The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-12
Bitten By a Shark.

says a writer in the New York Evening
Post. 1t happened 70 me at the begin
ming Of last September, when the unoear-
able heat drove thousands of people from
the city. A friend and 1 sought the cool
ing breezes of the seashore, Brant's
Point in Jamaica Bay. now part OF Great
er New York, being our place of refuge,
and we went out on the water as soon as
We arrived from the city proper.
We caught a number Of pOrgies before
sunset and laid for weakfish in the eve
ming. but were disappointed by strikes
from sharks, from whose ravages the
ocean trout fed Angered by the depre-
dations OF these hyenas of the sea, We
determined 10 rig up especially for shark
fishing the next day. saving our porgies
for bait and Cumming" There are two
methods of catching sharks in the waters
about here. One is with rod and reel,
by which specimens up to six feet IN
length and fifty pounds in weight can be
landed. The other one is by brute force
with drop line or rope. Reports have
been printed from time 10 time that mon
sters Weighing 800 10 500 pounds and from
ten &c twelve feet long have been taken
in the waters OF Great South Bay, outer
New York harbor, Shrewsbury river, and
the Kills and Newark Bay. To Kill such
a giant fish undoubtedly requires judg-
I4At44l anu &. Jul Sh-4As ACA -
the line is strong enough, the big FISH
viii finally exhaust itself. and can then
be gradually drawn into the boat.
To come back to my own experience Of
a sharks teeth, we started the next morn
ing in a rowboat from Brant's Point for
the grounds generally frequented by
sharks. This is a spot in the bay 10 the
north of the railroad bridge near the
Edgemere Hotel, where the water IS very
deep. Only short time ago a swift cur
rent ran from the ocean into the bay
here, and, aided by the raging surf. 1t
secured out the inlet and deepened and
widened 1t to such an extent as 10 threat
en- the safety Of the big hotel. The inlet
was, therefore, closed seaward at great
expense and with no little trouble
After coming to anchor We chummed
with our porgies, and soon had a number
of sharks around US who gave unmistak-
able evidence of their presence by show
ing their dOrsal fins and making a great
conmotion We baited our hooks, cast out
our lines, and in a few minutes l had
strike and battle royal ensued. As soon
as the brute felt the sharp hook embedded
in its flesh it made a wild dash for liberty.
My companion AT once reeled in his line
to keep it from becoming entangled with
my own. With lightning speed my line
played off, and though click. brake and
thumb tried TO slow its motion. the wheel
turned around with alarming rapidity.
making that peculiar plaintive noise so
we'll known to fishermen. Ten, twenty.
fifty, a hundred yards were quickly reeled
off, and I began to wonder If he would
ever stop. He hesitated. and then the reel
ing in began. But the minute the fish
was brought closer to the boat he dash
ed off again in another direction.
This play continued until the fisherman
was almost exhausted, and finally the
shark himself tried, through rest TO gain
fresh strength for another attempt 10
break the line and regain his freedom.
The last run of the fish was towards the
beat, compelling me to wind up the line
so quickly IS 10 make my wrist and fin
gers ache. He then allowed himself TO be
slowly pulled alongside. and he turned out
to be a fine fellow about four and half
feet in length, gracefully built, but ugly
and vicious looking.
BY a deXterous thrust with his hand,
my companion caught hold of the sharks
tail and landed him in the boat with
bounce. The prey now showed how much
vitality he had left by beating the boat
with his powerful tail and snatching at
everything in sight with his jaws. Our
seats were untenable, and we speedily
friend perching on the very bow and
hanging on 10 the extreme stern, leav-
ing the fish in undisputed control of the
space between us. every inch of which he
wanted for his mad antics. He dashed rod
reel, and flshing-basket, seats and oars
in his fury. but after awhile We managed
to shackle his freedom somewhat by ram
ming an oar down his throat. which he
gnawed in bulldog fashion. The exposure
to the air. TO the extreme heat, and the
parching rays of the sun gradully weak
aned his efforts until his stomach could be
rashed so as to make him bleed to death.
An autopsy revealed that he had swal-
lowed four cells, a hermit crab. still alive.
with shell and all; hard-shell clans. a
number Of toad-fsh. sea-rObins. bass, cum
ners. and all sorts Of sea food. How he
aver expected to digest the shelfish was
a mystery to US.
Our sport continued shark after shark
being hooked. but some We're lost. When
my friend had his seventh strike. in went
my line and I watched developments. AZ
ter a persistent fight. he coaXed the fish
alongside. and I grabbed hold Of its tail
with both hands and slammed him into
he boat This specimen was four feet
ong and unusually slender. and he turned
and turned around until a good deal OF
me Ut-tdlllE tllldl4E leu lld1 Ilt-dllN ME
asst out again. and held rod and reel IN
ny right hand. In order to help my COM
1anion out Of his tangle. I grabbed the
;hark with my left hand by his tail. and
1ept him as far from me as I could. But
quicker than Il can be told. he turned
around. forming letter O
With his body. and swapping at my hand
,aught II with MS teeth. tearing out pieces /
Il flesh and decorating it badly. II Is
needless to say that I made myself heard /
Is 1 dropped the shark into the boat. Z
From many wounds the blood poured. and /.
dipped my hand into the water 10 wash /
hem out. II was soon colored red. nd the I
sudden appearance Of sharks az the very
ide Of the boat. attracted by the blood.
made me withdraw II in great fright
Quick surgical assistance seemed imper- Z
tive as We feared that an important ar 4
cry had been severed. Ny friend weighed T.
.nchor and rowed ashore. We had no .
10th with which % make bandage. and .
legged the occupants 0f a passing sail +
,oat FOR some linen Their luncheon was /
wrapped I'm a napkin, which was put over .
ny fsst-swelling hand. A doctor was AZ /
ast found. but the wounds could not Be 4
exed II on account of the Inflammation
which had set IN.
With my uuiufured hand cut the jaws
u, % the shark and now discovered f9r
he first tine that there were six rows
2 teeth sharper than needles each tooth
wing AZ ITS root two barDe1 pr1nEE. J +
hen realized what a narrow escape had
- from losing ny who.e hand. and con
r. tula-ed myself upon having gotten -
With ONLY p dozen wounds and scratches.
-ora or les painful and serious I have
eut the teeth as memeHto q ny af-
er-u-~. ard have also Two big scars &c
-uvenirs q she day.
business Con-aIfd -tion.
From the Cniczzo Record