The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-02-21
A TIP FROM A SHARK
THE REWARD THAT IT BROUGHT TO
A PAIR OF SHARP MEN.

"
Keeper "A story of New south
Wales.
One of the most interesting spots in
Sydney is the point in the famous har-
Dor known as "NIrs. Macquarie's
chair" 1t Is the eastern point OF the
domain, and the great natural seat in
the rock facing down the harbor is said
TO have been a favorlte resting place of
the wife of Governor Macquarie, who
represented the British government
also as governor general of Australia
In Sydney In the early days of the nine
teenth century. Mrs. Macquarie's
chair" has long been the favorite resort
of suicides and sweethearts, and many
murders have been committed near the
spot. IL was also the main resort of
shark fishers in the days when a re-
ward was given for each shark fin de-
livered at the water police station, the
object, of course being to thin out the
dread man eaters from the harbor,
where they became plentiful and dan
gerous as the city Of Sydney grew in
size.
1t was there one night that broken
down immigrant came to n strange
turn in his fortunes. Not able to OBJ
tain employment, he spent his last
shilling in n fishing line and shark hook
and cast off from MRS. Macquarie's
chair" After patiently waiting for
some time, another tramp Joined him.
and this changed the luck, for he i'm
mediately got fine bite" 1t took the
two all their time to haul the shark
ashore, but when they got him In he
proved n beauty-2o feet 10 inches
long. They cut off his fin-15 shillings'
worth in the morning-and, being anX-
ious to make all they could out of the
haul, proceeded to rob" the monster.
They had often read Of diamond rings,
gold watches and pocketfuls of sover-
eigns being found inside sharks, for,
while these fish can digest man, they
are not able to negotiate metal.
Inside, among other things, they
found the body of German, and from
the papers in his pocketbook it was ap-
parent that he must have been in Lon
don about three weeks before. Indeed,
in his overcoat pocket there was n copy
of a London newspaper dated 20 days
previously. 1t was in 1870, before the
cable was laid between Europe and
Australia, and the steamships took
over six weeks on the voyage between
London and Sydney The paper con-
tanned news of the outbreak of the war
between France and Germany, and 1t
was apparent that the German, living
in London, had been recalled home to
serve in the army of the fatherland
had either jumped or fallen overheard
in the channel and had been picked up
by this great shark, which belonged to
the fastest of his species.
In the morning the immigrant had a
good wash and brush up and n full
feed on his 10 shillings, having given
8 to his companion and sent him about
his business. He had conceived q
great idea and wished to have as few
confederates as possible. Asking a
policeman who was the greatest wool
broker in Sydney and getting the ad-
dress, he went straight down to the of
flee, where his peculiar earnestness soon
got him an audience with the busy
broker. No one in Sydney at that mo-
ment dreamed of war between France
and Germany, and wool was being sold
merrily at nlnepence n pound.
"Well, my man, what can l do for
| you?" asked tfe broker.
81 want you to tell me-" said the poor
immigrant. "what the price of wool
would be in Sydney should war break
out between France and Germany. 1t
| is ninepence now"
"About to 4 shillings," said the bro
! ker.
every WELL" replied the visitor.
"Now, the French troops are marching
on Berlin, and what promises to be a
long and bloody war has actually be-
gun"
Nonsense" said the broker. "The
mail from London came in yesterday,
bringing news up to six weeks ago. and
there is no news of that wild sort"
/ The immigrant thereupon unfolded
the London paper dated three weeks
previously. There was no humbug
over that. There could be no humbug
about 1t, for such paper could not be
produced in Sydney. and besides its
matter gave abundant proof of its gen
uineness. Wool was already shillings
pound on the London market.
On the Wool Exchange people thought
that broker mad when they saw him
buying up all the wool on the market
and wiring offers all over the colonies.
He made corner" at any rate. pur-
chased all the wool in Australia and
looked happy. Sure enough. In few
weeks time out came the news by the
mail steamer, and up went prices. The
broker sold out for 3 shillings and more
a pound and realized some f4O00,00O
on the deal
He gave the intelligent immigrant
an old suit of clothes and f5 note for
his tip" and this set the poor chap up
in the world. He has got along so
well through the lucky stroke that he
is NOW keeping a public house in Wool
loomooloo.-- Free Lance.
His Most Useful Book.
First Passenger What hook has holm.