Mermaid Monday: Thames Monster! April 23, 2018
Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern , trackback
Ok this is a bit of a cheeky addition to the list. It is not your typical mermaid, but then it is not your typical monster either. We are in 1742 in London.
To be seen, at the Mitre Tavern, Charing-Cross. The largest Thames-Monster, or miraculous man-eater, that was ever in the World, taken on the 26th of April last, just above London-Bridge, in the River Thames. As a Boy was washing his Mop, this surprising Monster caught hold of it in his Mouth, and had very like to pull the Boy into the River, but he calling out for Help, several Men came to his Assistance, and with great Difficulty dragg’d this Monster out, and he liv’d four Hours after on shore. He [the monster] is near four Foot long, full three Foot round in the Body, and two Foot and a half round his Mouth; his Neck is like a Bull, and Belly like a Bag; he has sixteen Rows of Teeth, has two Rows of Teeth in his Back and Breast inwards twelve inches from his Mouth, and just double the Number of Teeth as Days in the Year; he has two very plain Hands, eight Fingers and two Thumbs, and Nails on each like a Christian; he has four Horns on his Head, and other Weapons on his Back; his Flesh is very white, and has monstrous large Fins , he had neither Heart, Tongue, nor Lights, but all the Entrails he had are to be seen with him. All the Gentlemen and Sailors that have seen him, that have been in most Parts abroad for many Years, and all the Accounts, Books, or Prints of Fishes, that have been produced, cannot shew the like, it being neither like the Shark, Porpus, Aligator, or Grampus. Great Numbers of the Curious daily resort to see it, and acknowledge it to be the most surprising uncommon Fish that ever they saw. (MacMichael 196-197)
Presumably this was based on some real creature? But what, if so, are we dealing with here? Drbeachcombing At gmail DOT com The teeth are intriguing…
