Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-07-01

A SHOAL OBJ SHARkS.-rhe following 10 an
cxtrac, from the log pook OF an cnigrsnt proceed
ing TO the Swan River, dated Cape of Good Hope,
December 10, 1920.
s-Ocsobsr "A, in eth degree, foil in With shosl Of
sharks, which played round the vessel To the annoy
ance Of the sailors. who rather subcrsiions and
considered such visters omuous of evil, and tins
indeed pruved too truo At md day, all the gentle
men were busily employed ut being dead CALM in
batting hoks to catch sharks, and Of them soon
took the bait. The fish full 10 fcet in length,
and laundering to discnguge HIMSELF caused 20 much
sport, that several passengers crowded into the Cap
tans boat, which hung suspended over the stern OF
the ship. Suddenlythey al got to the head ofthe boat
TO the shark hauled under no sern OF the vessel
struggling with the line. In monient the quarter,
david the arboard side of the vessel broke off
and let end fthe boat qown precipitai,ng every
s1ul in it into the among the sharks.
. Here u of horror The captain was in
the midshps when it happened. was busly en-
ployed my under the tuition of the botswan,
lt like the resi- when the starh caught, left my
occupation to witness the SPORT but Providence gut
sled mo to a place of sxfety.-The boatsvain had
swung himself by q rope, and lowered himself down
60 the surface Of the water with the harpoon in his
hand ready to strike the fish, at the very instant the
accident happcned.--Young William followed me but
not satisfied Nth the view, he hastily climbed up the
SIDE Of tile noon cabin, and wxs the last that jumped
into the unlucky boat, and made up the number of
twelve struggling in the sea among the sharks
Our captain almost beside himself-all hands
commenced throwing over ropes, loose spars, ears
and every booy ant article could lay hands for
them to cling TO. Fortunately it was dead calm, Or
every soul on board have pershed-our vessel
Only drilled by the little current ct the saved
one lad by throwing niseboard which the cab
in BOY had been using. My man Hubbard threw over
IN Indian mat. Master Shaw, a young gentleman
about cen, got upon it, aud three miles astern
of MS before could reach him with the boat, which
was instantly manned and launched. saved Mr. Ears
foo,man, who could swim, but was exhausted from
fear of the sharks, that he sinking when dragged
the line the shark attached him; but he
had the presence Of mind TO put the cord within his
tech, when I hauled him safe up Mr. Peter Shad-
well WAS also actively employed; he is in the East In
dia Company's service, and Is brother to the Vice
Chancellor.
After half an hour exerton, all were saved bat
lament to say Williams of the unfortu uatcs.
saw him sink to rise more.-He had hold Of an
oar but shipped his baance-he slipped it, and
ally flung his around the captured shark, (Which
was now pulled up the surface of the wnter) save
himself, but when he found what he had hold of.
he was 80 horror struck that he called me by name,
.sOh my Con! my Con! witness my end!' and down he
sank to rise more. The other sufferer was n Gne
healthy country boy. Thus two lives lost to an
swer the confirmation of the sailors omen, that sharks
ALWAYS prognosticate signs of death some evil to
the ship-thus it proyed.-This indeed was a tragic
,ay. The Gs line aud all, drifted away, and we all
returned thanks to Con for allowing save the
ten"-[Litchfield Mercury.