The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-29
nor cooking the trigger. he added. Stop!
don't shoot Stopped she is


don't shoot. Stopped she is.
"Whilo all this was going on was but
feting with the waves in desperate straits.
Ny heavy cavalry boots so hampered mo
that it was almost impossible for mo to
swim. and IL was about as much rs |
could do TO keep afoat. In my maneuvers
TO reach the box which had been thrown
overheard sank several times. and was
often swallowed up by the heavy sea
Finally, as ! grasped the box-a cracker
box. and very light at that was re
lieved 10 notice that the steamer had
stopped and was turning about. At this
time was at least three miles away from
the steamer. and could not see much that
was going on. IA the waves now lifted me
up aud then seemed to drop me down out
of sight One moment could see nothing
but the sky above me, and the next moth
ing but the waters below me. Every
second was an age, and every effort to
keep floating seemed as if il must be the
last. for was rapidly getting
exhausted The cracker box was
snatched out of my grasp several
times and recovered with the greatest
difficulty. Suddenly was filled with new
hope, for. rs rose on n big swell. saw
that n boat was being lowered from the
steamer and that she had turned entirely
round and was heading toward me. This
made me feel strong again. But the prog
ress Of tho rowboat toward me was slow
Shouts of encouragement heard at fire.
quent intervals. and tried to shout back,
but my voice was entirely gone. was
getting SO weak that 1t was nip and tuck
whether could hold up or not till they
reached me. tried in vain TO get my
heavy boots off. aud for this purpose
turned over on my back several times.
20 last. seeing the boat within twenty or
'..cy yards away, gave up the attempt
and tried to shout, for the sea was SO
rough that feared the rescuers might
not perceive mo in time But in turning
over again what was my horror to hear
splashing near me and looking round to
see the back and tail of an enormous shark
within few feet. Then | remembered
that the Gulf of Mexico was infested
with these monsters, and again almost
gave up hope The boat seemed to be stand
inc still. and could feel the chill of fear
creeping all over me | knew that the
shark would have to turn over before he
could bite me in two or swallow me.
Round and round swan the monster, com
ing nearer to me every time. AS 1t seemed
to he about 10 turn over kept on splash
ing the water with my feet and hands,
for had heard that shark will not bite
ANYTHING that is moving or splashing
rapidly. Then | changed my maneuvor
and struggled to turn round as quickly as
the shark, keeping the cracker box be
tween US and beating the water with my
hands. After this seemed TO have been
going on for an hour, though really only
a few moments, | saw that it turned
fairly over as it went down, probably to
rise under me and end the suspense At
this moment heard shout:
Come, keep up; we're coming!
"And at the same moment wave
swept me almost into the yawl. ] clutched
the side and was pulled in just as the
cracker box rose out of the water several
feet and fell again. The shark had prob
ably made q rush for and struck the box.
/ When | at last reached the steamer, more
dead than alive, numbed with cold and
utterly exhausted the soldiers gave us
cheer and went below, where | remained
several DAYS in a slight fever. And that
cold water today just revived the memory
of that terrible hour ! experienced.
When the inspector rose from his chair
there was an ominous silence. The Varu
mas looked at each other each apparently
in doubt about what to think of the
matter.
That's a first class, interesting story
inspector, said Detective George Zundt,
but when ! was in the war p
"Oh. come off, shouted several Let
well enough alone
"Gentlemcn, every word of the story is
strictly true, said the inspector, and !
refer You to Ilolbrook and Folk, If you
I don't believe me.
But who'll vouch for llolbrook and
Folk" was queried from the corner
Balbriggan in Brooklyn Eagle