St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-27
A RACE WITH a SHARK.

me Episode That Thrilled "a CPOtc1 Of
spectators at StapIetOn the Other day.
: There were about fifty strong swimmers
disporting in the sparkling waters of the Mar
rows yesterday off the old ferry dock at
Stapieton, Staten Island An old diver,
John Taylor, who has been in the service of
the Coast Wrecking Company for years,
stood on the dock. BY and by the swimmers
began to scamper ashore and TAYLOR said
sharks" Sure enough a shark was after
the men, who managed to get safely in.
When the spectators were gaspine a SIGH of
relief, however, cry Of horror broke out
from the diver He pointed far out over the
water on the other side of the pier. There
was another swimmer frisking about all
alone in the water, all unconscious of what
had been going on or what a terrible foe had
been encountered so near. This WIGS a Young
man named Thomas Kohler. The crowd
set up yell at him and beckoned him back
with frantic gestures. He did not under
stand at first, and padded slowly in. The
crowd kept up their excited cries, and finally
he, although not understanding the mean
ing of the commotion, started back with all
his energy, evidently satisfied that there was
some good cause for this sohcitude in his
behalf. The shark, meantime, had beer
scouting the other side of the pier, where he
had lost his game by so close shave, and
seemed reluctant to leave so rich ground.
The shark will get onto him, sure said the
diver to the excited spectators. Hes only
got to sweep around the end of the pier to
head him off as he comes in on the other
side - Tho ci+, M
swimmer at last had got at the true situation.
He knew there were sharks in the water and
as he swan it was noted that he lookel ap-
prehensively at times from side to side to
learn from which quarter he might expect
the attack. His face wore an expression of
desperation. A shrek went up from him as
he drew near and saw the shark rolling on
the opposite side of the pier to that he was
approaching. He swan for dear life, and
the crowd encouraged him with frantic cries
and advice.
st sees himl 1tsees him p yelled the
spectators.
Sure enough the monster turned about
and pointed its nose toward the incoming
swimmer 1t was apparent that the Young
man could not reach the pier in time. The
shark glide along rapidly and the swimmer,
too, was making excellent time. The spec
satoIS couiu calculate LnaJ tie cOnVerglng
lines on which the two were travelling would
meet within a few feet of the dock and there
would doubtless be enacted horrible scene.
The diver, Taylor, seemed to take sudden
resolution when it became apparent that
there was no escape for Koher. He took off
his hat, coat and shoes and borrowed a long
sheath-knife from sailor. He thsn ran out
to the extreme end of the pier, where the
shark, it was seen, would pass close by on its
course to its victim, who was now near that
point. As it came nearer the crowd saw that
1t was monster more than eight feet long
and one of the shovel-nose species
Taylor is a large man and an expert
swimmer As the shark swept up and was
running direct for Kohler, turning on its
back at the same time Taylor sprang from
the pier with the sheath-knife in his right
hand. He jumped about eight feet before
striking the water. He landed about one
foot on the opposite side of the shark. The
whole weight of Taylor's body was thrown on
the knife, which he plunged as he touched
the water into the stomach of the shark In
stantly Taylor's arm, the water and shark
were almost hidden in blood. The shark
made terrible plunge and rolled over on
it's stomach. The shark was at that moment
within three feet of the youngs man. whom
the crowd expected to see caught 1t then
turned and disappeared in deep water. Tav-
lor swan ashore without the knife ~ left
it sticking in the cuss,' he sadly. Y.
Star.