The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-11-08
A SHARK THAT THINKS.
Got Ono Charge from Man-ef-war I
Now Won't Go Near Ono.

Got Ono Charge from Man-oe-Was ead
Now Won't Go Near 0ns.
Several we'll spun sea yarns have
been told BY old shellbacks regarding
What they had seen at sea-" said
Chief Officer James Brown, Of the Pc.
cific Mail company's steamer Acapul.
CO. to . San Francisco Chronicle man,
but there is one thing certain, and
that is, have reason to believe that fish
not only have instinct, but also reason.
ing power"
clusions9" was asked.
well, let me tell you, Now, every
scafaring men who has frequented the
port of San Jose, at Guatemala, knows
that old San Jose Joe has been in and
about that port for the last thirty
years
Joe is without exception one Of the
largest sharks ever seen in tho waters
Of tho ocean. He is over thirty feet
in length. This was ascertained be-
yond a doubt by tho officers Of tho
Acapulco on the trip before the last,
when spar measuring thirty feet had
fallen over the ships side and old Joe
came along, and after smelling Of II
tloated alongside measuring exactly its
length.
"As to his age that is not positively
known, but the barnacles on his back
indicate that he has been a resident Of
San Jose waters for a number Of
years. Tho barnacles arc so old and
erusty as to repel rifle ball with tho
Same respective force as q sheet Of steel
OH the side of a man-of-war.
Capt. Pitts, Of the Acapulco, has
time and again shot at this monster
and without effect, so far as his back
is concerned. The balls glance of
tho old fellows back without doing
him any damage.
"Yet old Joe carries enough lead in
his carcass to sink an ordinary whale,
us almost every officer whose vessel
anchors in those waters takcsa whack al
him when lie runs his sides and belly
upward, but the bullets don't seem "a
do him any harm"
well. about his reasoning capa.
city,"
lish man:of-war, while lying at an.
chor. undertook to destroy tho old
brute by firing charge Of dynamite
into him. Joe was hit on the side and
about fifty pounds of sharks flesh
torn away, but the shot failed to kill
him.
But now, mark you, since that
time he will not make his appearance
i'll the anchorage near where man-of
war is anchored. But just as soon as
these vessels leave Joe comes to the
surface again.
'IIc regularly meets the Apaculcc
about fifteen miles outside and pilot.
her i'll. Once anchored, he is satisfied,
and seems to delight in feeding from
the offal. But no matter how we'll you
bait hook, Joc's reasoning qualitie,
tell him to leave it alone, and he in
variably follows that line Of reasoning
'.As TO his capacity to stow away
grub, that was proved on one occasion
when the vessel was taking aboard
some hogs. One of ten hogs, weigh
ing about eighty pounds, fell over
board, and old Joe, who is ever on the
watch, saw the prize, and with one
plunge and pair OF extended jaw.
the porker disappeared as though he
had gone into a hofc.
"On another occasion we had lot
Of mules on board for the government
and one Of the number died and wa.
thrown overheard. Joe made the &C
quaintance of the tlefunct mule. and
after the lapse of six hours the mule
was safely slowed thwart ships in joe,
locker.
Eyes, Joe is the largest shark known
to us seafaring men. We have tried
to kill the monster by all possible
means, but so far have miserably fail
ed."-New York Morning Journal.