The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-01-25
MY LAST SWIM AT SEA.
Breadth Escape from the
Jaws of a Shark

can not rccollect ever learning to
swim. swan naturally, and in boy
hood was almost as much at home In
as ont Of the water. Diving, an art in
general only acquired by long prac-
tice. was to me easy from the Begin
ming My skill in aquatic sports
passed into a provcrb. and now that
years have passed and have reached
middle life, the rcnown OF my boy
hoods fcats cling to me yet in my ma
tive place.
But | am swimmer no more; the
love that was SO strong has given
place TO such loathing hate and
horror Of the water that when think
ofitacold shuddcr comes over me until
the tide Of thought Is turned. An adj
venture in tropical waters was the
cause Of this.
II happened thus: was on my sec
ond voyage. Tho ship lay becalrned
amid the Molucca islands on the pas
sage for China 1t was near midday
in the forenoon watch. The suns
hottest rays were pouring down upon
the deck with scorching violence, and
vainly did seek for some cool spot
where momcntary comfort. at least,
could be found. The painting. half
nude forms Of the crew were spread
ont beneath the shade OF a canvas
drawn over the forccastlc capstan.
which they tried to persuade them
selves Yielded some shelter from the
heat. Above. not q cloud could DC
seen in the broad blue cxpanse OF the
sky, which seemed a heated caldron
turned above us. Against it the state.
~ spars and heavy white sails swaycd
with the roll OF the ship in royal idle
ness and majesty.
Too hot TO work or to read. uneasy
praying for breeze which it seemed
would never come. loungcd about tn,
deck vainly seeking relief from my dis
comfort. Gazing over the side down In
to the deep blue waste beneath, my eye
sought some object by which 70 not'
the vessels progress, however slow !
might be- but nothing could ! see save
water. dark and unfathomable. Tn
polished coppered side Of the shil
shonc brightly out upon the surface 70
few feet, and as gazcd upon IT
quivering beauty, and remarked HOY
very still we lay. the thought struck me
s.What chance for swim" Wha
a relief from all this broiling, swelter
ing. ovcn-likc heat.
To think was to act ! turned to tn
boys.
Here John! Billy! Jimmy! Let
20 In swimming. Never was such
chanccv' cried !, springing down fror
the rail. Lets sling the ladder owe
from the forc-chains so we can get u
the side easily. and wen have goo
time; she isn't moving a bit; come
bear hand. and let's see who'll b
overheard first"
The ships officers made no objection
and was quickly Joined by four Q
i've Of my shipmates. each as anxio,
as myself for something to vary tn
monotony. The fore-hatch ladder wa
quickly slung and dashed to the sid
uuu W 0tItpittu w ~ Ills nv tSe
the crew had gathered upon the tol
gallant forccastlc to watch our antic
Only one old fellow, an invctcra
growlcr known rs " Briton," ca'
toned us as he took his seat near u
rail:
You young rascals had better lSce
out OF the water or the sharks
gobblc up some Of you There's pie
" Of EN- round for all you don't s.
EN-
"Oh, you're always croaking. W
vcb-footed old barnacle-back" eric
Billy Option. mounting the rail q
posing himself for plunge. /" y
never can do any thing but you mu
throw cold water on It,"
"Oh, 20 ahead! 60 ahead! ! don
care what you do; you're not oblig,