USA > New York > Wyoming County > Perry > History of the town of Perry, New York > Part 12
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large serpent. He would be a monster at half the size. But here is the affidavit of two of the party :"
Joseph R. McKnight and Charles Hall, both being duly sworn, say that they have heard and read the article published in the Wyoming Times in relation to the serpent in Silver Lake, and that the statements there made are true of their own knowledge.
Signed, Joseph R. McKnight, Charles Hall
Subscribed and sworn to this 16th day of July, 1855, be-
fore me.
Enos W. Frost, Justice of the Peace
The publication of the preceding article set the ball in motion. The excitement ran high and was intensified the next week by the issue of the Times, which contained the following article under date of July 25th :
"Last week we gave as full and graphic an account of the monster seen in Silver Lake by Charles Hall and Joseph Mc- Knight as we were able to procure. We now present to our readers such other information regarding the stranger as has come to hand. At the same time we assure our readers that we pay no regard to the many rumors afloat containing 'sights' seen at the lake, unless traced to the author, and his statement given without coloring.
"Saturday evening. the 14th inst., one day after McKnight and Hall with their party were fishing, and saw what they re- garded and still regard as a monster serpent, Franklin Morgan, Abner Glazier, Eli Bishop and George Kingsley, young men from 16 to 23 years of age, residing on the west side of the lake, went down to bathe. They had heard the story that a monster had been seen in the lake, but as they had been acquainted with its waters for years and never seen anything unusual in or about them. laughed at the credulity of some persons and ridiculed the idea of there being anything there of unusual dimensions. They landed near the mouth of the inlet, had a good swim and dressed themselves. nothing occurring to especially at- tract their attention. They again took their boat, pushed
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off to row up the lake, their landing place being on the same side, but some distance above. When 15 or 20 rods from the inlet, Morgan-who was steering the boat-heard a noise that sounded like a tow-line being raised from the water. Upon looking around he discovered the form of a bow upon the water, its center projecting a trifle above the water line, but both ends concealed from view. It formed a span of 10 to 12 feet long and appeared to be at least a foot in diameter and of a dark color. Glazier was paddling the boat on the north side and also saw it. It was then sinking and gradually disappeared. This occurred between 8 and 9 o'clock in the evening. Both shores of the lake and objects on them were in full view.
"These four men work on farms two or three miles from the village, and have no object in presenting a large story. Af- ter this straightforward recital by Mr. Morgan, we asked him if he would go bathing in the lake in the evening now ? He promptly replied that he would not, unless very near the shore ; nor in the daytime in the middle of the lake; that what he saw had the appearance of being a very large serpent.
"A reverend gentleman well known in this community and formerly a resident of this village, called upon us yesterday morning and stated that he had an interview on Monday with an Indian named John John, some 50 years of age, and in the course of conversation asked him if there was any truth in the rumor that the Indians on Squawkie Hill would not fish in Silver Lake? John John replied that it was true, and added that once upon a time two of the tribe encamped upon the shores of the lake one night and were frightened by the appear- ance of a serpent or monster. He inquired of the Indian what size the monster was. John John replied : 'As big as a flour barrel.' He asked John if it was in consequence of this that they would not bathe or fish there, and John replied in the af- firmative.
"Since this occurrence several parties have visited thelake, but mostly during the day. It is now proposed, and we cer- tainly hope that it will be carried out, to man one or two boats each evening and watch for the appearance of the monster. The various statements in regard to it, coming from persons
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well known in this community, and persons, too, having no de- sire or object in misrepresenting such an occurrence, cannot be denied until after full and careful investigation. They are told with that sincerity that carries conviction with the recital ; that the persons have seen something of an unusual character in the lake-something that frightened them exceedingly-and in one instance, at least, caused four men to row for shore, and that, too, distant one mile, rather than return down the short outlet but half a mile in length. Besides this, at intervals for several years, persons who have been called to the lake on busi- ness or for diversion, make somewhat similar representations, though on such occasions, extending through a period of 20 years, the monster has been curtailed of half its dimensions.
