The Lake Coleridge Monster
The Lake Coleridge Monster
A Modern Collosus of the Deep!
Whilst investigating New Zealand cryptozoology, I have come across, several times, the story of the Lake Colerdige Monster. It's only official
appearence is sited in Robyn Gossets excellent book New Zealand Mysteries. Gosset writes that during the old fisherman around the area tell stories
about 'Lakey' the enormous, but seldom seen, sea animal that lives in the lake, capable of tearing a mans rod off him and creating huge ripples on
the Lake surface.
Beyond that, little more info exists. The Wikipedia page for Coleridge has this to say:
Lake Coleridge is located in inland Canterbury, in New Zealand's South Island. Located 35 kilometres to the northwest of Methven, it has a surface
area of 47 kmē.
The lake is located to the north of the Rakaia River, and is the site of one of the country's earliest hydroelectric schemes, completed in 1914. The
project makes use of the difference in altitude between the lake and river (the lake is 150 metres higher). Both the Harper and Wilberforce Rivers
have had some of their flow diverted into the lake.
In her book New Zealand Mysteries, Robyn Gosset mentions a rash of sightings during the 1970's of "Lakey", a large animal living in the lake. No
reports have emerged since. [2]
The hitherto mentioned rash of sightings actually consist of seven sightings from the seventies.
1972. An old fisherman went missing one night in a particularly long hot summer night. The close knit communtiy spread the word of his dissapearence
immediatly and several of his friends went out on their boats to search. Eventually his boat was discovered drifting, empty. There was blood in on the
sides and inside the boat, indicating a struggle. Police decided no foul play had been involved and that the old man had slipped, hurt himself badly,
then fallen into the water. The absence of a body was noted as "strange, but not implausible"
At this time the idea of a lake monster was only a rumour told in pubs. After the old mans dissapearence the monster became flesh and blood to many
locals, who suspected it had been responsible for the mans death. Soon after sensationalist newpapers began selling the story as "Death by Loch Ness
Monster!" and the validity of the claims was reduced. As the affair died down, the monster and the old man were remembered only by the locals, many
of whom refused to fish alone anymore.
1975. Two woman walking on the shore notice an incredible sight: A huge, wolf-like head sticking out of the water some metres away, staring at them.
Horrified they screamed, and the monster slunk back into the water. The head was described as large and hairless.
1975. A teacher and his wife were boating and observing the birdlife on the lake surface when they witnessed a spectacle they were not soon to forget.
A large group of birds had gathered to pick at fish on the otherside of the lake. As a big white bird came to join the others, an enormous sea
creature burst from the water, caught the bird in it's jaws and vanish beneath the water surface.
1976 A farmer on the west side of the lake began losing considerable numbers of sheep when they went to drink by the waters edge. Thinking a human to
be responsible he waited out with his sheep whilst they drank. He then noticed adark shadow just below the surface of the water where a lamb was
moving to take a sip. He shouted, and the huge shape shot off.
1977 Several witnesses see a gignatic monster, 16 feet long, rolling around on the surface, snapping its jaws. News of the sighting spreads like
wildfire. The creature is described as grey, with four visible flippers and no obvious dorsal fin. Overall it was quite "fish-like".
1977. After the sighting from earlier that year, a hunter from Otago decided to finish off the monster once and for all. He set off at dawn on a boat
rigged with radar, harpoons and all ther other essentials to monster-killing. He was out on the Lake for two weeks but failed to uncover anything but
the occasional big blip on the radar.
Deciding to have one last shot at it, he put on his wetsuit and dived under. When beneath the water, he found his boat was directly above the wreck of
a yacht, which was lying on the bottom of the lake. Curious, he investigated the yacht. As he turn back up to resurface, he was struck in the ribs by
a huge force. Not staying around to see what it was, he got back to his boat and stormed off, his mission a failure.
1979. The monsters final appearance was to a group of fisherman on the lakes western most shore. The beastie was seen to stare at them (As in the 1975
encounter) with it's head partially above water. For some time it swam in slow circles, not taking it's eyes off the men, then left to beneath the
water. The next morning a huge, snake like trail was found in the mud.
At time of writing, the Lake Coleridge monster has never been sighted again.
Evil: "When I have the map, I will be free, and the world will be different, because I have understanding."
Robert: "Understanding of what, master?"
Evil: "Digital watches."
|
![[*]](http://www.31stsquad.com/wvps/images/oldage/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
posted on 1-25-09 at 12:57 AM