The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-28
Gulf OF Mexico Adventures
And A True Shark Story

sea and land; here are visions oI
cloudland whose tints and colors and
ever changing shapes are so glorious
at sunrise and sunset that 1t seems
like the vestibule of heaven. And
here is the smooth sloping beach,
five miles long, ever inviting to
bath, a dive, swim in the emerald
waters,
It was here that I had an adventure
which few can relate and from which
few come out alive. Try to imagine
it as | describe It:
| went out in my bathing suit one
bright morning, crossed the sand bar
few feet from shore, which runs for
miles parallel to the coast, and was
sporting in deep water beyond, in
full sight of my cottage, at whose
door stood my wife, watching me.
My attention was attracted by a
fisherman's motor boat at some dis
lance to the north, moving in ziz-
gag course along the shore. He was
at the wheel, trying to signal and
speak to me in an excited manner. At
last | caught the words-"The shark
The shark Look out or he will get
you. Run for the sand bari"
gave one glance in the direction
he pointed and there saw huge man
! eating shark, twelve to fifteen feet
! long, coming for me. Never did a
man use all his muscles, nerves and
energy as quickly as | in turning,
I jumping, running and almost flying
! to, and onto that sand bar. The boat
! in the meantime came between me
and the shark and | was saved. The
captain of the boat, overcome by the
sense of my peril and deliverance
disappeared into the cabin and his
assistant followed him, while | made
my way slowly and thoughtfully tt
my cottage to keep a Thanksgiving
day for life thus preserved.
For the information of those livin.
near the sea coast or bathing in tn,
waters of ocean, gulf or sea wher,
these monsters of the deep some
times appear, it ought to be state,
that they never cross a sand bar o
come into shallow water near tn
coast and are seldom found at al
near the shore, except in the breed
ing season, in May and June, whe
:, they sometimes swim in pairs neare
the shore.
n Anyone at any time, therefore, ca
enjoy the pleasure and healthful re-
h reation of ocean and sea bathing an,
y where on the Atlantic and Gulf coast
o who will observe proper caution a
q suggested above.
s The writer bathed again the sam
day of his narrow escape, and man
n times since, with no feeling of fear
e but near the shore.
II There is a third island not IL
n away, called Bird Island" owned
IS the United States, where Thousand
d of pelicans and other birds max
n their homes. They are protected
l. law and multiply rapidly. The pei
Is can is strange bird, with a long bi
% and great pouch, the bill catching tt
70 fish and putting them in the pouch
d, be devoured and digested late
Q. These solemn birds delight the mar
le thousand tourists who throng tn
Is region, and especially the neighbo
lie ing city Of st. Petersburg, the "Tou
n list Capital of the South" with
le hundred miles of paved street
III walks, piers, parks, etc. Here pc
er cans flying in the air and aviato
and airship flying above them, al
r. steamers and motor boats flying /
rs low them make a constant movil
f. picture, for all is motion and III
It, Add to these the catches daily by {
ne pert fishermen and amateurs Of L
nd fish inhabiting these waters, such
h. trout, mackeral, mullet, red fis
| king fish, grouper and so on, up TO t
re lordly silver tarpon, and you have
et picture of aquatic life not elsewhel
nd Come and enjoy it all with us.