I BATTLING WITH A SHARK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1771, 20 February 1888, Page 3

I BATTLING WITH A SHARK.

— — « j , The " Oatnaru Mail " of the 17th tost j gives the following particulars of the shark j ' adventure mentioned In recent telegrams: ~At about nix o'clock this moraine Mr | David Grant, carter, his two sons John t and David, agod 16 and 12 yeara reapecI tively ; Alexander Famllton, aorr of Mr James FamUton ; and Robert Stevenson, ' ajn of Mr Robert Stevenson, were bathing | m the open sea near the woollen factory. All had been oat for a swim abont 20 yards, and were returning, Mr Grant being the last to turn for the shore. While he was m the act of turning, a shark about 10 feet In length came np<»n the scene, and attacked him, getting a 6rm grip of his left arm at the musole. Mr Grant cried out, " Here's a ehark," and maneged to puah the monater off with his rJght hand, bat not before his other arm had been very muoh lacerated. The other members of the party, on being made aware of the presence of the Bhark, Btrnck ont for the shore with all speed, thinking that Mr ftrant was following them. Ardvinp there and turning round they saw that Mr Grant bad been attacked, and that the wa, er was red with blood arouad him. Mr Grant was making for the shore with the shark following him, and when at the breakera Famihon and Stevenson notio&d that he required assistance ; they therefore waded m and ansißted him out, not a bit too noon, as the ehark was almost upon them, and followed them oloae to the shore. An express was obtained and the wounded man taken to bis home on tbe Norjh Road, where Dr Fleming, who had beeu «ent for, was m attendance. Dr Flemiug did all he could for the sufferer by utopplng the hemorrhage, but he expressed the opinion that the arm would have to be amputated, as all the main arteries, nerves, etc., situated just above the elbow had been completely obewed off and the bone waa injured. Mr Grant was taken to the hospital about 9 o'olook, and, after farther examination, it was found j necessary to amputate ihe arm just above the elbow, the lower part having become by that time dead. We are glad to say t&at after the operation, which waa performed by the resident surgeon (Dr Garland), the patient was easier, and is i now progressing as favorably as could be expected. It was ver> fortnnate for Mr Grant that he was not alore, Bad asalatanoe not been rendered him just at this particular junoture he would have been again attacked, and as he was weak from loss of blood and exhaustion there is little doubt that he would have been over -powered and taken under by bis powerful antagonist. It Is little short of a miracle bow he escaped/but it is supposed that the arm being bent at the elbow joint prevented the shark getting a firm grip of tbe bone, and, the flesh giving way, Mr Grant was able to get free The son :says that hie father waa floating on hia back, and did not see the shark, which got hold of Mm before he waa aware of its presence. The son heard his father call ont " Oh !" and turning round, he could see that his father had been drawn under, and presently he saw him rise to the surface battling with the shark, which wa3 follow-' ing him. 'Jhis appearance of the shark Rave the other members of the partj quite a scare, and the ueVs spread throughout the town this morning with surprising rapidity. Later on it became known that it hau been found necefSßry to amputate the arm, and great sympathy was expressed for the sufferer. This event will no doubt be a warning to those who indulge m a bathe m the open aea The practice is unsafe not only m the bay, but it is also daDgerous m the harbor en closure. Last week a shark six feet long was observed to chase a dog near trie mole, and was almost high and dry on the boulders, when it lashed its tail und turned into deep water again. • Auolhor one was recently seen by a boatmarj, who struck it With bis oar. There is one thing certain from all these reports that it is manifestly very dangerous to bathe anywhere m the sea unprotected. *