The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-04
RODE A FoR7Y-F00T SHARK.
How y Syvimmer Convinced the Bather,
That the Monster Was Harmless.

How y Swimmer COnv1nced tho Bathers
That the M0nster Was Harmless.
Fross the .S,a Eaneiso Chyo,ioe
That q man should take u ride on a live
sharks back. apparently with all the delight Of
u wild cowboy breaking In an unruly mustang.
would be difficult to believe unless circum-
stances were presented to verify 1t. Such an
occurrence has really taken place. however.
and at 80 short distance from San Francisco
that any doubling Thomas Gun easily satisfy
, For the past few years the fishermen in the
northern part OF Moteray Bay, near Santa
Cruz have been greatly apnGyed by ~, 6stsking
ing about and trying to escape from the
injure them SO that the fishermen ut times SUI
fer the loss OF hundreds OF dollars. Sometimes
wran liz nets around it such manner
that escape Is impossible. and the huge fish
dies from the exhaustion produced by its wild
from the nets 1t is sometimes necessary to tow
It. ashore and to recSyer psrt Of the loss sus
quantity Of cheap put profitable oil;
huge ~ about osy
santa Cruz The shark. still alive and snioldel
boats to the wharfat Iaritola II arrival orc
ated great excitement among the visitors 1t
the beach drove hundreds OF bathers from the
thsir minds e leave the place. i:
she propretors 81 tho hotel or the 1%e1men
that basking sharks were not maneaters, and
happening. could entirely quiet the fears Of
the visitors. and bathing was almost entirely Ely
iaet Chat Sssiins shark was Harmless there.
s%sn sSs1 8 the GaSI.Ss Bas"s sfsn dstss
which would convince the most timid.
on ' Bathing suit ana p swan to The I
where the partially exhausted monster 10y,
s ps TILL oy IN as 2ra e s6s ans
species; Swanson swan close to It's side sqd
easy task 70 accomplish. as the shark lay al.
most entirely under water Sitting ast.ide the
swimmer s Shouted IN trump iand ersion at
the several hundred people on the wharf: who
had gathered to witness the strange perform
for as as tSs lazy VIA had
menesd to thrash about and threw swanson
on M9}%sn IN the SESWd sarfsed ieff ans
hardly hard iyt y minute. however before swanson ap-
Geared uninjured and laughing outside of the
line Of foam caH.ed by TIE sharEs struGg eIv
seet!iinG waters and realized that he had not
Deen oevoureu. rs they expected MIN W W.
The undauntad sw! miner again went 70 the
marine steed. The shark again showed its
fear and anger by shaking him of. but not so
Swanson again climbed on to the monster.
What seemed before to the many spectators 9
most foolhardy act, and but the courtship OF
certain death. now became strangely comical
sight Swanson mounted the fish, and the
shark. becoming accustomed to the queer
burden. merely rolled the man oil each time
he got on lite back. simply turning in the water
and shaking himself
This WAS repeated several times. AMI tne
large crowd OF people who came expecting to
sec the man killed and enten departed laugh
ing at the ludicrous ending OF the performance
Swanson became the hero OF the camp. Bath.
ing was resumed, and even more freely IN.
dulged In as q consequence Of the exhibition:
and no ono can now be found in Camp Capitola
who will admit that they fear a shark. ora
bAsk ing shark mt least,