Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-12-05
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A TIGER or THE SEAS.
zhe Thrilling Shark Yarn Told by Diver
From Honolulu.

From Honolulu
A diver, who gives his name as Jim
Hartley, told O wonderful encounter he
had with tiger shark some time ago.
He laid the plot Of the yarn just on
Diamond Head, Honolulu, and there Is
no doubt shark material being plenti-
full enough in that locality.
Hartley said he was deserter from
IN English ship, and had learned diving
In the old country. When his funds
gave out at Honolulu the first job that
presented itself was the exploration Of
o hardware-laden vessel on the outer
edge Of the reef. Here is the story as
told by himself:
They rugged up the only diving appar-
atus on the island tackled it. They
gave me little sloop to work from and
sound reliable fellow for a helper.
The only weapon I had was big knife
made out of the blade of sheep shears,
/ guess-anyhow it looked us though 1t
was. Everybody told me about the
sharks, but didn't anticipate any big
ones, and sharks don't bother diver
much anyhow. / made two descents.
The first one landed me among lot OF
sharp rocks and rough coral lodges
that didn't much like to move around
amongst much for fear of cutting my
air-hose, which was old and not over
strong.
soon went up, and on the next good
tide made another descent, and this
time hit the bark just right. ] found
o hole in her port bow big enough to
poke house through, and was starting
to 20 around to the other side when I
felt q jerk Mt both air hose and signal
line, accompanied by swirl of the
quiet, clear water that told the story.
/ knew that some big fish had found my
connections, but was not prepared for
what saw when turned my windows
upward. A couple of fathoms over my
head was the biggest shark ever saw,
and man-eater if ever there was one.
His underside trap-door looked big
enough to take in whale, and am
dead sure he was one of the tiger kind,
though the KanalSas tell me that species
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having look at me, and was at stand
still when saw him, just waving his
fins enough to keep his position.
What did / do? dropped fiat on my
back mighty quick. knew his game,
not from personal experience, but from
what some Of my diving mates had told
me. knew that he would settle down
on me in about minute and that my
chances of winning in stand-up fight
would be slim.
Scared! ] should say so, but diver
has got to keep his nut cool under any
circumstances, and l kept my little
thinker a-going ut top speed. / had two
main fears, one that he would break my
hose and another that the fellows in the
boat would see him and commence haul
ing me up. If they did it was a sure
shot that Mr.. Shark would take my
rubber suit for the skin of Kanaka
and bite me in two while was in mid
water and had no fighting leverage for
my feet. was lucky; the men in the
sloop never pulled a pound.
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shark commenced to settle. He
hauled off a few feet backward and
then came slowly forward again good
deal lower down, but still not low
enough down to reach me. Of course
had my knife all ready long before
this. He repeated the performance,
and this time passed within three feet
of me and stopped with his ugly yellow
stomach Just over me. He started to
back off again, and the next trip,
thinks I, would fetch him right at me
mouth on. / didn't want to meet him
that way, and as he began to move l
gave him the knife with both hands
right in the stomach.
He went like shot when the old
shears-blade stung him, and sting him
it did, for drove it good and hard with
o pulling slash that ripped him open for
q good two feet. The whirl Of his
forked tail knocked me fat again and
kicked up so much sand that ] couldn't
see an inch. l gave the line vicious
tug as soon as could find it, and away
I went for daylight.
Ipassed another one on the way up,
but he was baby compared with the
fellow down below, as am a living
man. They got me into the boat and
pulled my helmet off, and as soon as
got drink felt better. was all of a
tremble for a good hour afterward, and
pint of perspiration ran out of my
boots and jacket when pulled them
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