Mysterious Monsters of the Deep: Messie and Nessie

Peyton Smith

 

We’ve all heard the fictional stories of creatures that live in the deep, but have you ever considered where those theories and stories originated? According to Stephen Lyons, in his article “The Legend of Loch Ness”, the earliest evidence of the Loch Ness monster is dated back to the first century A.D., “when the Romans first came to Scotland and found it occupied by fierce, tattoo-covered tribes they called the Picts, or painted people.” The Picts had many animal statues carved in stone, all of which were recognizable except for one which was “a strange beast with an elongated beak or muzzle, a head locket or spout, and flippers instead of feet” (Lyons). It was described by many as a “swimming elephant.” Even though the Pictish statues were the first real evidence, “the earliest written evidence can be found in the biography of Saint Columba, in 565 A.D. when he saw a giant beast about to attack a swimmer in the lake” (Lyons). However, Lyons said the Loch Ness legend we all know about today arose in 1933, when a couple driving home passed the loch and saw “an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface.” Based on this sighting the first real description of the beast was created, and this description is still how we depict the creature today. The beast was said to have a long slender neck, distinct humps along its back, and fins. Does this monster seem believable to you?

In Bejnamin Radford’s book Lake Monster Mysteries, he discusses some of the most iconic photos of the Loch Ness monster, one of which was photographed by a London doctor named R. Kenneth Wilson. This photo became the most popular form of evidence to many because it came from someone as credible as a doctor, who was believed to be too well respected to lie about a monster. This photo was later falsified and the story behind the hoax was recorded in Radford’s book, it was also recorded in Stephen Lyons’ article “The Legend of Loch Ness”

Hearing about the Loch Ness monster can be terrifying for some, but many people don’t care about the urban legend since it is so far away in a loch in the middle of Scotland. But what if I were to tell you that there have been sightings of a similar beast in a lake many people in South Carolina visit frequently. In 1933, the first sighting of Messie the Lake Murray monster appeared. Lake Murray is a manmade lake located near Irmo, South Carolina, it is over 41 miles in length, 14 miles in width and about 200 feet in depth. The creature was first spotted by a husband and wife, who were out in a boat fishing on the lake, when they said the beast attacked their boat and they had to fight it off with oars to avoid sinking (SC Lakes). Over the years many Messie sightings have occurred, each time “it is always noted as being a giant snake with fins and has been calculated as being 40 to 60 feet long” (SC Lakes). Now next time you decide to go for a swim, beware of what could be lurking just under the surface.

Works Cited:
Lyons, Stephen. “The Legend of the Loch Ness.” pbs.org. PBS-NOVA, 12 Jan. 1999. Web. 7 October 2015.

Radford, Benjamin. Lake Monster Mysteries. Lexington: The UP of Kentucky, 2006. Print

SC Lakes. “Lake Murray Monster.” sclakes.com. SC Lakes, 17 Sept. 2009. Web. 14 October 2015.
Wilson, R. Kenneth. Surgeon’s Photo. 1934. American Museum of Natural History. amnh.org. Web. 14 October 2015.

Links for Further Research:
Can of Mystery: Lake Monsters: Messie and Nessiehttp://canofmystery.blogspot.com/2012/10/lake-monsters-messie-and-nessie.html
This website is a blog post about the Loch Ness Monster and the Lake Murray Monster, it gives a lot of background information about the two creatures.

American Museum of Natural History: Sea Monstershttp://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/mythic-creatures/water-creatures-of-the-deep/sea-monsters
This website explains the theory behind why people believe in sea monsters and discusses many sea monsters such as the loch ness monster, giant squids/kraken, and sea serpents.

Metro News… But Not As You Know Ithttp://metro.co.uk/2015/04/18/loch-ness-monster-really-does-exists-natural-history-museum-scientist-said-5156146/
This news article describes a scientist’s first hand encounter with a loch ness monster sighting and his theory that the beast is an aquatic dinosaur thought to be long ago extinct.

