The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-24
SHARKS WILL ATTACK PEOPLE.
An Old Pilots story. of n Tragedy
He Witnessed

He Witnessed.
(From the New Orleans FirnessDemocrat)
VIII shark bite living human being +?
The question has been debated hundreds of
times, and came up for discussion the
other night among lftae party at SUI
burban resort. In spite oA the current
legend said one of the gronp, II don't
believe sharks will attack a; living person.
have spent my life nearnthe sea and have
heard hundred stories of swimmers being
killed OF bitten by the monsters, but all the
tales were either at second hand or were
SO vague they would never have passed for
evidence in court, The fact that New
York newspaper offered a reward of 800
for an authentic case and kept it standing
for year without a claimant, seems 10
me conclusive We'll sir" said another
of the party, II believe sharks do kill men,
and l have the best of>reasons for my be-
lief. witnessed such a tragedy with my
own eyes" The speaker was Captain Nc
Laughlin, one Of the oldest and best known
bar pilots In the Mississippi River service
1t happened twenty zone years ago last
April" said the captain, when pressed for
the details, but the circumstances are as
distinct in my mind as if it had occurred
only yesterday. | was out looking for
ships, with my partner, Capt. Tom Wilson,
and the usual crew, and about twelve miles
off South Pass we sighted large sailing
vessel, which proved to be the Zephyr,
from Bath, in charge OF Captain Switzer
There was rival pilot boat near BY, and
We both made a rush for the ship to get
the job of taking her in. Our party was
nearest, and Capt. Wilson and two sailors
put off in a small boat to 20 aboard. but
in their hurry they made miscalcuIation
and were struck by the bow and capsized
1t all happened in flash, but Wilson and
aky tn
get hold OF :he overturned boat and hang
on. The other sailor was thrown some dis
lance away in the water. He was a big
brawny siA-foot Swede named Gus
Ericsson, and when we saw him come UP
one of the crew tossed him a circular life
buoy, which he seized almost Immediately.
The buoy was amply sufficien. to sustain
him, and he put his arms across 1t and held
himself out of water fully breast high. We
had another small beat and started at
once to pick up the three men, making
for Ericsson first. When We were less than
hundred feet away | saw gigantic tiger
shark rise and dart toward him, and, at
the next instant, the poor fellow shot
down out of sight. life buoy and all, like
a man going through trap. We were so
Mortified that we simply sat still ard
stared, and what seemed to be two or
three minutes elapsed Then the life buoy
suddenly appeared. 1t must have risen
from great depth. because it bounded at
least four feet into the air and fell back
with splash. OF Ericsson we never saw
a trace. He went into that sharks nav as
surely as two and two make four. We
rescued the other two men all right said
Captain Mclaughlin. in conclusion, land
Captain Wilson is still alive to bear out
what say This, gentlemen, Is my reason
for believing that sharks Will attack human
beings. However If anyone can tell me
what became of Ericsson, | am open to |
conviction"