The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-02


along the southern shore of the Isle of
Java and it was the season of the dread
ed simooms Captain staadler was keep
ing close in, to be ready at the first sign
of a falling barometer to seek one of
the many land locked bays with which
the coast abounds.
One afternoon the glass began to act
queer, and, although not a cloud hid the
brazen sky, in which a fierce tropical sun
rode, and only light breeze was blowing
the skipper knew that a heavy blow, If
not one of the awful hurricanes was due.
From the larboard of the ship could be
seen beyond the unbroken line Of surf a
broad stretch of sandy beach merging
with a thickly wooden country, and the
captain surveyed the coast anxiouslyl,
hoping to find a channel through the
breakers. After an hours sailing, during
| which time the glass continued to pro-
| phesy i'll. and a cloud of inky appear
| ance had begun to spread Itself over the
/ southern horizon, the Silent Prince, fol-
lowing curve in the coast, came in sight
| of Lorok Bay, which offered an excellent
refuge. Captain staadler, knowing the
waters well nosed the brig into the chan
| mel and guided her to a safe anchorage
behind a neck of heavily timbered land,
where she was protected to a large ex-
tent from any blow that might come.
In Shark Infested Bay.
The Silent Prince beat the storm by a
| good half hour, and the gale. while being
severe one, never at any time neared
the proportions of hurricane. AS the
! storm was rather protracted, the Silent
Prince rode at the end of her cable all
night, and the next morning the natives
put off from shore In their queer little
flat-bottomed shells to pay the brig a
visit.
The natives were of the peaceful, quiet
srot and came to offer provisions for sale.
| One odd thing the sailors noticed. The
bay, although placid enough, was not
used by the brownskns as a swimming
pool, and the seamen wondered at this,
but found no explanation. as none of
the crew could talk the queer Javanese
lingo.
The ship remained far into the fore
noon at her anchorage, and the trading
with the savages continued, and finally
when the captain announced that he was
going to stay in the bay until the next
day to allow another storm, which seemed
imminent, to pass, eight of the men,
among them Munich, obtained leave to
go ashore in the vessels long boat
Once on shore the sailors amused them
selves in various ways. and while five of
them entered the woods to hunt parrots
walked up the beach. intending to take
a swim in a little cove short distance
from the native village of matched huts.
The cove extended inland for the distance
of several hundred yards, and was hidden
from the village by small grove Of trees
The water was cool and inviting, and its
very stiffness seemed to tell of q great
depth. Munich and his friends stripped
off their clothes and plunged into the gem
erous flood, and. the water seeming to put
new life into them, they dived and swan
around like sportive dolphins.
But while they were enjoying the pas
time 30 dear to the heart of a sailor a
dreadful though unseen danger was creep
ting upon them, and one of the unfortun-
ate men was doomed to a horrible death
and another was to escape the Destroy
er by the margin of hairs breadth and
go through the rest of life MANNED.
Under the still water several great
sharks glided swiftly along, attracted to
the cove from the outer bay by the pres
ence OF the men in the water, and the
first intimation the sailors had of the
nearness of the danger than menaced
them was when two curved black fins
showed above the surface and moved to-
ward them with lightninglike rapidty
The sailors chorused a cry of dismay
and struck out madly for shore, the
sharks only a few yards behind them
unhappy Swede. gave a scream of mortal
agony as one of the sharks overlook him
and, turning quickly its terrible jaws
and. turning quickly on its side. seized
him by the shouler In Its terrible Jaws
The ocean hyena sank with its prey, and
the water dubbed crimson for a few
moments In the place where the monster
had gone down. Munich and the other
man redoubled their efforts to reac1
land upon hearing the dying shrek of
their companion. but the second shark
was just behind the German. The SWIM
mer knew that by the swish of the water,
and in the horror of the moment the man
suddenly ceased to swim and allowed
himself to sink. thinking to elude, If only
Tor time, his pursuer.
Escapes by Length of Two Fingers.
AS Munich shot beneath the water he
held his hand extended In parallel line
with his body over his head. and the
shark dashed past. turned and snapped
It's double rows of teeth together. Munich
felt culver of pain pass over his entire
frame, and the sensation lasted even
when he was beneath the water. Strug-
Cling, and the victim of a bewildering
fear, the sailor at first could not locate
the seat of the sudden pain. 1t was some
where in his body he knew. but at the
moment of it's infliction 1t was general
and seemed to rack him from head to
foot. When Munich. the splendid swim
mer, threw himself forward and began to
ascend to the surface in a diagonal line,
some heavy object passed him. and for an
instant cold. clammy substance brushed
his naked flesh. 1t was the shark diving
Tor him, and he increased his speed,
beginning to feel for the first time
nnmbness in his left hand and jerky
pain In the arm.
When his head rose out of the water
Munich shook the drops of brine from
his eyes and saw to his JOY that he was
only few yards from shore. This dis
lance he covered in record-breaking time,
and his second companion, who had Just
gained the land in safety. reached for
ward to assist his to terra firma. Munich
sank exhausted on the sand just as the
black fin of his would-be devourer APP
peared on the surface a few feet away.
BY this time the cove was alive with
sharks, and their fins could be seen cut
ting the water in every direction.
When Munich had recovered himself
bit he arose to a sitting position, and as
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