The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-06
NOT ACTUALLY SAFE
FATALITIES OF THE SEA QUE TO Ma.
RlNe ANIMALS.

Now q Shark Took Harpooner Out OF .
Boat Losses From Whaling Vessels.
Why There Are So Many Widows and
Orphans In Certain New England Towns
If the fatalities of the sea that could be
traced directly ard indirectly to marine
animals could be collected every year, they
would make not only interesting but
startling reading. In the really pacific
waters of the western ocean we have but
little idea of the dangers of the sea- but
stroll through the New England towns Of
Gloucester, MarbleEead. Swampscott and
others will show them to have an extraor-
binary number OF widows in proportion
to the population.
This IS particularly true of Gloucester.
where the widows and orphans OF fisher
men make q small army. The fishermen
were all lost on the Grand banks or the
Georges banks CT the cod fisheries. They
were either run down by ocean steamers
that go over the banks at full speed, often
hitting the vessels in the fog, or the frail
schoonors were destroyed in the terrific
gales that sweep over the country
IL may be of interest TO glance at the
yearly loss of men who lose their lives in
the effort TO provide the country with salt
cod. From 1880 to 1881. 2,249 were
drowned from cod fishermen, leaving
1880 widows ard between !, 600 and ., 600
orphans, not to speak Of other persons de-
pendent upon them. The loss in insurance
during this time was about 81, 500. 600,
and the number of vessels lost 4l9-a re-
markable showing for a single line Of
business. The loss of these 5000 or more
men means recital of incidents that can
not be equaled in the annals of heroism.
The writer knows of one vessel that was
lying at anchUr with all hands below e1-
cept the watch, that was struck by a steam
er All were drowned except the man at
the wheel, who drifted "a hours before he
was picked up. Another schooner was
sailing in the fog when she was suddenly
capsized by steamer that rolled her com
pletely over, the men dropping out of their
hammocks to the ceiling and then to the
floor as she quickly righted. The man at
the wheel was lsshed and was found half
drowned.
Many men have been lost in the fog in
their dories and nearly starved to death
before they were found, while others are
picked up by outgoing steamers. The
scene when the fishing fleet returns after
great losses Is described as heartrending.
Then there is always the uncertainty, and
many men have been picked up and car
ried to foreign countries.
The losses from the whaling fleets are
not so great as formerly, but 80 years ago
they were very noticeable, often amount
ing to several hundred men in year
The vessels are sometimes crushed in the
ice, or a whale kills the men by demolish-
ing the boat. a remarkable accident &C.
CURED some years ago, which, while in {.
fully equipped whaleboet, was observed
by only one man. The whale had been
struck and was sounding at terrific rate
of speed when in some way coil OF roDe
caught about the foot of the harpooner,
and in a second he was gone. The acct
dent took place before the entire crew,
but was so suddenly accomplished that
but one man saw the disappearance
Many fatalities Of the sea are laid to
sharks, but accidents from this source are
comparatively rare. in diligent search
for authentic instances of large sharks de-
vouring men l found but two that could
be attestcd to. One was a man whose
family l knew, and the instance is well
known and remarkable for the ferocity
displayed by the fish.
In 1874 1 was fishing off the isles Of
Shoals with a cod fisherman, who told me
that when his father was young man
there was a large shark that infested the
coast which had on several occasions at
tempted TO tip over boats and dine on the
occupants, and once or twice the young
man had been driven ashore by it. The
date correspondent within a month with
that of a tragedy which occurred about 80
miles south, or at Lynn, and which was
undoubtedly caused by the same fish. y
well known citizen of Lynn went out with
a fishing party, and after short time left
the schooner, taking small dCry, which
he anchored not 1000 feet from the vessel
Suddenly he was heard TO shout, and those
on the vessel distinctly saw huge shark
throw itself over the dory and sink it,
making OF with the unfortunate man,
whose cries for aid were of no avail.
The other one was that Of n sailor on
the Mediterranean who left vessel TO
take a swim in the sea. a shark was seen
swimming toward him by some OF the
crew, who started to row out to meet the
swimmer. but before they reached the
spot the shark had seized him and cut
him in two.
The Htcle shark, or dogfsh, Of the New
England coast has not very savory repu-
tatiun in these waters. 1 have seen them
in such schools that it was impossible to
throw line over without their biting IL
They appeared TO be starving. and on one
occasion biz sail into shreds that was
hanging overheard.
These rayenous fish appear so suddenly
that L recall one day one could not be
seen in that portion OF coast, and she next
day the fishermen all gave up their reeu-
lar fishing and devoted themselves TO dog
fishing, bringing the fish in By the boat
load.
At such times IL is extremely danger
Gus 70 fan overheard, and numerous fatal
titles point 10 the conclusion that these lit
tie sharks are az dangerous &C man eater.
On one occasion some children were play
ing about the deck of a schooner when one
fall overheard, and by the time the crew
reached tie side tho body was surrounded
By a living ball Of dogflshes and torn in
pieces. 4 fisherman, having LEFT his dOry
anchored in a cove during run OF these
fish. swan out 10 IL and was caught by
them and killed in sight Of his friends on
the beach, who could not aid hiin--can
Francisco Call.