The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14
SHARK FISHING OFF SANTIAGO.
Big Man Eater That Didn't Die When
Hooked and Macheted.
ls, in New York Press.

Henry Thoiens, in New York Press.
He was big shark-ten feet six inches,
a stanchion, we got a chance to use tape
line. All forenoon he had been laziiy cir
cling or drifting around our. boat, keeping
a sharp watch-out for refuse from the
galley and sampling in desultory fashion
stray tin cans or packing boxes chat fioated
his way. Nobody in the tropics who can
avoid it works during the fierce heat of
MONDAY, and Mr.. Shark was no violator of
West Indian customs.
We were on our dispatch boat with Ad-
miral Simpsons blockading fleet of Santi-
ago. Standing out, misty and grim, against
the gray sky four miles to the north was
MORO Castle, the red and yellow still way
ing above it, Beyond and stretching In
irregular lines on each side, mountains and
surf-beaten rocks. 20
marked the second cook a Swede with
mop of tow-colored hair, as he leaned over
the rail and contemplatively watched Mr.
Chauncey the assistant engineer, assented
eagerly. He always was enthusiastic when
there was possibility of fishing. and at
one time or another lost every line on board
by forgetting TO pull in his trolling rigs,
which dangled for hours astern.
So preparations were begun. Chauncey
threw down the gauge of battle by hurting
an old shoe at the shark. The second cook
demonstrated that this procedure was not
correct. but tended TO brighten the fish and
drive him off. Chauncey shifted contemptI-
ously, and said he had forgotten more about
shark fishing that the second cook ever
knew.
That's only giving the beast a little
proper encouragement. ne explained to the
skipper. who had become interested.
The shark whisked out of sight when the
shoe struck the water. but came to the sur
face twenty feet away and slowly APP
preached it. He reached from underneath
and started to swallow ii. but changed his
mind. While it proved unpaatabe, 1t
aroused his interest, and he seemed to await
Meantime the shark line had been rugged.
The biggest hook available was on blue
fish squid. This was tied TO the stoutest line
on board, and the second cook balted 1t
with section of salt horse whose period Of
usefulness was ended The assistant engi-
neer was about TO make an artistic cast
and swinging it few times dropped the
bait within ten feet of the big fish.
Just like the cap'n." muttered the as
sistant engineer discontentedly; always
wants to do everything hisseif"
Mr.. Shark didn't want any more old shoes:
him. Then emf his dorsai fin bobbed up twenty
yarGs off the starboard bow, his huge body
plainly visible in the clear water. There
preached the latest floating thing in sight
critically, swimming six or eight feet under
water He made dignified grab for it and
Chauncey made an eager rush to pull in
the line, but the skipper calmly Ma"d niE
a am aRa At sae
Chauncey He knew ne could have done
better.
the preIlminarteS were done over again,
another hook having beer. found, and Mr.:
Shark, undaunted by the fact that he had
swallowed a bluefish squid and several
yards of line with his salt horse tidbit vo-
raciously took the bait The hook became
firmly flxed in his jaw and then the fun be-
gan. This time the line did not break.
If Mr.. Shark was surprised he didn't show
il. He gave lazy tug and then paused 10
reflect. Then he gave another tug and
started to swim away. He found IL more
convenient TO swim toward the boat, and
with a little urging came up a few yards
when he stopped again.. He decided that he
wouldn't swim IN that direction any more.
apparently, for with an impatient swish of
his tail he dived out Of sight.
Everybody took turn az playing him.
Chauncey with the rest. had a chance and
nafience increasnLl and for q moment he