San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-06
THE DIREFUL SEA PUSS
HUMAN SACRIFICES CLAIMED BY
THIS MONSTER OF THE DEEP.
Fruitless Fights with Death-The Un-
lucky Bather Who Is Once Caught in
the Tolls Rarely Escapes to Tell the
Story-what Causes the Puss.

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 lurk along the sands
within two or three hundred feet of the
shore. The white caps chase each other in
rolicksor,' frolic, the waves in their uu-
dulating motion give 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
hundred feet of the shore9 Why, the water
scarcely re hes to ones hips. There are
hundreds o. people in the surf, and a sug-
gestiou 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
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 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
| human sacrifice. Lifeboat and lifeline
| seem too slow to effect 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 flats. This
| current carves 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 il common with the wind-you can
| not tell whence it comes or whittier it
| goes 1t appears without the least warn
| ing, stays few hours, few days, perhaps
| few weeks, and it has been known to
| liuger in vicinity for even whole year.
| The bather usually takes 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 To- the ''sea puss" is at
hand
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 little later to find that a
great channel has been cut through his
accustomed place, and that one misstep
will perhaps send him to eternity. The
sea puss" seems to be here and there and
everywhere, and safety to the bather is
only to be had at the price of eternal vigi-
| lance.
AN EXPERT OPINION.
A reporter talked with several persons
along the coast regarding the ''sea puss."
Perhaps the best account was received
from Capt. Lambert Edwards, of the Deal
Life Saving station, at Loeb Arbour, Capt
| Edwards is a veteran in the service, and
has a crew of seven men under him to man
the life boat.
| The sea puss' is one of the worst enemies
L
| victims than even the tiger of the beach
the undertow The reason so few escape
from its clutches is that its operations are
so sudden and unexpected that few recover
from their fright at it's appearance in time
to save themselves. People go in bathing
on the sand fats 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 a 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 endeavoring to
| make Roadway against the force that is
| driving him seward. If 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 destruction-namely, 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 is to
| swim along with it, bur at the same time
! TO head for the fats on either side. In this
| way he gets out of the dangerous channel,
! and consequently the tremendous strength
| of the current, and soon lands on one OF
the sand bars
| Our experience with the sea pusS' covers
many years and we know no more about
it now than when we first saw its work
ings. 1t appears suddenly along our strips