Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-05-12
NO 40

Io' he prince oil waterloo 10 the prince Of
icriticsP Ii we live. we will have spy at st.
lStephen's on this prime feather Of the Edin.
lbarsh Review. Jeffrey made noble speech
on The triumph OF the THREE pars, aud wa
trust, he viii not back oat--ho can write,
tao, as hse poetry in prose as La la Rookh.
! de - uncommon fine fellow"
Shark Fight The following curious nc.
count Of shark fight, by an eve witness. an
pears IN the Calcutta Oricnta Herdsd. OF ths
Gath of May:--'An instance OF iatrepidity
and dexterity on the part of an up csuntry
native, well worthy Of being recorded, oecur-
red lately IN this neighbourhso6. was
walking on the bank Of the river at the time
when seme up country boats were delivering
their cargees. A considerable number az
coolies we're employed on shore in the work.
ell OF whom observed running away in ap-
parent trepidation from the edge OF the wa.
ter--retarning as before. found, on en-.
curry, that the cause of sll this perturbation
was the appearance Of large and strange
looking fish; swimming close to the hank, and
almost IN this midst Of the boats. FASTENED
TO the spot to ascertain the matter, when I
perceived a huge monster Of shark sailing
leisoiely along -~------now near the surface Of
the water, and now sinking down apparent.
! ly IN pursuit OF prey. AT this moment ma
tive on the Choppah roof OF enc of the boats.
with rope in his hand which he was slowiy
ceiling up surveyed the sharks naotoa with
look that evidently indicated he had So
rious intentisn sf encounterisg him on biz
own element
Holding the rope. on which ne had made
sort of running knot in ans hand. and
stretching out the ,thcr arm, As il alrSadyiu
the act of swimming, he stood in an attitude
truly picturesque, waiting the re appearance
oi the shark. AT about ak or eight yards
1om the boat, the animal rose near the sur.
face, when the native instantly plunged il.
the shark Immediately turned round AMI
swan slowly towards the man, who, in FL
turn, nolhiag daunted, struck out the arm
that was at liberty, and approached his foe;
when within a foot or two OF the shark. The
native diyed beneath him, the animal going
down az the same instant The bold assaiE
ant IN this most lrightfiil contest sosn re ap-
feared on the opposite side Of the shark,
swimming feallessly with the hand he had al
liberty. and holding the rope behind his back
with the other The shark, which had by
tbs time made his appearance again imme-
dfateiy swan towards him; and while the an
imal was apparently in ths act of lifting him.
sell over the lower part Of the natives body
that lie might seize upon his prey, the man
making an effort, threw himself up perpsn-
dscuar, and went down with his feet fore
most, the shark following him so sinsltans-
ously, that was fully Impressed with ths
idea that they had gone down graphing to.
gether
As far as could Judge, thew remained
nearly twenty seconds out Of sight, while 1
stood IN breathless anxiety, and | may add.
horror, waiting the result Of this fearful en-
counter. Suddenly the native ruads his ar-
poarance, holding up both hands over his
head, and ealing out with voice that pro.
claimed the victory he had won " lille under
Meath The wave, Tan, tam The people In
| the boat were all prepared; the rope was in
stantly drawn tight. and the struggling vic.
tim, lashiRg the water in his wrath, was drag
sed to the shore and dispatched. When
measured, his length was found to be q feet
8 inches The native who achieved this IN
trcpid and dexterous exploit bore no other
marks OF his fnny enemy than cut on tho
left arm. evidently received from coming IN
contact with the tail or some one Of the ems
Of the animal.
Salmon The Boston Daily Advertiser
speaks Of the first Salmon caught this season
IN the kennetec, which was sent 10 the Ire
mont Honse ia that city. The Boston Trans
mon landing from the brig Owyhce. takea on
board at Columbia river, ON the North West
Coast.
Our attention, says the editor, was attract
ed towards them, by the uncommon size Of
the fish, being generally, the thickest, fattests
and heayiestwe ever saw--surpassing those
OF the Labrador and Newfoundland, and
weighing. in their picked state, from ten to
twenty FIVE pounds each, perfectly sweet and
fine favored, although they had been purchs-
sed ON the river, Of the natives, upwards Of
ten months, and have since twice crossed the
equator.
Their having been picked in molasses
casks; emptied on the outward voyage, had
no doubt, a tendency TO insure their preser.
vation. These fine fish are taken by the In
dInns with drag nets, made by themselves
They are hauled to tic hotes in great num-
bers, then split open and laid in the sun to
dry, without any salt or pickle whatever.--s
They constitute large proportion Of the sus-
tenance of the natives during long and cold
winter. Ths fishery would be very impos-
tant addition TO the commerce Of tho North
West Coast, did not risk and hazard in cross
ing the bar at the mouth Of the Columbia RI
yer, which is dangerous in the extreme, pre-
cent an obstacle almost insurmonntable TO ito
navigation by even our entsrprising and ua-'
dauated merchants and seamen.
Two prisoners in the Lancaster, Pens Jail
recently attempted TO make their escape by
getting on the roof and endesvo,ing TO de-.