Flap: Hudson River, New York, Jul–Oct 1886

The reports, in order

1. Jul 1886 The article claims there is no longer doubt about the existence of a marine monster, citing historical reports from Greenland, Norway, and Massachusetts.
   Water Monster · Hudson River, New York · rabbit hole
2. Sep 3, 1886 Men in a boat reported seeing a serpent with greenish eyes and a satanic expression in the Hudson River.
   Other Aquatic · Hudson River, New York
3. Sep 1886 Witnesses in a boat reported seeing a sea serpent with greenish eyes and a long body raising its head along the Hudson River.
   Water Monster · Hudson River, New York
4. Sep 1886 The author claims a marine monster is currently haunting the Hudson river and being witnessed by residents and fishermen near Washington's Headquarters at…
   Water Monster · Hudson River, New York
5. Sep 1886 Witnesses report a sea serpent seen in the Hudson River this summer, supported by descriptions from Capt. Robert Brush.
   Water Monster · Hudson River, New York
6. Oct 1886 The Army and Navy Journal reports that Lieutenant Foster and others on the USS Minnesota encountered a sea serpent in the Hudson River.
   Water Monster · Hudson River, New York

Sources: Newspaper (6).

How we find flaps

• Plain rules, no model: reports within 37 miles and about four months of each other are grouped, and a group counts only when it is at least 5 times what that place usually sees over the 10 years either side.
• A flap needs at least 3 reports from at least 3 separate documents: one article listing six sightings is one telling.
• Copies are not confirmations: a story reprinted in thirty papers counts once.
• Investigator logs (BFRO, NAWAC, the Loch Ness Register) are left out, because a busy field season looks just like a flap.
• Only reports placed to a town or county and dated to the month are used. A flap is a burst of reports, not proof of a creature: panics, hoaxes and newspaper fashions make flaps too.

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