The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-03-17
GaIes, ghrtebes, AnftOotes, &e.
A NOCTURNAL MYSTERY.

1t is good many years since, having
returned from the West Indies with my
regiment, | was stationed at what was
called the Royal Arsenal, down the river,
near the Plumstead Marshes. The Ar
senal consisted of a number of outh houses
full of government stores The Thames
flowed on one side of it, canal running
inland for a distance of eight hundred
yards on another. On the remaining
sides, the Arsenal was accessible from the
marshes. 1t was always guarded day
and night by the military stationed there,
and this formed the chief part of our duty.
One cold, raw night in November, /
was on what was called the marsh guard,
which consisted of seven men besides my
self We had two sentries, one stationed
at the guard-room door and one down at
the lock gates of the canal. The weather
was very trying, with its rawness and
dampness, to us who had SO recently come
back from the West Indies, and the re-
mainder of the guard sat round the fire
in the guard room, entertaining one an
other with tales of their exploits and ad-
ventures The conversation turned upon
sharks, | remember, and a good many
stories we've told, most of them deriving
their main interest, i'll the eyes of the mar
rator, from his being the hero Of what he
had to relate.
"Talking of sharks" said one of the
guard recall his words as nearly as
can-''reminds me of what l saw when
| was in Jamaica Who has not heard
of Port Royal Tom? This was the larg-
est shark that had ever been seen in Port
Royal, and the stories about him would
fill p book. He used to swim round the
men-of-war lying there, and woe be'ide
the unlucky wretch who attempted to de-
sert from his ship by swimming ashore;
he never lived to reach it, for Port Royal
Tom was sure to swallow him. Well.
had made up my mind to go shark fishing
along with three more. We hired boat,
took proper fishing tackle, and everything
needed for days amusement. Leaving
the shore, we went abou. a mile out In
the harbor, and over went the hook, we'll
baited with a piece of salt pork. Alter
living about for fifteen minutes, sharp
TUG was felt, and we found we had got a
large fish on. We tried to pull IT in, but
couldn't ge: him up to the surface Here
was a fix, and no mistake. With great
effort we got up the anchor, took the oars
and tried to row to the land but what
was our astonishment to find the shark
towing US out to sea y
"sWhat was to be done now 2 was
the question raised in the boat.
ttLet him tow US out, was suggested
he will soon tire of it, and then we can
take him ashore
s'This was easier said than dome
Master shark had been pulling US for about
two hours, and we were still going out to
sea. Getting desperate, we took to the
oars again, and rowed back to the town;
but what tugging match it was, with
| this ugly customer straining his utmost in
| the opposite direction After pulling, In
the hot sun, for several hours, we began
TO make headway for the shore, master
shark being determined that he would not
90 that way, and we being as determined
! that he should. However, few minutes
before the evening gun fired, we got him
to the ietty, and got him safe landed on
the pier by means of crane, made him
secure, after good deal of resistance,
and left him for the night, His length. l
NAV mention, was twelve feet or there~
abouts.
e.Early next morning we went down to