The Republican., 1890-09-12
A SHARK STORY.


mudas few weeks ago. The Cap
tain's pet boat is a small sloop. and
his crew consists of himself and a
stalwart mulatto and a pet monkey,
The latter had been taught to haul
ropes and do many other things of
that kind. When out from the is.
lands 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 unwelcome visitors, but of no
avail.
While proceeding along under easy
sail, the Captain began Dracticing on
the sharks with his rifle, while EN-.
-anuel, the mulatto, tried his skill
with an old fish harpoon. The Cap
tain finally wounded one. and the
whole school turned on it as its blood
began to flow, and a terrible cOmmo-
tion began near the vessel. To add
to the confusion, Emanuel struck a
big one, too, and its frantic struggles,
coupled with the streams of blood
which flowed from its wounds. soon
brought up all the man-eaters within
mile, as the Captain said. The
huge ugly creatures, plunged around
about the vessel striking at the
wounded ones and taking great pieces
out of their sides. In all, over forty
big sharks were engaged in the
scrimmage, and the commotion was
terrible.
The Captain and Emmanuel were
both afraid that this would do them
damage, as every once in while a
resounding thud on the boats bet.
tom would show that the ravenouS
creatures cared little for such a YES
sci as theirs, ALI of a sudden a big
fifteen foot wounded shark rose a
short distance off, with another, dou-
bile his size. in pursuit.
He rushed Oh and in a jiffy had
sprung right into the boat. 1t is hard
to say who Was the most surprised.
the sharks or the Captain and his
crew. The monkey flew up the mast
chattering with fright, while Email
ucl sought safety on the bowsprIt,
and the Captain jumped into the
cabin. The two big fish floundered
around in The boat, the sides being
Just high enough to prevent theii
getting over again. The boat rocked
70 and fro frightfully as the huge
sharks kicked about, and Capt. Joe
says he expected to go TO Davy
.Jones's locker at any moment. TIE
sharks both lay with their heads t.
ward the bow and their tails near the
cabin door.
Venturlng forth after while the
Captain seized an axe, and. standing
near the door, he brought it down
with all his might upon the tail of
the big fellow. The effect was cleo
trical. Up went the flukes with a
tremendous whisk. and. while the ak
went out to sea dozen rods, the
Coptain was Whirled backWar into
the ocean, just catching the rudder.
post as he fell. Emanuel thought
that the Captain had gone for good,
ond ha ho olInod nufriuhf ~ n &c friubt
The Captains voice. somewhat
choked with sea- water, reassured him
and the brave fellow ran nimbly
down the side of the boat, jumping
over one of the sharks. and. on reach
ing the stern. helped the Captain uD
from his perilous position.
After the skipper had recovered
they started for the sharks again.
With an adze and the rifle 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. Final.
ly Joco 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.eater's head. The huge
fish jumped at him with open mouth
but the nimble monkey jumped
out of the way and came back with
another blow. Notwithstanding theil
serious predicament the Captain anC
his ally could hardly keep from
laughing at the spectacle, But the
most serious part of the fight wa,
over, and the vicious-lOoking sea-tig
ers lay gasping out their lives as the
men rained blows upon them.
All this while the monsters cut
side the boat kept up their warfare
on each other, and the sea was blood
colored for a considerable distance
Oyer a dozen bodies flOated to the
surface, some half eaten and other.
with many gaming wounds in theiI