The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-05-05
Thrilling incident in Ocean Life.

northwest of Africa. The day had bee
extremely mild, with gentle breeze swe.
ping To the n0rlhward and westward b,
, !, along towards the close of the afternoon
the sea breeze died away, and one of thos
suItry, evening like atmospheric breath
ings came from the great sunburnt Saba
ra' Half an hour before sundown tn
captain gave the cheering order for TN
ooatswam to call the hands to 90 in swim
ming, and in less than five minutes in,
iorhis of our tars were seen leaping from
the arms of the lower yard.
One Of the studding sails had been low
cred INTO the water, with Ills rornets sus
pended from the main yard arm and tn,
swinging boom, and into these most O
the SWIMMERS made their way. Amonc
those VIII" seemed to be- enjoying the spor,
most heartily were two Of the BOYS. Tim
Wallace and Fred Fairbanks, the latte,
" whom WAS the son Of our old gunner
and IN laughing mood they started ON
from the Studding sail in a race.
There was II loud ringing shout of 10,
on their lips as they put Oft, and they ,iar-
tel through the water like fishes. Til,
surface OF the sea was as smooth rs glass.
though 1t bosom rose in long heavy swell
that set in from the Atlantic
lhe vessel was moorcd with "a onp swr,,
from both cables, and the buoy and tL
Starboard quarter, where it rose and f.,
WITH I'll" lazy SwellS like drunken man
Towards this buoy the two lads ma
Their way, Fred Fairbanks taking the lead:
out when they We're within about twcnt,
iatiloms OF the buoy, Tim shot ahead
and promised 20 win the race. The o..,
gunner watched the proprcss ofhis son witt,
a'aSt degree ofpridc, and when he saw him
dr"p behind, he lcaped from the poor.
ana was upon the point of urging him on
nv shout, when cry reached his car
that made him start as il he had bccr:
struck with cannon ball.
A shark! A shark came from III,
captain OF ihe torecastle, and at the sound
OF these terrible words, the men who were
IN IN the water Icaped and plunged towards
the ship.
Right abe I'm, at distance of three @,
four cables length, a sharp wake was scc,.
IN the water, where the back of the mon.
ster was visible. His course was for tl,.
boys
For moment the gunner stood lk,
one bcrctt of senses, but on the next h,
shouted nj the top Of his voice for the boy.
" turn, but the little fellows heard him
goal, al unconscious OF the BLOODY f3r kru4hr 1hr
spirit that hovered so near them. Their
merry laugh still rang over the water.
and at length they touched the buoy to.
gcther.
Oh, what drops Of agony started from
the brow Of the gunner. A boat had
put of, but Fairbanks knew that it could
not ach the boys in season, and every
nom mt he expected TO see the monster
sink rom sight; then he knew all hope
woul he gone. At this moment cry
reach the ship that went through every
heart X" stream Of firc-the boys had
iscove.rd their enemy.
senses, I'd quicker than thought he sprang
to the quarter deck. The guns were al
loaded anh shotted fore and aft, and none
knew their temper better than he. With
steady hand, made strong by sndden
hope, the old gunner seized printing
w'r", and picked the cartridge Of one Of
the quarter guns; he took from his pock
ct II percussion wafer and set it in its
place, and set the hammer Of the pa
tent lock. With giants strength the
"!d man swayed the hrcech Of the heavy
gun to its bearing and then Selling the
string Of the lock, he stood and watched
'or the next swell that would bring the
shark in range. He aimed the piece
some distance ahead of his mark, but vet
= little moment would settle his hopes and
ears.
Every breath was hushed, and every
heart in that old ship beat painfully
The boat was yet some distance from the
boys, while the horrid monster was fear
fully near. Su ldenly the air awoke by
,he roar Of the heavy gun, and the old
man knew his sho, was gone, he sat back
upon his combing hatch and covering his
face with his own efforts, for il he had
tailed he knew Ia S bay was lost.
| For a moment mles the .:""nnort Of the
gun had died away upon the air; there
was dead silence, ba. as the dense smoke
arose from the surf,ce Of the water, there
was, at first low murmcr breaking from
the lips Of the men. That murmer grew
Louder and stronger, until it s. eIled to q
joyous deafening shout. The old gunner
sprung to his feet and zed off on tn,
water, and the first thing that met hi,
eye was the hinge carcass of the sharl
floating with his white belly up, a man
gied lifeless mass. ..
In few moments the boat reached
the daring swimmers, and dead with frigh
they were brought on board. The Olo
man clasped his child in his arms, an,
then, overcome by the powerful excitement
he leaned upon the gun for support.
j have seen men in all phases Of excite
ment an suspense, but never have seer
three human beings more overcome b
thrilling emotions, than on that startlin
moment when they first knew the q
feet Of our gunner's shot-Erehange Pc
per. .
Il .rH- p~