CHEATS AND HOAXES. 29 
Another hoax which appeared in some American newspapers I 
have found, translated into German, in FRorinp’s Wotizen, of 
1830, June, Vol. XXVII, n°. 589, p. 265: — 
“Again a story about the sea-serpent will be found in American 
newspapers. Capt. Drnanp with the schooner Hagle ran into 
Charlston on the 27th. of March” (1830) “from Turtle River, and 
with his crew is willing to confirm by oath the truth of the 
following declaration: On the 23d. of March, at 11 o’clock A. M., 
at about a mile from Simons Bay, we perceived at the distance of 
about 300 yards a large body, resembling an alligator, which 
sometimes moved with the vessel, sometimes lay motionless on the 
surface. Capt. Druanp, who perceived that he approached the 
animal, loaded a musket with a ball, and steered so, that he 
approached it within 20 or 25 yards at a moment that it lay 
quite still and apparently careless. Capt. Denann aimed with great 
sagacity at the hindpart of the head, the only part that was just 
visible, and the ball evidently struck. At this moment the monster, 
to the great terror of the crew, came directly up to the vessel, 
and in passing dealt her two or three heavy blows with its tail, 
of which the first struck the stem, and caused a shaking, felt by 
every-one on board. The Captain, as soon as he perceived the 
animal approach, jumped upon the load of cotton which lay on 
deck, and the whole crew, the mate not excepted, only thought 
of their safety. They all had opportunity to see their enemy and 
agree that its length was about 70 feet. The body was as thick 
as or thicker than a sixty-gallon keg, of a grey colour, eel-shaped , 
without visible fins and apparently covered with scales, the back 
full of joints or bunches, the head and beak resembled an alligator’s , 
the former 10 feet long, and as big as a hogshead. A smaller 
individual was observed at a great distance (!), which, however, 
disappeared at the shot, afterwards, however, both were seen 
again together, when they passed the North-Breaker where they 
disappeared. — Captain D. says, that four years ago he saw a 
similar creature at some distance off Doboy and had fired four 
times at it; without, however, causing such a visit as in the pre- 
sent case. He believes, that this terrible undescribed animal has 
strength enough to damage a vessel of the size of the Hagle, if 
not to destroy it, and feels happy to have got rid of it in this 
way. He further asserts that he has certainly not erred with regard 
to the shape of the sea-monster, and that it was different from 
