The morning news., 1891-08-27
BATTLE WITH A SHARK.
Exciting Incident Of a Dory Race
Across the Atlantic.
From the Wastinqton Post.

Exciting Incident OF Dory Race
Across the Atlantic.
From the Washington Post
LONDON, Aug. Capt. Lawlor, on board
the American dory Sea Serpent, which
started from Boston on an ocean voyage
race with the Mermaid, another dory. Off
cered and manned by Capt. Andrews, ar
rived at Cove Rock, near Lizard Point, Oh
the English channel, at $3.50 o'clock Wednes
day morning. His recital of the incidents
of the trip shows many narrow escapes
from death. The most exciting event was
an encounter he had with shark, and toe
novel method he adopted to fight the mon
ster.
On the night of July "a he went to sleep,
after he had made his rudder ropes fast and
otherwise prepared his boat to care for her
self. He was suddenly awakened by a
grinding noise and upon investigation found
a shark rubbing against the boat. He paid
no attention to this, as it w6s d common
occurrence. Suddenly the boat gave a
twist, and he found that the shark had
turned over aud had one end of the boat in
its mouth, trying to gnaw it off.
Capt. Lawlor saw that something must
be done or he would shortly make a meal
for the shark He had a harpoon, but was
afraid if he threw it he would lose it, He
tried TO lash knife to the harpoon, so that
he might stab the shark without danger of
losing his weapon, tut he found that he
would not have time TO do it, as the shark
was exerJing all its strength. and its power
full jaws were almost crunching the boat.
A brilliant id "a dawned on the captains
mind, and taking patent yacht signal, a
number of which he had on board, and
which consists of an explosive preparation
which acts somewhat after the manner OF
roman candles, he lit the fuse and then
wrapped the signal in a newspaper. Then
he threw his novel weapon overheard.
AS soon as it touched the water the shark
let 20 the boat and made dash for it. This
was an unfortunate move on the part of the
shark, for just as he seized it it exploded,
much to the detrimenu of the sharks in
ternal economy.
Soon after this adventure Capt. Lawlor
found large box adrift in the ocean. 1t
was marked "D. v" in a diamond. He
laid his boat alongside the box and tried to
open it, but he lost his chisel overheard and
nearly swamped the boat, SO he abandoned
the attempt to find out what the box con-
tained.
On Aug. 8, while running before nasty
sea, he sighted the bark Finland, and tried
to speak her. He lost control of the boat
for moment end the sail iibed over. The
sudden pressure Of the sail brought upon
the main sheet. almost capsized the d0ry
Inc JlO was eeI, duu as Ine DOdU went
down on her beam ends. this sail
filed with water aud prevented
her from righting. Capt. Lawlor was
compelled TO Chamber over the keel to cast
off the jib sheets. He had great difficulty
in righling his little vessel aud thought for
time that he never would succeed in get
ting her on an even keel. When finally he
did right her she was half full of water
The Finland offered 70 assist him, but he
declined and pumped her out himself.
After parting company with the bark he
had very dirty weather. When he arrived
az Cove Rock he was drenched, and in a
very fatigued condition. The postmaster
at that place offered him the hospitalities
of his house, and Capt. Lawlor is now there
resting himself from the strain of the voy-