Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-08
CAPT. LAwLOR's EXCITING TRIP.
The Commander OF the Dorv Sea Serpent Re-
iates His Experience.

hhe Commander Of the Dorv Sea Serpent Re--
iates His Experience.
Capt. Lawlor. on board the American dory
Sea Serpent which started from Boston on an
ocean race with the Mermaid. another dory,
officered and manned by Capt Andrews. ar
rived at Coversck, near Lizard Point, on tho
English Channel, at $50 O'Clock "Wednesday
morning. His recital of the incidents Of tho
trip shows many narrow escapes from death.
The most exciting event was an encounter he
had with a shark and the novel method hs
adopted to fight the monster. On the night q
July "a lac went TO sleep after he had made his
rudder ropes fast and otherwise prepared his
boat 70 care for herself. He WAS suddenly
awakened by grinding noise, and upon inyes-
tigating found shark rubbing against the
boat He paid no attention TO this as il was q
common occurrence. Suddenly the boat gave
twist and he found that the shark had turned
over and had one end of the boat in Its mouth
trying to gnaw IL of. Capt Lawlor that
something must be done or he would shortly
make a meal for the shark. He had a harpoon.
but was afraid that il he threw il he might
lose 1t. He tried TO lash a knife to the
harpoon SO that he might stab the
shark without danger of losing his weapon,
but he found that he would not have time TO do
II. as the shark was eNerting all its strength and
its powerful jaws were almost crunching the
boat A brilliant idea dawned oil the captains
mind, and taking u patent Yacht signal. u num-
Der OF which he had ON board. and which con-
sist OF an explosive preparation which acts
somewhat after the manner OF Roman candles,
he lat the fuse and then wrapped the signal in .
newspaper. Then he threw has novel weapon
overheard As soon as Il touched the water
the shark let 60 the boat and made darh for
II. This was AN unfortunate move on the part
OF the shark, for just he seized il il exploded
much TO the detriment of the sharks internal
economy.
Soon after this adventure Capt Lawlor found
large box adrift in the ocean. Ii was marked
u. V. in a diamond. lie laid his boat alongside
the box and tried TO open IL, but he lost his
chlsel overheard and nearly swamped the boat,
SO he abandoned the attempt to and out what
the box contained.
On August ), while running before a nasty
sea. he sighted the bark Finland and tried TO
speak to her. He lost control Of the boat for
a moment and the sail jibed over. The sudden
pressure as the sail brought upon the main
sheet almost capsizcd the dOry. The lib Was
set and rs the boat went down on her beam
ends this sail filed with water and prevented
her from righting. Capt. Lawior was
PEELED TO Chamber over the keel TO cast of the
Jib sheets lie had great dlnIculty rightiIg
his little vessel and thought for a time that Ire
would never succeed in getting her On an even
keel When finally he did right her she was
half full of water. The Finland offered 70
assist him. but lac declined and pumped her
out himself.
After parting company with the bark he had
very dirty weather. When he arrived at Cow
crack he was drenched aud in greatly fatigued
condition. The postmaster at that place offered
him the hospitalities OF his house aud Captain
Lawlor is now there resting himself from the
strain of the voyage.