Nessie: The Tale of the Loch Ness Monster

Kayla Reeves

 

The Lake of Loch Ness. (Kate and Tom’s Blog

Our society is filled with legends, mysteries, fable, and fear for the unknown. From the Chupacobra to Big Foot to the Loch Ness Monster. Everyone knows of the mysteries, but who knows the truthes behind these mythical beings? Though the very first sighting of the Loch Ness Monster date back 1,500 years ago, it has been the most wanted legend of the lake of LOCH NESS, since its first news debut on May 2, 1933. The creature really rose to fame when a 20,000 pound bounty was placed for its capture. This cryptid, a term used by cryptozoologists; or people who search or study animals whose existence is unknown, has been a lifetime winner of hide and seek.

The Loch Ness Monster has been “spotted” many times, the first in 1933 by Mr. and Ms. John Mackay. The couple explained that as they were driving along the road nearest the Loch they noticed a large creature rolling and rodding up and down against the water before it soon plunged into the deep waters of the lake. Soon after this, the world went in a craze and people were in a sure urge to discover this mythical creature. This led to people going to any and all lengths to “create” images of the cryptid, such as the infamous Surgeon’s photo of 1934.

Taken by Robert Kenneth Wilson, 1934

In April of 1960, Tim Dinsdale was able to capture what was supposedly a video of the cryptid after his six-day monster-hunt. Tim described the creature to be large mahogany, oval shaped with a dark spot on its side. With four minutes of filming, it was suspected to seem like the creature was waving a diamond shaped fin as it swam towards the shore, and slowly moving back away and plunging into the deep waters from where it first came. “Evidence” such as this video give more and more individuals more hope to find the legend and prove its reality.
 With all of the scientific and just everyday research people have done to find the truth behind this legend, there have been many stories, television shows and even movies about the Loch Ness Monster. In Scooby-Doo! And the Loch Ness Monster, the group of teenagers who travel all over solving mysteries, travel to Loch Ness of Scotland to vast Daphne’s Scottish ancestors’ home. As they are visiting, they are informed by Daphne’s cousin of the first annual Highland Games as well as how the Loch Ness Monster has been terrorizing them. Throughout the movie, the group experiences many peculiar things happening because of the Loch Ness Monster and soon enough are led to believe it to be a real creature. Towards the end of the movie, it is not only one Loch Ness Monster, but two. It is revealed that the both of the terrorizing monsters were merely a puppet and a submarine operated by two brothers of the town as a prank. In the final scene, Scooby-Doo spots what looks like the real Loch Ness Monster swimming in the lake.

 Scooby-Doo! And the Loch Ness Monster.

 With all the many movies and television shows such as this giving clues and hope that the Loch Ness Monster may be real, there could only be one way for everyone else to know for sure, REAL FACTS. I myself do think the Loch Ness Monster is real and don’t need any real evidence to clear my mind. It would be nice to have someone find the pure truth behind it all, but until then I will continue to believe in the possible myth.

Works Cited:
• “Loch Ness Monster Sighted.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, LLC. n.d. Web. 9 Oct 2015.
• Lyons, Stephen. ‘The Legend of Loch Ness.” Pbs.org. NOVA. 12 Jan 1999. Web. 9 Oct 2015.
• Lafrance, Adrienne. “Google Joins the Search for the Loch Ness Monster.” Theatlantic.com. the Atlantic Monthly Group. 20 April 2015. Web. 9 Oct 2015.
• “The Loch Ness Monster.” Dictionary of the Unexplained. Ed. Una McGovern. London: Chambers Harrap, 2007. Credo Reference. Web. 9 Oct 2015.
• Loch Ness.Photograph. Kateandtoms.com. 31 July 2014. Web. 18 Oct 2015.
• “Loch Ness Monster.” Brewer’s dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Ed. Susie Dent. London: Chambers Harrap, 2012. Credo Reference. Web. 9 Oct 2015.
• Robert Kenneth Wilson. Photograph. The Loch Ness Monster. “Surgeon’s Photograph.” 1934. Web. 18 Oct 2015.

Links for Further Research:
• Surgeon’s Photograph
 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/scotland/11545298/Loch-Ness-Monster-50-fascinating-facts.html
This article talks about 50 facts about the Loch Ness Monster and the Surgeon’s Photograph.
• Scooby-Doo! And the Loch Ness Monster (Movie)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418141/
This video is an example of the myths behind the Loch Ness Monster and how people will go to the many lengths to create a different version of it.
• Loch Ness Monster Mystery Solvedhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/loch-ness-monster-mystery-solved-6079792
This talks about someone thinking they have solved the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster.

