Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-08-10
STORY OF A SHARK.


'sThe Wanderings and Fortunes of some
German Emigranis"b by Frederick Gersiaeckc
German writer, recently translated by Da-
vd Bleak. The reader will understand thai
the ship, filled with men, women and child
rem, is under way--ihat Werner, a young
physician, is sitting upon The cross-irees,
sometimes looking out upon the sea, and
sometimes at the beautiful daughters of Pas
! tor lIeihananB up.h The &c, k and that
miscfievous fellow, @llo had sI,.n!,ed sl The
eeraee repeatedly over some great wooden
shoes OF a set Of O'deubafgheIs, watched his
Opportunity, and threw them overheard.
Suddenly the cry of''A shuk! A shark
was heard from the cfosS-lrees II was
young Werner. abnve alluded TO, who had
CHOSEN that elevated place as his resort, and
to whom all eyes were nov turned, To learn
the direction in which the sea monster was
To be found.
Werner pointed to streak of light form
ed by The sun upon the water, and all the
voyagers dis inclly perceived from the deck
the dorsal fin of lhe sharp, standing six OF
seven inches out Oh ille wafer.
Although several Of these voracious crea
lures had been already around the ship, still
probably few uf The travellers had seen one
Of them, and all pressed to the ships side to
view the fish, as il came nearer mud nearer
10 tie ship aud The surrounding. wooden
shoes.
"Well, | should Ike 10 know if he eats
so den stue-l' said Brewer, rubbing his
hands compacenily and watching every
mo, ement OF the cTeature.
His " sh seemed 10 be on the point Of be-
ing fulfilled, fof the fish. approaching the
il>l sabot, described a circle rounl il, and
all expected the immediate disappearance OF
the same, when a fearful cry-snch cry as
can ouly issue from the breast of terrified
moiher-was heard from the midst of the
crowd which had pressed, full OF curiosity, I,
the buIwaIkS, aud in the same moment a
Heavy body fe / on the smooth surface of the
waters, aud sank beneath il.
'.AIy child! my child!' cled the woman
in the very acI OF tlIrowing herself after the
helpless being. which now reappeared Oh
the suffice struggling and gurging. Blu
those who surrounded her held her buck, anC
gazed in apprehension of HE worst, at the
swiftly approaching shark, which now slio
forward like an arrow. ITS attention being
aroused by Tie splash OF the object in the wa
,er.
Both the daughters OF Pastor HerhmlI
had Witnessed the chlld's fall; and the eldeS
of /! EN-, IN voice lmoSt choked with terro
cried, 'lIeIp. help! for Gods sakc!!"-
sI.aunch The boat" cried the captain. Bii
lhele wa<..some delay. A few seconds NOR
must decide the fate Of the child-for tn
shark was scarcely ten yards distant lror
him, already seemed 10 scent his prey.
was then that the young man in the eros;
tree glided down a rope with the activity {
sailor. and before any one could guess hi
purpose, OF hinder him, sprang into The cry:
tai flood beneath, right befnre the very Jaw
ofIthe fish, and coming TO the surface agai
st ized The child which had just reappeare
for the third time.
D. VA cry OF admiration at this desperat
n, holiness arose from the sailors as we'll a
n, passengers; but the shark, frightened by til
loud crash, and rendered uneasy by The erie
and noise on board the ship, drew back fror
The body he bad almost reached, and career
\ ed around the brave swimmer in I.arro'
10 ciIcles.
s.Suike with your hlnds--spl ish-kick-
~ make as much noise as you Can y cried th
Is seamen with one accord. Bat the captain
= had cough up a rope and threw II TO th
is goung man, who holding the child in his LEI
u arm, seized The rope with the right one, an
S leld himselfaflp by il, while he kicked ou
T. with all his force, and splash the wafer "a
y around him.
d sSling The rope around your elbow. cal
u ed the Captain, sand we can haul you up.
Z The young man did so; but all his bold an
ID generous sacrifice seenin vain; for The shar
u By this time had found that there was n
Ia new danger to he apprehended from thi
y quarter, shot forward once more,
The ,saiIors, indeed, hauled the rope vii
I" their utmost strength and good will, but the
help seemed to come TOO ae; for the MOI
~ No ser was bat few feet off from him, an
- was Just about TO turn on its back, TO snap
The body of the unhappy man, wheu--in tn
T very moment--when every one in bre att lie:
and fearful dread awaited to see the worst
y a heavy peice of meat fell Into The sea, clio:
- 10 The open fangs the shark, and was swa
"' lowed by him as qniak as lightning.
,r. Ii is true that this noulhful on'y SCENE
IL, to have wheued his appetite for more, for /
II turned again, and nadoa second moveue Ell
d TO seize The body OF the bold swimmer, wl
in was already half drawnnp lfem his wa'e
.l,,l grave; but suddenly tic sn~A began TO ID:
ne r''S "a d;yea T. d j,1; iT-7 ever
Nobody troubled himself a TIC moment
IN The canse of this amos lnexpcable 5
are ya,ion. for all that had HANDS hanled away
is get The poor fellow, who way almost term
D., to death, on board and he had scarcely al
ed the living child to lis mni'ier' before
,ok fell back senseless in tie arms OF ih.
de- around him.
Oh, Rni ihere was mol women on board y
en- would not have pressed forward 10 call b
nse The tainted one into life, aud the moihef
The saved child threw herself on her ket
and audibly sought tha Alargh'y not 10
ply; her SO soon Of the saviour of her belle
child.
There was no surgeon pa hoa1d--as.