The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-07-07
SURPRISED THE SEA MONSTER
How a HfndoO Captured mn Enormous
shark at the Mouth of the Ganges.


old traveller, but remember seeing an
toothed gentry that for cool nerve beat
anything ever read about.
Il was loafing around Calcutta one
day, late in the autumn, waiting for
the evening train to the city of Hugh.
when i heard tremendous shouting
coming from the direction of the River
Hugh, which is practically one of the
mouths of the Gauges. Trotting over
to the shore as fast as white man ever
travelled in India, saw huge commo-
ton. Natives were hurrying away from
the bank as if in terror, and then rum
ming back as if their curiosity had over
come their greatest fears. The river
was full of boats. The occupants of the
larger ones were screaming with ex-
element, while those in the small ones
were shrieking and jabbering with a
considerable amount of fear.
Il soon discovered that the fuss had
been created by huge shark. which
had come up with the tide and had ven
tured a little further than it was Gus
tomary for sharks to do. His dorsal
fin was cutting the water here and there,
and when occasionally he turned on.
his back and sent his nose and grinning
teeth above the water, groans and
screams of horror went up in all di-
rections.
In the midst of all the hubbub tall,
lank Hindoo stepped out upon the roof
of kind of houseboat. and, in short
speech. announced that he would catch
the shark.
INSTANTLY dead hush fell upon the
multitude. The Hindoo stood erect He
was perfectly naked, save for little
garment at the loins, which our Texas
cowboys call gee-string.' He was.
armed only with a long rope like a
lariat. which he held behind his lack
with his left hand.
Presently Mr.. Shark came to the sur
face about eight yards from the boat
and Immediately the Hindoo plunged
overheard.
"A chorus of groans and exclama-
tons went up, in the midst of which the
Hindoo reappeared swimming with his
right hand. Man and shark faced each
other, and i fancied that saw pleased
expression in the monsters eyes as
much as to say: Well, this is civil. to
say the least
''The shark evidently thought he had
.cinch of the situation. for he swan
leisurely toward the Hindoo. turned
slowly upon his back, and opened his
mouth. The mouth closed with snap,
and the people screamed. but the Hin
doc had dived, and presently he APP
peared again Oh the offside of the shark,
smiling and still carrying his rope
THE big fish looked surprised. and
then made another gentle dab at the
Hindoo. The result was the same. and
Mr.. Hindoo came up fresh for the third
round.
''Then the shark began TO grow angry,
and made vicious run at the Hindoo,
and again he missed. The people on
the shore and in the boats began to feel
confidence in the'human champion, and
their groans were changed to applause
Every time the man made a point
against the fish those heathens would
send up rousing cheer.
well, by this time the thing was
getting exciting. ] never saw such
swimming before, and / never will
again. The man was a regular water
snake. He lodged. twisted. dived and
jumped like an eel. The fish maue'
charge after charge. Once his fin grazedl
the Hindoo's arm. and the water was
colored with blood. The mans stock
went down a point, but it soon rose
again, when the crowd began to see that
the fish simply wasn't in it. The man
was beating him at his own game. You
see, the fish could only go in one direc-
tion-straight ahead like an arrow
while the man turned and doubled like
fox.
'We1l, by and by the exertion and ex-
element told on the monster. He got
ratified. churned the river into foam
and then became quiet again. 1t was.
the last round.
1.-THE shark settled down over him,
man waited. lying in the water until the.
great mouth was open to seize him.
Then. with convulsive backward leap.
lie Strengthened his body and sank foot
downward like plummet of lead.
The shark settled down over him.
flashing the water into a lather of foam
They seemed to be graphing with each
other. The crowd groaned and
screamed. and then became silent.
For the space of what seemed many
minutes the people watched the surface
of the water until even the bubbles had
disappeared and all was quiet.
Lost. lost!' screamed a priest and
the mob reechoed the cry and began to
beat their breasts like lot of madmen.
L.; IA 10 81 al
Hindoo reappeared. 30 yards up the
stream. Both hands were above his
head. and he was screaming: Tan. tan
TAM He had slipped the moose of his
lariat around the sharks tail. and
drawn it taut; and he held the free enCa
in his hand.
I'm an instant it was ashore. and a.
score of Hindoos We're drawing at II. 1t