Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-01-23
From the Men York Spirit Of ne Times.
A SHARK STORY.

Faukner's Island, to fish for tautaugs, as
the north.side people call black fish, on
the reefs hard by, in Long Island Sound.
Tim Titus, (who died Of the dropsy down
at Sbnnecoc's point, last spring,) lived
there then. Tim was right good fellow,
only he drank rather too much.
1t was during the latter part OF July
the sharks and the dog fish had begun to
spoil sport. When Tim told me about
the sharks, Iresolved TO 60 prepared to
entertain these aquatic savages with all
becoming attention and regard, if there
should chance to be any inlerlopng about
our fishing ground. So we rugged set
Of extra large hooks, and shipped some
ropeyarn and steel-chaiu, an axe, cou.
pie of clubs, and ar. old harpoon, in addi-
ton TO our ordinary equipments, and off
we started. We threw out our anchor
at half ebb tide, and took some humping
large fish: two of them weighed thirteen
pounds-so you may judge. The reef
where we lay was about half mile from
the island, and perhaps a mile from the
Connecticut shore. We fioated there We
ry quietly, throwing out and hauling in,
until the breaking OF my line, with sud-
den and severe jerk, informed me that the
sea attorneys were in waiting down stairs;
and we accordingly prepared TO give them
a retainer. A sal, pork cloak upon one
Of our magnum hooks. forthwith engaged
one Of the gentlemen in our service. We
got him alongside, and by dint Of pierre.
ing, and thrustng, and banging, we &C.
complished most merry and exciting
murder. We had business enough Of the
kind to keep US employed until near low
water. By this tine, the sharks had all
cleared out, and the black fish were biting
again; the rock began to make lis APP
pearance above the water, and IN little
while its hard bald head was entirely dty.
Tim now proposed to set me out upon
the rock, while he rowed ashore 10 get
the Jug, strange To say, we had lett at the
house. assented to this proposition -
first, because | began to fee the effects OF
the sun upon my tongue, and needed
something to take, by the way of medi-
cine; and secondly, because the rock
was favorite spot for a rod and reel, and
famous for luck; so took my traps and
box Of bai,, and jumped upon my new
station. Tim made for the ISLAND.
Not many men would willingly have
been left upon a little barren reef, that
was covered by every flow Of the tide, IN
the midst of a waste of waters, at such
distance for the shore, even with an as
surance from COMPANION more to be de
pended upon than mine, to return mme-
dIately and be by to take HIM off. But,
some how or other, the excitement of my
sport was so high, and the romance OF the
situation was so delightful, that thought
of nothing else but the prospect OF my
fun, and the contemplation OF the novelty
and beauty Of the scene. Ii was mid,
pleasant afternoon, in harvest-tme. The
sky was clear and pure. The deep blue
sound, heaving all around me-, was stud
ded with craft o. all descriptions and d.
mensions, from the dipping sail boat to
the rolling mercb antman, sinking and
rising like sea oirds sporting with their
white wings in the surge. The grain aad
grass on tho neighborng farms were gold
and green ami gracefully they bent
obeisance to gently breathing south
the distant coast, gave dim relief to the
prominent features of the landscape, AMI
seemed the rich but dusky frame of
brilliant fair picture. Then, how stu 1t
was! rot sound could be heard, except
the occasional rustling of my own motion,
and the water beating against the sides,
or gurging ~ the assures Of the rock, or
4 ~. In f,f
saucy gull, who would come out OF his
way in the armament, TO see what was
doing without boat, all alone, IN the
middle OF the sound; and who would no.
yer, and cry, and chatter, and make two
or three circling swOops and dash at me,
and then, after having satisfied his curt
osty, glide away in search OF some other
fool TO scream at.
soon became half indolent, and quite
Indifferent about fishing; so stretched
myself at full length upon the rock, and
gave myself up to the luxury of looking
and thinking. The divine exercise soon
put mo fast asleep. dreamed away
couple of hours, and longer might have
dreamed, but for tired fish-hawk, who
chose to make my head his resting-p place,
and who walked and started me TO my
feet.
"Where is Tim Titus?" | muttered to
myself as strained my eyes over the now
darkened water. But none was near me
to answer that interesting question, and
nothing was to be seen of either Tim or
his boat. ale should have been here long
ere this" thought l, "and he promised
faithfully not to stay long-could he have
forgotten or has he paid too much de"o-
ton 10 the jug?"
began to feel uneasy, for the tide was
rising fast, and soon would cover the top
of the rock, and high water mark was at
least foot above my head. bu:toned
UP my coat, for either the coming cool
ness of the evening, or else my growing
apprehensions, had set me trembling and
chattering most painfully. braced my
nerves, and set my teeth, and tired to
hum "Begone duh care" keeping time
with my fists upon my thighs. But what
music what melancholy merrment ]
started and shuddered at the dolelul sound
of my own voice. | am not naturally a
coward but should like TO know the
man who would not 10 such situation be
alarmed. 1t is crust death 10 die, 10 be