Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-14
NO. l9l.
FIGHTING WITH A SHARK.
A BROOKLYN BOYS TUssEL WITH FE.
RoCIoUs MONSTER IN THE BAY.

Yesterday morning two bright boys of
the selt-reliant and sturdy class peculiar
to the waterfront section of South Brook
lyn, named Charles Gates, aged IA, and
Arthur Hale. 16 years, went out in small
boat for days sport just outside the
breakwater at the foot of Columbia street,
Brooklyn. The boys, after an invigora-
Iing pull and an hour of grabbing, the
sport being good, began to feel the effects
OF the heat.
The water looked cool, and both were
strong swimmers. Gates suggested q
swim about the boat.
"lll not go in here" replied Hale.
"Why notP The tide isn't too strong,n
said the younger of the two youths.
Come on-what are you afraid OF Ps
Hale, however, was not to be bantered
into plunge into the waters of the bav.
and earnestly besought his companion not
to undertake it, saying:
"This is August, and I've heard that
sharks are always thick in the bay Just
out side the breakwater during this month"
Gates laughed at his companions fears,
and derided his explanation of them. He
had never seen shark in the vicinity, and
he didn't believe one would attack a fel-
low, even if it should chance to be near.
He defended his side of the arguemens
with boyish enthusiasm. and finding at
last that nothing would avail to overcome
his companions fears, hastily stripped off
his clothing and took a confident "header'
over the side OF the boat into the cool waters
He plunged in aud disappeared with a
laugh OF boyish glee. He reappeared in
a few seconds with cry of mortal terror,
and a look of horror On his face. He
came to the surface some distance from
the boat. and Hale saw him wildly shake
the water from his face and strike out for
him. There was something in the fren-
zied manner and look of horror on the
swimmers face that impressed the boy in
he boat. The swimmer was not sham
ming. He was in dead earnest.
Hale with few rapid strokes, pulled
the boat to the point where Gates was
struggling frantically in the water. hav-
ing ceased swimming, and only striving,
evidently, to do combat As the oarsman
turned to look he saw long brown OBJ
ject glide through the water. Hale recog-
nized it at once. 1t was a shark. He
could see now that the attack had been
successful. The swimmer had been
caught by the leg, and there was blood in
the water. Gates shrieked and howled IN
the most agonizing manner, and for a
time Hale lost hisiseli-possession and did
not know what to do in the emergency.
The unfortunate youth, in spite OF his
frantic struggle, was dragged down be-
meath the surface. He succeeded, how
ever, in shaking off the sharks hold, and
arose again to the surface through the
bloody water. this time coming up very
near the boat.
Hale had now decided on hiIplan of &C.
tion. In the boat was large stone in
tended Tor use as an anchor Running to
the bow the boy seized this in both hands
and strove to get tair aim at the assail-
ant. When Gates had nearly reached the
boat, he was seized again, this time in the
side. The boy was strong swimmer,
however, and nerved with terror, strug-
ged away again.
All this Time Hill was waiting for a
chance to deal blow with the uplitted
stone, in state of great CONSERVATION
and excitement. But no opportunity was
afforded, owing to the rapid movement
OF the monster and its prey. A second
and third time the swimmer was caught
and terribly lacerated. but finally sue
ceeded in reaching the boat and throwing
uls urn over the SunWale.
The shark went at the youth again, and
got fair grip on his hips. This would
undoubtedly nave finished the struggle
then and there, had not Hale found his
long-waited-tor opportunity at this time.
Taking careful and deliberate aim, he
launched the heavy stone at the head of
the shark, with such effect that it released
the hold it had secured. Hale seized on his
friend, and at imminent risk of oyerturn-
ing the boat drew his companion in. The
shark was not stunned by the severe blow
it had received, for it made another rush,
and greedily snapped at the swimmers
leg. missing it by only few inches, as
the boy was hauled over the side into the
boat.
Gates fell into the boat insensible, the
blood flowing from many wounds and
forming a pool about him. Hale seized the
oars and rowed rapidly for McCarty's boat
house at the foot oI Columbia street, Gates
ying all the while insensible. and appa-
rently, and his companion feared, bleeding
TO death.
On reaching the dock. the loungers
thereabouts, VINO had detected some time
before from the manner OF the approach
ing oarsman that something terrible had
happened, had ambulance-surgeon Con-
very ready to receive him. The wounded
boy was taken out OF the boat and laid on
the dock. The surgeon examined him,
and declared him still alive, but very dan
elously wounded.
An ambulance was therefore sent for,
and he was conveyed to st. Peters hospi-
tai. 1t is thought he will recover by care
lul treatment.
Hale says the shark was about eight feet
in length. and moved through the water
I" like flash OF light" He thought his
little friend was "a goner" when the mon-
ster caught him by lne hip the last time.
The news had spread last night among
the South Brooklyn boys. and the break
water will hereafter be AN unpopular place
for swimmers.-NetC York Star.
The Journal of Health gives the follow
ing: There is scarcely any ache to which
children are subject so hard 10 bear and
difficult to cure as the eatache. But there