CHEATS AND HOAXES. 13 
a ship, I approached it; but when I was within a few fathoms of 
it, it appeared, to my great surprise, and that of my whole crew, 
that it was a monstrous serpent. When I approached nearer, it 
coiled itself up, instantly uncoiling itself again, and withdrew with 
extreme rapidity. On my approaching again, it coiled itself a 
second time, and placed itself at the distance of 60 feet at most 
from the bow of the ship.” 
“I had one of my guns loaded with a cannon ball and musket 
bullets. I fired it at the head of the monster; my crew and my- 
self distinctly heard the éa// and bullets strike against his body, 
from which they rebounded, as if they had struck against a rock. 
The serpent shook his head and tail in an extraordinary manner, 
and advanced towards the ship with open jaws. I had caused the 
cannon to be reloaded, and pointed it at his throat; but he had 
come so near, that all the crew were seized with. terror, and we 
thought only of getting out of his way. He almost touched the 
vessel; and had not I tacked as I did, he would certainly have 
come on board. He dived; but in a moment we saw him appear 
again, with his head on one side of the vessel, and his tail on 
the other, as if he was going to lift us up and upset us. However, 
we did not feel any shock. He remained five hours near us, only 
going backward and forward.” 
“The fears with which he at first inspired us having subsided , 
we were able to examine him attentively. | estimate that his length 
is at least twice that of my schooner, that is to say, 180 feet; 
his head is full 12 or 14; the diameter of the body below the 
neck is not less than six feet; the size of the head is in proportion 
to that of his body. He is of a blackish colour; his ear-holes 
(oules), are about 12 feet from the extremity of his head. In 
short, the whole has a terrible look.” 
“When he coils himself up, he places his tail in such a manner, 
that it aids him in darting forward with great force: he moves in 
all directions with the greatest facility and astonishing rapidity.” 
“(Signed)” “Joseph Woodward.” 
“Hingham, May 12, 1818.” 
“This declaration is attested by Peter Holmes and John Mayo, 
who made affidavit of the truth of it before a justice of peace.” 
This hoax was reprinted in the Quarterly Journal of Science, 
LInterature and the Arts of the Royal Institute at London, Vol. VI, 
1818, and was apparently believed in by the sender. Mr. Oxen 
also inserted the tale of Woopwarp in his /sis, of 1818, p. 2100. — 
