The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-08-16
A Battle With Sharks.


Captain Francis Ganello, Of the
Italian bark Magdalena. who arriy-
ed on the Sd inst. related the follow
ing circumstance, which occurred to
him while with his vessel at Grey
town, where he arrived on the eth
of June. He ordered his launch 10
be riggeG wilh mast and four oars
and sailors 10 use them. Taking his
ships papers with him he entered
the launch and was about 10 push
of when French passenger, Leon
Birara. asked the captain - be al
lowed TO GO in the launch. which re-
quest was granted. They pulled 70
within three OF four hundred yards
from shore. when they say the high
breakers and saw Il was almost i'm
possible 10 land, ss a high sea was
running over the bar. The captain
then made signals TO those on shore
TO come of 10 his assistance, but no
attention was paid TO his movements
The captain then determined 70 Try
10 land, and, pointing the bow OF
b:s boat to the shore. told his men
topull. which they did with viii.
The launch safely crossed the first
and second reefs, but when they
neared the third reef very heavy
breaker struck the boat, which cap
sized and filed. Three ofthe sailors
each got an oar and tried to make
shore which they succeeded IN
reaching in an exhausted condition.
The captain with one sailor and
the French passenger laid hold OF
the launch, righted her, and thought
il was full of water, got in and wait
ed for assistance.
While thus anxiously waiting a
a large school of sharks encircled the
frail craft and continually drew
nearer. They fought them with
desperation, though the captain
came so near their merciless jaws as
to have his breeches torn in several
places. From three o'clock to
nightfall they kept up the fight for
life, when the captain made up his
mind to attempt to swim ashore
and told the sailor and passenger
to follow him. The mast of
the launch was near by, en-
tangled in the cordage, and the
CAPTAIN succeeded in loosening it
and. with the sailor at one end took
the other. They asked the passen-
gers to come on and take hold of the
middle of the mast, but he refused
saving he feared the sharks. He
told the captain that ne would wait
in the boat and begged him to send
speedy assistance. Theventuresome
pair were thrown on the beach by a
heavy sea in an exhausted condition.
As soon as they partly recovered
they told the citizens of the passen-
ger yet adrift and boat with six oars
was Immediately rugged and went
out in search of the unfortunate man
and the launch.
The captain, having recovered
from his bufeting with the waves,
procured another boat and pushed
from shore with one of his own
sailors TO find the launch. They
searched until the night was far
gone, and finding no trace OF either
launch or mar sadly returned to
shore. The next morning at day
break the Governor went out in a
boat with a picked crew and exam
ined the whole coast and found nei'
ther boat or passenger, and conclud'
ed that the launch had been beaten
on the reefs and that the unfortunate
passenger had been devoured by The
voracious sharks. Captain GanellC
brought a certified deposition from
the Governor OF Greytown relating
the above facts, which deposition i,
now in the possession of. Mr.. Geo
Alte, Vice Consul of Italy at thi:
port.-MoJjle Register.