Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-03-29
A Lascar's Combat with a shark.

A Lascar's Combat with a Shark.
We had not long come into the road
stead at Madras when a circumstance
occurred which cannot help relating.
There was Lascar on our ship who was
very expert in handling q catamaran, a
wood dashed together, and used in the
surf, which in this place rolls in very
heavily. This man had a little child,
boy of eight years, and while we lay
here he would take this boy and show
him how to handle the catamaran, it
being his intention to bring the lad up
to this pursuit.
Now it happened one morning that,
going out very early, even before the
day had sprung, the catamaran ran foul
of palm which was washing ashore,
and overset, throwing the man and the
boy into the water. The man rose
easily enough, for he swan like duck,
and made for the raft, which he had
scarce reached when he saw a huge
shark seize the child and make to sea
with its prey.
The man, as may be supposed, was
Mortified at the sight, and for moment
dazed but he soon recovered, and
drawing long knife which he carried
in his cummerbund, plunged after the
shark. was on the beach at the time,
and saw the whole affair. The man
disappeared, but rose again, the shark
near him, and both apparently engaged
in desperate conflict. This lasted
several minutes. The water then began
to grow red the man rose two or three
times in quick succession, his knife still
in his hand, and striking with great
force and energy.
This lasted several seconds. Then
the shark rose suddenly, and, throwing
its huge form half way out of the spray,
sank with heavy plunge, dyeing the
waters with O deep crimson as it disap-
peared. 1 looked now anxiously for the
man, and seeing no sign of him, thought
he had shared the fate of his adversary !;
but presently he came to the surface, and
swan directly to the shore He was
very much exhausted, but his body was
withouta wound, a strange circumstance,
seeing the danger he had encountered.
After he had rested I asked him to
relate the particulars of his combat with
the sea monster, which he did. He said
that as soon as he plunged into the
water he saw the shark in the act of de-
vouring the child that he made toward
it and gave it stroke with his knife /;
that the shark turned and snapped at
him but he, diving, evaded its jaws
and coming up under its belly gave it a
stab, and the knife running along pro-
duced a wound over yard in length,
which, in short, made an end of the
monster. On receiving this wound it
ragged about in furry for few seconds,
then careening on its side drifted at
the mercy of the waves, mere piece of
ifeless matter.
Such was the story of this brave man s
encounter. While we were talking, !
heard great clamor among some of the
Massvolah boatmen on the beach, and
sent one of our men to learn its occa-
sion. lie came back with the tidings
that the shark had come ashore and the
noise we heard proceeded from the ma
tives who were amazed at it size, which
was indeed enormous, and the number
of wounds it had received on hearing
this proceeded toward the place where
it was stranded, taking the Lascar with
me, who by this time had thoroughly
regained his energies.
We approached the monster 1t lay
on its side among lot of sea-weed, the
blood still oozing from the wounds with
which its body was covered. The size
as 1 have observed, was surprising.
had seen sharks of large proportions
but they were small compared to this
creature. I did not measure it careful
ly, but it was near 30 feet in length, ant
as big round as the main mast of oul
ship. It had made bold defence, ant
was not conquered till its life gushet
out from multitude of wounds.
After satisfying my CURIOSITY, I hat
the monster opened, when a ghastl,
spectacle was presented. The child wal
found in the stomach, but utterly dis
membered, the head being severed from
the body, and the whole so ground to
gether as to be scarcely recognizable
1 was greatly overcome at this melan
choly sight even the apathy of tn
Hindoo gave way, and as he gazed OF
the remains of his child, his sorrow
, burst forth in loud lamentations.