Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-22
SWIMMERS DUEL WITH SHARKS.
Attacked by Two Monsters at Once, BE
Fought Way to Life With Knife.


From the New Orleans Plcayune.
Professor John T.Clark. the famous swim
mer. who has been doing aquatic stunts
since 1853. at one time in his career came
very near to serving as a meal for two
husky, full-grown sharks, and. although the
professors encounter with the ocean hyenas
happened over twenty years ago, the whole
business is still fresh in his memory, ard
the impression is so indelible that 1t VIII
go with him to his grave.
Professor Clark is laxative when the SUD
ject under discussion touches swimming ot
has to do with the sea, and, converslhs on
his favorite topic with a reporter rev
nights ago he told the shark story ana
handed out few other thrilling remin!s-
cences along with IL.
.Did | ever run against shark in swim
ming?" and the professor, repeating the
newspaper mans question. took on an air
of animation. the sign with him that yarn
was forthcoming. We'll, l should say l
did Met TWO at one time, ripped one OF
them open and narrowly escaped being
snapped in two by the jaws of the other.
II was in Pensacola in 1882, and con-
tracted to give public exhibluon IN the
bay, at a point near Washington navy
yard. l was to be sewed up in big sack.
heavily weighted with sand. and thrown
into the water, and l promised 10 cut my
self out with knife and gain the surface
in few moments time, and the papers
talking about the event got the interest
of the people thoroughly aroused.
Il knew that / could do the trick all
right and had no fears of drowning, but
when the landlord of the hotel where
stopped began 10 talk about the sharks in
the bay and told me of several people who
had been eaten alive l became the least
bit worried.
But l was game for the task, and never
once entertained the idea OF backing out,
even though my fears grew as the hour APP
preached for my plunge; however, l deter
mined to take along in the sack an extra
big knife, and this determination, carried
out, resulted in saving my life.
ION the afternoon of my descent into the
sea the shore line was black with people.
and there were parties out on the water in
skiffs and other craft hoping to get bet
ter view Of the performance. Well, to get
down to my story, was taken out quite
little piece from shore on fat-decked
boat and placed in a huge sack, the bottom
of which was packed with heavy sand. L
took a lingering look at the bright blue
sky tlst before the sacks mouth was
closed and the with the needle was
getting ready for his work, as the Sharks
were still on my mind, and l did not know
whether ! would come out of the venture
alive or not but with the danger present
fui.
THE sack was lifted up by several burly
negroes, hired for the purpose. and thrown
into the sea. The sound of the splash
merged with the noise of rushing water in
my ear, and 1 felt myself going 10 the low
est depths with the speed OF a rocket; IN
less than a second. when l could have
hardly been more than thirty feet beneath
tie surface, l felt something bump Into the
sack, and the thought flashed upon me that
a shark or some other great fish was diving
for me. / felt the bump a moment later on
my other side, and realized then, with
cold sense of horror that there were two
of the things, whatever they might be, after
me / felt the jolts repeatedly in an incrcd-
IDLY short space of time, and. gripping my
knife firmly, l ripped open the side of the
eek which l faced, freed myself OF Its him
dering embrace and shot upward toward
the surface Once something grazed my
leg and, even with the water tingling
against my flesh, the contact sent shivers
down my back as the feeling was as though
l had encountered some yielding, rubbery
substance
my head bobbed above the ocean, and as
| struck out with sweeping strokes for tho
nearest boat a shout went up from the peo-
pie on the shore. But l was close to death
something warned me that / was-and J.
didn't care just then for the plaudits OF
the spectators. 1 only wanted TO gain
place of safety. AS l was making great
exertions with my knife still in my hand,
the water parted a few feet 10 the side OF
me- and | made out the long, black I'm OF a
shark The monster was heading for me
with ever increasing speed. and as l was
about to dive TO escape its spring another
shark appeared close by and dashed in TO
get part of the prospective dinner.
THE first shark was close upon me. and
| distinctly saw II turn half way over on
its side and open its horrid teeth-lned Jaws
TO seize me. when acted. dove as quickly
as thought under water, and, gauGing the
distance came up in hurry. My left hand,
extended over my head, encountered the
Welding rubbery substance that had felt
before and quickly leaning back. j lunged
forward with my big knife and felt the
weapon drive deep and safely into some
thing. I turned the knife several times and
slashed back and forth. and knew by the
agitation of the water that the shark-for
such my quarry proved to be-was strug-
Cling desperately. a large, bulky object
slipped through the water and grazed my
chest in its descent to the bottom, ana l
was aware that the monster was dead and
his carcass on its way to its grave In the
ocean bed
II came to the surface gasping for
breath and saw almost within hand touch
a vawlboat with several excited sailors
from the navy yard In 1t. Willing hands
seized me. and was dragged over the gun
vale of the boat. and just in time to es-
cane the dash of the second shark, which
had remained on the surface, waiting for
me to come up.
THAT was the closest call 1 ever had,
and | never want such another one, you can
safely bet. Why, the thing so impressed
the people that the mayor of the city or
dered me arrested If l attempted the feat
again.