Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-29
SHARKS DON'T BITE,
According to Herman 0elrichs, the
Millionaire Politician.
HE WILL GIVE $500 FOR PROOF
Showing That the Contrary Has Ever
Been Authenticated.
HE MAKES AN ADVENTUROUS PLUNGE

Where man advances an opinion which
is in direct conflict with the convictions OF
the world at large he must expect to be de-
rided. That is perfectly plain, says a
writer in the New York San. A number of
men who have been famous in the worlds
history have beenm or less wounded in
their tenderest feelings, and some have even
been prosecuted in horrible WAYS because
they tried TO set up new-fangled ideas on
their own hook. When, therefore, Mr..
Herman Oelrichs, the millionaire, clubman
and athlete, advanced a new and startling
theory, which disturbed the settled convic-
ton of humanity upon an interesting SUBJ
isct, a conviction that has existed since
Adam first learned wisdom, it was only
natural that he was looked upon with sus-
picion. The wise men of Spain who first
heard Columbus say that the earth was
round were not more astonished than was
the select circle of the Wsywayanda Club
to which Mr.. Oelrichs first declared that
sharks don't bite.
When one thinks of the thousands of men
and women of irreproachable character who
have given evidence since the creation of
the world that sharks do bite, when one re-
calls the myriad heroes of youthful ro-
manceS who have rescued beautiful maidens
from sharks Jaws, when one reads so fire.
quentlv of individuals who have suffered
disaster through the man-eating propensi-
ties of sharks, it seems impossible that Mr..
Oelrichs can be right.
THE MANY CASES REPORTED.
Sit down for Just few minutes and pom
der over the number of man-eating sharks
H. lofI I,, 4a1acroy oyDbio ofabac
TO the newspapers. Try and figure up the
average number of victims attributed to
each shark and add up these averages. Isn't
it a grand, or rather mournful, total? Can
II be true that all these are creatures of the
imagination: that man-eating sharks must
be classed with the doubtful sea serpent,
and that these myriad tales are so many
lies to be placed at the doors of dead and
livinC2
As the representative of one of the lead
ing German steamship lines, Mr.. Oelrichs is
well acquainted with the sea- He has
crossed the ocean many times. He is an
enthusiast in yachting matters, a splendid
swimmer, and a clever fisherman. 1t seems
that he has maze a specially of sharks, and
the startling dictum quoted at the opening
of this article was not the idle passing re-
mark of a rattle-brained youth, but the out
come of mature and experienced mans re-
Aections
1t was first promulgated publicly at
gathering of the choice spirits of the Way
wavanda Club during the summer. This
club is famous throughout New York State.
Its members are prominent IL this city in
political, financial and commercial circles.
Many Of the headlights of Tammany Hall
are included in the list. Ex-Sheriff Flack,
whose political fortunes were SO suddenly
checked by the exposure of his conspiracy
L s, D. of 1laII
wavanda at the time of his downfall. The
club house and grounds are located on Fire
Island Inlet, one of the best places on Long
Island for men who love to fish and swim
and sail
STARTLED HIS AUDITORS.
On this particular occasion there was a
big crowd at the house. On the veranda.
besides Mr.. Oelrichs, sat such well-known
New Workers as Judge Clancy, Judge Van
Wvck. 'tIake" Rubino, of Wall street, the
Slater brothers, and Richard Cunningham.
Several large parties were out fishing. 1t
was hot, and the glare on the beach and
water made it pleasant to sit in the shade |
aud sip frappe fzz and other cooling stimu- |
lants. Just what started the talk about |
sharks has been forgotten by those present, |
but somebody made the remark that |
there had been good many sharks around |
during the season, and it was a wonder that |
no casualties had resulted among the more |
venturesome bathers. Mr.. Oelrichs lazily |
withdrew his perfecto from between his lips |
and allowed a volume of smoke to curl |
lazily upward before he said:
"Bosh, Sharks don't bite"
Then he replaced the cigar in his mouth
and puffed contemplatively. His listeners
looked at him for moment in amazement.
Then one of them said:
THAT was a strange remark, Herman"
81 meant it." said Mr.. Oelrichs.
"Do-vou-mean to-say- in sober earnest
tnat-sharkS won't bite-a human-b -being?"
asked Judge Clancy, with the deliberation
beftting his official position.
That's just what L mean," replied Mr..
Oelrichs. 81 have given the matter great
deal of study, and 1 know that no shark has
ever bitten human being"
Nonsense, said everybody at once, and
several began to tell of friends who had
friends who had seen sharks bite off the !
limbs of unfortunates, some of whom had
afterward recovered and were living evil
dences of the incorrectness of Mr. OeIrichs's
assertion. At the close of their remarks Mr..
Oelrichs said, quietly:
BOLD WAGER
'sI will bet $3.50 that there is not single
authentic instance of man, woman, or
child having been bitten by a shark will
give that amount to any person who will
advance the evidence to prove single case
of shark bite
The others looked at him blanklv. Con-
fdent rs they felt of the incorrectness of
his position, none of them dared to take the
bet; and the more they pondered over it
The more they felt that he had the advantage
Of them at that time, because not one had
ever seen a shark bite man or felt sufficient
confidence in the assertions of others to
feel warranted in stalking any money upon
them. Nevertheless, they not only declined
TO be convinced, but even ridiculed Mr..
0elrichs.
AS if to put Mr. Oelrichs TO test of his
theory, just at that moment, big shark ap-
peared in the inlet. 1t was in plain sight of
Inc party on the veranda, and sent a thrill
through everyone except Mr. Oelrichs. The
latter got up lazily and said, as calmly as
ever:
''There, gentlemen, is a chance to test our
opinions
Without another word he ran down to the
waters edge, stripped quickly in sight of
his Mortified friends, and jumped in boldly
The shark was not far away and swimming
toward Oelrichs. As he came on, his body
was visible from dorsal fin to tail fin, or
two-thirds of his entire length. The small
est estimate placed on his length was ten
feet. The tide was running flood but the
shark could not get over the bar in the
inlet.
QUITE AN ADVENTURE.
Oelrichs, who is a strong swimmer, didn't
find much difficulty in getting out to where
he shark was visible. AS he came close to
h, ,,o1s+ar bis -, |