"After a thorough search had been made, and not till then. can the testimony of competent witnesses be disregarded and set aside because others have not been fortunate or unfortunate enough to have obtained a sight."
In the meantime a Vigilance Society had been organized and the result of its labors may be found in the subjoined ar- ticle from the Times, dated August 1st :
"We detest snake stories. There is no subject we approach with more disgust than a 'yarn' having one of those creeping, crawling, cursed reptiles for its foundation. But as faithful chronielers of events in this quarter, as the publisher of a pub- lie journal, truthful in its character, and with a desire to its continuanee in the same honest, but not heavily beaten track, we feel constrained to follow up the narrative of what has not only caused excessive frights in some parties recently-which has Indian tradition to back it, more recent evidence to sustain it- and has set the newspaper world in a blaze.
"As some of our exchanges doubt the assertion that the party with Hall and MeKnight, whose narrative was first given, had no liquor with them, we will barely remark that both are honest, temperate and industrious mechanics, coopers by trade. One has been employed by Mr. Brown, the miller, for five years, and Mr. Brown regards him as a most truthful and honest man. The other has not resided in the village for so long a period, but bears upon his face the appearance of an
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honest, truthful man. They do not fish as sporting, amateur fishermen often do, with the brandy bottle at their side and with more desire for that than for the fish. They fish when they do go upon such an excursion after a day's labor, and to procure them as food for their families, as well as affording pastime. So much for the men whose affidavits were appended to the first statement.
"Tuesday evening, the 24th, was dark and rain fell in tor- rents. The Vigilance Committee did not go out in search, and we have not learned that any party ventured upon the lake. Wednesday evening, the 25th, two or three boats well manned were upon the lake. One remained until 10 p. m. A heavy mist set in, completely enveloping the sky, hills and lake. Not an object was visible five rods from the boat, yet the men visited various parts of the lake and returned at the hour above indi- cated, without anything of an extraordinary character occur- ring.
"Thursday evening, the 26th, another party went out. The evening was beautiful; about every portion of the lake was in view under the pale rays of the full moon. They returned be- tween 10 and 11 p. m. Nothing strange occurred. Friday af- ternoon, the 27th, as two farmers well known and highly re- spected, were working in the field near the lake, they saw some- thing that appeared like a log, but three or four rods long, ly- ing between the inlet and outlet. They noticed it some time, but soon after it had disappeared. They only say, if there is a serpent there they saw it, and that it is as long as has been represented.
"Friday evening another party visited the lake and return- ed between 10 and 11 p. m. without encountering anything of an unusual character. Saturday morning, the 28th, Mr. Hall- the gentleman who with Mr. McKnight and the Scribners saw what they regarded as a very large serpent-accompanied by his wife, daughter and one or two of the boys visited the lake. The wife and daughter had never been upon its waters, and although the father was much frightened some two or three weeks since at what had occurred while there, as hundreds had been upon and around the lake since that occurrence and noth-
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ing unusual had taken place, took his family with him for the sail and at the same time to fish. The whole family saw the serpent, and we give the statement as related to us by the daughter, an intelligent girl of 15 or 16 years.
" 'We started between S and 9 p. m. Father rowed up the outlet, my brother sitting in the bow of the boat to inform him as to the course of the channel up the narrow and crooked pass- age. We entered the lake; the wind was quite high and the waves rocked the boat so much that mother requested father to row over to the other side, where the water appeared more still. Father rowed toward the inlet. When approaching it he sus- pended rowing and looked around to ascertain if he was in the right course, as no one was steering, and called attention to an object on the right hand side of the inlet, partly concealed by the rushes. My brother looked at it and began sereeching and crying that it was the snake they had before seen. We all sat quietly in the boat and looked at it. It appeared to be of a dark color at first, but as it moved off going into the water, it was of a lighter color, of a copper color. At mother's request father turned the boat around and rowed for the outlet, mother standing up and looking back. She saw the same thing appar- ently following the boat some rods on, and told father to row for his life. I stood up and also saw it. Its head and for- ward part was above water at least a yard, and upon its baek it appeared to have a fin as wide as father's hand. I was fright- ened and covered my face with my hands and resumed my seat. Its head was as much as 15 or 16 inches around and its back was much larger. (We here asked her if its head was as large as a dog's head and she replied that it was larger. Since then she has stated to others that it was as large as a calf's head.)' "
The above statement has been read to me and is true of my own knowledge. Mary M. Hall.
