Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-03-20
RACE WITH A MAN-EATER
STARTLING ADVENTURE IN THE
SAMOAN ISLANDS.
while EnJoying the Pastime Of Plank Rid
ing Through the breakers AN I'm
thusiastic Visitor Encounut-
ers "a savage Shark.

and had stopped at the Samoan Islands
on my way up from Australia 10 run
them over and gain some information
regarding the natives, their ways and
and customs. and rs IA result | became
enamored OF the place. climate and
people, and remained there nearly a
year.
During that time | made myself
familiar with nearly all the islands of
the group, and one in particular had Il
peculiar fascination To me. 1t was
called in our tongue inaccessible, as
during "A majority of the time il was al
most impossible to go ashore.
I'VE glided into little bay and
were soon on the beach which led up
to some high hills. well timbered with
tropical trees and plants. ] soon saw
the cause OF the trouble in landing.
Once on the hill tops | looked down
upon n long beach, upon which beat
tho finest surf ! had ever seen. The
waves were simply great rollers. which
came in slow. dignitied fashion that
WAS most impressive. The men, who
( had all been there before, ran down
/ the shore. where | soon saw them
hauling some planks from the bush.
which | learned they had concealed ON
IA former occasion. In short, the
waves were utilized by them 10 enjoy
one of the most exciting sports mag
Unable, and | was very quickly initial
ed into il.
The men threw of what little cloth
ing they wore Then each seized Il
plank and attempted 10 launch il. This
was easier said than done. and many
We're the upsets chat onsued a. the big
rollers came in, but finally all of them
got beyond the shore and beyond the
point where waves broke and then
saw where IT," sport came in. Turning
in shore the men threw themselves
upon the planks. and watching their
opportunity, steered them so that they
held their position on the crest of the
roller and came in with it. Once under
way the natives skilfully raised them
selves TO their feet, and 50 standing
, upright came rushing in.
II was younger in those days than
am now and soon convinced myself that
/ should enjoy this sport as well as the
natives, and. securing plank |. too,
pushed out from the shore. The first
wave that struck me nearly drowned
me. but | dived into the next and my
plank beat me In about two minutes.
was not easily discouraged. however.
and kept at il with pesistency worthy
of better cause and finally secured my
position upon wave and felt for the
, first time the thrill and excitement OF
the onward rush. There was Il fascina-
ton about il that cannot explain.
During that visit ] did not attain
sufficient skill 10 enable me to take
the rifle standing but Oh subsequent
occasions became barely proficient,
and then the sport for {! time became
veritable craze with me, and one day
when the sea was particularly high
and rolling very heavily, ! met with
my adventure.
There We're six Of u enjoying the
sport, with as many natives. ! had n
plank especially made for the purpose,
wide and stout enough TO bear my en-
tire weight and by lying upon il ] soon
forced my way over the incoming rollers
and floated in the comparatively smooth
water beyond. Here | turned my plank
shoreward and waited for good roller.
Every third one was, as n rule, large,
and finally a big grecn-bodied one came
whirling in. shutting out the horizon.
As it came ! caught it. and rs felt the
transferred motion lightly sprang to my
feet and steadied myself on the monster
that extended up and down the shore
and was rushing in to its own destruc-
ton. The eXhilaration amounted al
most TO INVESTIGATION. On ! went, the
big wave beginning to comb and hiss.
leaving me ON the edge of "a watery
prccipico into which would apparently
be thrown.
"On | went. shouting gaily to q com
psnion on the beach. Then | suddenly
became aware that something was be
side me. | gave side glance and the
reality almost made me lose my foothold
upon the rushing plank. What | saw
was the sharp dorsal fin OF "A man-eater
| shark cutting along through the water
/ like "A knife. The monster was thirteen
or more feet long and was partly turned
up toward nc. showing the white gleam-
/ ing undersurface.
What passed through my mind i'm
those few seconds can hardly be imagin-
ed. | gave myself up for lost. as | be-
! lieved that the shark would soon rush
at the plank, when over | would go
an easy victim. | do not know that |
have more than ordinary nerve, but it
flashed through my mind that possibly
! the shark was waiting for me TO fall
and would not make an attack unless |
did. and in some unaccountable way
was enabled to retain my sclf-posscs-
sion. Every second | was gaining;
every second brought the big wave
nearer the beach. Now it was on the
verge of breaking; still the shark
maintained its position; then | heard
the welcome roar above me. and down
ii came like an avalanche scintillating
and cleaning. until with one mighty