The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-02-03
SCRATCHING A SHARK.
A Submarine Diver Has Some Re-
markable Experie nces-
The Singular Conduct of One of the Ter
rors of the Deep-A Queer Method
of Destroying "sea


! Lawyers"
| recollect a shark that gave me a
considerable shock, says a writer for
| Chambers Journal. / had been en-
| gagged in blowing up n reef of rocks so as
| to enlarge "a little harbor on the coast
| 1t was my duty to make the hole and
| put in the charge of dynamite. The
| charge was exploded in the evening
! after we left off work. On going down
| every morning l was accustomed to go
over to certain ledge which was al
! ways a good resting place for Holsters
Morning after morning had invariably
found pair or more of these crusta-
ceans, which | sent to the surface in a
basket.
On the morning to which | now refer
| walked straight TO the ledge and ran
my hand carefully along its lower side.
l was surprised to find my hand scrap
ing what | took to be the rock; but /
was surprised still more when | OBJ
served my hand CROPPING within foot
of the mouth of great shark which
had retired TO rest In this cave. The
shark must have been as much alarmed
as | was, for it made one spring from
its resting place and disappeared in the
dark wall of ocean. The shock to me
was greater than could have believed,
and even yet | do not care to think
about it much. 1t is hardly necessary
To say that did not return to that ledge
for lobsters for some time
On another occasion big fellow came
alongside me where / was working. |
stopped, of course, and stepped back
quietly to let him pass. But he did EOt.
He came nearer. | then thought he was
curious. but soon found that another
feeling than curiosity was moving him.
As | retreated he still advanced, until
found myself jammcd up against the
rock. | could retreat no further, and
vet the brute came on determinedly.
But Instead of approaching me with his
long nose-for you don't see his jaws
he turned his side and began to rub up
against me. | had a small Jumper" in
my hand. which | held with the point
outwarCls against his skin, as | did not
wish to have his rough skin scoring
against my dress. 1t was something
like what a COW would be rubbing
against You.
The iron on his skin was, however
the very thing he wanted, as he soon
gave me to understand. / was kept
there at least half an hour scratching
that monster with the sharp iron. He
took it like pig. bending his body and
turning over on his side so as to present
a fresh surface to the jumper. | sup
pose lac must have felt easier for the
operation, for after some time he
moved away. | had one or two further
visits from him on following days, on
each of which | was obliged to scratch
him for a time. l think he must have
recognized me as a kindly and cffcctual
scratcher. | imagine he was suffering
from some parasitical on skin disease,
To which he may have fallen victim.
Otherwise | might be in that scratching
billet still
One of the boys who worked in the
boat once inserted a charge of dynamite
in n Sleeps head: the charge was of
course attached To the battery by wire.
After we had knocked Off he threw
in the Sleeps head. In about ten
seconds the head was taken in" by a
small shark. In ten seconds more there
was an explosion and fragments of
shark were abundant. In certainly less
than minute afterwards the sea was
almost alive with sharks contending
for n relic of their deceased llins-shark
This experience was, however. obtained
from the surface, and what pride my
self most on is that see these creatures
from below.