I also subscribe fully to the facts set forth in the above statement. Merilda C. Hall.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 31st day of July, Cyrus Merrill, Justice of the Peace.
1855.
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"The party landed near Mr. Howe's pump factory, and as a cloud of rain was about breaking, went in for shelter. Mr. Howe was there and we have had an interview with him. Mr. Howe, who is a straightforward man, says that Mr. Hall did not appear much frightened when the party came into the factory. He told the story in a straightforward manner. Mrs. Hall was much agitated, remarked that she did not want to go sailing, but was over-persuaded by her husband; that she had rather have washed steadily three days than have beenso much fright- ened. Mr. Hall came down to the village, related the circum- stance, and a number of men, well armed, repaired to the lake. They remained on or about it the remainder of the day, but saw nothing unusual.
"Saturday evening, two citizens who have been most skep- tical in regard to the monster-and there are others of that character-Dr. Smith and Counselor Stoddard visited Mr. Hall and family. Mr. Hall and his wife related the occurrence very nearly as it is above stated by the daughter. The child- ren were present and all corroborated the statement. These gentlemen made the visit purposely to probe the story to its foundation and cannot think that any family could unite in manufacturing such an absurd and monstrous 'yarn' out of whole cloth. Mr. Hall describes the appearance of the head of the reptile with much precision, and even the little boy about five years of age said he 'saw a big snake; saw him squirm,' etc."
From the Wyoming Times, Aug. 1st, 1855.)
"On Monday, July 30th, 1855, quite a crowd of visitors were at the lake, endeavoring to get a sight of his majesty, the sea serpent. The well-authenticated statement of Hall, Mc- Knight, John John, Morgan and others, has attracted to this village many of the citizens of the adjoining towns and vil- lages, and quite a number of visitors from cities have taken quarters with their friends or are located at Walker's well- kept hotel.
"To our surprise, on going to the lake on Monday we found seven boats well manned, upon its quiet waters, one being the center of attraction. We approached it and found
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that it contained four young men from an adjoining town. One, Daniel Smith, had but recently returned from a four-years' whaling voyage. They were at the lake on Tuesday last, hav- ing previously heard of the Silver Lake sea serpent, saw about 40 feet of the monster, moved towards it, and as they neared it, his majesty, not fancying their appearance, glided off into deeper water and did not again appear on the surface. They returned home that evening. Under Smith's directions a har- poon lance and other instruments for capturing whales were manufactured, and on Monday the same party, with coils of rope and arms for capturing the serpent, was patiently in wait- ing for his appearance.
"This was a new and novel feature in the Silver Lake fishery, but no doubt one that the exigencies of the case de- manded. While young men of our own village have watched for him almost nightly, as well as in the day time-while a joint stock company is being formed for the purpose of having proper instruments constructed to capture the monster alive, and while this suspense and doubt exists as to his snakeship's identity, his immense proportions, and the selection of his food. We are glad that parties in neighboring villages are not be- hind hand in desiring his capture, and that sufficient enterprise exists to lend our own energetic citizens a helping hand toward the accomplishment of that object.
"Of course, the publie will believe, credit or reject as much of the story as they please. We have our own im- pressions regarding it, and as several correspondents have made the inquiry, we will say that we have no doubt that there is a reptile of unusual dimensions, that is harmless, or else half of the village-men and boys-would have mysteriously disappeared during the last quarter of a century, for it is a favorite bathing place and there are no families residing near enough to be in the least annoyed by their exhibitions while swimming. The search will be continued, and it is hoped that whatever there is at the lake of enormous size, beside pickerel, bass. etc., may be captured, and its full length and size be made known to the public. Unless captured soon, we shall have to publish a daily edition to keep our friends at a distance as well as here, fully posted."
