Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-10
Battle with a Shark.

BOY TERRIBLY BITTEN WHILE BATHING.
aged
Arthur Cole. aged Is, of St Sackett street, had
a novel and exciting encounter with a shark
the foot Of Columbia Street for the purpose Of
going on crab fishing expedition. They en-
barked at O'Clock, and pulled slowly down
between Columbia and Hicks streets. Here
Gates remarked to his companion that he
would like to take swim. Cole replied, IAN
until your return" Gates undressed, plunged
into the river, and swan several times around
the beat.
Meanwhile Cole was engaged in attaching
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
lent displacement of the water, which almost
upset the boat: Almost simultaneously with
the shock which was thus 81 ven him, he was
loudly called for help. Cole concluded that
Gates had met with some accident, and was
about to leap into the water when, looking
over the side of the boat, he saw his COM
pauion struggling with shark.
There was no time to be lost. The cries of
Gates were growing fainter, and in a minute
bethought himself of the primitive anchor he
had been making. He promptly seized the
stone aud with all his strength hurled it at the
shark. Fortunately his aim was good, and the
heavy stone struck the shark on the head
Seemingly stunned by the blow for a second,
the shark released its hold upon Gates. Cole
seized this opportunity to rescue his friend.
whose bleeding and mangled body was about
TO sink. Cole lay to his oars, and few strokes
brought him along side of Gates, who was be-
ing swept along by the tide. He reached out
his oar, but the drowning boy was Unable to
catch hold of it. At last fortunate wave
brought the boat and Gates body close togeth-
er, and Cole leaned over the side, and Selling
Gates by the head and shoulder, pulled him on
board.
BY this time the shark had partially recov-
cred, and he began To plunge violently about
in the water. The speeches. and almost life
less Gates was placed in the bottom of the
boat, and Cole again lay to his oars and pulled
with all his strength in the direction of the
boat house from whence they had started. The
shark seemed to have lost Its reckoning when
it missed its victim, and after making divers
maneuvers it disappeared.
On reaching the shore it was found that
Gates was terribly lacerated. His body seemed
to be bleeding at every pore. He was ex-
hausted from loss of blood, as well as from the
effects OF the terrible nervous shock he had
sustained. An ambulance was telegraphed
arrived at McCuthry'S boat house, where the
unfortunate boy had been provided with
blanket, and otherwise temporarily cared for.
After a cursOry examination of GateSS
wounds the ambulance surgeon pronounced
him to be in most critical condition and
directed his Immediate removal to st. Peters
hospital, at Hicks and Congress streets. Here
the wounds were closely examined by the resi-
dent surgeon. 1t was found that the boys
back and sides were horribly lacerated, and
little If any hope is entertained of his recov-
cry.
relatives and neighbOrS, is a lad of quiet de-
meanOr, and has unusual intelligence for his
age. He says that the shark was at least eight
feet in length.-fN. Y. sun, 9TH.