The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-05-02
A True Shark STORY.

1t may not be generally known that in
that playful marine acrobat, the por-
poise, the shark possesses an implacable
enemy that will permit no intrusion on
its feeding grounds. The writer first
learned this fact from two old and ex-
perienced fishermen when out on FISH
ing excursion, one lovely August day,
Off Squan Beach, New Jersey. 1t came
out in the course of q story, which is
here given as it was told in the boat.
The fishermen were serious and qtiiet
men, watchful and ready; and noticed
that they not only used no profane ex-
pressions themselves, but appeared to
be annoyed and distressed at the occa-
sional strong expletives that escaped me
under the exasperating excitement Of
losing fine fish from the hook after
hauling it to the surface. Somewhat
surprised at demeanor I had not been
accustomed to in Utoilers of the sea"
1 asked them at last if any thing was the
matter. They replied, very respectful
ly, that being religious men, they felt
panied by any thing approaching the sin
OF profanity, and that if would listen
E they would tell me the story of their re-
markable deliverance from death, which
resulted in their conversion. It was as
follows:
Some ten years ago we were hard
drinkers, swearers, wild surf-men, and
fishermen. We never entered church,
and cared neither for God nor Satan.
ION fine Sunday morning in August,
1867, we started at daylight for this very
reef of rocks. With plenty of bait, we
looked for four or five ehundred-weighto of
sea-bass, founders and blackfish. At
first we pulled them up as fast as our
lines touched bottom; then we had not o
single bite. Surprised, we stood up and
looked around, preparatory to changing
our ground. To our astonishment the
water was alive with sharks. We COM
menced pulling up our anchor, when a
savage fish rushed to the bow of the
boat and bit the rope in two. Then we
holsted sail, but the moment we put the
steering oar in the water several sharks
began biting it in pieces. So we were
compelled to take in sail, and drift. We
were In the midst of q school of sharks
two miles long and half o mile broad.
They were of all sizes, from six feet long
to twelve or fourteen. They swarmed
around our boat, and dashed it one-third
full of water with their tails. We had to
bail, one with his hat and the other with
the bait pail. Every moment some big
fellow would put his nose almost on our
gunwale, while his yellow tiger eye
glared ferociously at out pale faces. One
shark dashed at the boat and seized one
of the side planks, and almost shook us
out of our seats. Fortunately his teeth
broke off, and away he went with bleed
| ing jaw. In moment he was torn in
pieces and devoured. Then the school
turned toward us again.
"We were in despair, and never ex-
| pected to see shore. We could not sail,
we could not row, and were drifting out
to sea. Finally, Charley said: Bill. we
are in an awful muss. Let us see if God
will help us. We knelt down, and ]
prayed for help, confessed our sins, and
promised amendment and repentance.
We had hardly finished before we saw a
great school of porpoises. They hurled
themselves out of the water, jumping
twenty feet at bound. Soon we were in
the midst of them. The sharks started out
to sea, but the porpoises were too quick.
They bit and tore the sharks fearfully.
Sometimes three porpoises would have
hold of one shark. Then they jumped
out of the water and fell heavily on these
tigers of the ocean. The fight continued
| for miles, and we were saved. We row.
ed safely to shore, and became professors
of religion; gave up drinking, swearing
and all vices. We have great respect fol
porpoises, and believe that if they were
not SO plentiful, New Jersey shore would
swarm with sharks, and then good-by to
fishing and bathing"