Delaware State journal, advertiser and star. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1832-1833, 1833-07-26
Eerocitu ofthe White Shark

The white shark, in his wide, dilatabA
laws. has six rows of sharp, triangular
teeth. which can be raised or depressed
bv appropriate muscles, at pleasure. Its
velocity is such, that nothing seems to Be
able to escape, and it's greediness is never
satisfied. By one grippe Of the jaws, they
can cut a man in two. A red hot cannon
ball is sometimes lowered over the side TO-
one of these disagreeable followers, OLA
shin. which the seaman has the satistac-
ton Of seeing the shark receive intos ms
yawning throat.
Al the pearl fisheries Of South Amcri-
ca. where white sharks are numerous,
visiting the mighty caverns in the rocks
the water being SO clear that small OBJ
iectmay be seen at considerable distancey
The divers, familiar with the character OF
the monster arc obliged to go armed IN
self defence. For this purpose, some
carry long sharp knife. AS the sharks
mouth is placed somewhat under the
head, he cndeavors to get over his inten-
ded victim, and if he discovers no dlspo-
sition in the Indian to move gently set
ties down over him with his horrible
mouth widely extended. With the cool
ness Of philosopher, the instant he IS
near enough to be reached, the diver
plunges the knife into his vitals. Avery
mode which is practised, says
a writer, from whom these observations
have been principally extracted, is Tor the
diver to carry down with him TOUR or
five hard wood sticks, about two feet long
sharpened at both ends. In case he is
likely to be disturbed in his search for
the oyster, by the visit OF this king OF
; sharks, he thrusts one ofthe sticks be-
, tween his jaws, as he is in the act OF clo-
sing them This props them assunder,
and the force with which they are brought
TO act on the stick, securely pins both
, ends into the bones, and away he goes,
without the possibility ofa remedy. In
! stances have been known OF an Indian,
who was SO sharply set upon, that he
I gave away three sticks IN succession, be-
fore quitting his dangerous post.
At the Marquesas Islands, where this
shark abounds, the natives swim in the
: midst Of them quite fearlcssly; and The
u only reason why more of them are not
: devoured, must be the peculiar ease with
n which they are supplied with large fish.
e Wheneyer, however, a native is so I'M
!. happy as to be caught by one OF them, his
: associates never exert themselves in the
s least, 10 extricatc him, because it is a
S common matter OF belief there, that
!. sharks never seize any but the wicked
l. or transgressors of law, and therefore
l. the man deserves to die.
l. A gentleman OF our acquaintance in
e formed us that he saw ayoung girl swim
+, ming from Boston vessel, waiting to re.
S ceivc a cargo of sandal wood, with hea-
l. w bar of iron on her shoulder, which she
L. had contrived to steal from the deck.
J: She swan under water a considerable
IS distance, before coming up Tor breaths
~ but the moment she was seen, the boats.
l. put OIL, with the expectation OF recover.
s. ing the bar.
: Just as the boats were SO near that she
= was fearful of being struck with an oar,
a which was raised by man in the bow,
l. she plunged second time--thc boats
l. pursued the track, but as she came up to
~ the surface, still holding the iron, a
II ''mighty alhite shark swallowed her at one
eHort;- 1.-the velocity towards his object
being SO great, that as he rolled upward,
u the girl was driven down his throat"
il LUxuRIrNT IMAG1NATIoN.-The follow
n ing is from the 'sAdventures of a Young
1T Neutrality-suspicious. story OF Peter Simple,
c. told in one OF the English periodi-
IN cals:--
"But tell me, Swinburne, were you
40 ever in Il hurric ane?''
rs ''l'Ne been in every thing, Mr.. Simple,
= believe, except school, and l never
It's had no time to so there. DO you see that
A battery at Necdham Point? Well, in the
s. hurrican, Of 80, them guns were whirled
e. away by the wind right over this point
e. here OH the opposite side, and the cen
as tries i'll their centry-boxes after them.
=, Some of the soldiers who faced the wind
" had their teeth blown down their threats
Ike like broken 'baccypipcs, others had their
e. heads turned round like dog vanes, cause
he they waited for orders TO the right about
cd Iace,' and the whole air was full of young
OF niggers blowing about like Feelings of IN
ne gins.
nd you don't suppose believe all this,
he Swinburnc."
as E'That's as may be, Mr.. Simple, but
G. I've told the story SO often, that believe
use it myself
y,
he JOHN RANDOLPH.
de A letter from General Hamilton, of Soutl,
hit Carolina, excusng himself on account of in
ng disposition, from attending the celebration
a OF the 4th of July, contains the following
m paragraph:
'as 81 had designed to have sent you letter
ed which he [John Randolph) wrote me few
20; hours after the Presidents Proclamation had
TO- reached him, when he was stretched on what
e- was almost his last bed of sickness, but, on
more mature reflection. I have deemed If ad :