Year: 1869




Union, is supposed to be in favor of hi


election to the Spanish throne, in room o


Isabella Exchange.


An Adventure with . shark.


Twenty years ago the West Indi


squadron consisted Of sailing frigates an


brigs, not of screw>vessels, as at present


In those days officers had to depend entire


IL upon their seamanship. There was nj


furling sails and getting steam up if


head wind or calm turned up, or to 20 j,


and out of difficult harbors; and il tn
passage from one port to another did occu
py little more time than it does at pres
ent, yet there was the pleasure of seating
your way to windward," and of seein.
what your vessel really could do against !,
foul wind.


At the time I allude to was serving as
q midshipman on board the H, q fine
sixteen-gun brig. l know no sensation
more pleasant than being officer of the
watch on board brig of war, with every
stitch Of canvass set, the bowlings hauled,
and as much wind as she can stagger un.
der, while the little beauty knocks of her
nine or ten knots, close hauled, gliding
over the seas like swan, sometimes
throwing the spray as high as her maintop,
or at others dipping her sharp nose under
an opposing wave, and sending the spray
right aft to her quarter deck, while she
| gives . shake to her stern for all the world
as if she were living creature, and en-
joycd the cucking she gave the men for,
ward.


jolly were the times we had in the
H, visiting every hole and corner of
the station; sometimes down the Gulf of
Mexico, at others cruising among the sand
Gays of the Cahama Channel, or knocking
about the beautiful Windward Islands.
We were commanded by very smart Off
Ger, who, by dint of constant exercise,
made US the smartest vessel on the station;
but as is usually the case, we were very
unfortunate in losing men overheard.
Being remarkably good swimmer, l was
fortunate enough to rescue on several oc-
casions men who, in performing their du-
ties aloft, fell overheard, and it was when
SO occupied that met with the following
adventure:


We had been cruising for seme time for
slavers on the south east of Cuba; but yel.
low lever having made it's appearance, We
early one morning left Saint Ia,e de Cuba
for Port Royal, jamaica. That evening,
ut sunset, after the usual hours exercise
in reeing and furling, all possible sail was
made, with studding sails allow and aloft,
to fine fresh breeze, the brig going q fair
twelve knots. One Of the maintop men
had remained aloft, finishing some job and
was on his way down over the cat. t.harping
shrouds, when, by some means or other,
he lost his ho.d, and falling, struck the
spare topsail yard, slowed in the main
chains, and went overheard. Twas stand
ing on the stern gratings, and: seeinA him
fail, instantly sang out, "Man overboard!'
and, throwing of my jacket, jumped over
the quarter after him. The impetus Of my
leap took me some distance under water,
but on regaining the surface saw hin not
far from me, just as he was going down.
Exerting all my power, few strokes took
me to the place where he had disappeared,
and saw him slowly sinking beneath me.
In an instant was down after him, and,
clutching him by the hair, brought him
to the surface. BY this time the brig was
nearly two miles distant from us, for, a..
though sail had been shortened, and the
vessel brought to the wind as quickly as
mortal hands could do it, the rate at which
she was going at the time of the accident
of course bore her rapidly away from us.
| found the poor fellow was quietinsensi-
bic, and from the fact of his right arm
hanging limp, conjectured that he had
broken it in his fall, which proved to be
tho case. Supporting him with one
arm, l kept aAoat with the other, and look
ing round, saw the life buoy floating not
far from US; so, taking good grip Of his
hair, swan towards it, and having sue.
ceeded in reaching it, made my untortu-
nate shirmate fast to it by one of the
buckets, with his head we'll above water.


By this time he was coming to himself,
and l knew that if they could see US from
the brig, her boats would soon be along
side us; but this did not appear to be the
case, for the boats seemed pulling in all
directions but the right one. Suddenly /
saw, but few yards from us, an object
that in o moment filled me with unutter-
able dread-the back fin of a monster
shark Slowly the nrute approached, until
l could clearly distinguish that he was
one Of the largest Of hi, kind. He evi.
IDENTIFY intended to reconnoitre, and when
only about five yards from US, began to
swim slowly in circle, but gradually
nearing, until could clearly distinguish
the horrid eyes that make the sharks coun-
tenance what it is-the very embodiment
of Satanic malignity. Half-concealed
between the bony brown, the little green
eyes gleam with SO peculiar an expression
ish malice, Of quiet, calm, settled yillany,
81 kkck
er seen at all resembles. Knowing that
the brute is as cowardiy as he is fcrociOus,
l commenced to splash as much as could
with my feet. This had the desired effect,
and with lateral wave Of his powerful
tail, he shot of, and for moment di,sap>
peared. Again l looked round for the
boats, but still observed no sign that we
were seen.


Night was fast falling-there is no twi-
light in those latitudes-and could see
little or no hope of escaping q horrid
death from the jaws of the brute who,
full well knew, was not far of. Suddenly
a cry Of horror from my companion, who
had now quietly regained his senses, drew
my attention to the rapid approach Of our
dread enemy. This time he seemed de-
termined not to he banked, but came
straight on for US. Again threw my
self on my back, and kicked and splashed
with all my strength. which had again the
effect of alarming him, for he went right
under Us, and again disappeared. Utter
ing short but fervent ejaculation to the
boats, and bcheld, with feelings no pen
can express, that at last we had been
made out, and that one Of the cutters vas
fast pulling towards US. But even US she
came our peril increased, for the shark
was Joined by another. and both kept
cruising, but few yards of, in circle
around US. My strength was rapidly leav-
ing me, and | knew that did once cease
snlashinv all wonld he over with ma Nv