Delaware advertiser and farmer's journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-30

4. It Il.
ssa4..slass1 ~ sa.s5ssssasss E@a4
SHARKS.
Then far below in the peaceful sea
Where the waters murinir tranquilly,
The dreaded STARK y seen to rove
Through the bending twigs ofthe eoraigrove
Wei do j remember the rusI that the passen,
gers Of large indisman made To the tafFrail Of
tls vessel, when, after having been becalmed
for some days under thr 6nr, twas announced
that a ''sea aitorneyn had shown himself astefn,
there he aPpeared,
Monstrum hnrreudnm et ingeils.
following us qpiely and wafehhilly, some.
fl1i deep tindef VS. ssffsnes AZ ntiieg inaes
SHOWING his dorsai shove water, as he dafted ii
y'ae 70 examine any Eight substance that had fat
len from the vessel. The cadets Immediately
denounced war against him, and ran 10 prepare
thin hooks and to charge their fowling pieces,
and some earnestly entreated the officers of The
ship 70 lower boAt, and harpocn the monster,
on whose devoted head distinction seemed 10.
eWtably impending. II wasrot long before we
had a bearer view of him, for weather beaten
tar having procured large hook attached to
chain and stout line, bailed it with halfa pound
Of pork, and lowered il in front Of the shark, by
whom twas quickly swallowed, the order 10
hoist away was given, and he was speedily
transferred from his native element to the deck,
which he was allowed to lash with his forked
tail ad h6itun.
whatprineipally distinguishes the shark from
the other inhabitants ofthe ocean 10 his extreme
yoracity, excmplifed by his being constant
attendant Of vessels when becaimed or With
light Winds between The tropics, and devouring
indiscriminafely any animal substance that may
tall overheard Slave ships and South sea wha-
lers always proyt attractive to sharks When
- H.
whale or cutting off the hhihhfT (whieiiseiFect-
ed by hauling and making fast the whale along.
side, and by several hands employed with their
knives and spades on the dead fell, no sooner
do the operations commence. than the sharks
flock aroand III shoals and greedily devour the
fragments which fall into the sea, and iorthe sea-
men who may happen internationally to slip from
the body of the whale, amongst such cannibals,
there Is no salvation.
Ofthe different species of,sharlc, the white
shark is she largest and most formiiables II IS
seen COMMONLY in warm latitudes, snd III said
10 reside principally II The depths Of the ocean.
from whence II rises 70 the surfaces atintcrvals
70 prowl for prey and satisfy IT. yoracons appe.
lite. Some of these have heer ccgeks ~ y, g..
norHious ienpth of thirty feet; their Dreadful
mouths furnished with six rows Of sharp pointed
and sefrated teeth, some Of which can be raised
or Depressed at pleasure from the cartilage in
which they are embedded; the eye Is small ofa
greensh hue, and possessing a most diabolcal
expression; and the throat being extremely vide,
gave rise to the supposition, that fish Of this
description swallowed the prophet Jonah IN
the British Museum are preserved several teeth
Of shark five inches in lengih;t the animal there
fore 10 which these belonged, must have been
equal to the largest cetacea in bulk.
An extraordinary story is told by Capt. Wal.
lace, ola lover and his mistress, who we're saved
in singular manner from the jaws ofa shark.
A transport, with part of a regiment on board,
was sailing with gentle breeze along the coast
Of Ceylon, one ofthe officers was leaning over
the poop railing, conversing with young lady
who had inspired him with the tender passions.
The fair one was in her cabin, and in the act Of
handing papeF her lover. when overseeing
herself she fell into the sea, and supported BY
her clothes, drifted sstern, the officer lost no
time in plunging in after her; and upheld her
with one arm tile sails were quickly backed, the
ship lay 70, and preparations were making TO
lower boat; when to the disnlay Of all on board,
a large shark appeared from under the keel OF
the vessel, and glded towards his victims, a
shout Of terror from the agonized spectators cal
led the attention of the officer 20 the approach
ing danger, he saw The monsters fearful length
nearing him; he made desperate effort, plunged
and splashed the water so as TO Tighten the
shark, who turned and Owed away out of sight;
the current had now carried the officer and the
lady close to the vessel, when the shark appeared
q second time alongside, and was in the act OF
turning on his back, to seize one of the hapless
pair, when private of the officers company,
who was standing IN the hammock MEETINGS,
jumped fearlessly overheard with bayonet in
bis hand, which he plunged into the back OF the
shark, which instantly disappearing, the three |
we're quickly released from their perilous situa-
ton.
The bay or harbor Of Kinsale, in the south Of
Ireland, is well known to be one Of the finest in
that country, the entrance is guarded by two
forts, one Of which is now III ruins, There is /
always the depot ofa regiment stationed at Kim
sale, and according to the custom Of the service, |
In fine weather. the men are marched daily 10 the |
beach, under an officer, TO battle. X happened |
not long ago, that party Of the 10th were en-.
gagged performing their additions, when two OF
The priyates undertook, for trifiing wager, TO
swim across the mouth of the harbor from one |
fort to the other; they stretched across vigor-
ously, and had got about half way over, when a
large black looking fish was observed from the |
beach TO raise its head out Of the water at some
distance behind them; a second time 4 rose
nearer them, when the officer in command be.
coming anxious for the safety Of the men, and |
not wishing to alarm them by calling ou,s caused /
this bugler 10 sonnd for them TO return; they &C.
aartlingly ebeyed, md turned towards the shors (
they had left, they had no sooner done 80, than
the ash again made its appearance close to them,
and making rush at the neares. man, carried /
him under water; the other, seeing the fate OF
bis compsnion, became almost petriied with
fright, gave way to bis terror, and was sinking, |
when the encouraging voice Of the officer called
out s'Neyer mind my lad, strike out, nothing
will harm you p he accordingly exerted himself
and swan boldly towards the shore. The man
whs hs6 been carried down, now Appeared put. I
flng and blowing thewa,er from hismcuth. and
much confused, when the officer
cheering him, crying out. "don't be sffaid, lad,
your all saie now, carry orr Tle man aeeord. !