Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-09-23
From the Salem Mercury.
WONDERFUL ESCAPE FROM A sHAR

From the Salem Mercury
WONDERFUL. ESCAPE FROM A SHARK.
The following interesting account of what
may almost be called miraculous escape from
death, has been handed to us for publication
by a highly respected clergyman in neigh
boring town, to whom it was communicated by
one of his parishoners. The writer is very
intelligent and worthy man and of unimpeach-
able vcracity.
IuLY, Doth, 1891.
Dear Sr-The fact Of my having had a
narrow and providentiial escape from horrid
death some years ago, has from time to time
been subject of much observation and inqui-
nv among my friends and fellow townsmen
generally
The recent arrival of dead whale in our
harbor, has operated to bring the occurrence
fresh to my recollection. and almost admonsh
es me to redeem the promise made you last
winter of communicating statement OF the
facts of the case without further delay. The
following is brief narrative of the TRANSACT
ton, collected from memory and the aid OF my
memorandum journal, as written at the time
of its occurrence, and also some identical OBJ
servations.
Soon after l arrived at the age of twenty
one years, business being dull and my health
precarious, resolved to take fishing voyage
to the Grand Bank. for the purpose OF graft
fying a natural curiosity, in connection with a
desire to enjoy the benefit of the air, and
obtainment of such information as circum-
stances and the nature OF the employment
might afford We departed on our voyage in
the Month of May, is s, and upon my return
in August following. finding my business still
poor, and having been to considerable expense
for my first outfit, asought proper to contin-
lie for time in the employment. and accord
inrly finished the year in the same occupation
also continued in the fishing line through the
two following years of 1919 and 2o-the for
mer in the mackerel line on the coast. and the
latter after cod on the coast of Labrador II
was on one of our mackerel trips in the sum-
mer of 1919, that the accident took place.
We sailed from our harbor in the schooner
Science, on Friday the second day of July
Our vessels company consisted OF nine per
sons We bruised between the shoal of Geor
pia and the coast Of Maine without any mate
rial occurrence. till Tuesday, the goth of th
same month. We were then about one hun
dred miles eastward Of Cape Ann, and but
few leagues from the shoal called Cash's Ledge
A brighter or more pleasant day could neve
he expected on our coast than this. Immedi
atcly after dawn a black body was discovers
about mile distant, which was conjectured
be either large boat, bottom upwards, or
dead whale. 1t being calm, and the water pei
fectlv smooth, we lowered the moses boat t
ascertain its true character. Our boat ha
been absent but a short time before her ere
signalized dead whale, and light breez
sprnping up about the same time. we SOC
brought the schooner alongside, and made pr
parations for Aaying him. 1t was of the sp
cies common to the coast, and between 40 an
so feet in length according to the space It hill.
alongside the vessel, and was surrounded |
numerous sharks. The body of the wha
bore ample proof of the voracious character
the company it was in. Probably not less TIL
a hundred choice mocsels froma foot TO TO
and half in diamater had been unceremor
ously distracted from its skin. These spo
being Of a snowy white contrasted finely WI
the let black hide of the whale, and gave son
parts of his exterior altogether 4 snowy al
unique appearance. Such was the despera
holiness of these animals, that many of the
continued around us for some time after
were grappled to the whale, and nothing dauI
ed by the continued mailing they encounter
from the oars and other weapons OF our ere
they continued for several hours to conn
their depre,lations upon him.
About 10 A. NJ, the 'tolings' which h
washed from the whale. drew shoal of MAJ
cl up alongside, and wishing to take as mu
advantage as possible. we kept two hands
side of the head of the whale on the quar-
deck to try the lines and give us notice 1t Il
should bite sharp, in order that we might e
brace the opportunity to get out our dol