The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-22
A Thrilling Adventure with a Shark.

Alfetto, the Spanish diver, met with a
| remarkable adventure and had very
narrow escape recently while engaged
in diving operations on the coast of
North Carolina, near the little Town of
Moorehead. The Atlanta, one of the
| best-knewn coaSting-Vessels in these
parts, was capsized in squall and sank
| Just inside the bar. The owners of the
| craft contracted with diving company
| to have her raised and to recover as
much of her cargo as was still serviceable.
| Alfetto and another diver were engaged
| to do the work They made several
| successful descents, but on the fourth
trip the Spaniard met with the adven-
ture Of which We speak. His comrade
signaled hastily to be drawn up, and
when he had been hauled into the boat
| he related how Alfetto had been seized
! by a monster white shark and carried off;
but scarcely had he done speaking when
Alfetto rose from the water about fifty
wards from the boat, and was picked up
insensible, with several holes punched
in the metallic part of his diving-suit.
Means were successfully adopted to
bring him round, and the next day he
told the following story:
'.As you know, we had made our
fourth descent, and, while my compan-
ion elambered into the vessel, waited
on the ground till he should attach the
cords to draw something out. | was
just about to signal to be drawn up for
a moments rest when | noticed a Shad-
owy body moving at some distance
above me and toward me. In a
}, moment every fish had disappeared,
ri the very crustacean Law still upon
/, the sand, and the euttle-fsh scurried
| away as fast as they could. was not
, thinking of danger. and my first
thought was that it was the shadow of
, a passing boat. But suddenly feeling
of terror seized me; | felt impelled to
flee from something, | knew not what;
vague horror seemed grasping after
me, such as a child fancies when leaving
darkened room. By this time the
shadow had come nearer and taken
shape. II scarcely needed a glance to
T show me that it was man-eater, and
of the largest size Had / signaled to
be drawn up then it would have been
certain death. All | could do was to
remain still until it left 1t lay of
twenty or twenty-five feet just outside
the rigging of the ship, its body motion
tionlesS, its fins barely stirring the
water about its gills 1t was monster
as it was, but to add to the horror the
pressure of the water upon my heae
made it appear as if flames were pour
ing from its eyes and mouth, and every
J movement of its fins and tail seemed
accompanied by display OF fireworks
Twas sure the fish was thirty feet long
and so near that l could see its doubl,
row of white teeth. Involuntarily l shrunl
closer to the side of the vessel. But m.
first movement betrayed my presence
| saw the shining eyes fixed upon me
its tail 1qtiivered as it darted at me lik'
a streak of light | shrank closer t.
the side of the ship. | saw it turn OIL
one side, its mouth open, and hear
the teeth snap as it darted by me. |
had missed me. The sweep of it
mighty tail had thrown me forward
y saw it turn. balance itself, and its tai
D. quivered as it darted at me again
e There was no escape. 1t turned on 1t
y back as it swooped down on me like
hawk on a sparrow The Governor,
= | jaws opened, and the long shining teetl
grated as they closed on my metal han