The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-14
THE SHARKS BITE
A Traveller from the Tropics Whose Doubts
Were Dlspelled by Observation.

"A Traveller from the Tropics Whose Doubto
Were Dlspelled by Observation.
III Mr.. Herman oelrichs or any one else
supposes that he can with impunity fool with
shark in the flstis native element let him try
to do so just outside OF the surf in the harb0r
OF Madras and no will certainly be silenced. 10
not convinced" said q gentleman who has
travelled great deal over tropical seas.
Il was once a passenger on steamer be.
longing to the British India Steam Navigation
Company running around the coast from Cali
cutta to Bombay. I was taking the round.
about sea trip for my health. and as few people
make tho journey that way was the only
passenger on board. I passed much Of my
time watching the sharks that swarmed in the
waters Of oil the numerous ports at which we
touched. The weather was horribly hot, and
everybody. especially the men employed in tho
engine room and stoke hole. would have en-.
joyed plunge into the deep. clear water when
We lay at anchor. But bathing over the side
was strictly prohibited. The order caused Q
good deal Of discomfort, because there were
many in the ship who shared Mr.. Oelrich's
opinion that sharks won't bite living man.
AZ Madras an argument was advanced that
"A great deal q, money had been taken
ct Madras. and the, clerk. as the OFFICIAL who
did tho purser's dYties on the ship. was called.
sS s5ss q sna 9a %s s6aS sxsS g
saas he ss sG q Mt loas s
side. cs5sylng the clerk and the bags Of money
The dingee never reached the SURF. Less
than Quarter Of a mile from the ship. where q
she mysteriously oapsized. She was in piail;
view ofthe ship and a score OF us were watch.
Ing a.. Ssrs All Ahes usoans eesf al ss
rose to the surface. 30 did all the Lascars; but
H3Ss ass In
watching for, the, dlnges. or, true to his
ooEins the ee bags Of sasr NoSoai
ne NV, Even as As my slasSs severed him
thought he had suce4mbed to exhaustion or
Sseg haa Hsn ss sa sosd
q the breast showed themselves and I could
bitten on: While / watched something else
lowed tho lower part q the cIerE's body, and
ax tss w sfHs events he took and
-, The natives quickly righted their boat. and
R sn esy 70 bs ae
coasters on board scoffed at their story. The
they SAID bad drSt # ssy
who are ike fishes ia the wnter. would 90
down to the money bags. fastp lines to thems
and hand them into n dingee
man !! met in Sydney. Austr lila. a retired
Danish sea Captain. His name was Hans
Peterkin. and he lived, with his wife and three
children, twenty miles from the coast. @
five days journey north Of Sydney. We became
great friends, and / accepted an invitation
to hin his His tSs
Fl n Which sharks ss
bank half q mile from his door. and when va
found that there was nobody In the house. he
said his family were probably. on the hulk
where they often pissed fine afternoons. We
the boat ordi narily used by the household was
not in its place. we walked a mile down the
shore where q large and cumbersome craft
was moored. and started for the hulk.
When We boarded 1t we found Peterkin'9
us a irightful story. Three days before our
arrival their mother. with her three little song
and the nurse. had left the house TO go to the
schooner. The boat was too small to carry
them ell OF once. 80 Mrs; Peterkin rowed Hans
nurse q e and the other rD' Chi whtls sp.
the boat upset and IT, occupants were
thrown Into the water. Then. In full view OF
the little boys. sharks swarmed around tina
mother. child; and nurse. tore them e pieces
Wlth i liz tide n "nd Hans Hans and Ssilssn were
most dead with hunger and horror when their
Some sharks arc man eaters and some ara
not. but there 10 no room f9r me In any water