Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-10-16
A Shark Story.

A Shark Story
In the month of June, 1888, was on the borl, ~,
cnta, At anchor OH the uliua My gig was manned and
up the river to look after stevedore who had ba
sent up some days before to select raft of mahooan
The sea breeze had set in strongly, and the afternoon
was cool and refreshing Don't misunderstood mo
don't think it really eool-it was only comnaravoI
so. The sea breeze had but modified the sutrv atmo
phere OF the morning the thermometer stood at so do
grees in the shade
We did not yet put dress coats or black pants
although we were going to visit gentleman of no small
Importance in those parasitic captain Of the mahogany
cutters. But having duly incased ourselves in sniff Of
clean white duck and taking peacoats to protect
from the chill of the evening, stepped into orr
little ouroared cutter, and started for the river Nv
little boat had always been the admiration of the whole
feet she was very Sharp in the bow light and buovant
as cork, and was without doubt regular clipper
AS we neared the bar could see the surf breaking on
it in a remarkably unpleasant fashion had heard of
the dangerous nature of the entrance but l had not
paid much heed to it thought it was only tale to
Tghten youngsters and old women but when saw the
immense breakers follow one after the other dash on the
bar, and then roll boiling and kissing right into the
mouth of the river, confess altered my opinion and
looked on with something like perplexity; however,
with such boat as we had under us, did not fear
We had not got far from the ship when the man at
the stroke called attention to several boats which
had put off from the ships of the feet.
Something amiss, said Tom Carey " Look out
ahead coxswain, and if you can make what it is"
Cant see anything, sir-can you?"
mo-" | replied" yet can't see ANYTHING astern if
must be ahead. Give way, my men, perhaps it's boat
capsized in the surf"
"Ay, ay, sir, you're right" broke in the coyswain.
" See there in the way of those two cocoanut trees:
watch the next rollers, and you'll the poor fellows
holding on to the boat
| did see them, and knowing that the coast swarmed
with sharks, at that their only chance for
safety IN case they escaped drowning, and got outside
the SURF was tor us to reach them as they got
clear of it. therefore urged my to put out their
strength they responded noby to my call and we soon
began to fly over the seas. A race like ths-time
against life DEATHS most exciting thing and, as
we bounded over the waves multitude of thoughts fit
ted through my brain. 1t is perfectly astounding at
what rate the mind will travel under such circumstan-
Had boat been endowed with the same faculty
the result might have been different but as was she
seemed to know she erand of mercy, for |
never hor skim so lightly the She was
paragon of boat, was the same gig of the Calcutta
Stout arms and brave hearts propelled her with
lOclty had never before witnessed; yet
distance from the bar when we the boat out
bottom upward, and two of them clingng to her.
One, two three that makes five, sir" said the cox
swa as three more cleared the surf and struck out for
|
"Thank God, they're all safe thus far" said l. It's
the Resolutions boat | the captain and four hands
go in this morning. Give way, men a bottle of grog
each when we get on board"
"Ay ay, sir" said the young fellow who pulled the
stroke oar never fear of that but hang all grOp in
such this"
felt the rebuke felt ought to have known sailors
better
Gone two three, four-I can only see four" said
Carey; zone poor fellows gone What's that?
shark! God help EN-
The water foamed from our bows; Carey and
cutched the thwarts of the bOat-stil flew onward
Another shark" said Carey. "Dye see him COM
ing down to windward?"
Zone, two, three-only three; another poor fellow
gone Give way, my bonnes, rally again. all together
that's your Sort
We were now drawing close to the boat one man
only remained in the water he struck out wildly and
then lifted up his hands imploringly sank and his faint
cry for help drowned in the surgng of the waters
WAY enough in bow; back water" said the cox
swain
Carey who had Invested himself of his jacket and
Shoes now dved after him; he rose, supporting the
drowning man. We hauled them on board just then
a huge shark dashed past
! THANK God you are safe' said l, squeezing my
friends hands. The two men who were taken off the
boat sustained no damage but good duckng. We
learned from them that the first man who went down
was the captain and as he striking out, strony
few seconds before he sank, in all probability he
seized by shark for neither he nor the man ever rose
again.
1t melancholy termination to our first attempt
to 60 up the Ulua, and felt the matter painfully at
the time understood that both the poor fellows had
WIVES anu captain W ldlllenI HIS OSS
OF course after such occurrence it out of the
question to proceed on intended voyage, and we
therefore made our way back to the ship
| can not avoid relating incident connected with
this sad which is strangely characteristic of the
superstition of sailors The boat in which the melan
choy accident occurred strong and well built worth
at least ego; yet after we had rescued the off her.
there not man in the fleet who would touch her.
and she left to drift out to sea- must say she had
bad character, having capsized in the place
former voyage, and drowned man.
When got board, the appearance Of the sky be-
tokened of those thunder-sOrms which at this
son in these atitudes and therefore made
all snug for the night.
A storm in the tropics is very grand, particularly IN
the neighborhood of high mountains the lurid light
ming plays among their tops 1.-The thunder rumbng and
then bursting with terrific crash against their sides
seems hurled back again with double violence rain fall
ing in torrents-in sheets every thing hangs a
black PAIL which is occasionally rent asunder by fOrke
lightning
All this is beautiful to contemplate under cover with
pipe and strong tumber of grOg, but to have been
= caught up the Ulua without shelter would not have
been pleasant Snugly ensconced in the cuddy Of ship
was fascinated; l sat up till the storm abated, smok.
ed three four pipes and then retired to my berth to
. be ulled to sleep by the distant thunder.
! A SINECURE LIVING FOR SALE.-AmOng cloud Of
bendiccs advertised for sae there is which must
present unusual attractions for clergyman who is pot
fond of hard work 1t is sinecure rectOry IN the Isle
of Wight the annual amount of the 1.-THE rent charge
for the last five years being $3.50, with 31a acres Oh
glebe with two cottages, producing t2O per anhum
= ~ hnnp 1