, 1891-12-05

that these myriad tales are so many lies to-
be placed at the doors of dead and living?
AS the representative OtOne of the leading
German steamship lines, Mr.. Orlrichs is
well acquainted with the sea. He has cross
ed the ocean many times. He is an enthu-
siast in yachting matters, a splendid SWIM
mer, and a clever fisherman. 1t seems that
he has made a specially of sharks, and the
startling dictum quoted at the opening of
this article was not the lille passing remark
of a rattle Drained youth, but the outcom6
OF a mature and experienced mans reflec-
tons.
1t was first promulgated publicly at a ga
thering OF the choice Spirits of thesWaywaN-
anda Club during the summer. This club is
tamous throu gltout New York State. Its
members are prominent in this city in poll
tical, financial, and. commercial circles.
Many OF The headlights of Tammany Hall
are incl udrd in the list, Ex-Sheriff Elack.
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: Tie
club house ard grounds are located ON Fire :
Island Inlet. one Of the best places on Long
Island for men who love to fish and swim
and sail.
On this particular occasion there was q
big crowd al the house. On the veranda;
besides Mr.. OellichS, sat such well klOwli
New Workers. as Judge Clancy, Judge Won
Wyck, "J9ke" RubinO ct Wall street, th6
Slater brothers, and Richard Cunningham.
Several large parties were out fishing. 1t
was hot, and the glare on the braol, and
water made it pleasant to sit in the shade
and sip frapp6 tiEz and other cooling stiinu.
lSntS. just what Star ted the talk about
sharks has been forgotten by those mesent,
but somebody made the remark that there
had been q good many sharks around dur
ing The season, and il was a wonder that ms
casualties had resulted among the more
ventureSOme hathe.s. Mr.. OelrichS lazily
Withdrew his pelfecto from between his lips
and allowed a volume Of smoke to curl lazi-
~ upward before he said:
"Bosh shan ks don't bite"
Then he replaced the cigar in his moutlf
and puffed contemplatively. His listeners
looked at him for a moment in Arrangement.
Then one OF them SAID:
'Ihat was a strange remark, Herman.
II mean it said MI. Oelnchs.
"DO-yOu-m ean-tO-say- in sober earnest
that-Sharks-wOnt- bite -a-human-b eing?' ask
ed Judge Clancy with the deliberatsOn be-
fitting his official position.
''That's just what | mean" replied Mr..
Oelrichs. 81 have given the matter a great
deal OF study, and ! Enow that 10 shark has,
ever bitten IA human being
Nonsense" said everybody at once, and =
several began TO Tell of friends who had
friends who had seen sharks bite off the
limbs OF u~nfOrtunatps, some of whom had
aflerward recovered and were living ey;-
dences of the inCollectness of Mr.. OelricbS's
assertion. AT the close of their remarks
Mr.. Oplrichs said quietly;
Il will bet $3.50 that there is not q single
authentic instance of man, woman, or Child
having been bit ten by d shark. win give
that amount to any.person who will advance
the evidence to prove a single case Of shark
bite"
The others looked at him blankly. Con.
fdent as they felt of the 'incorrectness of
his position, none of them dared TO take
the bet and the more they pondeled
over it the more they felt that he had
the advantage of them at that time. be.
cause not one had ever seen a shark
bite a man or felt sufficient confidence iii
the assertion of others to feel warranted inf
stalking any money upon them. Neverthe.
less, they not only declined to be convinced
but ever ridiculed Mr.. Oelrichs. =.
AS if to put Mr.. Oelrichs to a 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 yeranda, and sent athriH
through every one except Mr.. Oelrichs. The
latter pOt nm IazilV anl said a o0l,nlv oS1