Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-04-12

Alfetto, the Spanish diver, who has
been ut work on the wreck Of the Atlanta.
near Morehead, thus speaks OF an adveu-
ture had by him few days ago: At the
time | was at the bottom of the sea. was
just about 10 signal to be drawn up fUr u
moments rest, when noticed shadowy
body moving at some distance above and
toward me. In moment every fish had
disappeared, the very crustaceans lay still
upon the sand, and the cutie fish scur-
ried away as fast Is they could. Vas
not thinking of danger, and my first
thought WAS that il Was the shadow of u
passing boat But suddenly feeling OF
horror seized me. felt impclled 10 flee
from something | knew not what. \
vague horror seemed grasping after ne,
such rs child fancics when entering
darkened room. By this time the shadow
had come nearer and taken shape. IL
scarcely needed glance To show me that
It was uian-eater, and Of the largest size.
Had l signalcl 10 be drawn up then IL
would have been certain death. All |
could do was to remain still until it left.
II lay or twenty or Twenty-Five feet, Just
outside the rigging Of the ship, its body
motionlcss, It's fins barely stirring the
water about its gills.
II was monster rs Il was, but to add 10
the horror the pressure Of the water upon
my head made it appear rs il pouring
flames from lis eyes and mouth, and every
movement OF its fins and tall seemed ac-
companicd by display OF fireworks. I
was sure the fish was thirty feet long, and
so near that could see its double row of
white teeth. luvoluntarily | shrunh
closer to the side of the vessel. But my
first movement betrayed my presence.
saw the shining eyes fixed upon me; il
tail quivcred as it dartcd at me like "a
streak of light. shrank closer 10 the side
of the vessel saw it turn on one side.
its mouth open, ana heard the teeth snLp
rs II darted ut me. II had missed me, but
ONLY for moment. The sweep Of ilS
mighty tail had thrown me forward |
saw il turn, balance itself, and is tail
quivcrcd as II dartcd at me again. There
was no escape. II turned on It's back hS
IL swooped down OH ME like hawk on u
sparrow. The jaws opened, and the long,
shining teeth grated rs they closed on my
metal harness.
Ii had me. could feel It's teeth grind
ing on my copper breast plate, ~ It tried
to bite me In two, for fortunately II hal
caught me just across the middle, where
was best protected. Having seized me
ii went tearing through the water.
could feel IL bound forward at each stroke
of its tail. Had II not been for my copper
helmet my head would have been torn oil
BY tie rush through the water. wa'
perfectly conscious, but somehow felt u"
terror ut all. There was only feeling OF
num5ness. wondered how long IT.
would be before those teeth would crunch
through, and whether they would strike
frs: into my back or my breast. Then I
thought OF Maggie and the baby, and
wondered who would take care Of them,
and If she would ever know what had be-
come Of me. All these thoughts passed
through my brain in an instant, but In
that time the connecting alr.tubc had
been snapped, and my heal seemed 10
burst with pressure, while the monstcr's
teeth kept cruncllng and grinding away
upon my harness. Then felt the cold
water begin to pour In, and heard the
bubble, bubble, bubble, as the air escaped
into the creatures mouth. | began to
hear great guns and 10 see fireworks and
rainbows and sunshine and all Kinds Of
pretty things, then thought was foat-
ing away on a rosy summer cloud, dream
Ing to the s6fris OF sweet mnslc. Then
all became black. The shark might have
eaten me Mt ll4 leisure and never would
have been the " iser. Imagine my aston
ishment then, when opened my eyes on
board this boat and saw you fellows
around me: YesSr. thought was
dead aud ate up, sire. ----,~----.- d,
Alfetto was found by lis eoniraJcs
few minutes after the swapping or the
line. lie was picked up insenslI,le, with
several holes punched in the metallic part
of his diving suit Panama Hcraid.