The Colfax chronicle., 1890-05-17
A MAN-EATING SHARK.
The sOld Commodore" Got Hif
Man at Last.

Our1ng tno spring eu0 Sun - "
I was attached as junior deck ofiicer to
the United States schooner Para, en-
eaeed in blockading Mosquito Inlet,
Florida, about fifty miles below St
Augustine.
The vessel was usually anchored just
outside of the bar, in . position COM
msnding an excellent view up the chan
mel into the inlet, but far enough of to
allow. suficiest sea room in getting un-
der way at any time.
Occasionally, in fine weather. the YES
sci would make short cruise up or
down the coast, always leaving boat
behind at the entrance with an armed
crew, thus maintaining constant watch
over the inlet. We also sent in boat
expeditions from time to time, princi-
pally for the purpose of obtaining fresh
water-as our sole sources OF supply
consisted Of the rain water we were en-
abled to catch upon our awnings, and
such small quantities a. we could OBJ
tain at certain springs upon the main
land.
There were NO regular Confederate
troops stationed in the vicinity, but q
band of home guards, or, more properly,
guerillas infested the neighborhood,
whom we were liable to encounter at
any time when landing, which obliged
us to take the utmost precautions, es-
pecially against ambuscades, IS, about
year previous, several Of our officers
and men had been killed in that manner,
near the small hamlet Of New Smyrna,
ON the Hillsborough river, about three
miles south of the inlet.
Being very fond Of fishing, devoted
the most of my spare time to that sport
Inside the inlet, ON the shell banks, we
caught largo numbers of sheepshead,
channel bass, and many other varieties
Of edible fish, while outside, in the
vicinity Of the vessel, there were multi
tudes Of sharks, porpoises, and other
large fish, and 30 engrossed did become
in devising means for their capture,
that actually begrudged the time re-
quired for the performance Of my regu-
lar duties on shipboard.
One Of the seamen, Tom Stearns, .
native Of the State Of Maine, was my
constant companion on all fishing ex-
cursions. He was fully six feet in
height, well-proportioned, alwayscheer-
full and obliging, and brave as . lion. He
had been whaling several voyages, and
besides being an expert in throwing the
harpoon and grains "a large nve-pronged
hsh spear,, was thoroughly posted
in the habits of nearly all the varieties
of the nnny tribes in those waters, &C
that our united efforts kept the whole
crew constantly supplied with fish.
From the mainmast head counted ai
one time. within radius Of one hun.
dred yards from the vessel. upward oi
forty sharks, ranging from six TO twelve
feet in length, and seldom day passed
that We did not catch one or more oi
them, as the shark-hook, well baited
and securely fastened to the end Of Z
strong line, was kept hanging overheard
from the stern constantly, day and
night There was one very large ons
among them, that, as we became famil.
lar with the almost daily sight Of him
We nicknamsd the ''Old Commodore.
He appeared to be very shy and kept .
respectful distance from the vessel
He WAS variously estimated by the mem
bers Of our crew to be from seventeen :,
twenty feet In length, and was Of ,
mottled gray color, Of the variety know
- the tiger shark, the most dangerous
and dreaded member Of that family. /
became my particular ambition to cap
ture the "Old Commodore" but al
efforts In that direction, though abl,