Smyrna times., 1901-04-24
A TIP FROM A SHARK.
THE REWARD THAT 1T BROUGHT TO
A PAIR OF SHARP MEN.

came a millionaire and an IntelIi-
gent Immigrant Became n Tavern
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 Mrs. 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 |
10 have been favorite 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. 1t was also the main resort of
shark fishers in the days when a re-
ward was given for each shark fin de-
hvered 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 a broken
down immigrant came to a strange
turn in his fortunes. Not able to OBJ
tain employment, he spent his last
shilling in 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 Il fine bite" 1t took the
two all their time to haul the shark
ashore, but when they got him in he
proved a beauty-25 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 thesc fish can digest a 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 a copy
of 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 it
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 ur
by this great shark, which belonged tC
the fastest of his species.
In the morning the immigrant had q
GOOD wash and brush up and a full
feed on his 10 shillings, having giveT
to his companion and sent him abou
his business. He had conceived ;
great idea and wished to have as few
cOnfederates as possible. Asking ;
policeman who was the greatest woo
broker in Sydney and getting the ad
dress, he went straight down to the of
flee, where his peculiarearnestness soOl
SOL ulLu 0l WIN AhN DhH
broker No one in Sydney at that mo
ment dreamed of war between Franc
and Germany. and wool was being sol
merrily at ninepence pound.
"Well. my man, what can do fo
yOu?' asked the broker
81 want you to tell me-" said the poe
immigrant. what the price of WOO
would be i'm Sydney should war brea
out between France and Germany.
Is ninepence now"
about to shillings." said the hr
ker.
Every we'll" replied the visito
Now. the French troops are marchir
on Berlin. and what promises to be
long and bloody war has actually b
gun"
Nonsense said the broker. 1T
mail from London came In yesterda
bringing news up to six weeks ago. al
there is no news of that wild sort.
The immigrant thereupon unfold'
the London paper, dated three weel
previously. There was no humbI
over that. There could be no humbl
about it. for such paper could not
produced in Sydney, and besides
matter gave abundant proof of its ge
uineness. Wool was already shillin
q pound on the London market.
On the Wool Exchange people thoug
that broker mad when they saw hi
buying up all the wool on the mark
and wiring offers all over the coloni
He made a corner" at any rate. p'
chased all the wool in Australia a
looked happy. Sure enough. in Il
weeks time out came the news by
mail steamer, and up went prices. 1
broker sold out for 3 shillings and me
pound and realized some f4OOO,C
on the deal.
He gave the intelligent immigra
en- old suit Of clothes and 70 note
his tip" and this set the poor chap
in the world. He has got along