36 ATTEMP1'S TO DISCREDIT THE SEA-SERPENT. 
In the L/lustrated London News for 1850, April 20, Supplement, 
we read: 
“The following we extract from the Christian (United States) 
Mercury. — The following letter from a gentleman of Beaufort 
gives exciting news of what may, by this time, be the “seat of 
war’. The old fellow has got into close quarter, and if he does 
not make a sudden and fortunate dash, has nothing better than 
offering himself as an oblation on the altar of science: — Beaufort, 
March 15, 1850. The report of Captain Bankenship and passengers 
has been verified by many other witnesses. This formidable sea- 
monster has been seen again to day, we understand, in our waters. 
When discovered by those on board the steamer, his “eminence” 
was in Port Royal Sound, a distance of seven or eight miles from this 
town. Since that time he has been lazily making his way up Broad- — 
River, and was seen by a gentleman, we understand, to-day in © 
White Branch River, an arm of the Broad, he is reported to be 
making his way higher up still, when, perhaps, he may be cap- 
tured. He is described as being from 120 to 150 feet in length, 
and of proportionate bulk; has the head of a serpent, which he 
carries, when in motion, five or six feet out of the water, about 
ten feet from his head is a hump, resembling a huge hogshead, 
and as far as he could be seen, out of the water a succession ot 
humps was observed. He was pursued for several miles along the 
bank of the river, at times the party in pursuit coming very near 
to him. He was shot at with a rifle and shot gun, which had 
the effect of making him timid, and caused him to sink below 
the surface of the water when nearly approached. We understand 
that a party from this place has been made up to capture him, 
if possible. The plan is to man two large flats with a cannon to 
each, one going below where he is represented to be, and the 
other above, and then approach each other, and, when he is 
discovered, to fire into him. In this way he may be taken if, 
peradventure, he does not take them first. The Whale Branch 1s 
not more than 100 yards wide, and there is every probability of 
an animated conflict with this king of the waters within his own 
dominions; and I suppose it is admitted that the battle must be 
waged upon his own terms. The “Charlestown Courier’ has a 
letter from Beaufort, of the same date, and of a similar tenor 
to which is appended the following: — Information has just 
reached us that the said sea-serpent is ashore at the mouth of 
Skull Creek. If so, the prize is certain, and Beaufort immortalized.” 
