The Colfax chronicle., 1890-10-18

4
thought that the captain had gone for
good, and he halloed outright in his
fright. The captains voice, somewhat
choked with sea water, reassrred him,
and the brave fellow ran nimbly down
the side of the boat, jumping over one
OF the sharks, and, on reaching the
stern, helped the captain up from his
perilous position.
After the Iskipprr, had recovered they
started for the sharks again. With an
adza-and tho rifle active warfare was
begun. Blow after blow was landed on
the tough hides of tho plunging mon
sters, while they thrashed about In the
most lively manner, the little boat
creaking in every timber from the
shock. Finally Jocko came running
down the shrouds to take hand in the
fight. He picked up Delaying pin,
and creeping up to one of the sharks,
brought it down with stunning effect
on the man-cater's head. The huge fish
jumped for it with wide-open mouth,
but the nimble monkey jumped out of
the way, and came back with another
blow. Notwithstanding 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 vicious
looking sea tigers lay gasping out their
lives as the men rained blows upon
them.
All this while the monsters outside
kept up their Internal warfare on each
other, and the sea was blood-colored for
a considerable distance. Over a dozen
bodies floated 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 slip
perry from their blood, and as Emman-
uel stood by the gunwales, a sudden
lurch of the boat threw him over. A
hoarse cry, and in he went right among
the sharks, now furious with their
bloody feast. The captain rushed up
and threw rope; but Emmanuel was
nowhere to be seen. Soon q commo-
tion was observed some twenty feet
away, and mis- head emerged suddenly
from the water, and he shot up in sight
riding astride one of the sharks.
Emmanuel was blue with fright, but
he jabbed his queer steed with his big
knife that he always had in his belt,
and the vicious monster plunged for
ward, fortunately carrying him nearer
the beat. Recovering from his aston
ishment, the captain flung forward an
other rope. which, fortunately, Emman-
uel caught Rising up on the sharks
back, Emmanuel took the rope with
firm grip and jumped for the boat. Sew
eral of the monsters plunged at him as
he fell among them, but by some strange
good luck they missed him and the cap
tain hauled him on board, one shark Just
nipping off bit of his heel as he was
hauled over the side. This decided the
captain on the shark question, and they
tried by means of 9weeps, etc., to get
out of this dangerous neighborhood.
Several hours later breeze sprang up
and waited the boat away from the
crowd of sharks that kept Lp their fight |
as far as could be observed by the capI
tain.
Capt Holland says this was the worst |
experience he has ever had with these |
and he hoped it would be |
the last. The sides of his boat show
plainly where great pieces were bitten |
,ut by the sharks, and the effects OF |
heir tail blows on the decking are still |
plainly to,ebe seen.-St Louis Globe |
Democrat