrows aimed at the monsters and sea serpents that once plagued the region.

A cautionary tale comes from the shores of Canandaigua Lake in New York. According to the legend, a tribe of Native Americans tamed a spotted snake, feeding it and caring for it until it grew to an enormous size, consuming entire deer for meals. Eventually, the snake became so large that it encircled the camp and began preying on its keepers. After numerous failed attempts to kill the creature, a young boy fashioned an arrow from red willow, anointed it with the blood of a young woman, and shot it at the serpent’s heart. The arrow pierced the scales and began to bore into the creature’s body, causing it to writhe in agony. The serpent rolled into the lake, creating a violent storm, and eventually died, vomiting up the remains of its victims.

In Oregon, the monster Amhuluk is said to inhabit a lake near Forked Mountain. This creature had a predilection for drowning anything it could catch. The legend says that the monster had even drowned the sky in it and has made the trees stand upside down in the water. Wherever Amhuluk stepped, the ground would soften. One day, Amhuluk encountered three children digging for roots near the water’s edge. He attacked them, impaling two on his horns, with only the eldest escaping. When the surviving boy returned home, his body was covered in blotches, leading his father to suspect the truth. The father went to the lake and was met by the bodies of his children rising from the mud, only to sink again and reappear across the water. This process led him to the location where they had drowned. A fog arose from the water, and the father witnessed his children being lifted on Amhuluk’s horns, crying out that they had changed their bodies. The children appeared five times, each time pleading with their father to return. Finally, they disappeared, taken by Amhuluk to live with him forever.

Crater Lake, also in Oregon, was once considered a dangerous place by the local tribes, who believed it to be inhabited by water devils that drowned anyone who ventured near. The Klamath people were hesitant to approach the lake, even as guides. According to the legend, one Klamath man remained at the lake after its discovery, believing that the gods might have a message for him. He camped on the cliffs and had recurring dreams and voices. Eventually, he bathed in the lake and found his strength increased. One day, while catching a fish, he was seized by a thousand water devils who dragged him to a rock on the north side of the lake and threw him down, devouring his remains. Since then, they are said to crave human blood. The rock on the south side of the lake, known as the Phantom Ship, is believed by the Indians to be a destructive monster, despite its innocent appearance.

Rock Lake in Washington State, is said to be home to a hideous reptile that devours everything it finds in the water. In 1853, a group of Native Americans fleeing from soldiers were overtaken by this creature, lashed to death, and eaten.

The tribes of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas believed in a King Snake, or God Snake, that resided in the Gulf of Mexico. This serpent slept in a crystal cavern at the bottom of the sea, and its head, made of solid emerald, illuminated the ocean for miles when it surfaced.

The Cherokee shared a similar belief in the kings of rattlesnakes, "bright old inhabitants" of the mountains who grew to an enormous size and could draw any creature to them with a single gaze. Each king wore a crown of dazzling carbuncles.

The Indians of Klamath Lake avoided the area because they believed it was haunted by a half-dragon, half-hippopotamus monster.

Hutton Lake in Wyoming is said to be the home of a serpent queen, whose breath can be seen in the bubbles rising from the center of the lake. She is constantly searching for her lost lover and lures men to her underwater grotto, where they become her slaves. To attract victims, she uses a beautiful red swan as a decoy. Killing the swan grants divine power, but seeing the serpent queen, referred to only as "the woman," leads to certain death, unless witnessed from a hidden spot near the shore. If she notices someone, her spies, the land snakes, will sting them to death. She appears as a lovely girl, but her face is shaped like the head of a monster snake. Her name is never spoken for fear of incurring her wrath.

Finally, a humorous tale from Paterson, New Jersey, tells of Michael Pauw, a brave fisherman, who fought a monster that had climbed to the top of Passaic Falls. With the help of his comrades, Pauw dispatched the creature and dragged it to shore. A Dutchman, claiming to be well-traveled, identified the creature as a sturgeon, the same fish that the Van Rensselaers used for beef.

These tales of monsters and sea serpents, while often fantastical, provide a window into the beliefs, fears, and imaginations of past generations. They reflect a time when the natural world was less understood, and the unknown depths held the potential for both wonder and terror. Whether based on misidentified animals, exaggerated encounters, or pure invention, these legends continue to fascinate and remind us of the enduring power of myth and folklore.