Washington telegraph., 1852-04-21
Thrilling Incident of Ocean Life.

Our noble snip lay at ancnOr IN the bay
of Tangier, fortified town in the extreme
northwest Of Africa, The day had been
extremely mild, with gentle breeze sweep
ing to the northward and westward but
along toward the close Of the afternoon, the
sea breeze died away, and one of those sui
try, even-like, atmospheric breathings, came
from the great sunburnt Zahara. Half an
hour before sundown. the captain gave the
cheering order for the boatswain to call the
hands to 90 in swimming, and in less
than FIVE minutes the forms of our tars
were seen leaping from the arms of the lower
yards.
One Of the studding sails had been low
cred into the water, with its corners suspen-
ded from the main yard arm and the swim
mers made their way Among those who
seemed to be enjoying the sport most heart
lily, were two boys, Tim 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 sails on race.
There was loud ringing shout of joy on
their lips as they put off, and they darted
through the water like flashes. The surface
of the sea was as smooth as glass, though its
bosom rose in long, heavy swells that set in
from the Atlantic.
The vessel was moored with long
sweep from both cables; and the buoy
ON the starboard quarter, 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 J;
h.,4 ,,lo,, 4i,o1, ui{h.p ol, or
thirty fathoms of the buoy, Tim shot ahead
and promised to win the race. The old
gunner watched the progress Of his son with
vast degree of prize, and when he saw him
drop behind, he leaped upon the poop, and
was just upon the point of urging him on by
shout, when cry reached his ear that made
him start as if he had been struck with can
non ball.
A shark shark +" came forth from
thc captain 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 beam, at the distance of three
or four cables length, a sharp wake was
seen in the water, where the back of the mon
!
For moment the gunner stood like one
bereft Of sense, but on the next, he shouted
at the top Of his voice for the boys to turn
| bat the little fellows heard him not--stoutly
the swimmers strove for the goal, all uncon.
scious OF the bloody death spirit that lowered
so near them Their merry laugh still rang
over the water, and at length they touched
the buoy together.
Oh, what drops of agony started from
the brow of our gunner A boat had put
off, but Fairbanks knew it could not reach
the boys in season, and every moment he
expected to see the monster sink from
sight, then he knew that all hope would be
gone AT this moment CRY reached the
ship that went through every heart like 9
stream Of fre-the boys had discovered theil
enemy.
The cry started old Fairbanks to hi:
senses, and quicker than thought he sprans
to the quarterback. The guns were al
loaded and shotted, fore and aft, and none
knew their temper better than he. Witt
steady hand, made strong by sudden hope
the old gunner seized priming wire, anC
picked the cartridge of one of the quarter
guns he took from his pocket a percussion
wafer, and set it in its place, and set th'
hammer of the patent lock- With a giant
strength, the old man swayed the breech o
the heavy gun to it's bearing, and then seiz
ing the string OF the lock, he stood back anC
watched for the next swell that would bring
the shark in range He had aimed tn,
piece some distance ahead of his mark, but We
little moment would settle his hopes ant
fears.
Every breath was hushed, and every hear
in that Old ship beat painfully. The boa
was yet some distance from the boys, whil
the horrid sea monster was fearfully near
Suddenly the air awoke by the roar of tn
heavy gun, and as the old man knew his sho
was gone, he sank back upon the combinin!
Of the hatch, and covering his face with hi
hand, as if afraid to see the result Of his owl
efforts, for ii he had failed he knew that hi
boy was lost.
For moment after the report of tn
gun had died away upon the air, there wa
dead silence, but as the dense smoke ros
from the surface of the water, there was, q
first, low murmur breaking from the Lip
of the nlen-that murmur grew louder an
stronger, until it swelled to a joyous deafer
ing shout. The old gunner sprung to h
feet and gazed off on the water, and tn
first thing that met his view was th
huge carcass of the shark floating wit
his white belly up, mangled lifeless mas
In few moments the boat reached I'll
: daring swimmers, and half dead with frigl
: they were brought on board. The old ma
:, clasped his boy in his arms, and then, owe
= come by the powerful excitement, he leane
upon the gun for support.
1 have seen men in all phases of excit
e ment and suspense, but never have l SCI