The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-11
GUARDED BY 4 SHARK.
A Sixteen-Foot Monster That Did Sentinel
Duty at the Dry TortuRas.

s
From he Kansas CITY Journal.
The recent ordering OF troops to the Dry
Tortugas. Florida, recalls q curious Incident
in which a boy prevented the escape Of pris-
oners and performed q humanitarian act.
which was greatly misunderstood at the time
and aroused no little comment in the press OF
the day.
At the time mentioned the island OF Dry Tor
tugas was used as u great prison. and bounty
jumpers, deserters and prisoners OF all classes
were confined there to the number Of several
thousands.
The island is but thirteen acres in extent.
surrounded by a wide and deep moat. which
made it almost impossible for prisoners to
escape, yet every time u vessel came into the
harbor one or more men would make the at
tempt. Obtaining ropes, they would lower
themselves into the moat from a portfolio.
swim across the ditch. and try to pass out the
tide gate. despite the fact that ~sentries paced
up and down on every face and kept watch
full vigilance, with orders to lire and call the
guard. Several prisoners did escape the
sharp eyes of the guards by swimming and
| lodging under water when passing the sentl-
mel. Reaching the tide gate. they would dive
again. swim to the channel. and in the dark
ness climb aboard the steamer lying there
and conceal themselves.
But all were not successful. Several unfor-
tunate men dropped into the ditch from the
ropes and were ound drowned the following
morning. The guards were doubled and
capes; not because there was any danger OF
the men getting away. rs the TRANSPORTS were
alT Tast t tSen'f e ha T% p ne pt that the Sss surgeon of
the post was making, a study OF the large
sharks Whereabouts. and one day his son sug-
where It could be watched. He said to Gen.
Meigs.. who was stationed at Fort Jefferson
at that time: 1T will prevent the men from
swimming. the moat, and so be the means of
saving their lives"
feet. fhe surgeons son; with the boys of
tured y shark, which the surgeons twelve,
beating the water with its tail. and at one
time taking the cutwater in its jaws and shak-
ing 1t as a cat would n mouse.
Finally. after several hours of hard work
and with the assistance of many men, the
length. was hauled over the tide bridge. the
surgeons son cut out the hook, and with a
swirl of its big tail the monster went dashing
This shark was dubbed the Provost Ma rshnl
by the prisoners, and that 1t inspired a whole
But it was "A perfectly harmless creature.
1t swan round and round very, near the brick
wall. with one eye cast up pathetically. 1t pre-
sented a formidable spectacle. moving slowly
along. and no one dared enter the water. con-
sequently no casualties were reported. But 1t
Northern paper calling attention TO the terrors
Of Dry .Tortngas. where among other fortunes
the Union officers used maneater sharks to cap
ture prisoners. and so no little excitement was
occasioned among. thoughtless readers In
the North and South at what was conceived TO
be a brutality of the officers who had charge
of the Dry TortugaS prison.
Meanwhile the great shark. in reality a
timid and utterly demoralized creature. was
swimming about, refusing the daintiest NOR
sells of fish which, were offered it. finally be-
coming 80 tame that II could be touched by
its boy captors, who followed it about on RATS
while the naturalist watched, the method OF
swimming and made many sketches Of 1t and
The shark lived six months. finally dying OF
starvation. Its jaws may now be seen In the
Park. New York CITY.