Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-16
Truthful George
By OLD SALTY


day as the vessel Was approaching 81
mons bay. near the Cape of Good
Hope. when the inquisitive gentleman
spoke TO me OF three or four sharks
which had been following the ship
for as hours. The crew had noticed
the pursuit OF those monsters or the
deep. and among the tars 1t had been
theme OF general discussion since
the moment OF their appearance In cur
wake. The passenger asked me n
there were any sharks In Simon's bay.
No, not now" | answered; there
have been very few since the sailors
began shooting them for their hides
and tallow."
All, then there used to be lots OF
them some time ago." he asked.
Il don't want to talk about them.
stranger" | answered. because you
might think | was lying and that Is
something Truthful George never does
| can cheat at cards. drink rum, and
play mischievous tricks. bat | can't
lie"
This remark put a keen edge on the
passengers curiosity. and again he
asked II sharks were ever numerous
In the bay.
Il am almost afraid to tell you the
exact truth" | said, but from the
forecastIe-deck | once counted 1897
sharks, and then missed a lot more
that were In sight"
Il don't doubt IT," remarked the pas
senger.
And strange as II may appear.
lave counted 400 sharks on one
and-bar. 1t sounds big to tell, but
I assure you il is true. ! am certain
because we had government sur
veyor on board. and called them on
while he checked them. Fact, ! assure
you, / hope you don't think / am
lying?"
"Oh. no: not at all. ! might have
doubted the assertion until you men-
toned the surveyor; but with him as
corroborstive proof must believe.
"Ah. am glad of that continued;
some fellows might think was
stretching the truth. This bay used TO
be a paradise for sharks. ! have seen
them so thick that have often walked
half a mile from the ships side 10
shore on their fins"
is that so?' said the inquisitive
gentleman.
True as preaching. AS | stepped
on the poor brutes ] could not but
feel sorry for them. They would cry
out like lambs. rubbing their tails up
and down my back. Our cabie-chaln
gave way one day. and the best bower
anchor fell on a lot OF sharks, killing
nine and wounding II. The captain
was a very compassionate man, and ne
ordered me to throw overheard II
bottles of iiniment and II healing
plasters."
Now. that was very kind Of the
captain" said the passenger approx
ingly
"Ah. our captain always was good
man. ! don't expect to ever see his
equal. From that time the sharks got
to recognize the Mary Ann, and to
know Capt Block. They used to be
ON the lookout for her. and when they
saw her entering the bay they would
swim I'D to her, rub their tails against
the ships side, and purr like cats.
looking up toward the deck. and nod
ding their heads and winking their
eyes at u.s."
"They would, eh?" and the passen-
ger opened his eyes in wonder.
Fact. assure you, One day. dur
ing a dead calm, the mate ordered me
TO get the shark hook and 60 fathoms
of chain. He put 12-pound chunk
of pork on the hook. and threw It over
board. The sharks understood what
we wanted; they seized the chain and
towed the ship s2h miles UP the bay.
completing the distance In just TWO
hours. nineteen minutes and fourteen
and a quarter seconds. II seems an
extravagant story: but ! never told a
lie. and never shall. ] wouldn't cell
a f.b for all the money you could put
aboard ship"
There was an embarrassing silence
and after a while l resumed:
During a heavy storm we lost our
masts and yards. The captain ordered
me to get ready four shark-hooks and
400 fathoms Of chain We threw them
over the side, the sharks took hold
and towed the vessel from Calcutta
TO Madras. a distance of 500 miles.
in four Gays. two hours and six min
utes''
They did. ehg" exclaimed the old
gentleman. Wonderful"
some years afterward. when the
news reached simon's bay that Capt.
Rlock was dead, all the sharks in the
vicinity dsubed their backs with mud
as 9 badge OF mourning Tor him, ana
lots Of them fretted themselves 10
death
is II possible?
Fact. True as gospel MY name