The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-25
BLASTEDTHE SHARK
The Operation Performed by .
Meal Of Gun Cotton.


Though they failed to achieve glory
since the revolution collapsed before
they struck blow at it, the men who
went to Brazil last fall in President
Peixoto's improvised warships were in
many instances repaid by the new ex-
Among them were . number of Brook
lynites, the most prominent Of whom
was Baron Nils de Foch, a Swedish
nobleman who moved in large and
influential circle.
Baron de Foch is torpedo expert.
He was trained in the best torpedo
schools of his native country and
France. and having, moreover, made
good record in the service of the
United States government, the agents
Of the Brazilian government in New
York were particularly anxious to Sc
cure him as ordnance officer of Erics-
sons submarine gunboat, the De-
stroyer, which was renamed by its
new owners the Pirating. The baron.
who is tall and distinguished looking,
though democratic in his tastes and
manners. was glad to accept their
offer, for he had hitherto longed for
nothing SO much as an opportunity to
60 into actual combat, and he was,
moreover, enthusiastic over the De-
stroyer, his admiration for which was
heightened by the fact that her in
ventor. of undying Monitor fame, was
= countryman of his birth.
Baron de Foch's disappointment,
therefore, over the fact that the De-
stroyer did not get into action must
have been particularly acute, but that
he has abundant reason otherwise to
look back on the expedition with salts
faction. to say the least, is indicated by
= recent number of the Smalands Ale
handle, prominent paper published in
tho Swedish city of Jonkoping, where
tho baron was born. It contains let
ter from the baron giving an account
Of an experience of his In Martin
ique, the Destroyer's first port of call
ON her way from New York to Pernam-
bsoo. He narrowly escaped from be-
ing eaten by sharks.
Early one morning, tho letter says,
being good swimmer and fond of sea-
water bathing, he jumped overheard
for bath. Presently he was startled
by cry Of: SHARK, shark!" 1t was
yelled at him from the deck of the De-
stroyer. as well as from the decks Of
several neighboring vessels, and when
he looked around he saw dorsal fin
skimming along the top of the water,
and not far of. 1t was only matter
Of . few strokes, however, and he was
on board tho Destroyer At the shark
tin cans and other things were thrown,
and h was even fred at, but still ID
lowered about and was joined by two
others Then the baron took about
pound Of gun cotton, the identical ter
rible explosive with which the De.
strOyer's submarine gun was to blow
up the insurgent warships in Rio har-
Dor, and filed quart bottle with it.
He put fuse in it and effected a con.
necsion with q friction electric bat.
terry, such as is used for blasting pur-
poses. A large piece Of meat was
tied around the bottle, which was then
thrown overheard
The three sharks rushed for 1t imme-
One of them swallowed it as
leisurely as ravenous shark can swal-
low, There was scant opportunity for
digestion, the big Ash a moment later
being blown to pieces.
When the water subsidized q section
Of shark came to the surface, but il
was not large enough even for purposes
OF Identification.