Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1856-09-24
Ggf family Girtle.
THE GJJNNERS SHOT.
A THRILLING SCENE.

extreme northwest Of Africa. The day
had been extremely mild, with a gentle
breeze to the northward, and westward,
but towards the close of the afternoon
the sea breeze died away, and one OF
those sultry oven like atmospheric breath
Iings came from the great sun burnt Saba
ra. Half an hour before sun down, the
captain gave the order, to the boatswain
to call the hands to go in swimming and
in less than five minutes the forms of our
tars were seen leaping from the gangway
the ports, the MEETINGS, bowsprit, and
some of the more yenturous took their
leap from the arms of the lower yard
One of the studding sails had been lower
ed into the water, with its corners sus-
pended from the, main yard arm, and
iswinging boom, and into this the swim
mers made their way.
Among those who seemed to be enjoy
ing the sport most heartily were two OF
the boys Tim Wallace and Fred Fair.
banks, the latter Of whom was the son OF
our old gunner, and in laughing mood
they started out from the scudding sail on
race. There was a loud ringing shout Of
- ~ iAsir lips as they put off, and they
started through the water like fishes
The surface of the sea was smooth as
glass, though its bosom rose in long and
heavy swells that set in from the Allan
tic. The vessel was moored, with long
sweep from both cables, and the buoy on
the starboard anchor was far away on
the starboard-quarter, where it rose and
fell with the swells like drunken man.
Toward the buoy the lads made theil
way, Fred Fairbanks taking the lead
when they were within twenty or thirty
fathoms of the buoy, Tim shot ahead and
promised to win the race The old gun
ner watched the progress of his son with
a 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 a
shout when cry reached him; he start
ed as if he had been struck by a cannon
ball.
/" A shark shark !" came from the
captin of the forecastle and at the sound
of the terrible words the men who were
in the water leaped and plunged toward
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 bereft of his sense, but on
the next he shouted at the top of his
voice for the boys to turn but the little
fellows heard him not. Stoutly the two
swimmers strove for the goal, all uncon
scious of the fearful death spirit that how
cred so near. them. The merry laugh still
rang quite 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
put off bnt Fairbanks knew that it could
not reach them in season, and every mo
ment he expected to see the monster sink
| from sight, and then he knew that all
hope would be gone. At that moment q
cry reached the ship that went through
| every heart like stream of fre-the boys
1 had discovered their enemy.
| The cry had started old Fairbanks tc
his senses and quicker than thought he
sprang to the quarter deck. The guns
were all loaded and shotted fore and aft
and none knew their temper better than
he. With a steady hand made strong
by sudden hope, the old gunner seized a
printing wire and picked the cartridge Of
one of the guns-then he took from his
pocket percussion wafer, and set it in
it's place and set back the hammer of the
patent lock. With a steady giant
strength, the old man swayed the breach
of his heavy gun to its bearing. and then
seized the string lock, he stood back and
watched for the next swell that would
bring the shark in range. He had aimed
the piece some distance of his mark, yet a
single moment would settle his hopes and
fears.
Every breath was hushed, and every
heart in that old ship beat painfully. The
boat was some distance from the boys
while the horrible sea monster was fear.
fully near. Suddenly the air awoke by
the roar Of heavy gun. and as the old
man knew his shot was gone, he sank
back on the combining Of the hatch, and
covered his hands as if afraid to see the
results of his efforts, for if he had failed
he knew his boy was lost.
For moment after the report of the
gun nad 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 breaking from the
! lips of the men; that murmur grew loud
er and stronger until it swelIed to joy
Gus deafening shout. The old gunner
sprang to his feet and gazed upon the wa
ter, and the first thing that met his view
was the huge carcass of the shark float
ling with its belly up, mangled mass.
In a few moments the boatreached the
daring swiLEso1ss, and half dead with
fright they were brought on board. The
old man clasped his boy in his arms, and
then overcome by the powerful excite
ment, he leaned upon the gun for support.
| have seen men in all phrases of excite
ment and suspense, but never have | seen
three hundred human beings more over.
come by thrilling emotions than on that
eventful moment when they first knew Of
the effect of the gunner's shot.
! nsA= There is lamplighter in Boston
SO tall that they talk of engaging him to
| trim the Northern TiUhts