The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-06-15

eating tribe:
A ship named the Southern Trader,
from Liverpool with cargo Of coal,
had just discharged her freight at the
port referred to, when the crew who
had been engaged in the dirty work
resolved upon a good saltwater bath,
and accordingly ventured into the sea.
The coral shores of Barbados
abound In sharks, and the first mate
of the ship, who remained on board,
espied one of these monsters making
toward the men before they had been
ten minutes in the water, and instant
ly gave the alarm. The sailors has
tened toward the boat which the mate
sent to them, and all succeeded In get
ting safely on board excepting one
,foremast hand-he was the last OF
his companions to reach the boat. Just
as he was about TO lay his hands upon
the gunwales the shark seized him in
his capacious jaws and literally bit him
In two. instantly swallowing a portion
of the body and the lower limbs.
The upper part of the body was
taken on board, but, of course, life
became extinct Immediately.
The crew in the boat were almost
crazy with excitement and horror.
There was one among them, however,
who said nothing, but gazed first at
the dismembered body and then at
the spot where the sharks black dor
sal fin showed above the surface Of
the water. 1t was the chum Of the
poor victim. They had been warm and
and consistent friends for many years,
and the bitterness of his feelings made
him for the moment quite dumb.
In the meantime, the Unsuitable shark
was swimming hither and thither
through the hlood-stained water in
search OF the remainder Of his prey
The rest Of the crew We're only too
thankful to be safe in the boat, but
not so with John Hodge. the. dead
mans chum, who was seen TO hasten
on board the ship, where he entered
the cooks galley. and having secured
long, sharp butchers knife, made his
way back 10 the boat, now along
side
Look We. messmates,r said he, cool
ly, "Tll kill that devil, or he shall eat
me, toor'
Saying which, be took the long knife
between his teeth and leaped fear
lessly into the sea. 1t was all done so
quickly that no one could have inter
fered had they been so disposed. but
all looked at each other in silent amaze.
ment at such temerity.
The moment that the intrepid sea-
man struck the water the shark saw
him. and made FOR the spot. Both
were equally eager, the one for his
prey. the other for vengeance. The
monster was soon beside his enemy,
and quickly turned half upon bis back,
after the manner OF his tribe. to seize
him IN his terrible jaws. But John
Hodge was self-possessed, and at that
instant dove beneath the shark, at the
same time thrusting his long knife
deep into his belly, causing the water
to be dyed all about them with his
blood. He managed 10 give the mon
ster two telling wounds before he came
again TO the surface. The enraged fish
became confused. and his adversary,
avoiding his head, gave him repeated
stabs with the butchers knife The
shark retired for a moment out OF the
bloody circle that now surrounded
them, followed 10 gallant style by the
sailor.
Soon the fish turned and came at
him again. The men in the boat and on
the ship held their very breaths in
the intensity OF their excitement at
the strange duel between man and fish.
The whole scene thus far had scarcely
occupied three minutes Of time, and
the men were too much confused to
attempt to assist their daring com
rade.
AS we have said, the sea monster
had turned and was again making
toward the sailor, but the latter, so
far from realizing any fear, seemed
TO have gained confidence during the
brief encounter, and as the shark ap-
preached him once more he dove be-
meath him, and inflicted two vital stabs
in the bowels. The water became red
with blood In all directions, and those
I'm the boat began to think that their
comrade had been wounded They got
out oars, and were now pulling toward
him.
AS they approached, they saw that
the fight was over, and the shark was
turning upon its back, and lashing the
water slowly with its tail. 1t was the
death throel John Hodge was taken
on hoard, excited and much fatigued,
but uninjured. A boat hook was at
tached to the shark, and he was towed
to the beach, where he was drawn up
upon the sand. 1t was opened, and
the lower portion of the dead mans
body was taken ont, and being placed
with the rest Of the corpse, II was
decently buried. Neither John Hodge
nor the crew of the Southern Trader
will ever forget this fight with shark
at Barbados.
SAVED BY A BOY.
When the wife OF one of the United
States Senators was baby Of two
years, she was rescued from a great