The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-01
on The BACK Of A SHARK.
EA Blood Curdling Adventure in the
Gulf Stream or
Florida.
Joe Holland, q Negro and a Mon
key Do Battle With
Sea Tigers.
The Colored Brother Carried Like a Streak
Through, the Ocean On a Wounded
Saurlan.

This is one of the most beautiful spots in
sunny Florida. writes very graphic pen
ciler from Lake Worth to the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat. 1t is out of the world IN
some respects, but its native beauties CON-
mand admiration from all who visit here.
The lake, vast inland sheet of water,
clear as crystal, is picture Ill itself, whlle
the houses which are arranged around Its
clear, open beaches, make a most fitting
frame for such picture. The residents are
all great fishermen. and many are the mar
velous stories told OF big catches OF fish
and adventures OH the coast.
CAPTAIN Joe Holland is one of the veter-
ans of Lake Worth, and here is his latest
tsling VENTURE. while on his last trip
from the BssI', las few weeks ago. The
CAPTAINS pet boat is & small sloop; and his
crew consists of himself and a stalwart
mulatto AMI Il pet monkey. The latter
had been taught to haul ropes and do
many other things of that kind. When
out from the islands on their last trip. and
in the gulf stream, they encountered a
school Of sharks. The captain, it appears,
tried every way to get rid of his unwel-
come followers, but of no avail. as they
chung closer than debtor, and night or day
their ugly looking fins and shovel-shaped
noses were clearly visible close by.
While proceeding along under easy sail
the captain began practcing on the sharks
with his rifle, while Emanuel, the mulntto,
tried his skill with an old fish harpoon. 7 lie
captain finally wounded one, and the whole
school turned on it as its blood began to
flow. and terrible connection began near
the vessel. To add to the confusion Emar-
uel struck big one, too, and its frantic
struggles coupled with the streams of blood
that flowed from its wounds, soon brought
up all the man-eaters within mile, as the
cartain aver,ed. The huge, ugly creatures
plunged around about the vessel. striking,
pieces out Of their sides. The
light grew furious, the sharks
jumping out of the water and rush.
ing atseach other with wide open mouths,
armed with such ugly looking sets of teeth
as the captain says fairly made his blood
run cold. In all over forty big sharks wore
engaged in the scrimmaRe. and the commo-
ton they caused was terrible.
The captain and Emanuel both feared
that this fight would do them damage, az
every once in while a resoundinp thud on
the boats bottom would show that the raw
enous creatures cared little for such vessel
as theirs. All of a sudden big fifteen foot
wounded shark rose short distance off
with another double his size, in pursuit.
He rushed on, and in jiffy had sprung
right into the boat and the other followed.
1t is hard to say who was the most surprised
the sharks or the captain and his crew.
The monkey few up the mast clat,
sought safety on the bowsprit, and
the captain jumped into the cabin.
The two big fish foundered around in the
boat, the sides being just high enough to
prevent their getting over again. The
boat rocked to and fro frightfully as the
- Ii 49, nv>l w.
says that he expected to 60 to Dayy jones'
locker at any moment. The sharks both
lay with their heads toward the bow and
their tails near the cabin door.
Venturing forth after awhile the captain
seized an AK, and. standing near the door
upon the tail of the big fellow: The effect
was electrical; up went the fluker with
tremendous whisk, and while the Ak went
out to sea dozen rods. the captain was
whirled backward into the ocean, Just
catching the rudder-post as he fell. Eman-
uel Thought that the captain had gone for
good, and he halloed outright in his fright.
The captains voice, somewhat choked with
sea water. treasured him, and the brave
fellow ran nimblv down the side of the
b0at, jumping over one of the sharks, and
on reaching the stern, helped the captain
up from his perilous position.
After the skipper had recovered they
0V0A VoN IVA eO0 OAuA 40 0kdAAs WIN III aUZo
and the rifle active warfare was begun.
Blow after blow was landed on the tough
hides of the plunging monsters, while they
thrashed about in the most lively manner,
the little boat creaking in every timber
from the shock. Finally Jocko came run
ming down the shrouds to take hand in
the fight. He picked up a Delaying pin,
and creeping up to one of the sharks
brought it down with stunning effect on the
man-eater's head. The huge fish jumped
for it with wide-open mouth, but the nim-
BILE monkey jumped out of the way and
came back with another blow. Notwith-
standing their serious predicament, the
captain and his ally could hardly keep from
laughing at the spectacle. But the most
serious part of the fight was now over, and
the misunderstanding sea-tigers lay gasping
out their lives rs the men raineil blows
upon them.
All this while the monsters outside kept
MP their internal warfare on each other, and
the sea was bloo5-colored for considerable
distance. Over dozeu bodies tioated to
the surface, some half eaten and others
with many gaping wounds in their sides.
The two on deck were finally killed, and
they were thrown overheard. The deck was
slippery from their blood, and as Emanuel
stood by the gunwales sudden lurch threw
him over. hoarse cry and in he went
right among the sharks, now furious With
their bloody feast. The captain rushed up
and threw rope; but Emanuel WIS no.
where to be seen. Soon connection was
observed some twenty feet away, and hls
head emerged suddenly from the water, and
ne shot up in sight riding astride one of this
sharks.
Emanuel was blue with fright. but be
jabbei his queer steed with his ti. knife
that he always had in his belt, ana the vie
ious monster plunged forward 1ortunately
carrying him nearer the boat. Reco. erin 4
from his astonishment the captuic
dung forward another rane, which
fortunately. Emmanuel caught. Rising NJ
on the shark back, Emmanuel took tEt
rope with firm grip and jumped for the
boat. Several of the monsters plunged al
him as he fell among them, but by some
strange good luck they missed him and III,
captain hauled him on board, one sharl
just nipplng off bit of his heel as be wal
hauled over the side. This decided the cap
tain on the shark question, and they tried
by means of sweeps, etc.. to get out of thi
dangerous neighhorhood. Several hour,
later breeze sprung up and waited tn,
boat away from the crowd of sharks tina
kept up their night as far as sould be OBJ
served by the captain.
Capt. Holland says that this was tb
worst experience he has ever had with thes
eea-6ghters; and he hoped it would be last
The sides of his boat show CALMLY wher
great pieces were bitten out by the sharks
and the effects of their tail blows on tn
decking are still plainly to be seen.
G. A. II. Attention.
For the Twenty Fourth annual encamI
nsnt Of the Grand Army Of the Republic