The sun., 1878-08-09
BATTLING WITH A SHARK.
a BOY TERRTBLY BITTEN WHILE BA TH-
ING IN THE EAST RIVER.
Fighting for Life In Mid-stream with -
Eight-Foot Monster-How he wns stunned
by How from n stone Used for mn M OF.

Fighting for Life In Mid-stream with -
Eight-Foot Monster-How he WINS stunneA
by How from n stone Used for nm Anchor.
Last evening at 5 o'clock Charles Gates.
aged IA, Of 40 President street. Brooklyn. and
Arthur Cole. aged 16. OF 96 Sackett street. had
novel and exciting encounter with q shark In
the East river. They had hired boat at the
foot OF Columbia street for the purpose OF go
ing on crab fishing expedition. They
embarked at 5 o'clock. and pulled slowly down
the river until they reached the breakwater be-
tween Columbia and Hicks streets. Here Gates
remarked to his companion that he would like
to take n swim. Cole replied. All right: ped
on. and I'll remain in the boat until your re-
turn"
Gates undressed plunged into the river, and
swan several times around the boat.
Meanwhile Cole was engaged In attachinga
rope to large stone which he had on board.
and which he meant TO use as an anchor after
they began to fish. Coles attention was soon dk
verted from this work by Il sudden and violent
displacement Of the water, which almost upsea
the boat, Almost simultaneously with the
tied by the screams Of his companion who
loudly called for help. Cole concluded thai
Gates had met with some accident and WAX
about TO leap into the water when, looking ovef
the side Of the boat he saw his companion
struggling with shark
%
Gates were growing fainter. and in n minute
more his life must have been sacrificed. Cole
bethought himself Of the primitive anchor he
stone and with all his strength hurled II at the
shark. Fortunately his aim was good. and the
heavy stone struck the shark on the hend.
the shark released its hold upon Gates. Cois
seized this opportunity 70 rescue his friend.
whose bleeding and mangled body WIS about 70
sink. Cole lay to his oars. and few strokes
brought him along side Of Gates, who was be-
ing swept along hy the tide He reached out his
oar, but the drowning boy wns unable TO catch
boat and Gntes's body close together. and Cola
eaned oyer the side. and seizing Gates by the
head and shoulder. pulled him on board.
ed. and he began to plunge Violently about In
the water. The speechess and almost lifeless
Gates was placed in the bottom OF the boat, and
his strength in the direction Of tho boat house
from whence they had started. The shark
seemed to nave lost its reckoning whom II
nuuvrcs il disappeared.
On reaching the shore II was found thai
Gates was terribly laceratcd. His body seemed
FROM loss Of blood. rs well rs from the cfTecu
OF the terrible nervous shock he had sustained.
An ambulance was telegraphed for. DR.. Coch-
ran ana an ambulance promptly arrived at Mo-
Cuturys bOathousc where the unfortunate boz
hal been provided with blanket. and other
wise temporarily cared for,
Alter cursOry examination OF Gntos 5 wOunta
the Ambulance Surgeon pronounced him 70 be
i'll most critical condition. and directed ha
immediate removal TO 81. Peters Hospital. NJ
HICKS ana Congress streets. Here the wOunda
were closely examined by the resident surgeon.
II was found that the boys back and sides were
horribly laccrated. and little If any hope ID
entertained Oi his recovery.
Cole. who is made the hero of the hour by hif
relatives and ue'ghbors. is a lad Of quiet DO
meanor uud las unusual Intelligence for his
feet in length