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August 8th, the enterprising publisher of the Times came "to the front" with the "clincher" which gave a substantiated account of the "monster" and caused old maids' teeth to chatter worse than ever, while the tide of emigration to the lake became much increased and the excitement correspond- ingly so.
"Wednesday, the 1st inst., the existence of a monster fish or serpent species in the quiet waters of Silver Lake was estab- lished beyond reasonable doubt, if indeed there has been room for doubt for a week past. At about noon on that day the monster was seen by at least half a dozen persons from differ- ent points of view, from the upland adjoining the lake. There were no boats out. Workmen on the farm of Mr. A. Macomber, not half a mile distant; two young men visiting at Mr. Ma- comber's, on another part of the farm; a young man named Merrill, from this village, from another point; a part of Mr. Macomber's family, from the upper window facing the lake, all saw the monster, apparently sunning himself on the surface of the water.
"A description is impossible, except of his movements. He moved and floundered about for 10 or 15 minutes. The par- ties were from one-quarter to one-half a mile distant. The water elsewhere on the lake was as smooth as glass, and there could be no deception or optical delusion in the vision of the parties. The parties saw it unknown to each other. Some of them have no personal acquaintance, and one or two are yet most ready to disbelieve their senses rather than to run counter to well- established theory in regard to snakeology.
"For ourselves we are forced to admit the fact of the ex- istence of a monster of the serpent species, of immense propor- tions, in Silver Lake, unless we disbelieve merely because we have not seen. We hope, however, to announce before long that he has been captured. Every effort is being made to accomplish that object. We assert without fear of contradiction, that there is not a log floating on the water of Silver Lake; that nothing has been placed there to create the serpent story, and that what is above stated, and what has appeared in the Wyoming Times regarding a serpent in Silver Lake has been related to us by candid, honest and truthful men and women-persons who
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have not flinched in testifying to the facts as given to the public.
"The above appeared in an extra from this office on Wed- nesday. We forwarded it to our city exchanges, that they might keep their thousands of readers posted as to the actual existence in Silver Lake of a monster which has been repeat- edly seen during the past 30 years, whose species is unknown, and whose haunting place is uncertain. It truly seems incred- ible. In many quarters it is so treated, vet when we aver that some of those who have seen it are the persons who are spend- ing days and nights at the lake to effect its capture, that they are endeavoring to bring about the result by means of live bait in the shape of ducks or chickens attached to large hooks with buoys in the distance: that one sailor who has been for four years upon the Pacific, engaged in the capture of whales, having seen it in company with three other persons, has had constructed instruments which he believes necessary to its capture ; that they have seen it, too, with the full glare of day upon it, we cannot resist the conviction that there is in that little lake a fish or reptile of extraordinary dimensions. The men who have been favored with a sight and whose story was at first hooted at, as well as those who have seen it since, con- firm their belief by their acts. They know that such a creature exists there and they are determined to capture it if that be possible.
"Two men of this village, who were there on Friday in a beat, both responsible and eandid men, were favored with a view of the monster. They went and are now there, having en- gaged a boat for one month, to convince themselves as well as satisfy the public."
Edwin Fanning, long a resident of Perry, relates his won- derful experience in an affidavit published in the Times of Aug. 16th, as follows :
"The following statement made by Edwin Fanning of this village, duly attested, accompanied by the endorsement of several prominent citizens as to Fanning's character for truth and veracity, cannot but confirm and strengthen the very general belief that there is a monster in Silver Lake. In fact,
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the evidence in regard to it is undisputed in any quarter, and the candor and sincerity of witnesses is unquestioned.
"When falsehood is so apparent as in a letter purporting to emanate from this village, published in the Buffalo Republic of Tuesday, it is almost unnecessary to refute or contradict it.
