51 
POSTSCRIPT. 
[After the completion of the foregoing report, the following article 
appeared in a Sew York paper.] 
Rye-Neck, Oct. 21, 1817. 
Silvanus Miller, Esq. 
Sir, I observed in the Columbian of the 15th inst. a paragraph stating 
that an animal had been seen in Long Island sound, corresponding with 
the description of the serpent lately seen in Gloucester harbour. That 
communication probably resulted from some observations which I made 
to you, and several other gentlemen, on the subject alluded to. When I 
spoke of that occurrence, I had no idea that it would become the subject 
of newspaper remark ; but since it has been publicly noticed, perhaps 
a more particular detail of the circumstances may not be deemed im¬ 
proper. 
On Sunday, the 5th inst. at 10 o’clock A. M. while standing a few rods 
from my house on Rye-Neck, I observed at a small distance to the south¬ 
ward and eastward ofMr. Ezekiel Halsted’s dwelling on Rye Point, and 
perhaps not more than a half mile from the shore, a long, rough, dark 
looking body, progressing rapidly up sound (towards New York) against 
a brisk breeze, and a strong ebb tide. Viewing it with my glass convinc¬ 
ed me it was a large living animal.—His back, forty to fifty feet of which 
was seen above the surface of the water, appeared to be irregular, une¬ 
ven, and deeply indented. I did not at this time remark that his head 
was more elevated above the water than the ridges or humps on his back. 
Some trees standing near the water, Rye Point soon intercepting my 
view of him, I hastened to a situation from which I obtained another 
sight of him, as he passed that part of the sound opposite Hempstead 
bay. At this time he appeared to be nearly in the middle of the sound— 
his body more depressed below and his head more elevated above the 
water, going with increased velocity in the direction of Sand’s point, 
creating a swell before him not unlike that made by a boat towed rapid¬ 
ly at the stern of a vessel. From the time I first saw him till I lost sight 
of him, perhaps could not have exceeded ten minutes, in which short 
time he had gone probably not less than six or seven miles. 
Understanding that Mr, James Guion, a gentleman of character and 
respectability, had seen what was supposed to be the same animal, I 
yesterday conversed with him on the subject. He states that on Friday 
the 3d inst while on the point of land on the east side of the mouth of 
the Mamaroneck harbour, he saw at a little distance from the rocks, usu¬ 
ally called the Scotch Caps, which lie at the extremity of Rye Point, a 
large animal going with great rapidity up sound. He judged his speed 
to be little or no less than a mile in a minute. He describes the irreg¬ 
ularity and unevenness of his back, about fifty feet of which appeared 
above the surface of the water, much in the way in which I have done. 
