The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-17
FIGHFiNGiA SHARK.
Nothing But Vigorous Thumps- With
an Oar Save Two Lives.
From the Netc York Morning Journal
Battling with an immense shark, a mil

an Oar Save Two Lives.
From the Neto YORK. Morning Journal
Battling with an immense shark, a mile
from land in an open boat.
That was the exciting experience which
Franz Schmittberger had yesterday while
out in a tiny row boat in the waters of
Princess Bay, on the east coast of Staten
Island near Eltingville.
For the past week there have been stories
going around Staten Island to the effect that
u gigantic shark had been seen off its coast
1t was reported to be in various place. On
Saturday afternoon his sharkship was seen
by party of ladies and gentlemen near
Constable Hook, at the mouth Of the Kill
Won Kill. Its length was said TO be at least
twenty-five feet, and it considerably startled
a party of ladies and gentlemen who hap
pened 81 be out yachting In the upper bay
when it passed them with furious rush, it's
fin sailing along through the water like a
danger signal
For the past month Franz Schmittberger
living on Jersey City Nights, has been
passing the heated term with his wife and
son, q lad 10 years of age, at the old Hast
ings mansion, a few miles from Eltingville.
Early yesterday morning Mr.. Schmitt-
berger and his son started from the Hast
ings mansion for days outing on Princess
| bav.
BE careful that the shark don't catch
| you" said Mrs. Schmittberger, as her hus-
band and son left the mansion. Both made
| a joking rejoinder, and gaily sailed away.
They took little clinker-built round bot
| toned row boat, in which square sail had
| been fitted, and as a brisk breeze was blow
ing over the waters of Princess Bay, were
| soon mile from land engaged In the ex-
citing sport of blue fishing.
About noon the breeze died out, and Mr..
Schnittberger decided to lower the sail,
| and with his son discuss the ample luncheon
which was in the boat
The couple were just enjoying their noon
tide refreshment as the boat tioated aim
lessly around the bay, when both were as
tonished by fearful shock that tumbled
both into the bottom of the boat.
The force was so great that the tiny boat
lay over on it's side, while the water poured
into it in perfect torrent. Mr.. Schmitt
berger had sufficient presence of miud to
grip the higher side of the boat, ana thus
keep it from upsettlng.
Help me to bail out, he shouted to his
frightened son, and the two then began
bailing with couple of pals that had held
portion of their luncheon, which could be
seen floating in fragments on the water
near it.
While father and son were engaged in
trying to bail out the boat, 1t was again
struck with a resounding thud on the op-
posite side from where the first blow came.
poured in until the frail craft was nearly
half full
ooh, papa, the shark, the shark"
These were the startling words that rang
from the lips of Mr. Schmittberger's sou,
who had been atfrightedly gazing iato the
water after the dread shark.
Following the direction of his sons point
e.. L Al.
a few feet of the boat, and just covered
with the waters of the bay, the outlines OF
a gigantic shark.
He was coming directly for the boat
Mr.. Schmittberger unshipped an oar and
then commenced a fearful battle with the
| great fish.
For more than half an hour the battle
ragged, and until Mr.. Schmittberger was
nearly exhausted. He was about to give up
the struggle from sheer fatigue when the
| shark came up again hardly six feet away
from him and made directly at the boat,
churning the waters of the bay into foam
! In its onward rush.
With the courage of despair Mr.. Schmitt-
| berger stood up in the boat resolved to deal
one last blow i'll hopes that he would strike
the shark fairly on the nose.
He waited until the shark was almos
touching the boat, and then, with all hi
/ AOASos obA hSh NLAO ASl ~ was a lucky SnOE
The blow descended with fearful effect, anC
in moment the waters of the bay wer,
dyed deep red.
! Then with fearful swirl of the blood,
| water the shark sank beneath the waves
while Mr.. Schmlttberger fell exhausted il
| his boat.
La the fight MIR. Schmittberger lost hi
coat containing $l25 in money, but he tolt
Journal man yesterday that he was no
mourning the loss greatly, as he was glad tC
escape with his life.
Il never heard BEFORE" ne continued
that shark would attack a boat, but
think that the reason for this accident wa.
In the fact that my son and | had been eat.
| ing our luncheon just before the attack wa.
made, and had thrown pieces of it over
board. Possibly the shark was crazsd BY
hunger and had thought that our boat wa,
peculiar kind of marine restaurant thai
would give it a meal if it knocked it &c
pieces. But tell you l was frightened"