Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-03-20
In the Jaws of a Shark.


Alfetto, the Spanish diver, who has
been at work on the wreck of the At
lanta, near Morehead, thus speaks of
an adventure had by him few days
ago: At the time / was at the bottom
of the sea. ] was just about to signal
to be drawn up for 4 moments rest,
when [ noticed a shadowy body moving
at some distance above me and toward
me. In q moment every fish had dis
appeared-the very crustaceans lay
still upon the sand and the cuttle-fsh
scurried away as fast as they could.
was not thinking of danger, and nv
first thought was that it was the shadow
of a passing boat. But suddenly q feel
ing of terror seized me. [ felt.impelled
to flee from something, l knew not
what. A vague horror seemed grasp
ing after me, such as child fancies
when leaving a darkened room. By
this time the shadow had come nearer
and taken shape. 1t scarcely needed a
glance to show me that it was man
eater, and of the largest size. Had I
signalled to be drawn up then it would
have been certain death. All [ could
do was to remain still until it left. 1t
lay off twenty or twenty-five feet, just
outside the rigging of the ship, it's body
motionless, its fms barely stirring the
water about its gills.
1t was a monster as it was, but to
add to the horror the pressure of water
upon my head made it appear as if
pouring flames from its eyes and mouth
and every movement of it's fins and tail
seems accompanied by display of fire
works. l was sure the fish was thirty
feet long, and so near that [ could see
its double row of white teeth. Invol-
UNFAIRLY | shrunk closer to the side of
the vessel. But my first movement be-
trayed my presence. l saw the shift
ING eyes fixed upon me; its tail quiz
cred as it darted at me like streak of
light. | shrank closer to the side of
the ship. | saw it turn on one side, it's
mouth open, and heard the teeth snap
as it darted by me. 1t had missed me,
hIl+ on1 e.. Tho eurno,1 IF
its mighty tail had thrown me forward.
/ saw it turn, balance itself, and it's tail
quivered as it darted at me again.
There was no escape. 1t turned on it's
back as it swooped down on me like a
hawk on sparrow. The jaws opened
and the long, shining teeth grated as
| they closed on my metal harness. 1t
| had me. l could feel its teeth grinding
on my copper breastplate as it tried to
bite me in two, for, fortunately, it had
caught me just across the middle, where
[ was best protected. Having seized
me it went tearing through the water.
| / could feel it bound forward at each
stroke of its tail. Had it not been for
my copper helmet my head would have
been torn off by the rush through the
water. / was perfectly conscious, but
somehow l felt no terror al all. |
wondered how long it would be before
those teeth would crunch through and
whether they would strike first into my
back or my breast. Then | thought Of
Maggie and the baby, and wondered
who would take care of them and if she
would ever know what had become of
me. All these thoughts passed through
my brain in an instant, but in that time
the connecting air tube had been snap
ped and my head seemed ready to
| burst with pressure, while the mon
ster's teeth kept crunching and grind
inc away on my harness. Then | felt
the cold water begin to pour in and
heard the bubble, bubble, bubble, as
the air escaped into the creature S
mouth. l began to hear great guns
and see fireworks and rainbows and
sunshine and all kind of pretty things;
then | thought | was floating away on
rosy summer cloud, dreaming to the
| sounds Of sweet music. Then all be-
came blank. The shark might have
| eaten me at his leisure and [ never
would have been the wiser. Imagine
my establishment then when | opened
nv eyes on board this boat and saw
you fellows around me. Yes, sir,
thought was dead and ate up, sure.
Altetto 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 me-
tallic part of the diving suit. Panama
| Herald.