The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-25
NjllI}e Es9lr
THE DIREFUL SEA PUSS.
HUMAN SACRIFICES CLAIMED BY
THIS MONSTER OF THE DEEP.

FruitIess Fights with Death-The Un-
lucky Bather Who Is Once Caught in
the Tolls Rarely Escapes to Tell the
Story-what Causes the Puss.
Few persons as they sit on the shore and
gaze on the ocean realize the whole truth
of the waves. Fewer still comprehend the
many dangers that Turk along the sands
within two or three hundred feet OF the
shore. The white caps chase each other In
rolicksome frolic, the waves In their I'M
dulating motion give resttul and quoting
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
hundred feet of the shore2 Why, the water
scarcely reaches to ones hips. There are
hundreds of people in the surf, and sug-
gestion of peril would be treated with de-
rision. And yet the very moment the sense
Of security seems greatest, that moment the
''sea puss" selects for its 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 own.
A BATTLE WITH DEATH
Those who have seen victim succumb
T. 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 little distance away.
Suddenly 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 a 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 q 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 great vol
ume Of water. The sea puss" has several
points in common with the wind-you can
not tell whence it comes or whittier it
goes. IL appears without the least warn
ing, stays a few hours few days, perhaps
a few weeks, and il has been known to
linger in a vicinity for even a whole year.
The bather usually takes a liking to some
particular spot where the shores slope cas-
lily, the bottom is sandy and the small
waves roll in with musical cadences.
On day, even while he is standing on
the spot, he feels the ground under his
feet cut away, and lol the sea puss" is at
handl
Again, the bather will go into the surf
day after day, and thinks himself perfect
ly at home. What is his surprise on enter
ing the ocean little later to find that q
great channel has been cut through his
accustomed place, and that one misstep
will perhaps send him to eternity The
''sea puss" seems to he here and there and
everywhere, and safety TO the bather is
only to be had at the price of eternal vigi-
lance.