Litchfield enquirer., 1852-04-15
A Thrilling Incident of Ocean Life,

Our noble ship jay at aRches in the Bay of Tangiey. fortified town in the extreme north west of Africa. The day had been extremely mild. with a gentle breeze sweeping to the nofthward and westward; but along towards the close of the afternoon the sea breeze died away and one oi those sultry, oven like atmos
 pheric breathings came from the great sun burnt Sahara. Half an hour before n-down, the captain gave slse cheering order to the boatswain to call she hands to 20 in swimming, and in less than five
 njnutes the ferms of our tars were seen lesping from the arms of the lower yards. aa asa ..
 One of the stNdding sails had been lowered isto the water, wrth its cerners suspended from tue naain yard-arm and the swinging boom. and into this most of the swimmers made their way.-- Among those who seemed to be enioy- ing the sport mott heartily were two of the boys. Tim Wallace and Fred Fair banks, the iatteref whom was the son of our old gsnner. and in . laughing mood they started out from the studding sail on race. fv m@aer i,aass6 efsatsa [,
 There was . loud riDgisg shsut of joy on their lips as they put of. and they darted through the water like 6shes.- The surfsce of the sea was smooth as glass, though its bosom rose in leng heavy swslIs that set in from the Atlantic
 Ths vessel was mOered with . long sweep from both cables. snd the buey ot the starboard anchor was far away on the starboard quarter. where it rosc and fell with the lazy swalls like . drunken iNans ln# #s ,..o lfs .f
 Ttward this buoy the two lads made their way. Fred Fairbanks taking the lead !; bus when they were withis about twenty or thirty fA,homs of the busy. T,m shot ahead and promised te via she race. Ths old gunner watched the prsg- rcss of his son with a vast desl sf pride and when he saw him drop behind. he lesped upon the deck. and was jast upon she poias of srging him on by . shost. when cry reached his ear that made him start ss if hs had bees ssrsek with . cannon ball, ,. ; s.t.'-asse' ',s"s. !, !, { "A shark l . shark r eans iorsh from the eaptain of tho fOsesastls, sad q the ssun0 Uf ahsss terrible words tho npsn who were in the water plunged teward the ship. es',ot
 Right abenm at the disssncs of three or foIr cable leng.hs, shark wake was seen in the water. whore the back of the monster was visible. His courss was for the boys. ass s8 ,s @s 4sr f aa sst
 Fos moment the gunner stood like enc bersfs Of ssnss, but on .hs next he shouted at the top of his voice for the boys to turn, but the little fellsws heard him not-ssoutley the i've swimmers stroye for the goal. all unsonscieus of the bloody death spirit that hovsrcd % near thsa. Their merry laugh still rang over the waters. and at length they both touched legsther. 3aaaga
 o. what drops of ageny started from the brow of our guaner 4 boat had put Oif. but Rairbanks knew thas it could nct reach the boys is season: and every moment hs expected to zee ihs uaonstes sink from sighl--thss hs kRew that all heps would bs gone. At this moment . cry reached the ship, that went through every heart ike . stream of 6re--the boys had discovered shsir enemy.
 The cry started old FAirbanks to his senses and quicker than thought he sprang ts tho qualter.deck. The guns were all loaded and shotted fore and aft. and Aons knew their temper better than hs. With steady hand. made strong by asudden hope. the old gunner seizsd . priming wire and picked the cartridge of enc of the quarter guns. With a gians's strength swayed the breach ol Ihs heavy gun to its bearings. q watch- ea toE shs insxt swell that Should bring