Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-01-04
Shark Ggm.-The following curious &C
count of shark fight, by an eye witness,
appeared in the Calcutta Oriental Herald (:

Shark Gght.-The following curious &C
count of shark fight, by an eye witness,
appeared in the Calcutta Oriental Herald
Gan instance of intrepidiiy and dexter-
ty on the part of an up.country native, well
worthy of being recorded occurred lately
in this neighborhood. CHANGED to be on
the spot when this display of GOODNESS and
courage took place and had not Witness
ed it, confess should have been sceptic-
al in believing, what nevertheless, is plain
matter Of fact. | was walking on the
bank of the river at the time, when some
up-country boats were delivering their car.
goes. A considerable number Of Coolies
were employed on shore in the work, all of
whom, observed running away in appar.
ent trepidation from the edge of the water
returning again, as if eager, yet afraid,
to approach some object, and again retreat.
ing rs before. | fastened to the spot to
ascertain the matter, when | perceived a
huge monster of shark sailing along, now
near the surface Of the water, and now
sinking down apparently in pursuit of his
prey. At this moment a native, on the
Choppah roof of one of the boats, with a
rope in his hand which he was slowly coil.
ing up, surveyed the sharks motions with
look that evidently indicated he had a
serious intention of encountering him in
his own element. Holding the rope, on
which he made q sort of running knot, in
one hand, and stretching out the other arm,
as if already in the act Of swimming, he
stood in an attitude truly picturesque, wait
ing the temperance of the shark. AT a.
bout six or eight yards from the boat,
the animal rose near the surface, when the
native Instantly plunged into the water, a
short distance from the very jaws Of the
monster. The shark Immediately turned
round and swan slowly towards the man.,
who, in his turn, nothing daunted, struck
out the arm that was at liberty, and ap-
preached his foe. When within foot of
the shark, the native dived beneath him, the
animal going down almost at the same in.
slant. The bold assailant in this most
frightful contest, soon reappeared on the
opposite side Of the shark, swimming fear
lessly with the hand he had at liberty, and
holding the rope behind his back with the
other. The shark, which had also by this
time made his appearance again, immedi-
ately SWAN towards HIM ;Sand while the ami.
NAL was apparently in the act Of lifting
himself over the lower part Of the natives
body, that he might seize upon his prey, the
man making strong effort, threw himself
up perpendicularly, and went down with
his feet foremost, the shark following him
so simultaneously, that was fully Impress.
ed with the idea that they had gone down
graphing together. rs far as | could
Judge, they remained nearly twenty sec.
onds out of sight while stood in breath
less anxiety, and may add horror. waiting
the result of this fearful encounter. Sud-
denly the native made his appearance,
holding up both his hands over his head,
and calling out with voice that proclaim.
ed the victory he had won while under.
meath the wave, tan TAM
The people in the boat were all prepar.
ed; the rope was instantly drawn tight and
the struggling victim, lashing the water in
his wrath, was dragged to the shore and
despatched. When measured, his length
was found to be six feet nine inches. His
girth, at the greatest, three feet seven inch.
| es.
The native who achieved this intrepid
and dexterous exploit bore no other marks
of his finny enemy than a cut on the left
arm,evidently received from coming in con.
tact with the tail or some one of the fins Of
the animal.
II did not occur to me to ask il this was
the first shark fight in which he had beer
engaged but from the preparations ant
ready assistance he received from his com.
panions in the boats, should suppose tina,
he has more than once displayed the Same
courage and dexterity which so much as.
tonished me. The scene was altogether
one shall never forget. 4 he neighbor.
hood of the combatants to the shore---fol
they wore only few yards from it---ena
bled me to see what have attempted t.
deserve, to the greatest advantage"