Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-02-11
Pluck and @ O
O O Rdventure.

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t1dewater aquarium in Florida.
With no little difficulty, says Mr..
Holder, we caught the nurse, towed 1t
to the aquarium. which was an in
closed moat half mile long, fifty feet
wide and from six to eight feet deep.
1t required dozen or more men to
haul the fish which was eleven feet in
length, over the little tide gate. Just
before it was released n rope bride
was passed over it-a loop that fitted
over the head and was tightened Just
behind the fins, so that 1t remained in
| place, perfect saddle girth. To this a
rope about ten feet long was attached
and in turn made fast to n float. All
this was prepared in advance, and it
did not require much time to attach it,
though the plunges of the shark
knocked several men from their feet.
Finally all was ready, and the shark
was rolled over into the moat, where
1t went dashing away, the telltale float
following at the surface.
For some time we had been building
J n boat which was to be the carriage of
this steed. The masons had given to
us the frame of great brick arch upon
upon which they were working. This
resembled scow with square ends.
1t was perfect sklff, except that the
planks were an inch apart, but we
filed these crevices and calked it with
oakum. The day before the shark
was caught the boat was launched and
! tested, and 1t was found that it would
hold three boys, two on lower seat
and one on the box seat of the coach.
The "shark ride" was looked forward
to with the greatest interest.
Finally the day arrived, and very
early, while the great tropical sun was
creeping up through the vermillon
clouds, We made our way around the
wall and to our marine carriage.
Being the originator OF the scheme, the
privilege Of the box seat was awarded
to me. Literally, this seat was a box
discarded cracker box. My two COM
panions sat upon board in the stern
to balance the sklff. We were soon in
place, and, sitting on the box, care
fully padded the little craft out from
the tide gate and began the search
for our steed. padded down one side
Of the great wall, keeping perfectly
quiet as every quick mo, ement threat
ened us with capsize.
Presently We saw the float lying mo-
tionless on the water near the wall.
The shark was undoubtedly asleep,
little suspecting the rude awakening
that was In store for him. I now
handed the paddles to one of the boys
behind me and took in hand our paint
er, the rope fastened to the boat, and
1t was now my business to secure this
to the float and to arouse the shark.
One of my companions padded gen.
tly and the flat-bottomed boat slowly
drifted OH. Leaning forward I picked
up the float and quickly ran the painter
through hole that had been left In
the float for the purpose, and fastened
1t with bowline knot. When this was
done I hauled in the slack and gently
pulled the rein. while one of the boys
"clucked" at the shark, and the other
said "Gedap" No response. Then
gave another jerk at the line, and the
shark woke up.
1 have often read of boys who awake
Mt sunrise and bound out of bed with a
single leap, and have always thought
that such sudden awakening could be
true only in books. But that was ex-
actly how this shark woke. 1t fairly
leaped out Of sound sleep and jerked
the skiff ahead so violently that the
box seat upset and l fell backward
upon my companions. This upset was
certainly not dignified beginning, and
l heard a roar of laughter from some
fun-loving lookerson.
The shark, now feeling the rope,
dashed along at a rapid pace, making
1t extremely difficult for us to retain
our places, but my companions aided
me. Carefully raising me they righted
the box. 1 secured the painter and
held the single rein In triumph. 1t
was signal success. We had har-
messed the shark, and We're moving at
a rate that was wildly exciting. The
speed was so great that the boat was
pulled almost bow under and a wave
of foam preceded us. The boys held
on tightly, but occasionally raised one
hand and cheered when a head ap-
peared at portfolio of the fort.