Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-11-18
SHARKS DO NOT BITE.
WHAT A NEW YORK BUSINESS MAN
SAYS ABOUT ''MANEATERS.,


new and startling theory, which disturbed
the settled conviction of humanity upon an
interesting subject, conviction that has
existed since Adam first learned wisdom,
it 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 aston
ished than was the select circle of the
Waywayanda club to which Mr.. Oelrichs
first declared that sharks don't bite.
On this particular occasion there was
big crowd at the house. just what started
the talk about sharks has been forgotten
by those present, but somebody made the
remark that there had been a good many
sharks around during the season, and it
was a wonder that no casualties had re-
suited among the more venturesome bath
ers. Mr.. Oelrichs lazily withdrew his per-
fecto from between his lips and allowed
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 pulled contemplatively. His listeners
looked at him for moment in amazement.
Then one of them said:
THAT was a strange remark, Hermann"
81 mean it, said Mr. Oelrichs.
'Do-you- mean-to- say in sober earnest
tbat-sharks-won't bite-a- human beings"
asked Judge Clancy, with the deliberation
6eftting his official position.
That's just what l mean," replied Mr..
Oelrichs. 81 have given the matter great
deal of study, and | know that no shark
has ever bitten a human being"
Nonsense, said everybody at once, and
several began to tel of friends who had
friends who had seen sharks bite off the
limbs of unfortunates, some of whom had
nfterward recovered and We're living Ell
dences of the incorrectness of Mr.. Oelrichs'
assertion. At the close of their remarks
Mr.. Oelrichs said quietly:
Il viii bet $3.50 that there is not single
authentic instance of a 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
AS if to put Mr.. Oelrichs to test of his
theory, just at that moment a big shark
appeared in the inlet. 1t was in plain sight
of the party on the veranda. and sent a
thrill through every one except Mr.. Gel
richs. The latter got up lazily and said as
calmly as ever:
There, gentlemen, is chance to test
our opinions
the waters edge. stripped quickly in sight
of his Mortified friends and jumped in bold
ly. The shark was not far away AID
swimming toward Oelrichs. As he came
on, his body was visible from dorsal fin to
tail fin, or two-thirds of his entire length
The smallest estimate placed upon his
length was ten feet. The tide was running
flood, but the shark could not get over the
bar in the inlet.
Oelrichs, who is a strong swimmer,
didn't find much difficulty in getting out
to where the shark was visible. As he
came close to the monster, his excited
friends on the veranda arose from their
seats and stood in painful anxiety, expect
ing every moment to see the monstrous
jaws close around au arm or leg, or per-
haps ingulf the whole body. A few of the
witnesses grew faint and covered their
eyes, while the more courageous shouted
for boats to go to Oelrichs' rescue
Even as they stood there the big mass of
fish began to move quickly. In their ex-
element some of the witnesses thought
they saw the shark turn over and dart for
Oelrichs in accepted style, with the cavern
ous mouth open and the cross-saw teeth
visible Was the foolhardy man going to
Toe the first victim of his ridiculous theory
showed that their fears had been ground
less. Instead of moving toward the daring
swimmer the monster was going in the
opposite direction. He was swimming rap
Idly, too, and actually appeared to have
been frightened away by the human APP
partition. The black back could he seen
going toward the open SEA and the Won
dering men soon lost sight of him far out
in Tie tumbling waters. Oelrichs contin-
ned to dive and frolic in the water until
Judge Clancy got a skiff and went out to
him and brought him back.
Of course Oelrichs felt victorious, al
| though he did not say much, Int his
| friends were still far from convinced. The
| fact that one shark had not bitten a man
when he had the chance was no proof that
| all sharks would act the same way. they
said 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
| Mr.. Oelrichs has doubled the Offer so that
anybody who has been bitten by a shark,
| or can prove that any one else has suffered
! this inconvenience, can earn $500 by apply
| ing to Mr. Oelrichs at his Office in Bowling
| Green.
One of the stories that reached Mr.. Gel
i rlchs ears came very near TO destroying
his faith. Two boys had been in bathing
In New York bay off South Brooklyn, when
one of 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 his back. The boy was re-
moved to a hospital, where number OF
| physicians examined the wound. Both
boys asserted that it was the result of q
shark S bite, and several Of the physicians
declared emphatically that the marks OF
brute's teeth were plainly visible. The
| other doctors We're not SO certain. As sooI
rs Mr. Oelrichs heard of this case he begar
| an investigation. The boys stnck TO theil
story, and both gave detailed descriptions
| of the appearance Of the shark. They ever
produced witnesses, who declared tina,
they, too. had seen him.
Then Mr.. Oelrichs saw the physicians
who strengthened the boys story and cor
respondingly lesseDed Mr.. Oelrich's be
lief in his own theory. But he was deter
mined to sift the story thoroughly, and 81
he examined the boys back himself. TIL,