National Republican., 1884-10-18
IN A suARK,s MOUTH.
A Thrilling story Told by n Spanish
Diver-Desperato Adventure.

JuSstT 3 JOurnm.
A Spanish diver, while at work beneath
the sea on the wreck of vessel, met with
a thrilling adventure, and gives the fol.
lowing graphic account of it AT the
time l was at the bottom of the sea-"
says Alfetto, IL was Just about to signal
to bo drawn up for moments rest, when
noticed shadowy body moving at somo
distance above me aud toward me. In
moment every fish had disappeared, the
very crustaceans lay still upon the sand,
and the cuttlo fish scurried away as fast
as they could. I was not thinking OF
danger, and my first thought was that II
was the shadow of passing boat. But
suddenly u feeling of terror seized me,
felt impolled to fee from something |
knew not what A vague horror seemed
Rrasping after me, such as q child feels
when entering darkenod room. BY this
timo tho shadow had como nearer and
taken shape. II scarcely needed glance
TO show me that IL was man Gator, and
one of tho largest size. Had l signaled
to be drawn up then IL would have been
certain death. All could do was to re-
main until it left. 1t lay of twenty OF
twenty-five feot, just outside the rigging
barely stirring the water above its gills
1t was monster as it was, but to add to
tho horror, the pressure Of the water upon
my head made IL appear as II it were
pouring flames from its eyes and mouth,
and every movement of its fms and tail
seemed accompanied by display OF fire.
works. l was sure the fish was thirty
feet long, and 80 near that / could SEQ its
double row of white teeth. lnvoluntarily
L shrank closer to the side of the vessel.
But my FIRST movement betrayed my
presence. 1 saw the shining eyes fixed
upon me; its tail quivered as IL darted at
mo like a streak Of light. / shrsnk closer
to the side Of tho ship. l saw 1t turn on
one side, its mouth open, aud heard the
teeth snap as 1t darted by me. IL had
missed me, but only for a moment.
The sweep Of its mighty tail had thrown
me forward. l saw II turn, balance
ITSELF and its tail quivcred as 1t
darted at me again. There was no es-
cape. 1t turned on Its back as 1t swooped
down on me like hawk on sparrow.
The jaws opened and the long shining
teeth grated as they closed on my metal
harness. 1t had me. could foel its teeth
grinding on my copper breast plate as 1t
tried to bite me in two-for, fortunately,
1t had caught me just across the middle.
where l was best protected. Having
seized me 1t went tearing through tho
water, l could feel it bound forward at
each stroke Of its tail. Had it not beon
for my copper helmet my head would
have been torn off in tho rush through
the water. ] was perfectly conscious, but
somehow felt no terror at all There
was only feeling of numbness. / Won
dered how long 1t would be before those
teeth crushed through, and whether they
would strike frst into my back or my
breast. Then thought of Maggie and
the baby and wondered who would take
care of them, and IL she would ever know
what had become of me. All these
thoughts passed through my brain in an
instant, but In that time the connecti g
air tube had been snapped and my
head seemed ready to burst with
pressure, while the monsters teeth kept
crunching and grinding upon my harness.
Then felt the cold water begin to pour
in, and hoard tho bubble, bubble, bubble
as tho air escaped into the creatures 8
mouth. i began to hear great guns aud
to sec fireworks and rainbows and sun
shine, and all kinds of pretty things; then
i thought was floating away on rosy
summer cloud, dreaming the sounds of
sweet music. Then all became blank.
The shark might now have eaten me at
his leisure and should have been meme
the wiser. Imagine my astonishment
then when l opened my eyes on board
and saw you fellows around me-" Alfettc
was found by his comrades few minutes
after the swapping Of the line. He was
picked up insensible with several holes
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