The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-10-11
THE DIREFUL SEA PUSS.
HUMAN SACRIFICES CLAIMED BY
THIS MONSTER OF THE DEEP.

Truitless Fights with Death-The Un-
lucky Bather Who IL Once Caught In
the Tolls Rarely Escapes to Tell the
story-What Causes the Puss.
Few persons as they sit Of the shore and
gaze on the ocean realize the whole truth
Of the waves. Fewer still comprehend the
many dangers that lurk along the sands
within two or three hundred feet of the
shore. The white caps chase each other n
rolicksome frolic, the waves In their un-
dulating motion give q restful and quieting
feeling to the spectator, and the fascination
of plunging into the surf and toying with
the breakers grows apace.
Who would suspect, much less suspicion,
that there could be any danger within q
hundred feet of the shorea Why, the water
scarcely reaches to ones hips. There are
hundreds of people in the surf, and q sug-
gestion Of peril would be treated with de-
rision. Andyet the very moment the sense
of security seems greatest, that moment the
sea puss" selects for it's work. A swish
of water, a sinking Of the sand under ones
feet, a sudden current of mighty strength,
and the "sea puss'' has seized the bather for
its owl.
A BATTLE WITH DEATH.
Those who have seen victim succumb
to the 'sea puss" never forget it. The
scene beggars description. The victim
sportively and wantonly plunges and plays
in the surf, entirely unconscious Of danger.
The shore is only q little distance away.
Suddenly a cry of danger is heard. The
victim is seized by a mighty force. and
finds himself powerless to reach the
beach. Every effort to do so'not only ex-
hausts his strength, but sends him further
into the ocean. In the awful excitement of
the moment despair comes upon him.
Suddenly he sinks once, then twice, and
now all is over.
The ''sea puss'' has claimed its tribute
a human sacrifice. Lifeboat and lifeline
seem too slow to effect q rescue. The vic
tim has passed beyond the pale Of human
assistance.
The ''sea puss" is an outward current Of
great power between two sand fats. This
current carves a channel of greater or less
depth in its course, which extends to the
bar or ocean proper. The channel Is al
most always at right angles to the shore,
and serves as a sluiceway for q great vol
ume Of water. The "sea puss" has several,
points in common with the wind-you al
not tell whence it comes or whittier Il
goes. 1t appears without the least warn
Ing, stays a few hours, a few days, perhaps
q few weeks, and it has been known to
linger in a vicinity for even a whole year.
The bather usually takes a liking Il some
particular spot where the shores slope cas-
lily, the bottom is sandy and the small.
waves roll in with musical cadences.
Gu a day, even while he is standing on
the spot, he feels the ground under his
feet cut away, and loi the ''sea puss" Is at
handi
, Again, the bather will go into the surf
day after day, and thinks himself perfect
" at home. What is his surprise on enter
ing the ocean a little later to find that q
great channel has been cut through his
accustomed place, and that n misstep
will perhaps send him to eternity. The
''sea puss'' seems to be here and there and
everywhere, and safety to the bather il
only to be had at the price Of eternal vigil
lance.
AN EXPERT oPM1oN.
A reporter talked with several persons
along the coast regarding the 'sea puss."
Perhaps the best account vas received
from Capt. Lambert Edwards, of the Deal
Life Saving station, at Loeb Arbour. Capt.
Edwards is a veteran in the service, and
has q crew of seven men under him to man
the life boat.
1.-THE sea puss' is one Of the worst enemies
Of the bathers, {" said he, land claims more
victims than ven the tiger Of the beach.
the undertow. The reason 80 few escape
from its clutches is that its operations are
30 sudden and unexpected that few recover
from their fright at its appearance in time
Il save themselves. People 20 in bathing
on the sand flats and bars near the shore,
and think themselves out Of harms reach.
They move hither and thither, driven by
the big waves or the undertow, when sud-
denly they find themselves in q strong cur
rent, and at the same time the water be-
comes quite deep. The current has carried
them to a channel whose depth is over their
heads, while fifteen or twenty feet on either
side the waters depth is only to the waist.
OF course the bather becomes frightened.
beyond measure at this sudden turn Of
affairs, and loses all presence Of mind. He
wildly strikes out, vainly e~ndeavoring to
make Roadway against the force that Is
driving him seward. II he understood
the nature of the sea puss' and would keep
cool he might save himself. But It almost
invariably happens that he loses his head
and does the thing which most surely
hastens his Overwhelmingly, tries to
oppose his strength to that Of the current.
The best swimmer Is powerless In the arms
Of the sea puss., His only salvation d to
swim along with It, but at the same time.
to head for the fats on either aide. In this
way he gets out Of the dangerous channel,
and consequently the tremendous strength