The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-03-07
Are Sharks Man.tlnters,

A correspondent of the San Francisco
Chronicle writes Noticing o statement
in you issue Of the 3d instant to the ef-
feet that one Of the fish commissioners
MIR. Redding-had fatty denied the
man-eating propensities of the shark, of
any species, and as happen to be cog
infant OF case which think will settle
the question in regard to the propensi-
ties OF at least one species OF the shark,
1 send you an account Of 1t. The victim
OF the occasion was a seaman by the
name of Martin, one of the crew of the
United States ship Saratoga. During q
cruise of that ship ON the west coast of
Africa in the year 1874, while taking on
water at st. Thomas, small island sit
uated on the equator, about 800 miles
from the African coast, Martin met his
death, which was Witnessed by at least
two-thirds of the ships crew, who hap
pened to be on deck at the time of its
occurrence. The ships barge was COM
ing off from shore to the ship. Having
smooth water and a good breeze she was
using her sails instead of her oars, and
bowling along at fair rate of speed.
When she arrived at the proper position
Martin, the coxawain, put his helm hard
down, to sheer the boat alongside of the
ship, and in doing SO pressed too heavily
on the tiller, when it broke, causing him
to lose his balance and fall overheard.
The boat, being under sail, could not be
stopped readily, leaving Martin in the
water. He being an expert swimmer NO
danger was apprehended of his drown
ing. The officer on duty ordered boat
to go and pick him up. just then the
cry of shark was heard, and the dorsal
flu of one of those dreaded fish appeared
above the surface of the water, in close
proximity to the swimmer. Then fol.
lowed Il few moments of terrible suspense
to the spectators, who gazed at the mon
ster circllng around its victim. But the
suspense was of short duration, for, after
swimming around the man two or three
times, it turned and swan directly TO,
him. The horror of that moment sends
a chill to my heart to this day when
recall it. One short, sharp, despairine
cry from tie swimmer and the cruel jaws
OF the monster closed upon him ant
silenced him forever. The shark lashed
the water into foam with his tail, then i
disappeared below the surface.
bloody patch of water and hat floating
on the surface was all that was left t.
mark the spot where a moment before
was powerful swimmer battling will
the watery element. From the fore
going experience I have arrived at th'
conclusion that whatever may be th'
propensities of tie shark of San Fran
cisco bay, the ground shark found with
in the tropics are decidedly man-eater'
when they get chance to indulge in tina
sort of diet. There is species of sharl
found in the China sea and around th,
Indian islands, called by sailors, tn,
white shark, which is very voraciou
fish, and 1 have heard some tough storie
of their accomplishments in the man
eating line but as I have never seel
these sharks I cannot vouch for tn
stories. The blue-water shark-that i
the sharks that live altogether in dec
sea, away from land, are said to be harm
less. have often heard of whalemel
being overheard among them, from hav
ing their beats capsized or stove, but
have never heard of any of them beinl
molested by the sharks. To the reader
of the Chronicle would say, never trus
to the generosity of a shark, no matte
under what name or species he is known
the fish commissioners to the contrar.
notwithstanding.