The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-29

friends were still far from convinced. The
fact that one shark had not bitten a man
when be had the chance, was no proof that
all sharks would act the same way, they
said Judge Clancy ventured the opinion
that there were certain sharks that were
man eaters, while the rest were timid. Let
a shark once taste human blood. he said,
and be would thereafter be terror to all
/ humanity that came his way. Man eaters,
he thought, were more plentiful in southern
waters. where natives were constantly fall
ing into their jaws Another man recited
/ an instance, related by Bayard Taylor in
his travels, where a shark hung around the
vessel for hours in the hope that some one
on board would accommodate his taste for
human flesh. That shark had a record of
twenty-ohe lives, and may have disposed of
any number Of unknown.
IAN bosh % said Oerichs. mere gossip
| and hearsay. The fellows who told TAYLOR
that were stuffing him. The shark was
looking for scraps from the table"
Then Judge Clancy related his experience
IN catching sharks and told how when one
had been dragged on 20 the beach a short
time before he had snapped at an oar placed
near him, and had almost bitten through
the blade
80. Of course" replied Oelrichs, "when
be is out Of water he will snap at anything
that comes near him, but let a moving. liy-
Ing human body come near him in the
water. aud away he will &c, frightened out
of bis wits.n
Other men told Of their experiences, and
one related how, when he had gone to Hayti
year before, the officers on the vessel de-
scribed the way IN which brother OF the
English consul had lost his arm to a shark
off Jacnel. Still Oelrichs pooh-poohed all
doubts OF his theory and said that he would
make his offer of $3.50 for an authentic case
OF shark bite good at any time. Since then
MIR. Oelrichs has doubled the offer, SO that
anybody who has been bitten by shark, or
can prove that any one else has suffered this
inconvenience, can earn $500 by applying to
MIR. Oelrichs at his office in Bowling Green.
Mr.. Oelrichs may frequently be seen
along the water front ia search Of sailors
who have been alleged 70 have had enoount-
ers with sharks. He has spoken to MANY of
the officers and crews of vessels that visit
the southern waters, especially the West
Indian seas. and says he feels more conf
dent than ever in the truth of his theory
The knowledge Of the reward ne has offered
has been spread throughout the merchant
marine and hundreds Of seafarers have their
eyes and ears open for opportunities to earn
the $500.
One of the stories that reached Mr..
Oelrlchs' ears came very near to destroying
his faith. Two boys had been in bathing in
New York bay off South Brooklyn, when
one or them was seized and almost disap-
peared. He was rescued with difficulty,
and when brought to shore was almost in>
sensible, while blood was pouring from a
large wound in bis back. The boy was re-
moved to a hospital where a number OF
physicians examined the wound. Both
boys asserted that it was the result OF a
SHARKS bite, and several of the physicians
declared emphatically that the MARKS of
the brute's teeth were plainly visible. The
other doctors were not SO certain. AS soon
as Mr.. Oelrichs heard Of this case he began
an Investigation. The boys stuck 20 their
story, and both gave detailed descriptions
OF the appearance of the shark. They even
produced witnesses, who declared that they,
Too. had seen him.
Then Mr.. Oelriohs saw the physicians,
who strengthened the boys story and cor
respondingly lessened Mr.. Oelrichs' belief
in his own theory. But he was determined
to slit the story thoroughly and 80 he
examined the boys back himself The scars
Of the wound were plainly visible, and Mr.
Oelrichs at once decided that they could
never have been made by sharks teeth.
be had prepared a careful diagram of a
sharks teeth and compared ID with the
marks of the wound The former were re-
gular while the latter were not. Then hs
had the hay dragged W here the boy had
been seized, and lot OF jagged tin was
found on the bottom. Comparisons proved
that the points OF the tin had entered the
boys back, and, being bent. had heldshim
for few moments until his struggles had
freed him
The truth OF this theory was proved TO
| the satisfaction of everybody connected
| with the case, even the boys being less sure
| about the shark when they saw the later de-
velopments 50 far, therefore. Mr.. Gel
rtchs' assertion has not been disproved