The Delta independent., 1891-03-17
RACE WITH A MAN-EATER
STARTLING ADVENTURE IN THE
SAMOAN ISLANDS.
While EnJoyln: the Pastime Of Plank Rid
ng Through the Breakers an En-.
thusiastic Visitor Encounut.
ers Il Savage Shark.

and had stopped at the Samoan Islands
on my way up from Australia to run
them over and gain some information
regarding the natives, their ways and
and customs, and rs n result / became
enamored of the place, climate and
people, and remained there nearly a
year.
During that time l made myself
familiar with nearly all the islands of
the group, and one In particular had Il
peculiar fascination to me. 1t was
called In our tongue Inaccessible, as
during a majority of the time it was al
most impossible TO go ashore.
"We glided into little bay and
were soon on the beach, which led up
to some high hills, we'll timbered with
tropical trees and plants. soon saw
the cause of the trouble in landing.
Once on the hill tops I looked down
upon long beach, upon which beat
the finest surf / had ever seen. The
waves were simply great rollers, which
came in slow dignified fashion that
was most impressive. The men, who
had all been there before, ran down
the shore, where l soon saw them
hauling some planks from the bush,
which l learned they had concealed on
a former occasion. In short, the
waves We're utilized by them to enjoy
one of the most exciting sports imug-
Unable, and was very quickly initiat-
cd into it.
THE men threw off what little cloth
ing they wore. Then each seized q
plank and attempted to launch it. This
was easier said than done, and many
were the upsets that ensued as the big
rollers came in, but finally all of them
got beyond the shore and beyond the
point where waves broke, and then l
saw whore the sport came in. Turning
in shore the men threw themselves
upon the planks, and watching their
opportunity, steered them so that they
held their position on the crest OF the
roller and came in with it. Once under
way the natives skilfully raised them
selves to their feet, and SO standing
| upright came rushing in.
II was younger in those days than /
| am now and soon convinced myself that
l should enjoy this sport as well as the
natives, and, securing a plank, !, too,
pushed out from the shore. The first
| wave that struck ue nearly drowned
| me, but dived into the next and my
plank beat me in about two minutes.
was not easily discouraged, however,
and kept at it with n pesistency worthy
of better cause and finally secured my
position upon n wave and felt for the
first time the thrill and excitement of
the onward rush. There was u fascina-
ton about it that l cannot explain y
During that visit did not attain
sufficient skill to enable me to take
tho rifle standing, but on subsequent
occasions l became barely proficient,
and then the sport for time became q
veritable craze with me, and one day
when the sea was particularly high
and rolling very heavily, l met with
my adventure.
There We're six of us enjoying the
sport with as many natives. / had u
plank especially made for the purpose,
wide and stout enough to bear my en-
tire weight, and by lying upon it soon
forced my way over the incoming rollers
and tloated in the comparatively smooth
water beyond. Here l turned my plank
shoreward and waited for Il good roller.
Every third one was, as n rule, large,
and finally a big green-bodied one came
whirling in, shutting out the horizon.
As it came l caught it, and as felt the
transferred motion lightly sprang to my
feet and steadied myself on the monster
that extended up and down the shore
and was rushing In to. its own destruc-
III ~
most to intoXication. On | went, the
big wave beginning to comb and hiss,
leaving me on the edge Of watery
piecipice into which l would apparently
be thrown.
"On vent, shouting gaily to COM
panion on the beach. Then suddenly
became aware that something was be-
side me. / gave side glance and the
reality almost made me lose my foothold
upon the rushing plank. What saw
was the sharp dorsal fin of a man-eater
shark cutting along through the water
like knife. The monster was thirteen
or more feet long and was partly turned
up toward me, showing the white gleam-
ing undersurface.
"What passed through my mind in
those Few seconds can hardly be imagin-
ed. gave myself up for lost as i be-
lieved that the shark would soon rush
at the plank, when over / would go,
an easy victim. | do not know that
have more than ordinary nerve, but II
flashed through my mind that possibly
the shark was waiting for me to fall
and would not make an attack unless
did, and in some unaccountable way
was enabled to retain my self-posses-
sion. Every second l was gaining;
every second brought the big wave
nearer the beach. Now it was on the
verge of breaking; still the shark
maintained It's positions; then / heard
| the welcome roar above me- and down
it came like an avalanche, scintillating
and cleaning, until with one mighty
burst the aquatic monster broke. For
a single second stood in the cleaning
mass and then was dashed upon the
beach safe and sound.
''Ihe shark did not come in, which
was evidence TO me that it had not
been overcome by the rush OF the
water, but was simply following me
with due regard. to its cuisine. / need
hardly say that this was my last ex-
perience riding breakers here. Upon
inquiry learned that natives had been
I H..