“Nessie” the Loch Ness Monster

Author:  Lawren Black

Original art by Fireberd904

“Nessie” the Loch Ness Monster? The Abominable Snowman?  Bigfoot?  Many don’t believe these exist but for those that do believe are known as Cryptozoologists. Cryptozoologists study these types of creatures because their existence is yet to be proven scientifically.  One of the more famous Cryptids that has been around a long time and is known around the world is “Nessie”, the Loch Ness Monster.  Pictures of Nessie have surfaced and some evidence has been collected, but no real scientific evidence has brought Nessie justice of being real.

 Living under the 24 mile long, one mile wide, 974 feet deep fresh water lake, Loch Ness, in Scotland is the famous “Nessie.”  Nessie has been around since the sixth century, but it wasn’t until 1933 when Mr. and Mrs. John Mackay reported a sighting that swept through the media internationally. Their sighting was published in the local newspaper, Inverness Courier.

Loch Ness in Highland, Scotland (NationalGeographic)

According to two articles, Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable and Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained, the appearance of Nessie is said to be a cross between a long-necked prehistoric time creature, Plesiosaur, and a seal.  Nessie real identity is yet to be discovered.  Many pictures only show Nessie as a hump or a “trunk-like” feature sticking out of the water.  Paleontologist Neil Clark even believes that “the monster was perhaps a padding pachyderm.” (National Geographic)  Clark saw many similarities between the two that made him come to believe that they are similar.

Painting by Neil Clark

While on a six-day monster hunt in 1960, Tim Dinsdale shot a four minute long film of what appeared to be a huge creature in the loch.  Dinsdale, who wanted to know more about the unknown creature, sent his film to be analyzed by JARIC, Royal Air Force Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre.  JARIC analyzed the film and concluded that the hump was 12-16 feet long and had a cross section that was at least five feet high and six feet wide.  JARIC also came to the conclusion that the unknown creature moved at a speed of seven to ten miles per hour and that “…it probably is an animate object” and a part of a living creature instead of a surface craft or submarine. (Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained)

In the summer of 1972, Dr. Robert Rines and his team traveled to Urquhart Bay and used sonar and under-water cameras to try and catch evidence of a lake monster.  Their trip turned successful when the sonar equipment and cameras caught a “thing”, 20-30 feet long and 400 pounds, moving through the water. This “thing” had a diamond shaped flippers, roughly six feet long that were attached to its body.

In December of 1975, Ornithologist Sir Peter Scott unofficially named the monster Nessiteras Rhombopteryx.  The name was taken to mean “Ness monster with the diamond shaped fin,” but later was proven to be an anagram that meant ‘monster hoax by Sir Peter Scott.’ (Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable)

The legend of Nessie has been around for many years and will stay around for many more years.  Until factual evidence of the existence of Nessie comes into play Nessie will forever remain a legend.  So what do you believe? Is Nessie real or not? 

Works cited:

Fireberd904. The Loch Ness Monster. 2010. Digital Art. Deviantart.com. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

Kristof, Emory. Scotland Photos. n.d. Photo. nationalgeographic.com. Highland, Scotland. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

Clark, Neil. Loch Ness Monster an Elephant? n.d. Painting. Nationalgeographic.com. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

"Loch Ness Monster." Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. London: Chambers Harrap, 2009. Credo Reference. Web. 11 October 2013. 

"The Loch Ness Monster." Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained. London: Chambers Harrap, 2007. Credo Reference. Web. 11 October 2013.

Lyons, Stephen. “The Legend of Loch Ness.” Pbs.org. NOVA, 12 Jan. 1999. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

Links for further research :

PBS NOVA http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/legend-loch-ness.html
The article gives us history of the Loch Ness Monster legend, along with some searches for the monster in the past.

LEGEND OF NESSIE http://www.nessie.co.uk/htm/about_loch_ness/nessgeo.html

This article gives a geological view of the Loch Ness in Highland, Scotland along with surrounding areas.

