Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-19
JOURNEY ma SHARKS MOUTH.
The Narrow Escape Of Spanish Diver.
C-nrf-t, H. rrt,iIr Z. !. n al 1911,

Inc HArEOW EsGdpe OF q SpaEtsn DlNeFs
\ Spanish diver, while at work beneath
the sea on the wreck ola vessel, says Cas-
SLIPS Journal. net with a thrilling adj
venture, and gives the following graphic
account Of It:
AT the time 1 was at the bottom OF
the sea-" SAYS Alfetto. Il was lust about
to signal 70 Be drawn up for a moments
rest. when l noticed shadowy body
moving AT some distance above me and
towards ne. In moment every fish had
disappeared. the very crust2ceans lay
still upon the sand, and the cuttIe-dsh
scuTried away as fast as they could. l
was not thinking Of danger, and nv first
thought was that il was the shadow Of a
passing boat. But suddenly a feeling CT
terror seized me. felt impelled 10 Zee
from something 1 knew not what. A
vague horror seemed grasping after ne,
such as a child feels when entering a
daTkened room. By this time the shadow
had come nearer and taken shape.
1T scarcely needed a glance 70 show
me that 1t was man-eater, and one of
the largest size. Had l signaled 10 be
drawn up then it would have been certain
death. All l could do was 10 remain until
il left. Il lay OF % or . feet. lust out
side the rigging Of the ship. It's BODY
water above its gllls. 1t was g monster
as II was, but 10 add % the horror. the
pressure OF the water upon ny head
made Il appear as if It were pouring
flames from its ewes and mouth and
every movement Of its ms and tail
seemed accompanied by q display Of fire
works. / was sure the fish was 30-feet
long, and SO near that 1 could see its
double row OF " nlte teeth. IuyOluutaTilT
] shTank closer 70 the side OF the vessel.
But ny first movement betrayed my
presence. l saw the shining ewes fixed
upon me; its tail quivered as It darted al
me like streak OF light. / slrank closer
70 the side OF the ship. I saw Il turn on
one side, its mouth open, and heard the
teeth snap as il darted by ne. Il had
missed me. but only for a moment. The
sweep Of its mighty tail had thrown me
forward. l saw il turn, balance itself,
and its tail quiyered as it darted at ne
again. There was no escape.
1T turned on its back as il sTo0ped
down on me Ike a hawk on q sparrow.
The jaws opened and the long shining
teeth grated as they closed on my metal
harness. Il had ne. l could feel its teeth
grinding on my copper breastplate as If
tried 70 bite me IN tWO-fOr, fortunately,
Il had caught ne inst across the middle,
where l was best protected. Having
seized me it went tearing through the
water. l could feel it bound forward at
each stroke Of its tail. Had Il not been
for ny copper helmet my head would have
been torn OF By the rush through the
water. I was perfectly conscious, but
somehow I felt no terror at all. There
was only feeling Of num5ness. l Won
dered how long it would be before those
teeth crushed through, and whether they
would strike first into nv back or nv
breast. Then | thought Of Maggie and
and the baby, and wondered who would
take care Of them, and if she would ever
know shat had become Of me.
"AIl these thoughts nassed through my .
brain IN an instant. but in that ma Tie f!
air tube had been snapped and /
my head seemed ready to burst with pres
sure. while the monsters teeth kept /
crunching and grinding upon my harness.
Then / felt the cold water begin to pour I
as the air escaped into the creatures
mouth. l began 70 near great guns and /
10 see fireworks and raiDb0Ws and sun 1
shine, and ali kinds Of pretty things; then /
/ thought l was floating away on a rosy /
summer cloud, dreaming the sounds Of
sweet music. Then all became blank.
The shark might now have eaten me at
his leisure and l should have been none
the wiser. Imagine my establishment. |
then, when l opened my eyes on board
and saw you fellows around me.o
AlfettO was found by his comrades a few
minutes after the swapping Of the line.
He was picked up insensible with several
holes punched in the metallic part Of his
diving suit.