Edwin Fanning's Statement
"I went up to Chapin's Landing, Silver Lake, about 6 o'clock Wednesday evening, the 15th inst., remained there about 15 minutes and then walked down the shore of the lake, past the old sailboat 'Frolic' to the point of the jutting pro- montory. I remained there and looked at the birds flying around the foot of the lake. On glancing my eye across the lake to the westward, in the range of the mouth of the inlet and about 15 rods from where I was standing, a monster of a ser- pent rose out of the water, exhibiting at least eight feet of the forward portion of its body above the water. In a few seconds he disappeared; in about three minutes afterward he again came to the surface, about the same length being exposed to view as before. He remained on the surface of the water at least three minutes, making evolutions similar to those of a snake. He turned his head and the forward portion of his body, and appeared to be looking around him. The third time he came up he apparently sported on the water, drew up his body as a snake does on the ground, dove down his head por- tion, and projected portions of his body out of the water, as though full of joints. These movements were continued nearly half an hour. His body was as large as a large barrel ; his head about a foot in diameter at the largest point. He spouted water from his mouth at least four feet high and it would fall back upon him like the play of waters from a fountain. His length I should think was at least 100 feet. I called to Mr. Sharp- steen's men who were working in a field, but they did not come. I related the circumstances to them as I returned. When I called to Mr. Sharpsteen's men, the serpent was playing upon the water. My calling did not disturb him. I remained there until he disappeared and did not again come up. The sun was shining at the time. I was on the east side of the lake and saw the serpent as distinctly as I ever saw anything in my life. He
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was about 15 or 16 rods from me, was of a beautiful dark green color, and appeared to be perfectly smooth. I will be 21 years of age next April.
"I do solemnly swear and certify that the above state- ment, which I have related and which has been read to me, is true of my own knowledge."
(Signed) Edwin Fanning.
Subscribed and sworn before me this 15th day of August, 1855. .
Cyrus Merrill, Justice of the Peace.
"We, the undersigned, have known Edwin Fanning, whose statement is above recorded, for several years. He is a resi- dent of this village; he has always maintained a good character, and is a young man of intelligence, truth and veracity."
Signed by Cyrus Merrill, H. N. Page, S. Iliggins, S. P. Bul- lard, C. W. Bailey, B. B. Higgins, C. P. Bailey and C. L. Hatch.
Perry, August 15th, 1855.
"The above was issued from this office on Thursday last and sent to the daily papers with which we exchange. We have nothing more to add to it. The young man who makes the statement and testifies to it has resided here for several years and is well known by many of our citizens."
On the 22d the Times satiated the eagerness of its readers with the following :
"Daniel Smith, to whom allusion was made a week or two ago as being a returned whaler, after a four-years' cruise, was in town again on Saturday. He brought with him his harpoon and lance and proposes to remain during the week. He has visited the lake each day since his return, but has not been fortunate enough to get even a glimpse of the serpent which he is satisfied from actual observation exists in Silver Lake."
The writer of this history will not attempt to give all of the corroborative evidence. To prove the serpent's existence anything but a myth, the grim monster appeared to many who
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have not been mentioned, probably aggregating at least 100 different people, many of whom hurried at once to the Justice's office to make their affidavits. Visitors came by the hundreds from all parts of the State, completely swamping the hotels and necessitating the opening of private residences to accom- modate the throngs. Crowds lined the lake every clear night during August and September. Skepticism had been over- come, and nearly everyone believed that the monster really existed. Plans were continuously brought forward to effect its capture. A tower was erected at the north end of the lake and a sentinel equipped with a spy-glass was on duty each day, keeping a strict watch on the movements of the serpent. Hunters lined the shores, "armed to the teeth," and two or three were fortunate enough to get distant shots at the mon- ster. The Times of Sept. 5th relates that Mr. Joshua Jenks, a local resident was one of those so favored. Mr. Jenks was prepared to shoot the serpent, was but three rods from it, but being thrown off his guard by its sudden appearance, and somewhat alarmed, did not get correct aim before the reptile disappeared. Some of the citizens put out set-lines made by using clothes-lines and an enormous hook turned out by the vil- lage blacksmith, baited with ducks, fresh pork, etc., the whole being supported by a small buoy.
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