The Progress., 1892-09-17
A QUEER REVENGE.
THE STORY OF A HUNT AFTER
SHARKS.
How n Voyage Began and Ended in Trag-
edy-Thc Man who Lost His Brother
Through "A Shark and Was Finally Lost
Himself in "A Similar Way.

Copyright. lsa2. by Charles b. LcwisI
In the month o. November, 1868, the
Liverpool ship John Hunnewell left Mel
bourne, Australia, for the voyage home
She carried rs passengers two brothers
John and Joseph Layton. They were
twins forty-two years old, and neither had
ever married They had come out to Aus
tralia ut the age Of twenty, made their
fortunes in sheep and were now going back
TO the old country on a visit. The fact of
their taking passage in a sailing craft was
due to their intimate acquaintance with
the captain. lie was, il remember right.
distant relative.
We had made fast run of half the dis
tance to the Cape and all had gone well
with everybody on board when there came
dead calm which lasted two days and
nights. On the afternoon of the second
day strange sea bird made its appear
ance and lowered about the ship. None Of
the crew had ever seen bird like it, and
its visit caused some little excitement
One of the twins, John, determined to Sc
cure the bird rs specimen, and he brought
up fowling piece to get n shot. The bird
was very shy, and after moving about
from point to point the man finally mount
ed the port rail abreast of the mizzenmast.
The sea was like glass, the ship steady on
her keel and he had raised his gun to Gre
when lie somehow lost bis balance and
dropped into the sea with great splash.
There was a general shout Of laughter at
his mishap, and both mates, who were on
deck at the time, ran to heave him a rope
We heard him call out in jovial tones, but
even as he seized the end OF rope flung at
him he uttered a shrek and was pulled
out OF sight in an instant. A shark had
taken him. There was swirl OF waters
few air bubbles rose to the surface and all
was over.
Everything had passed so swiftly TINT
we could not at once realize what had hap
pened. When we did understand the situa-
tion the surviving brother was so deter
mined on going overheard to search for his
brother that it took four or five men to
hold him. He raved like a crazy man, and
for the next week he had to be closely
watched to guard against suicide. He was
as badly broken up as man who had lost
wife and children. The loss of his brother
under such distressing circumstances de- |
veioped singular mania. knew nothing |
OF it until we reached Cape Town. Joseph |
had determined to revenge his brothers |
death. He ended his voyage at the Cape,
bought an American brig, which had been |
picked up rs derelict and towed in, and |
the first knew of his plans WAS when the
So, fy.
the position Of second mate on the brig.
wish to give you some OF the particulars OF
our QUILTING, because I believe Tho Re
venge. ~ Joseph renamed the brig, was
the only vessel ever fitted out for such u
voyage. When reported on board he de
tailed his plans. They were very simple
We were to cruise for sharks. and to de-
stroy as many as possible until his desire
for revenge was satiated
The brig had to be pretty thoroughly
and 1t was six weeks before
we got away. During this time Joseph
sought to post himself in every possible
way, and we had chemists, electricians,
carpenters and machinists aboard OF us
every day. One Of his ideas was TO use an
electric battery. but the scheme could not
be made to work satisfactorily. We had
a furnace built for heating brick. and we
look 5,ee0 bricks into the hold. A portion
,f the bulwarks ON each quarter was mr.
ranged so that 1t could be taken out at
will. Under my personal supervision
made 100 shark hooks, and
Joseph purchased thirty barrels of pork for
10 other use than shark bait. He pro
'ided the brig with four lances and as
many harpoons, and he bought up every
ort Of poison which the drug stores had In
took. A false deck Of heavy planks was
aid, capstan set In the deck just abais
he mainmast and, In addition to full
rev to work the brig. three big Cape
anoemen were hired ~ extra hands. Jo-
eph must have had fully $50. 900 invested
When we finally set sail ]
Sharks are Of course to be found in every
en-. but Joseph had consulted many sea. {
airing men od had determined on max. :
ng for the Sunda islands first. This
roup includes Sumntra and Java, and q
rom the beginning. at Acheen head, to 9
he east end. at Timor, is distance Of Z
900 miles To the south OF these islands b
va hundred or more altogether, rolls tho 9
idle expanse OF the Indian ocean. One '
ny. after voyage Of weeks, we spoke a v
rench mesehsntman which had loaded at '
ne port Of Java and touched mt the Cocos
lands to leave a colony Of twenty-five n
''vanese. We were told that there were 3