, 1889-09-19
A SHARP FIGHT.
Desperate Conflict Between Two
Monsters of the Deep,

tut DTuHSNlCk, lfti., Times
Rev. Edward Rapdsford told Times
reporter Yesterday the following story of
u combat between to sharks:
'"Rev. A. G. =. Dodge, Jr., and myself
were driving along the east beach OF st.
simons island, on that part of the shore
where the Long Island creek emptics it.
self into the ocean. On that occasion
we were witnesses of what | suppose
was spectacle rarely, ii ever, beheld on
these coasts-a terrific encounter in
which some half-dozen man-cating
sharks took part.
"Our attention was first directed to
violent disturbance in the water, within
a very few yards of the shore. 1t seemed
as IL a school Of porpoises was keeping
holiday, and the members ware gam
boiling about in sheer wantonness. As
we drew nearer, however the snorts of
our horse and his unwillingncss TO go
forward, told us we were mistaken.
Driving closer we saw first one and then
another black dorsal fin darting rapidly
about, the water ut the same time being
churned into white foam. Weconcluded
that we had dropped in for marine
hunt, the purpose being the quarry and
THE SHARKS THE HOUNDS.
1--WE were mistaken, though, for on
looking closer we saw two enormous
sharks engaged in deadly fray. No diff
ference what the cause, we could not see
how great was the share taken by the
four lockers on, vino may possibly have
simply been filling the roles of seconds,
bottle holder end referee In prize fight
fought according to the rules and regu-
lations of the prize ring. They certainly
darted to and fro and sailed round the
two center figures in most excited
fashion, occasionally giving one another
IL shove with their shouts or gentle re-
minder with their tails 10 let others sec
as well AS themselves.
meanwhile the Sullivan and Kilrain
of the deep kept hard at it. At one mo
ment rapid flank movement would be
attempted by Jake only to be antici-
pated by j. L..' whose bulk was about
twelve feet, 'Jake's' being, perhaps, II
trifie less. u. L. would make furi-
Gus dive, then he would rise again and
try to grab his adversary with his
wicked looking teeth, which sounded
with a vicious snap as the champion
missed.his kaim. Jake would turn: and
fly first this way and then that. Ills
adversary would pursue him and more
than once they both nearly ran them
selves aground; over and over they
would leap, exposing two-thirds of their
lengths, coming down with thud like
the fall of a heavy body on floor the
swift blows of their tails throwing the
JAKE WOULD HEAD UPSTREAM,
followed by y. L. A swim turn on the
side, and the foamy waves were crimson.
ilecKcd, while Jake was wounded by
his enemy's teeth.
Jake tried to initiate y. l.. IS tactics
but, being. deilly conntcred, made flight
ocean ward. The big one followed and
gave Jake two more, in which proceed
ings two of the other sharks joincd--a
breach of honor which y. L.. at once
visited with condign punishment. jake
who had gotten his second wind
plucked up courage and sailed in for
the scventy-third round The two
monsters grappled and for about two
minutes wild confusion reigncd; foam,
blood, tails, fins, snouts, white bellies,
glistening teeth, one after the other
turned up in mystitying succession,
Kaleidoscope IN their mixed up variety,
Had the combatnnts been able to speak
doubtless the air would have been filled
dumb fishes the vigorous blows of their
tails and the quick, sharp clashing or
their jaws, like the snap OF gigantic
steel traps, sufficiently emphasized their
violation ofthe third commandment.
This battle of the Titans of the teep
at last came to an end as unexpectedly
as that in Mississippi. Whether linny
sheriff with u monstrous watch put in
an appearance or not, or whether Jake
had had enough of It, we could not
affirm, but all Of a sudden he turned
tail literally, and dived one way, y. H.
going another. Then both of them
made out TO sen, with what speed they
might, perhaps to renew the combat
where they would feel less confined by
their surroundings.
"Who will write the epic that should
spring from such a fish story?"