Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-04-16
OUR GUNNER,S SHOT.
A THRILLING INCIDENT OF OCEAN LIFE.

Our noble ship lay at anchor in the BAY oil
Tanger, fortified town in the extreme north.
ives, Of Africa. The day had been extremely
mild, with gentle breeze sweeping TO the north
ward, and westward, but long towards the close
Of the afternoon the sea breeze died away, and
one of those sultry, oven-like atmospheric breath
| ings came from the great sun burnt Sahara
Halt an hour before shutdown the Captain gave
the order to the boatswan to call all the hands 10
60 in swimming, and in less than five minutes the
forms of our tars were seen leaping from the
gangways, the ports, the nettings, bowsprits, and
| some OF the more venturesome took their lean
| from the arms of the lower yard.
| One OF the studding sails had been lowered
into the water, with its corners suspended from
the main yard arm and the swinging boom, and
! into these most of the swimmers made their
| way.
Among those who seemed to be enjoying the
sport most heartily were two of the boys Tim.
Wallace and Fred. Fairbanks, the latter of whom
was the son Of our old gunner, and in laugh
ing mood they started out from the studding sail
for race.
There was loud shout of JOY on their lips as
they put oft, and they started through the water
like fishes. The surface of the sea was as
smooth as glass, though its bosom rose in long
and heavy swells that sat in from the bosom of
the Atlantic.
The vessel was moored, with a long sweep
from both cables, and the buoy of the starboard
quarter, where it rose and fell with lazy swells
like drunken man.
Towards this buoy the two lads made their
way, Fred Fairbanks taking the lead but when
they were within about twenty or thirty fathoms
of the buoy Tim shot ahead and promised to win
the race. The old gunner watched the prog
ress of his son with vast deal of pride, and
when he saw him drop behind, he leaped upon
the poop, and was on the point of urging him on
by shout when cry reached him that made
him start, as if he had been struck by cannon
ball.
"a shark shark !" came from the captain
Of the forecastle, and at the sound Of these terri
bic words the men who were in the water leap
ed and plunged towards the ship.
Right abcam, at the distance of three or four
cables length, a shark wake was seen in the wa
ter, where the back of the monster was visible.
His course was for the boys.
For moment the gunner stood like one be-
reft of sense, but on the next he shouted at the
top of his voice for the boys to turn, but the lit
tie fellows heard him, stouty the two swimmers
strove for the goal, all unconscious Of the bloody
death-sprit that lowered so near them. Their
merry laugh still rang out over the waters, and
at length they both touched the buoy together.
Oh. what drops OF agony started from the brow
of our old gunner. A boat had been put off, but
Fairbanks knew that it could not reach them in
season, and every moment they expected to see
the monster sink from sight and then he knew
that all hope had gone. At that moment cry
reached the ship that went through every heart
like a stream of fire-the boys had discovered
their enemy
The cry started old Fairbanks to his senses,
and quicker than thought he sprang to the quar-
ter. The guns were all loaded and shotted fore
and aft & none knew their temper better than he
With a steady hand, made strong by sudden
hope, the old gunner sezed printing wire and
picked the cartridge of one of the quarter guns ;
then he took from his pocket percussion wafer
and set it in its place, and set back the hammer
Of the patent lock. With a steady giant strength,
the old man swayed the breech OF the heavy gun
to its bearing, and then Selling the string of the
lock he stood back and watched for the next
swell that would bring the shark in range. He
had aimed the piece some distance ahead of his
mark bat yet q single moment would settle his
hopes and fears.
Every breath was hushed, and every heart in
that old ship beat painfully. The boat was yet
some distance from the boys, while the horrible
sea monster was fearfully near. Suddenly the
air was awoke BY the roar Of heavy gun, and
| as the old man knew his shot was gone he sank
back upon the combing of the hatch and cover
ed his face with his hands, if afraid to sec the
result of his efforts, for if he had failed he knew
that the boy was lost.
For moment after the report Of the gun had
died away upon the air, there was dead silence,
but as the smoke arose from the surface Of the
water, there was, at first, low murmur break
ing from the lips of the men-that murmur grew
louder and stronger until it swelled into a Joy
Gus, deatening Shout. The old gunner sprang
to his feet and gazed out upon the water, and
the first thing that met his view was the huge
carcass of the shark floating with his belly up
lifeless mass.
In a few moments the boat reached the dar-
ing swimmers, and half dead with fright they
were brought on board. The old man caspcd
his boy in his arms, and then overcome by the
powerful excitement, he leaned upon the gun for
support.
have seen men in all phases Of excitement
and suspense, but never have seen three human
beings more overcome BY thrilling emotions, than
on that startling sight, when they first knew
the effect Of our gunner's shot.