The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-29
OPINION ABOUT SHARKS.
HERMAN oELRICHs SAYS THEY
DO NOT BITE MEN.

Front OF Shark to Prove His The
ory-Is Stands.
From the Nep York sun.
Where a man advances an opinion which
is in direct conflict with the convictions Of
the world at large be must expect TO be de-
rided That is perfectly plain. A number
Of men who have been famous in the worlds
history have been more or less wounded in
their tenderest feelings, and some have even
been prosecuted in horrible ways because
they tried to set up new-fangled ideas on
their own nook. When, therefore.
! Herman Oelrichs. the millionaire
clubman and athlete, advanced a
| new and startling theory, which disturbed
| the settled conviction of humanity upon an
Interesting subject, u conviction that has
existed since Adam first learned wisdom
ii was only natural that he was looked upon
| with suspicion. The wise men of Spain
who first heard Columbus say that the earth
! was round were not more astonished than
| was the select circle of the WaYwayanda
/ Club 10 which Mr.. Oelrlchs first declared
| that sharks don't bite.
When one thinks OF the thousands OF men
and women OF irreproachsble character who
have given evidence since the creation OF
| the world that sharks do bite, when one re-
calls the myriad heroes OF youta full romances
who have rescued beautiful maidens from
! sharks jaws, when one reads so frequently
| of individuals who have suffered disaster
through the man-eating propenslties Of
sharks. 1t seems impossible that Mr.. Oel-
rlchs can be right
| Sit down for lust few minutes and pom
der over the number of man-eating sharks
| you have read OF in telegraph dispatches TO
! the newspapers. Try and figure I'D the
average number OF victims attributed to
each shark, and add up these averages. Isn't
| II a grand, or rather mournful totall Can
| IL be true that all these are creatures of the
| imagination; that man-eating sharks must
be classed with the doubtful sea serpent,
1 and that these myriad tales are so
many lies to be placed at the doors of dead
and living.
As the representative Of one of the lead
| ing German Steamship lines, Mr.. Oelrichs is
| well acquainted with the. sea. He has
crossed the ocean many times. He is an
enthusiast In yachting matters, a splendid
/ swimmer and clever fisherman, IL seems
| that he has made a speciality OF sharks and
the startling dictum quoted at the opening
of this article was not the idle passing re-
| marx Of rattle-brained youth, but the
outcome of a mature aud experienced mans
| reflections
1t was first promulgated publicly at a
gathering Of the choice spirits of the Way
| wayania Club during the summer. Tnis
club is famous throughout New York state.
Its members are prominent in this city in
political, financial and commercial circles
Many Of the head lig ats of Tammauy Hall
are included in the list. Ex-Sherif Flack,
| whose political fortunes were so suddenly
checked by the exposure of his conspiracy
against his wife, was president of the Way
wayanda at the time Of his downfall The
club house and grounds are located on Fire
Island inlet, one OF the beat places on Long
l Island " n rim
and sail
On this particular occasion there was q
big crowd at the house. On the veranda
besides Mr.. Oelrichs. sat such well-lsnown
New Workers as Judge Clancy, Judge Van
| Wyck, Jake Rubino of Wall street. the
Slater brothers and Richard Cunningham.
Several large parties were out fishing. It
was hot, and the glare Of the beach
and water made 10 pleasant 10 sit
in the shade and sip frappe fig
and other cooling stimulanes. Just what
started the talk about sharks has besn
forgotten by those present. but somebody
made the remark that there had been a
good many sharks around during the season
and % was a wonder that no casualties had
resulted among the more venturesorne bath
ers. Mr. Oeirichs lsziIy withdrew his per-
fecto from between his lips and allowed a
volume Of smoke to curl lazily upward be-
fore he said:
"Boshl Sharks don't bite"
| Then he replaced the cigar in his mouth
and puffed contsmplatively. Hiss listeners
looked at him for q moment in amazement.
Then one Of them said:
| That was a strange remark Herman
al mean il, said Mr.. Oelrichs.
"Do-you-mean-to-say sober-sarnest-
thRt-sharks WON'T bite-a-humAn being %
| asked Judge Clancy, with the elaboration
bef1tting his official postum.
That's just what mean ;" replied Mr..
Oelrichs. II have given the matter a great
deal of study, and know that no shark has
ever bitten a human being"
Nonsense" said everybody at once, and
several began to tell of friends who had
friends who had seen sharks bite of the
| limbs OF unfortunates, some Of whom had
afterward recovered and were living evil
dences OF the incorrectuess Of Mr.. Oelrichs'
assertion. At the close OF their remarks
Mr. Oerichs said quietly:
II will bet $3.50 that there is not single
authentic instance OF man, woman, or
child having been bitten by shark. will
give that amount to any person who will
advance the evidence to prove single case
of shark bite.n
The Others looked at him blsnkly. Com
fident as they felt OF the 1ncorrectness of
his position, none OF them dared to take the
bet; and the more they pondered over it
the more they felt that he had the advant-
age over them at that time, because not one
sufficient confidence in the assertions of
others to feel warranted IN stalking any
money upon them. Nevertheless, they not
only declined TO be convinced, but even
. ridlculed Mr. Oelrichs-
As IL to put Mr. Oelrichs TO test Of his
theory. just at that moment, big shark
appeared in the inlet. 1t was in plain sigh
, Of the party on the veranda, ard sent a
thrill through every one except Mr. Oel-
richs. The latter got up lazily and said, as
calmly as ever:
There. gentlemen. is a chance to test our
opinions"
Without another word he ran down to
the waters edge, stripped quickly in sight
Of his Mortified friends and Jumped in bod
lily. The shark was not far away and
swimming toward OelrIchs. As he came
on his body was visible from dorsal fin to
tail fin. or two-thirds of his entire length.
tbs smallest estimate placed upon has
length was ten feet The tide was running
food, but the shark could not get over the
bar in the inlet.
Oe!richs, who is a strong swimmer,
didn't find much difficulty IN getting out TO
where the shark was visible. As ne came
close 70 the monster his excited friends on
. the veTanda arose from their seats aad
stood IN painful anxiety, expecting every
moment % see the monstrous jaws close