Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-23
A FIGHT WITH A SHARK.
Am Episode Of Pensacola Bay-A For.
tunaee Escape.

AN ORADUSs0 VI OAAS1sSVA" 1S<sJ = Va
tunafe Escape.
An officer who had waded into the sea at
Pensacola Bay to spear "stingarees," fish
like founder, but with curious rat-like
tail, relates the following:
I mad started up good-sized stingaree,
probably about three feet in width to two
in length, with "beauty of tall" and
soon the hunt became interesting. Twice
had 1 pierced its body with the boat-hook,
and the water in the immediate neighbor-
hood became dyed with blood.
The shoals extended out mile in many
directions in the bay, and in my excite
ment had waded out fully half that distance
from the shore-at least mile away from
my men.
The thought of danger never once entered
my head, though the harbor was full of
sharks, many of them twelve to fifteen feet
in length. My feet and legs were bare, my
trousers being rolled up as high as possible.
But had gone out some distance from that
depth, the water being up to my waist, and
not dreaming of peril, was bent upon the
capture of the fish was pursuing.
Suddenly, but why could never CON-
prehend, l turned my eyes from the sting
aree and looked out into the harbor. 1
almost ceased to beat as | beheld mon
strous shask, that had 10 doubt scented the
blood of the wounded fish, coming 10 a di-
rect line to the place where 1 was standing.
A fe. ling of horror pervaded me at once.
Powerless, death-stricken it seemed, gave
a yell-sharkl-and casting one desperate,
agonizing look toward my men a mile
away, turned my eyes, almost starting
from their sockets, upon tbs monster from
which expected the most horrible death.
The agony and mental torture of that fear
full moment can never be described or for
gotten. Even now / shudder at the recol-
lection.
As the shark approached me he lessened
his speed, evidently accommodating the posi-
ton. His graceful evolutions; the perfect
ease with which he glided through the wa
ter, the under jaw dropped just far enough
to disclose the glittering rows of teeth, sharp
as razors; the careless, lazy movement of
that powerful tail; and, above all, the cold,
horrible glare of those small yellow eyes,
fascinated me with deadly terror.
In those short seconds lived years of
horror. To see the ravenous demon so
leisure!y confident of his power and l al
most powerless, waist-deep in water, and
no weapon of defence but common boat
hook! l seemed to shrink into nothing
ness when compared to my enemy.
He gave me but few seconds to think
or prepare for death. Quick as a cat he
fac-d directly for me, aud seemed almost
TO spring clear from the water as he diVed
| for my legs. I could scarcely hold the boat
hook in my trembling grasp, but as his
body came within reach struck at it with
the energy and despair with which drown
| ing person would catch at a straw. In a
breath COR Initted my soul TO God, and
for the next few seconds became nearly I'M
conscious.
Whether the monster felt the point Of
my spear or not of course | cannot tell. l
presume, however, that he did, for he miss
ed me, his ponderous jaws coming together
with rush and snap. Passing full around
me, he dashed out into the harbor again,
but not far, when he turned and began the
same maneuvres as before.
NV feelings as he sprang for me, and the
revuision consequent upon my unlooked-for
respite, seemed to inspire me with new
courage. felt that the cowardly monster
might yet be banked of his prey. l gained
an astonishing feeling of GOODNESS and
nerve, and determined to present firm
| front when he attacked me again, which
knew be would. | began retreat, STEP
ping cautiously backward, with my eyes
| fixed on the shark. Stealing a look toward
the boat, saw with joy that the men had
got it off the beach and were manning the
oars. That look nearly proved my last, for
| l had hardly turned toward the shark before
he was upon me.
I cannot deecribe infinitely what occurred.
1 was taken completely by surprise, and
| lost nv wits as we'll as nerve. l saw the
| dull glare of those terrible eyes, the almost
white, shining surface ofthe belly as it was
partially turned upward, and the waters
dashed in my face. A deadly cold feeling
swept over me like an electric shock. / felt
the Shiny body brush my bare legs. Some
thing struck me on the chest, and for an
| instant believe l became unconscious.
The shark seemed to twist his body COM
| pletely around me, the boat-hook dropped
| from my hand and 1 fell over the monsters
back, my feet and legs being thrown en-
tirely out of the water as my bead and body
were wholly submerged. My eslape from
death was wonderful.
| The shark failed for the second time in
catching me between his massive jaws.
The water restored me little. scram-
bled to my feet, and, almost wild with ter
ror, looked for my enemy, and none can
imagine the joy felt as saw him swim
ming at full speed towards the entrance Of
the harbor.
1 turned my face to the shore and stag
gered along till within few yards of the
beach, when l was wholly overcome, and
swooned from the effects of the dreadful or
deal 1 had undergone. Falling in water
only four feet deep after such remarkable
escape from horrible death, came with
in hairs breadth of drowning. The boats
crew arrived not moment too soon, as it
was over an hour before l was resuscitated,
and then only after the most unwearied ex-
|