Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-09
Bathing Among the Sharks.

| Bathing Among the Sharks.
It WIS dead caln-not a breath of
air-ths sails tapped idly against the
masts; he helm had lost its power, and
the ship turned her head how and where
she liked. The heat was intense, 80 much
80 that the chief mate had told the boat
swain to keep the watch out of the sun
but the watch below found it too warm
to sleep, and were tormented with thirst,
which they could not crafty till the wa
ter was served out. They had drunk all
the previous days allowance; and now
that their scuttle- butt was dry, there was
nothing left for them but endurance
Some IF the seamen had congregated on
the tpgallant forecastle, where they
gazed On the clear blue water with long
ing eye,.
"Hov cool and clear it looks,'' said a
tall, powerful young seaman. 81 don t
think there are many sharks about. What
do you say for bath, lads?"
"That for the sharksr' burst almost
simultaneously from the parched lips of
the group; swell have jolly good bath
when the second mate goes in to dinner
In about half an hour the dinner-bell
rang. The boatswain took charge of the
deck. Some twenty sailors we're now
stripped, except a pair of light duck
trousers. Among the rest was a tall, pow-
erful coast of Africa negro, of the name
of Leigh. They used to joke and call
him Sambo
"You no swim to-day, Ned?' said he,
addressing me. "Feared of shark, heb?
Shark nebber bite me. Suppose I meet
shark in water, swim after him him
run like debbel."
was tempted, and, like the rest, was
soon ready, In quick succession we
jumped off the spirtsail- yard, the black
leading. We had scarcely been in the
water five minutes, when some voice in
board cried out, "a shark shark !"
In an instant every ohe of the swimmers
came tumbling up the ship side, half
mad with fright, the gallant black among
the rest. 1t was a false alarm. We felt
angry with ourselves fol. being frightened,
angry with those who had frightened us,
and furious with those who had laughed
at US in another moment we were all
again lip the water, the black and myself
swimming some distance from the ship.
For two successive voyages there had
been sort of rivalry between Us; each
taneied that he was the best swimmer,
| and we were now testing our speed.
swell done, Ned!" cried some of the
sailors from the forecastle. sGo it, Sam
bop cried some others. We were both
straining our utmost, excited by the
cheers Of our respective partisans. Sud-,
denly the voice of the boatswain was
heard shouting:
"A shark! shark! Come back. for
Gods sade!'
Lay aft, and lower the cutter down."
then came family on our ear.
The race instantly ceased. AS yet, we
only half believed what we heard, our
recent fright being still fresh in our
memories.
''Swim, for Gods sakev' cried the cap
tain, who was now on deck; she has not
seen you. The boat, if possible, will get
between you and him. Strike out, lads,
for Gods sake!"
My heart stood still; felt weaker than
a child as I gazed with horror at the
dorsal i'm of a large shark on the star
board quarter. Though in the water, the
perspiration dropped from me like rain;
the black was striking out like mad for
the ship.
"Swim, Ned-swim!'' cried several
voices; "they never take black when they
can GEL white"
| did swim, and that desperately; the
water foamed past me. soon breasted
the black, but could not head him. We
both strained every nerve to be first, for
we both fancied the last man would be
taken. Yet we scarcely seemed to move :;
| the ship appeared as far as ever from us.
We were both powerful swimmers and
! both of US swan in the French way called
la 5rdsse, or hand over hand in English.
There was something the matter with the
boats falls, and they could not lower
her.
"He sees you now!'' was shouted; che
is after your
0, the agony of that moment! thought
of every thing at the same instant, at
least so it seemed to me then. Scenes
long forgotten rushed through my brain
with the rapidity Of lightning, yet in
this was striking out madly for the
ship. Each moment fancied could
| feel the pilot FISH touching me, and I
almost screamed with agony. We were
now not ten yards from the ship; fifty
ropes were thrown to us; but, as if by
mutual instinct, we swan for the same.
"Hurrah! they are saved! they are
alongside!" was shouted by the eager
crew. We both grasped the rope at the
same time; slight struggle ensued;
| had the highest hold. Regardless Of
everything,but my own safety,I placed my
feet on the blacks shoulders, scrambled
up the side, and fell exhausted on the
deck. The negro followed roaring with
pain, for the shark had taken away part
of his heel. Since then, I have never
bathed at sea: nor, believe, has Sambo
been ever heard again to assert that he
would swim after a shark if be met one
in the water.
| DR.. Albert r. Leeds, of the Stevens In
stitute of Technology, notes the remark
able fact that in the economy of nature
an agent like ozone, which operates as a
purifier and disinfectant and theoretically
destroys decomposing and putrescrible
hoe 1,,+ 1it+Io oo+;on