The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-12-23
USED SHARK POWER
Man Rugged Up Boat With Small
Engine That Could Go.
Won First Place in Race-Everythlng
Lovely TIL lnquisitive Swimmer
Dived Beneath Craft and
Made Discovery.

Newbern, N. C.-George Arthur, a
hsherman, in the neighborhood OF
ADAMS creek, near Neuse river 30
miles from this city, caught in one Of
MS nets large shark He penned
1t In a pool which he made for the
purpose, and after exhibiting 1t there
1or month or more 1t suddenly van
ished' Arthur told the inQuirers that
ne had taken pity on the "varmint"
and returned 1t to it's native waters.
About this time Arthur purchased a
long. low, rakish" skin. explaining to
MS friends that he intended placing
an engine In 1t and making a racing
boat out of 1t. For several weeks
ne devoted many hours day to re-
modelling 1t and placing a two-horse
power engine In It. At last he an
nounced that the boat was In readi-
ness for any and all comers, and Of
Tered to bet that he would win. Sew
eral men who thought they had fast
boats inspected Arthur's boat and
laughed at his diminutive motor But
ne said 1t was of new and powerful
type and that anyway he'd back It
TO win So they arranged a race.
There were six contestants, and
among the number were some ex-
ceedingly fast boats. Arthur was ask.
ed to give a trial exhibition of his
engines ability, but he refused He
said they could see 1t work the day of
the race, On the appointed day sew
eral hundred people lined the river
bank. The course was about five
miles. The boats were lined up for
the start and at the crack Of a pistol
Off they went. So faint was the ex-
haust OF Arthur's new engine that Il
could scarcely be heard and within
the first 100 yards he was left far be-
mind the other racers. However,
things had only begun to happen
Arthur was seen to settle back in
the steorman's seat and push small
lever. Immediately the little boat
sprang forward. Faster and faster It
cut through the water. Passing the
other boats and their startled crews,
1t sped on toward the goal and arrived
several minutes ahead of It's nearest
competitor
That the little engine was the real
thing was no longer doubted, and the
owner received many offers to pur-
chase but declined them all.
After that Arthur was frequently
seen on the river with his craft cut
ting through the water at terrific
rate
Recently a party of picnlckers Wis.
tied the place, and during the day
hired Arthur to take them for n trip
on the river They, too were amazed
at the boats speed. One Of the more
inqusitive decided that there was
something not entirely on the level
about the engine. Arriving at a de.
sirable point. suggestion that the
party go in swimming was made, and
soon several Of the young men were
In the water. Suddenly one of them
diyed beneath the boat and when he
arose to the surface lost no time in
scrambling back into the craft He
said he had seen a shark just beneath
the boat.
Arthur became greatly agitated at
this point and suggested that they
leave at once but the other members
OF the party resolved to see whether
their companion was fooling them
Selling an oar. one Of the young men
jabbed 1t into the water beneath the
craft. and, sure enough. found the
shark. They were going to kill or
catch 1t. when Arthur told them that
the fish was In wire cage beneath
the vessel and that he used 1t for
motor power. Further investigation
proved 1t to be true.
After catching the big fish Arthur
got the idea OF building a cage for II
beneath the boat and utilizing 1t to
tow the boat To get the sh started
Arthur used a pointed nail driven into
the end OF short stick.