The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-29
A SHARK
STORY
BY SADIE OLCOTT

tea cups We're talking about marriage
and how trifiing may be the cause of
two persons meeting-marrying and
spending their lives absolutely depend
ent upon each other for comfort, hap
piness and, even in rare cases, exist
ence. Some of the present ladies'
narrated stories of wonderful happen
| ings. A demure little woman listened
attentively without comment to all
that was said. Finally one of those
who had told of happenings that could
take place only In the most lurid pic
ture plays asked her if there was not
something worth hearing in her first
|, meeting with her husband.
Il have been married only few
weeks" said the little lady. There
was an episode connected with my
meeting my husband, but l hesitate to
tell it after the recital of the thrilling
experiences of the Others"
She was reminded that in story tell
ing it was not the happenings that
counted nowadays; the modern school
of high literature tabooed all that. The
object was to make a simple episode in
ordinary life interesting. The lady
upon this said that, though the incident
that caused her to be united to her
husband for life was in itself very
tame, she would rely on it's simplicity
to make it interesting.
"My husband and met at summer
hotel on the New Jersey coast. / have
spent the hot season on the seashore
ever since l was year old. When |
was two years old my father took me
to the beach one day, being dressed
in a tiny bathing suit. 1t was not
long after storm, and the waves were
rolling in savagely. My father waded
out up to his neck with me on his
shoulder, then set me on the crest of
a wave and let me CO."
"Great heavensv' exclaimed several
ladies at once
I'm that way" continued the demure
lady, 81 was taught to swim. When
was four years old l would dive of a
dock in twenty feet of water, and when
/ was ten l never swan inside the
capes. At twenty l was considered the
best swimmer on the Jersey coast.
"You all remember the horror felt
by the sharks biting the legs off
boy and devouring man within
short distance of land. Well, / was
at the Ocean House at that time and
in the midst of the excitement. The
love Of danger is inherent within us
mortals, and I, though a weak woman,
am no exception to this passion. 1
was seized with desire to kill
shark. Providing myself with a knife
used In cleaning fish, I had very
sharp point and edge put on it and
made sheath for 1t in the waist of
my bathing dress.
Every morning / went to the dock
ready to take to the water and watch
ed for sharks. Several days passed
without my seeing one. Meanwhile
the bathers were regaining their cour-
age, and occasionally the good swim
mers would disport themselves in the
water about the docks.
"On the fifth morning of my watch
l YVES sitting on the top Of one of the
spiles used in the support of the dock,
looking down into the water, when l
saw double sight. One part was
man leisurely floating on his back,
the other shark moving slowly in
his direction. The man was uncon-
scious of his danger, but it would be
useless for me to warn him.
Drawing my knife, l took it be-
tween my teeth and dived headlong,
striking the surface about ten yards
ahead of the shark. l let myself go
as low as could, which l think could
not have been over seven or eight feet,
and before beginning to rise shifted
myself to my back and looked up. Di-
rectly above me was something white.
which l believed to be the belly of the
shark.
Taking my knife in my right hand.
l permitted myself to rise. OF course
l had posted myself as to the sharks
methods of attack and his vulnerable
parts. l knew that l must approach
from beneath him and stab him in the
stomach. 1t was but few seconds
before | was near enough to see him
plainly, and l confess l was q little
teeny weeny bit staggered by his clip
tically curved mouth"
At this point several of the listeners
made EXPLANATIONS, and the speaker
paused and waited for quiet. When it
was restored she continued:
THE great fish had not quite reached
a point directly above me, and found
1t difficult to keep from rising In time
to reach this frightful mouth, whereas
l needed to permit him to pass so that
l would come up directly under his
stomach. If rose near his mouth he
could easily take me into 1t. If struck
his stomach he would have to back wa
ter to do so. Indeed in the latter case
l would be perfectly safe.
by wriggling / prevented myself
from rising before / had his white
belly above me- Then, giving a kick.
l shot upward and with all my strength
plunged my knife into the sharks
stomach, making as large a rip as /
had the power to make, and the deed
was done"
ma Won, 81 cod tha ,,,o. xx,l,r booo 49,,