FT274


In November 1946, a monster appeared suddenly in Italy’s Lake Como, making headlines first in the regional press, then in Italy, Europe, and even the United States:

Como’s “rose-coloured” sea monster developed “gleaming red eyes and green scales”’ today and intrepid hunting parties patrolled the eastern shore determined to do him in with pitchforks and shotguns the next time he appears.

Three fishermen said they spotted the marine mammoth Wednesday. They said he had “gleaming eyes, green scales and black stripes”. “We were terror-stricken,” said two of the fishermen, with the third nodding an anxious assent. The exact size of the monster still is unsettled.