Henderson Island Monster

 


This is an odd one, not only because the creature is so bizarre, but because the place it was alleged to take place doesn’t exist either. It supposedly takes place on Henderson Island in the Puget Sound. But there’s no Henderson Island there. It’s possible the men relating this story meant Anderson Island, which does exist. Regardless, the location has led to one of the creature’s names, the Henderson Island Monster. It’s alternatively known as the Tacoma Electric Serpent, not to be confused with the Tacoma Sea Serpent, that’s a different monster. 


This story first appeared on July 3rd, 1893, in the Tacoma Daily Ledger, with the events happening only days earlier. Seven men were on a fishing trip to the so-called Henderson Island. Two of them remained unnamed, while the other five men were William Fitzhenry, H. L. Beal, W. L. McDonald, J. K. Bell and Henry Blackwood. 


The first day of their fishing trip went without incident.That night they camped near the shore. The men woke up to the sharp sounds of electrical cracking. The air felt filled with electric energy. Everything the men touched sparked them with static electricity.


When they came out of their tents the men saw light in the water. Electricity arced from the surface of the water where the light emanated from. Two of the men got closer to the edge of the water to get a better look at the lights. When they touched the water they were instantly rendered unconscious. A third man tried to rescue the two and was also jolted unconscious when he touched them. The remaining four men kept their distance. At this point the remaining four men saw the creature emerge from the water. 


It was 150 feet long and 30 feet wide. The widest point was the head, which they said was seal-like. It had six dark eyes, and horn-like protrusions which spurt out electrified water. Its body was covered in shaggy fur and had electrified copper bands around it. The tail was tipped with a propeller, which drove the beast through the water. 


The remaining men stood motionless in awe and fear. The monster left as quickly as it had appeared. The men could see it leaving underwater by the blue glow, which disappeared into the distance. Once the monster was gone they collected their unconscious camp members and broke down the camp. They were so eager to leave after the incident they got into their boats and paddled back to the shore in the dark. 


The three unconscious men would make a full recovery. But all members of the fishing party were left emotionally scarred by the incident. 


Sources 


https://gritcitymag.com/2018/10/in-1893-an-electric-sea-monster-terrified-tacoma-fishermen/


https://paranormal-world.fandom.com/wiki/Robo-Walrus_off_Henderson_Island



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