The morning times., 1896-10-06
CATCHING A MAN-EATER.
Lively Experience of ships Crew
with II Monster Shark.
PdtsJurg Leddey


''on recent trip said 4 Pittsburg
America the crew and passengers had
quite an experience with q shark. We
Were On board the Andes, one or the A tias
Line Of steamers She broke some impor-
tant part Of her machinery and was en-
tircly unseawnrthy. II required twenty
four hours 10 put her in condition to pro
ceed ON our way. The accident happened
before daybreak, when we were within
two days of New York. During all that
time we were floating about on the ocean,
and, fortunately for us, the ocean was per
fectly calm. When the first da Wight came
we discovered that we We're completely
surrounded by sharks. Some one suggested
that we catch a shark. The idea was no
More than hatohed before the captain, who
was younG man making his first trip,
took the matter up and proceeded 10 work.
He secured a large hook, attached IL to
the end OF several piles OF telegraph wire,
and then fastened IL to the end Of a rope,
leaving about five feet Of wire 10 prevent
the shark from biting il off. On the hook
he placed Il large piece Of bacon, then lie
dropped his line. 1t had barely struck the
water when he got a tite.'
The captain made 4 despera jerk So
did the shark and the hook was bent per
fectly straight. humber of such attempts
were made but each time with the same
result. AN old tar who had been a wit
ness TO the attempts to hook the monster,
produced an uld-fa shioned, halr-rOuud steel
file and proceeded 10 make hook that he
said would hold After quite 4 long wait
the hook was finish ed and attached TO the
line, but before going any further the old
sailor gave instructions as TO how he
wanted the work done. He made loop
on the end Of another rope. passed the hook
and line through the loop, and the latter
was held on deck. The hook was baitcd
and thTO wn into the water and in an instant
a mighty rush OF sharks was made to get
the biCou. The crowd OF sailors pulled
on the rope and fastened the hook in the
upper iaw of what proved to be fifteen
foot shark. The old tar yelled Drop
Your loop II dropped down the line and
passed over the sharks head, when il was
tighteDcd up.
Then began the most desperate struggle
| ever saw for freedom. 1t took all on
board to pull the marine monster. on deck.
After much time and patience, as it re-
quired both to give it time to exhaust il
self, the shark was landed. AT this time
the passengers made themselves conspic-
uous by their absence The shark la she'd
the deck with its tail and body until the
vessel almost trembled. II was the most
exciting scene / ever witnessed. The
shark would open its mouth, showing n
cavity that man could easily crawl into
aud teeth as sharpe as needles. One Of
the sailors, after a long wait, succeeded in
getting close enough to cut the monsters
throat with an AK. After IA post mortem
examination it was discovered to be a
female and the mother of thirteen young
shaFklets. An effort was made to bring
some of the young ones To New York, but
they all died in a short time. Each OF them
was about three feet long AS they We're
thrown overheard they We're gobbed up by
other large ones"