Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-06-04
Thrilling Incident of Ocean Life.

Thrilling Incident of Ocean Life.
Our noble ship lay anchor in the Bay of Tan
pier, fortified town in the extreme northwest
Of Africs. The day had been extremely mild,
with gentle breeze sweeping to the north-waEd
and westward; but along toward the close OF the
afternoon the sea breeze died away, and one
of those sultry, warm, even-like atmospheric
breathings came from the great sunbnrnt Saba
ra. Half an hoar' before suhdown 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 lea
ping from the lower yard.
One of the. studdng sails had been lowered
into the water, with its corners suspended from
the main yard arm and ithe swimming 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 a
laughing mood they started out from the stud
| ding sail on race.
There was loud ringing shout Of JOY on Their
lips as they darted through the water like fishes.
| The surface Of the sea was as smooth as GLARS,
! though its bosom rose in long heavy swelis
rom the Atlantic.
| The vessel was moorcd with long sweep
from both cables aud the buoy on the star
beard quarter, where ii rose aud fell with the
lazy swell like drunken man. Towards this
buoy the two l&ds made their way, Fred FalF-
bauks taking the lead: but when they were with
| in about twenty. or thirty fathoms of the buoy,
Tim slot ahead and promised to win the race
The old gunner watched the progress with avast
degree of pride, and when he saw him drop be-
hind, he leaped from the poop, and was upon the
point of urging him on by shout, when acry
| reached his ear that made him start as If he had
been struck with cannon ball.
A shark! shark! came forth 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. the distance of three or four cables
length, shark wake was seen in the water, where
the back of the monster was visible. His course
was for the boys.
! For moment the gunner stood like one be-
ref CT sense, but on the next he shouted at the
top of his voice for the boys to tnrn but the lit
tie ftlows heard him not-stoutly the swim
mers s.rove for the goal, all UNCONSCIOUS OF the
bloody death spirit that horered $" near them.
Their merry laugh still rang over the water and
at lengtbithey touched the buoy together.
Oh, hat drops of agony started from the
brow of our gunner. A boat had put oil, but
Fairbaks knew that 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 goue. At thi, moment cry
reached the ship shatswent through every heart
like a stream OF tire-thc boys had discovered
their enemy.
The cry started old Fairbanks to his senses,
and quicker than thought he sprang to the quar-
ter-deck. The guns were all loaded and shotted
fore and aft, and none knew their temper better
than he. With steady hand, made strong by
sudden hope, the old gunner seized pnm'ns
wire, and picked the cartridge Of one of the quar-
ter guns; he took from his i'oSa>t percussion s
wafer, ana set it in its place, and set the ham
ner Of the patent lock. With giants strength
the old man swayed the breech Of the heavy gun
in its bearing, aud then sezing 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, but vet little 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 hoFrd
sea monster was fearfullv near. Suddenly tue
air awoke by the roar Of the heavy gun, and as
the old man knew his shot was gone, he sank
back upon the combing Of the hatch, and cover
tinr his face with his hands, as if afrSN to see
the result of his own effort for if he had iad ne
knew that his boy was lost.
For moment after the report of the gun had
died away upon the air, there was dead silence,
but as the dense smoke arose from the surface OF
the water, there was, at first low murmur break
ing from the lips of the men--that murmur
rrew louder and stronger, until it swelled to y
ioyous deafning shout The old gunner sprung
to his feet and gazed off on the water, and the