The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-04-17
Thrilling Incident of Ocean Life.

Our noble shi p lay at anchor in tht
Bay of Tan9ier fortified town i'll the
extreme northwest of Africa. TIE
lay had been extremely mild, with :
gentle breeze sweeping ito the north
ward and westward: but along towart
the close of the afternoon, the sea
breeze died away. and one of those
sullry, eEeu-like, atmospheric breath
ings came from the great sunburn
Sahara. Half an hour before snndowr
The captain gave The cheering order for
the boatswain- TO call the hands to gr
in swimming. and in less than five
minutes the forms of our tars were
seen leapiug from the arms of the
lower yards.
One of the studding sails had been
lowered into the water, with its corners
suspended from the main yard arm. and
the swimmers made their way. Amor .
those vino 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 ouI
old gunner, and in laughing MOOD
on race.
There was loud ringing shout Of
joy on their lips as they put of, and
they darted. through the water like
fishes, The surface of the sea was as
smooth as glass, though IFS bosom rose
in long. heavy swells that set in from
The Atlantic.
The vessel was moored with long
sweep from both ca bles, and the buoy
on the starboard quarter, where it rose
aud fell with the lazy swells like a
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
progress of his son with vast degree ot
pride, and when he saw him drop be-
hind. 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 a cannon ball
'' "A sharkl a sharkm came forth
from the captain of the forecastle, and
at the sound Of those terrible words,
the men who were in the water leaped
and plunged towards the ship.
Right beam, al distance of three
or four cables length, sharp wake
was seen in the water. where the back
of the monster was visible. His course
was for the boys. sr9aa
!, For moment the gunner stood like
one bereft of sense, but in the next he
shouted al the top of his voice for the
boys to turn, but the little fellows heard
him not-stoutiy the swimmers strove
for the goal, all unconscious of the
bloody death spirit that hovered SO near
them. Their merry laugh still rang
oveF the water, and at length they
touched the buoy together: FL
On, what drops of agony started from
the brow OF our gunner. A boat had
put of, but Fairbanks knew il could
NOT reach the boys 10 season. and every
moment he expected to see the moh-
stsr sink from sight, then he knew that
all hope would be gone. Al this mo-
ment cry reached the ship that went
every heart like a stream of FIRE
the boys had discovered their enemy.
The cry startled old Fairbanks to his
senses, and quicker than thought he
spraug 10 the quarterback. The guns
we're all loaded and shotied, fore and
If. and none kuew their temper better
han he. With steady hand, made