Rodrigues, Joao. “National Geographic- The Truth Behind The Loch Ness Monster [FULL].” youtube.com. YouTube. 18 Nov. 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

This video is providing us with the truth behind the Loch Ness Monster.

Issie: The Japanese Sea Serpent

Author: Olukemi Olorunniwo

A statue of Issie located in the shore of Lake Ikeda, Kyushu Japan

Pictured above is a little known creature called Issie. This sea serpent is named after the famous Loch Ness monster, nick named Nessie, found in Loch Ness in Scotland. Issie, on the other hand is found in a caldera lake (a lake fed by rain water that develops in the crater of an extinct volcano)named Lake Ikeda located in Kyushu, Japan. This creature is estimated to be 30 meter long with two humps on its back measuring 5 meters, or 16 feet high. There is no agreement on the origination of Issie but a popular mythological story says Issie was a mare who lived happily on the shore of the lake with her foal. When her foal was kidnapped by a samurai, Issie went crazy looking for her. In her despair she jumped into the lake and transformed into a sea serpent and lived there ever since. She occasionally surfaces from the depths in the incessant search for her lost foal. 

The first recorded sighting was in 1961. In 1978, though, twenty people, gathered for a family event, reported seeing the monster. It was first seen on a foggy morning by the three children of Yutaka Kawaji playing on the shore of the lake. When they suddenly saw the humps of the serpent rise almost two feet out of the water, they called their father and other adults over to watch the creature. Kawaji then got in his boat and tried to pursue the creature, which was swimming rapidly to the other side of the lake. Although he did not catch it, he got a good three or four minute sighting of the creature, whose hump rose out the water on two separate occasions, both lasting about 20 seconds.

Later that same year, the creature was photographed by Toshaki Matuhara. On the afternoon of December 16^th, he noticed a whirlpool in the lake which he watched through a telescope for five minutes. Then he noticed an object moving through the water and he attempted to take many photos of it. Later, when the photos were developed, one captured the same two humps seen by Kawaji earlier that year. The photo was even in the same location, as confirmed by a local landmark. Tourism around Lake Ikeda in Kyushu has increased ever since with many visitors looking for a chance to spot the famed monster. Reportedly video footage was caught of the monster in 1991 by one lucky tourist.  

Works Cited:
Naoyoahi, Gamou. Issie. 2005. Lake Ikeda, Japan. commons.wikimedia.org. Web. 23 Oct 2012.

Tabitca, . "Issie, The Japanese Lake Monster." Cryptozoo-oscity. Blogspot, 28 2009. Web. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. <http://cryptozoo-oscity.blogspot.com/2009/09/issie-japanese-lake-monster.html>.

McCue, Sean. "Issie." Online Resources. Unknown Explorers, n.d. Web. 17 Oct 2012. <http://www.unknownexplorers.com/issie.php>.

For Further Research:

Kyushu Travel Information

http://www.welcomekyushu.com/feature/index.html

Information about other attractions to Kyushu.

Unknown Explorers

http://www.unknownexplorers.com/issie.php

This is a Cryptozoologist’s look at Issie.

 Sea Creatures

http://www.floridasmart.com/subjects/ocean/animals_ocean_crypto.htm

A site that tries to make the unexplainable understood. 

Lake Monsters: Messie and Nessie

Author: Kylie Burkes

Lake monsters saturate our society. It seems like any lake you visit will have some sort of strange beast living beneath its surface. What are these creatures? What environment is best suited for them to live? Why are there so many? Lake monsters can be anything from a large snake to a prehistoric creature. Jamie Hall, the creator of the website The Cryptid Zoo, tells us in his article about lake monsters that they were once generally believed to be plesiosaurs. Now, he tells us, they are believed to be zeuglodons, a primitive whale that can easily live in cold waters. The shift in opinion happened because most lake monsters are found in northern waters that would be too cold for the reptilian plesiosaurs (“The Cryptid Zoo: Lake Monsters”). Because of the variation in the descriptions of lake monsters, there is a wide variety of creatures that could be in the lakes.

