Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-05-22
WAITING Foa BURIAL.
The Corpse Of Young Sailor Renewed
Beyond the Reach of Sharks.

The Corpse of Young Sailor Renewed
Beyond the Reach of Sharks.
We had run off the coast until it
showed only faint dark line on the
horizon. There was a fair breeze, and
it was only now and then, as the sloop
lifted to a wave, that the spray was
sent flying over the bows We had just
altered the course. and half a dozen
lines were trailing behind for bluefish.
when the sailor who had gone forward
to trim down the jib cried out that we
were close on to wreckage. Almost at
the same moment every line was seized
and bitten in twain
Sharks said the captain as we ex-
pressed our surprise. "Of course it's
sharks-look there"
Astern Of us and on each quarter
could be seen the dorsal fins of sharks
and the sloop had no sooner been
brought up into the wind than we
could count score of them moving
swiftly about.
There is dead sailor in there"
whispered the captain as we gathered
on the starboard bow to view the
wreckage
There was the foremost of topsail
schooner with its long yard and sail
still attached, and trailing away from
them were scores of ropes. As the mast
was thrown up on the waves we could
see from its splintered but that it had
been broken off a few feet above the
deck As the sail had not been reefed
it was evident that the craft had caught
sudden and violent squall.
The sight of the wreckage was lone
some enough, but the picture was made
more impressive by the presence of the
man eaters. We could see them work
ing their way into the debris and back
| ing out again-weaving in and out
among the ropes, diving under the
mast-snapping at each other like
/ dogs as they met in the tangle. We
watched the scene for five minutes
without word Then the captain
| turned TO us with:
There's dead sailor tangled up in
that topsail yard. We can't see him,
but know he's there That's what
draws these sharks.
"WellF' somebody queried
well, they say it don't make no diff
ference where the body rests after
death, but I've got a SOFT of feeling
that it does. OF course, you've hired
the boat, and of course you mayn';
want a corpse towing astern of US rs
we go in; but I'm a-believing the
friends of poor Jack in there will feel
the easier for knowing that the sand:
cover him.
Two minutes later the small boat was
down and pushing among the wreck
age. When the bellying sail had beer
cut loose and pulled aside the body
was discovered 1t was in the sling
of the yard, and held there by hal
yard which had wrapped about hin
after the mast was afioat. Ii was tina
OF young man, not over Is years old
and in life must have been fair to lool
upon. Not a bruise could be seen, anC
it was plain that he had died of stran
gulation while held in the slings I
search brought to light his knife, a lit
tie change and some tritiing keepsakes
but nothing to show his name or tn
abiding place of his friends.
We took the body in tow and sale,
away for a bit of sand key near the TO
horn buoy. There we scooped out
grave in the wet sands with an oar
and laid poor Jack to rest, the lionel
blasts of the fog horn as the iron buo
rose and fell on the waves being his re
I QUEEN. He may sleep no better unde
} the sands, but we can hope he does -
Cor Detroit Free Press