The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-03-26
IN THE JAWS OF A SHARK.
THE THRILLING ADVENTURE OF A
SPANISH DIVER.
Attacked by n Huge shark While at
Work on n Wrcck-A Narrow Es-



Work on n Wrcck-A Narrow Es-
cape.
Alfetto, the Spanish diver who has
been at work on the wreck of the Allan
ia, near Morehead, thus speaks of an adj
venture had by him few days ago: At
the time was at the bottom of the sea.
1 was just about to signal to be drawn up
for moments rest, when | noticed a
shadowy body moving at some distance
above and toward me. In moment
every fish had disappeared, the very crus-
taceans lay still upon the sand and the
cutie fish scurried away as fast as they
could. was not thinking of danger,
and my first thought was that it was the
shadow of passing boat. But suddenly
a feeling of horror seized me. felt i'm
PEELED to flee from something 1 knew not
what. A vague horror seemed grasping
after me, such as a 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 / signaled to be
drawn up then, it would have been GER
tain death. All could do was to remain
still until it left. 1t lay off twenty or
twenty feet, just outside the rigging
of the ship, its body motionless, its fins
barely stirring the water about its 9ills.
It was a monster as 1t was, but to add
to the horror the pressure of the water
upon my head made it appear as if pour
ing flames from its eyes and mouth, and
every movement of its fins and tail
seemed accompanied by a display of fire
works. / was sure the fish was thirty
feet long, and so near that l could see
its double row of white teeth. Involun
tarily shrunk closer to the side of the
vessel. But my first movement betrayed
my presence. 1 saw the shining eye;
fixed upon me; its tail quivered as il
darted at me like a streak of light.
shrank closer to the side of the vessel.
saw it turn on one side, its mouth open,
and heard the teeth snap as it darted al
me. 1t had missed me, but only for {
monient. The sweep of its mighty tai
had thrown me forward. l saw it turn
balance itself, and its tail quivered as i
darted at me again. There was no es
cape. 1t turned on its back as it swoopeC
down on me like hawk on a sparrow
The jaws opened, and the long, shining
teeth grated as they closed on my meta
harness.
II had me. | could feel its teeth
grinding on my copper breast-plate as i
tried to bite me in two, for fortunately
it had caught me just across the middle
whore l was best protected. Havin!
seized me it went tearing through tn
water. | could feel it bound forward a
each stroke of its tail. Had it not beei
for my copper helmet my head woulC
have been torn off by the rush through
the water l was perfectly conscious
but somehow | felt no terror at all
There was only feeling of numbness.
wondered how long it would be befor
those teeth would crunch through, ant
whether they would strike first into m
back or my breast. Then thought Q
Maggie and the baby, and wondere,
who would take care of them, and if sh
would ever know what had become @
me. All these thoughts passed throug
my brain in an instant, but in that tim
the connecting air-tube had bee
snapped, and my head seemed t
burst with pressure, while tn
monsters teeth kept crunching an
! grinding away upon my harness. The
felt the cold water begin to pour in
and heard the bubble, bubble, bubble, a
the air escaped into the creatures mouth
began to hear great guns and to see fire
works and rainbows ana sunshine and a.
kinds of pretty things, then thought
was floating away on a rosy summer cloud
/ dreaming to the sounds of sweet music
Then all became blank. The shar
might have eaten me at his leisure and
never would have been the wiser. In
agine my astonishment then, when
opened my eyes on board this boat ant
saw you fellows around me. Yes, sir,
thought was dead and ate up, sure.
Alfetto was found by his comrades
few minutes after the swapping of tn
line, He was picked up insensible, witt
several holes punched in the metallic par
of his diving sait.-Panama Herald.
mn HTNTG