The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-03-12

5 NO. 81.
A LaScar'S Combat With q Shark.


| There was Lascar on our ship who
was very expert in handling a catama-
ran, kind of raft made Of three sticks
Of wood dashed together, and used in
| the suf, which place rolls IN very
heavily This man had little child.
q 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
this pursuit.
Now it happened one morning that,
going out very early, even before the
day had sprung, the catamaran ran
fo"l 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 81
duck, and made for the raft, which no
had scarce reached when lie saw u
huge shark seize the child and make
to sea with its prey.
The man, as may be supposed. was
holrjied and for a moment dazcd: but
he soon recovered, and drawing long
knife which he carried in his GUNNER
band, plunged after the shark. ] was
on the beach at the time, ard saw the
whole affair. The man disappeared,
but rose again, the shark near him, and
both apparently engaged ina desper-
ate conflict. This lasted several min
utes. The water then began to grow
red: the man rose two or three times IN
qnick succession, his knife still in his
hard, and striking with great force
and energy.
This continued several seconds.
Then the sharl, rose suddenly, and.
throwing its huge form half way out
Of the spray, sank with heavy plunge,
idyeing the waters with deep crimson
ias it disappeared. ! looked now an
Hiously FOR the man, and seeing no
sign OF him, thought he had shared tho
fate Of his adversary, but presently he
. came TO the surface, and swan directly
fer the shore. He was very much ex-
hausted, bnt his body was without a
wound. q strange circumstance, seeing
the danger he had encountered.
After he had rested l asked him to
relate tie particulars of his combat
with the sea monster, which he did.
He said that as soon as lie plunged into
the water he saw the shark in the act
Of devouring the child; that he made
toward it aud gave it Il 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 stab, and the knife running
along produced a wound over a yard in
length, which, in short, made an end
of the monster. On receiving this
wound it ragged about in furry fora
few seconds, then careeDing on its side
drifted at the mercy of the waves d
mere pile of lifeless matter.
Such was the story of this brave
mans encounter. While we were talk
ing, heard great clamor among
some of the Massvolah boatmen on
the beach, and sent Que of our men to
learn its occasion. He came back with
the tidings that the shark had come
ashore aud the noise we heard pro-
ceeded from the natives who were
amazed at its size, which was indeed
enormous, and the number of wounds
which it had received; on hearing this
l proceeded toward the place where it
was stranded, taking the Lascar with
me, who had by this time thoroughly
regained his energies.
We approached the monster. It Law
on its side among a lot of weed
the blood still ooziDg from the wounds
with which its body was covered. The
size, as have observed, was surpris-
ing. | had Seen sharks of large pro-
portions; but they were small compar-
ed to this creature. ] did not measure
it carefully, but it was near 80 feet in
length, and as big round as the main
mast Of our ship. 1t had made a bold
defense, and was not conquered until
its life gushed out from multitude Of
wounds.
After satisfying my curiosity, I had
the monster opened, when a,ghastly
spectacle was presented. The child
was found in it's stomach, but utterly
dismembercd, the head being severed
from the body, and thewhole so ground
together as to be scarce recognizable.
was greatly overcome at this mclan-
choiy sight; even the apathy OF the
llindoo gave way us he gazed on the
remains of his beloved ll.-[Seafar-
Inw Nnn--au UNPUBLISHED tale nv Hcc-