Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-16
ITURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER le, 1872.
; AIFEROOIOus MAN.EATER.
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From the San Francisco Bulletin
| A reporter Of the Bulletin yesterday,
whilst walking along the city front, per
ceiYed a stalwart Italian fisherman en-
gagged in repairing his boat at the foot OF
Sacramento street. He was stslwart,
brawny fellow, and with the exception
Of slight lameness, presented most
perfect specimen Of bis class. TIE re
porter, observing that he took manifest
pride in his craft, remarked that esh-
erman life on this coast was attended
with many hardships The fisherman
answered that, with all its perils, fishing
on the California coast was luxurious
occupation compared with bis labors
elsewhere He had few months
before his arrival here been wrecked
on the South American coast and all Il 9
crew of the lost bark, hsiling from
Genoa, were compelled to take raft.
After four days existence on few bis.
cults saturated with brine, and whilst
suffering from agonizing thirst, he fell
asleep on the forward part OF the raft,
and ineautiously hung his legs within
few inches Of the surface of the water.
About midnight he felt something grasp
him by the leg, and he was dragged down
TO the lower portion OF the raft, which
was a couple Of feet under water. He
threw out his hands and felt slippery
body, for it was a shark shat had attacked
the unconscious sleeper. A terrible
struggle ensued. The fish was not full
grown, and his strength was about
equally matched with the victim he had
chosen for supper. They rolled over and
over, the sailor getting his hands into
the monster jaws, and the sharp rows of
teeth lacerating them fearfully. At one
time the assailant was within few feet
OF the water, and almost succeeded in
dragging his prey with him. but the man
though sorely exhausted, rallied, and
with one vigorous effort hauled the shark
on the dry portion of the raft. Here
his comrades we're able to assist him,
for though awakened by his cries at the
outset, they became too panic stricken
to lift a hand to help him. Now with
the pieces of a broken oar they assaulted
the intruder and soon dispatched him.
The fisherman had the muscles OF his
left legtorn away, and he tainted from
loss of blood at the end OF the struggle |
His companions bound up the wound
with strips of their clothing, and then |
made good supper of the carcass of
the msp-eater. About two hours after
ward theraft grounded on the beach, and
the unfortunate waits landed, They made
6 large fire OF brush, and during the
four following days. subsisted on nuts
and shell fish. At night the jaguafs
surrounded their camp and howled dis
mally One of the party who had some
knowledge OF herbs bound up the
wounded limbs with leaves, which much |
relieved the sufferer. A coasting
schooner at last picked them up, but all
we're attacked with the yellow fever.
The schooner put in at Rio Janeiro, and
there the sick men were put into little
wooden cabin ontside the town. All,
with the exception Of the hero OF the
shark, have died, aud he, after his re-
covery, shipped for San Francisco.
Now he is settled down to fishing and
never cares about venturing on blue
water agaln.