The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-11-22
A BLASTED SHARK.
The Operation Performed by q
Meal OF Gun Cotton.
How n Torpedo Expert Rotaliatod Upon =
RavenOus sea-Lawyor That Tried to
Eat Him Peaceful End Of
the Big Fish.

Though they failed to achieve glory
since the revolution collapsed before
they struck blow ut it, the men who
went TO Brazil last fall in President
Peixoto's improvised warships were In
many instances repaid by the new ex-
periences the adventure afforded them.
Among them were number of Brook
lynites, the most pRDminent of whom
was Baron Nils de Foch, a Swedish
nobleman who moved In large and
influential circle.
Baron de Foch is torpedo expert.
He was trained in the best torpedo
schools Of his native country and
France, and having, moreover, made
o good record In the service of the
United States government, the agents
of the Brazilian government In New
York were particularly anxious to Sc
cure him as ordnance officer of Erics-
sons submarine gunboat, the De-
stroyer, which was renamed by its
new owners the Pirating. The baron,
who Is tall and distinguished looking,
though democratic IN his tastes and
manners, was glad to accept their
offer, for he had hitherto longed for
nothing so much as an opportunity To
go into actual combat, and he was,
moreover, enthusiastic over the De
stroyer, his admiration for which waR
heightened by the fact that her in
ventor, of undying Monitor fame, woe
eountryman of his birth
Baron dc Fochs disappointment,
therefore, over the fact that the De-
stroyer did not get into action must
have been particularly acute, but that
be has abundant reason otherwise To
look back on the expedition with salts
faction. 70 say the least, is indicated by
d recent number of the Smalands Ale
handle, prominent paper published In
the Swedish city of Jonkoping, where
the baron was born. 1t contains let
ter from the baron giving an account
OF an experience of his In Martin
ique, the Destroyer's first port Of cal
on her way from New York to Pernam
buoo. He narrowly escaped from be
ing eaten by sharks.
Early one morning, the letter says
being good swimmer and fond Of sea
water bathing, he jumped overheard
for bath. Presently he was startled
by cry Of SHARK, sharkln 1t WA
yelled at him from the deck of the De
stroyer, as we'll as from the decks o.
several nelghboring vessels, and wheI
he looked around he saw o dorsal I'll
Swimming along the top Of the water
and not fur off. 1t was only o mntteI
OF few strokes, however, and he wa
90 board the Destroyer. AT the sharl
Elm cans and other things were thrown
and IL was even fired 1T but still i
lowered about. and was Joined by tw,
others Then the baron tooh about
pound OF gun cotton, the identical tor
sibsc explosive with vt4ch tho De
stYoyoTS submarine gun a0s 70 bios
up tho insurgent warships In Rio has
Dor, ana filled quart bottle with ii
Ge put n fuse In 1t and effected a con
nection with friction electric bat
terry, such as is used for blasting pun
poses 4 large piece of meat wa
sicd around tho bottle, which was thCl
thrown overheard
The three sharks rushed for 1t imme
diately. One OF them swallowed it o
leisurcly as o ravenous shark can swal
low. There was scant opportunity 70
digestion, the big fish moment late
being blown to pieces
When the water subsidized section
of shark came TO the surfuce, but |
was not large enough even for purpose
: of identification.