The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-01-09
A TIP FROM A SHARK.
THE REWARD THAT IT BROUGHT TO
A PAIR OF SHARP MEN.

How Grateful Wool Broker he
came II Millionaire and an Ente!h-
gent Immigrant Became a Tavern
I1ceper-A story OF New South
wales.
Cne OF the most interesting spots IN
Sydney is the point in the famous bar
Dor known as Mrs. Macquarie's
chair" 1t is the eastern point OF the
domain, and the great natural seat in
tie rock facing down the harbor is said
to have been a 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.
tecnth 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-
livpred at the wGter police station, tie
object, of course being to thin our the
where they became plentiful and dan
gcrous as the city of Sydney grew ia
size.
1t was there one night that a broken
down immigrant came to Il strange
turn in his fortunes. Not able to OBJ
tain employment. he spent his last
shilling in fishing line and shark hook
"a ft.- nj n c.
chair" After patiently waiting for
some time. another tramp joined him.
and this changed the luck. for he i'm.
mediately got fine bite" L took the
two all their time to haul the shark
ashore. but when they got him i'll he
proved beauty-25 feet 10 inches
long. They cut off his tin-15 shillings
worth in the morning land, 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 sovei'-
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 a German, and from
the papers in bis pocketbook 1t was ap.
parent that he must have been in Lon
don about three weeks before. Indeed.
in his overcoat pocket there was copy
of London newspaper dated 20 days
previously. 1t was i'll 1870, before the
cable was laid between Europe and
Australia, and the steamships took
81, 1of
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 fathellan1.
had either jumped or fallen overheard
in the channel and had been picked up
by this great shark. which belonged 10
the fastest of his species.
In the morning the immigrant had a
good wash and brush up and a full
feed on his 10 shillings. having givru
5 to his companion and sent him about
his business. He had conceived
great idea and wished to have as fey
confederates as possible. Asking II
broker In Sydney and getting the adj
dress. he went straight down to the of
fee. where his peculiarcarnestness soon
got him nn 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 ninepence pound
well, my man, what can | do for
you?" asked the broker
II 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 3 to shillings." said the bro
kerr
Very we'll" 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 humhug
over that There could be no humbug
about it. for, such paper could not be-
produced IN sydney. and besides its
natter gave abundant proof of its gen
uinoness Wool was already shilings
Il pound on the London market.
On the Wool Exchange people thought
that broker mad when they saw him
buying up all thc wool on the market
aud 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 a few
weeks time out came the news by the
mail steamer, and up went prices The
broker sold ont for 3 shillugs ana more
pound and realized some E4.000O00
on the deal
He gave the Intelligent immigrant
an old suit of clothes and e. note for
his tip" and this set the poor chap up
in the world He has got along so
wen through the lucky strpkr that he
Is now keeping Il public house In Wool
loomooloo London Free Lance.
MiSrend the Sign.
"How N H. asked tile victim that