Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-03
A Divers Adventure


 Alfetto, the Spanish diver, who has been at work on the wreck of the Atlanta, near Morehead, thus speaks of an adventure had by him few days ago: At the time was at the bottom of the sea. I was just about to signal to be drawn up for a moments rest, when I noticed shadowy body moving at some distance above me and toward me. In 8 moment every fish had disappe ared, the very crustaceans lay still upon the sand, and the cutie fish scurried away as fast as they could. I was not thinking of danger, and my first thought was that it was the shadow of 8 passing boat. But suddenly feeling of ter TOT seized me. felt impelled to flee from something knew not what A vague horror seemed grasping after me, such as child fancies when leaving darkened room. By this time the shadow had come nearer and taken shape It scarcely needed glance to show me that 1t was mau-eater, and of the largest size. Had I signaled to be drawn up then it would have been certain death. All could do was to remain still until iE left. It lay of twenty or twenty-five feet, just out side the rigging of the ship, it's body barely stirring the water about its gills
 It was monster as 1t was, but to add to the horror the pressure of water upon my head made it appear as if pouring flames from it's eyes and mouth. and every movement of it's fins and tail seemed accompanied by dis play of fireworks. 1 was sure the fish was thirty feet long, and so near that I could see irs double row of white teeth. Involuntarify shrunk closer to the side of the vessel But my first movement betrayed my presence. I saw the shining eyes fixed upon me; it's tail ouiyered as it darted at me like streak of light shrank closer to the side of the ship. I saw 1t turn on one side its mouth open, and heard the teeth snap as it darted by me. It had missed me, but only for moment The sweep of its mighty tail had thrown me forward I saw it turn, balance itself, and it's tail quivered as it darted at me again. There was no escape. It turned on It's back as it swooped down on me like hawk on sparrow The jaws opened, and the long, shining teeth grated as they closed on my metal harnses.
 It had me. I could feel it's teeth grinding on my copper breastplate as it tried to bite me in two for, fortunately, 1t had caught me just across the middle, where I was best pro- teoted. Having seized me it went tearing through the water. I could feel 1t bound forward at every stroke of it's tail. Had it not been for my copper helmet my head would have been torn of by the rush through the water I was perfectly conscious, but somehow felt no terror at all. There was only feeling of numbness l wondered how long it would be before those teeth would crunch through, and whether they would strike first into my back or my breast, when I thought of Maggie and the baby. and wondered who would take care of them and if she would ever knowi what had become of me. All these thoughts passed through my brain in an instant, but in that time the con- nectine air tube had been snapped and my head seemed ready to burst with pressure, while the monsters teeth kept crunching and grinding away upon my harness. Then felt the cold water begin to pour in, and I heard the bubble. bubble, bubbIe as the air es- caued into the creature's mouth. I began to hear great guns and to see fireworks and rain bows and sunshine and ali kinds of pretty things. then I thought was floating away on a rosy summer cloud. dreaming to the sounds of sweet music Then all became blank. The shark might have eaten me at his leisure. and never would have been the wiser. Imagine my astonishment then when opened my eyes on board this boat and saw you fellows around me. Yes sir, thought I was dead and ate up sure.
 Alfetto was found by his comrades few minutes after the snapping of the line He was picked up insensible. with several holes punched in the metallic part of his diving suit.