Humboldt
River Serpent
The Humboldt River Basin is in north-central Nevada
and runs east-to-west terminating in the
Humboldt Sink in northwest Churchill County. It is approximately 330 miles in length.
There has been reports of a sea serpent in the river.
In The West Coast Signal August 19, 1877
I have been requested to write you the following for
publication. I had first thought that I would not for the reason that I didn’t
like to have my word doubted when I speak only the truth. Although this may not
be believed by some of the readers of the SIGNAL, it is something that can be
sworn to by three or four different parties.
About three
months ago as I was on my way to Garberville, not far below what is know as
Phillip’s Flat I saw what I thought was a foot log coming down the
South Fork of the river, and was not a
little surprised to see such a thing adrift at that season of the year.
I was on a cliff of rocks, about 50 feet above the river,
and stopped to watch the curious looking object, when I saw to my surprise it
was a large serpent. The monster was at least 20 feet long in the water, and
its head was raised about 3 feet above the surface of the stream, and was about
as large as a dog’s head. It saw me, but did not seem to be alarmed, for it
headed for the last cliff on which I was standing.
It was one of those hot days that we are accustomed on
the South Fork, and the monster seemed to be hunting shade. It was about a foot
in diameter; its color a dark brown, with large light and yellow spots. I
watched him until he came under the cliff where the rocks hid him from view. It
was seen twice more at the same place and once again further up the river. It
seems to go to the woods for food, as there can be no other inducement.
It was signed a SOUTHFORKER
It was not the end of the matter .An article
appeared in 1911.
Elko Free Press
July 14, 1911:
"While fishing on the Humboldt river a few
miles east of Elko a few days ago, G.P. Griffith and Alex Hay had an experience
that is still haunting them in their sleep. Both are reliable men and not given
to 'seeing things,' and their report carries weight with their friends.
"They left town early for an all day's fishing trip,
and had proceeded up the river to where the big dam backs up the river in the
Fernald field, just opposite the road on the south side of the stream, near the
bluffs. Here for several yards the stream is wide and quite deep. Mr. Griffith
said he saw something coming down stream, which he thought at first was a flock
of wild ducks, following one another in a long line. Being a sportsman, he was
interested in the sight, and stepped back into a clump of bushes to watch them
pass, and called to his companion. But to his wonder and amazement, when the
object got opposite them, it was a huge serpent, swimming on the surface of the
water, with it's head, or heads, held high and its long, huge, black,
glistening, undulating body, gracefully cleaving the pure, limpid, mountain
water, the reptile searching the banks of either side for prey.
"About twenty-feet was visible, and the monster had
four heads, shaped something like a dog's head, the body of a black color, and
as large as a man's leg. Fascinated, they watched the huge snake, but as soon
as one of them spoke it disappeared on the instant. Mr. Griffith hurriedly left
for his gun, and Mr. Hay remained to watch for its reappearance. A few minutes
later it again came to the surface and Mr. Hay declares it was at least thirty
feet long, with a tail like a fish, and the four heads, showing clearly, but
when the man with the gun returned it had gone, and did not appear again,
although they waited and watched a long time.
"Since it was seen, quite a number of our fisherman
have gone to the place, but no one has had a glimpse of the monster."
That seemed to be the end of the story. There was
one curious incident.The local indigenous people left the river on hearing the story.They
believed in a river serpent that could swallow a child.
Large snakes are not
unknown though they normally are found in South America. Could this have been
one brought from there and released ? It would explain why there were no
more sightings as it probably passed away.
t
