Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-11-18
Miscellaneous.
OUR GUSNER,s SHOT.
Thrilling incident Of Ocean Life.
BY sYLvASus COBB, IN


Our noble ship lay at anchor in the Bay of
Tangier, a fortified city in the extreme north
west point of Africa. The day had been ex-
tremely mild, with gentle breeze sweeping
in from the northward and westward, but to-
wards the close Of the afternoon the sea breeze
died away, and one of those sultry, oven like
atmospheric breathings came up from the
great sunburnt Sahara. Half an hour before
shutdown, the captain gave the cheering or
der for the boatswain to 'call all bands to 60
in swimming" and in less than five minutes
the forms of our hardy tars were seen leaping
from the gangway, the ports. the MEETINGS,
the bowsprit, and some Of the most venture.
some took their plunge from the arms of the
lower yards.
One Of the studding sails had been lower
ed into the water, with its corners suspended
from the main yard arm and the swinging
boom, and into this most of the swimmers
made their way. Among those who seemed
to be enjoying the sport most highly we're two
of the boys, Tom Wallace and Fred Fairbanks
the latter of whom was the son of our old
gunner, and in laughing mood they started
out from the studding- sail on race. There
was loud, ringing shout of joy upon their
lips as they put off, and they darted through
the water like fishes The surface of the sea
was as smooth as glass, though its bosom rose
in long heavy swells that set in foam the
broad Atlantic.
The ship was moored with long sweep on
both cables, and the buoy of the starboard
anchor was far away on the starboard quar-
ter, where it rose and fell with the lazy swells
like drunken man. Towards this buoy the
two lads made their way, Fred Fairbanks
taking the lead; but when they were within
dozen fathoms of the buoy, Tom shot ahead
and promised to win the race. The old gun
ner had watched the progress of his little son
with vast degree of pride, and when he saw
him dropping behind, be leaped upon the poop
and was just upon the point of urging him on
by shout, when cry reached his ears that
made him start as though he had been struck
by cannon ball.
"a shark a shark" came from the cap
tain of the forecastle, and at the sound OF
these terrible words, the men who were in the
water leaped and plunged towards the ship
| Right abeam, at distance of three or four
cables length, shark wake was seen in the
water where the back fin of the monster was
visible. His course was for the boys! For
moment the poor gunner stood like one be-
reft Of sense; but on the next be shouted at
the top of his voice for his boy to turn, but
the littldMellow heard him not-stoutly the
two swimmers strove for the goal all uncon-
scious of the bloody death spirit that lowered
so near them Their merry laugh still rang
out over the waters, and at length they both
touched thetDp together
Oh, what mops of agony started from the
brow of the gunner A boat had put off, but
Fairbanks knew that it could not reach his
child in season, for the shark was too near its
intended victims; and every moment he ex-
pected to see the monster sink from sight
then be knew that all hope would be gone
At this moment cry had reached the ship
that went through every heart like stream
Of searching fre-the boys had discovered
their enemy!
That cry startled old Fairbanks to his
senses, and quicker than thought he sprang
to the quarter deck. The guns we're loaded
and shotted fore and aft, and none knew
their temper better than be. With steady
hand made strong by sudden hope, the old