The most well-known lake monster is Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. Nessie has been around for decades. In the Monsters of the Loch Ness Roy Mackal provides a table of recorded Nessie sightings in the index. The earliest sighting was in 565 A.D. (225) showing that the legend has been around for centuries.

 Out of all the sightings of Nessie, there is no agreement on what the monster looks like. In the appendix of the Monsters of the Loch Ness there is a table of monster sightings. In two of the 251 water sightings, Nessie appeared to have some sort of limbs; in most of the land sightings, Nessie had at least two flippers (225-264). The number of appendages, whether there are two or four, is varied in the sightings. The Legend of Nessie, the official site for the Loch Ness Monster, tells us that in 20 % of the sightings Nessie’s back had distinct humps (Legend). The humps can be considered a common trait because of the percentage of sightings in which humps were sighted. Mackal believes the humps can be explained by a possible dorsal fin folding over when the creature surfaces. If Nessie were a large eel, then the eel’s horizontal and vertical swimming motion could also cause the multiple humps (150-155). This is a probable explanation but does not account for the descriptions of her having limbs.

On the home page of www.nessie.co.uk there is a list of facts about the loch ness. The lake is about twenty two and a half miles long, between one to one and a half miles wide and 754 feet deep. The site describes the lake floor as being “as flat as a bowling green” (Legend). The lake is large enough for a creature of Nessie’s size to live without being detected.

 Fourteen Pictures Library via PBS.org. This iconic photo has been subject to much controversy and debate.

In Lake Murray in South Carolina there are reports of a monster living beneath the surface. Lake murray is a manmade lake close to Irmo. The lake has now become popular for recreational activities, and a large number of those activities revolve around boating. Lakemurraymonster.com is a single page website that provides information about this mysterious creature known as Messie. The monster was first spotted in 1933 near Irmo, SC. The monster is believed to be an aggressive cousin of the Loch Ness Monster. It has been described as a prehistoric serpent (The Lake Murray Monster). When I was younger, my family would go on day trips to the lake, and we would spend the entire day boating and swimming. As a child, I was worried that I would be attacked by a water mocasin, a venomous water snake, or by a large snapping turtle. If I had been told about Messie, I would never have gotten near a lake again. The thought of a giant, aggressive monster is enough to give anyone the chills.

According to lakemurraymonster.com, the Gilbert Little sighting in 1933 was the first time the monster was seen. The most recent sighting was September 15, 2002 by Mrs. Sandie Hurst. She saw a ripple which bore a remarkable resemblance to a picture on the website (The Lake Murray Monster). The ripples she saw could have been Messie, but it also could have been something else like an animal, a log, or a wave. There is no way to be certain of what Mrs. Hurst because we weren’t there.

Do these creatures really exist? In order to prove beyond a shadow of doubt lake monsters exist, the lakes they live in would have to be drained. This process would destroy the ecosystems of hundreds of animals and kill the monsters in the process. Until a better solution is found, it is up to you to decide if our world is inhabited by large lake dwelling monster like Messie and Nessie.

 Works cited:

Hall, Jamie “The Cryptid Zoo: Lake Monsters” The Cryptid Zoo. n.p. 2005. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.

The Lake Murray Monster. n.p., n.d.Web. 17 Oct. 2012.

The Legend of Nessie the Ultimate Loch Ness Monster Site. n.p., 2012.Web. 17 Oct. 2012.

Mackal, Roy P. The Monsters of Loch Ness. Chicago: Swallow, 1976. Print.

Wilson, R. Kenneth. The Surgeon’s Photo. 1 April 1934. Daily Mail: London. pbs.org. Web. 22 October 2012.

Links for further research:

PBS NOVA http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/legend-loch-ness.html
The article gives a brief history of the Loch Ness legend, a summary of searches for the monster, and an explanation of the “Surgeon’s Photo” hoax.

The Museum of Unnatural Mystery http://www.unmuseum.org/lochness.htm
The article on Nessie provides more detailed information on the legend such as different hoaxes, modern sightings, and non-animal explanations.

Weird Things http://weirdthings.com/2009/12/the-lake-monster-south-carolina-invented/
The blog discusses the Lake Murray Monster skeptically, and the author claims South Carolina made up the legend.