EXCITING ADVENTURE WITH A SHARK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2050, 30 January 1889, Page 3

EXCITING ADVENTURE WITH A SHARK

A few days ago, sajs a Tampa (Fla. letter to the 8t Louis ct Globe-Demoorat," ' two men named Shanihan and M'Leod 1 left here m a row boat for Big Island fishing grounds, m Hillaboroogh Bay, some 10 miles down. They fißhed till ' about three o'clrck, and then started to ! return When about half-way home they were startled at seeing the fins of a big man-eatincr Bhark rise up olose to the side of the boat, and its huge month - opened with a suggestivaneas that was not belled by his malicious and cruel looking eyes. M'Leod hastily seized the boat hook and jabbed the ferocious monster m the oye, causing it to 'ink with a tremeudous switoh of its big tail, that came near upsetting them, A second afterward it rose up some rods distant and made a rush et the boat. M'Leod seized the heavy oak oar and struck the momter over the snout, ehiyeijng the oar into fragments. The ihark snapped at the oar io blind fury, and by acoident caught the rudder m his teeth This it cruehed like an egg-sheil. and with a sh >ke like an angry dog Bank beneath the water again, It soon roße again on the other aide and renewed vb attack. As it attempted *6 erup the gunwale of the boat io its wide jaV7« tbe men plied the remalolng our and boat-hook ?lt& tel'lng effeot. A part of the water*tlger*a iowe* j aw was broken off, and be backed t ff ohornlng iilC water into bloody foam m bis madnesß. He then tank out of flpht. While the men were watching out for him on all sldeß, a swift streak was Been to dart through the water underneath them, and tho next moment they were knocked several feet into the air, the boat following them and taming bottom side np. Both men were good swimmers, and sb they fell back Into the water they regained their scattered senses, and hastily nude for the boat. On reaching this they scrambled upon the keel, and, drawing op their legs as far as possible, waited for the reappearance of the brute with fear and trembling. Bat, strange to say, nothing further wsi seen of the monster. Whether the blow on tho boat's bottom stunned or scared him is not known, but greatly to the men's relief he was not Been again. Fortunately the water was calm, and Becurlng the oar that remained they managed to reach the garr'— aoa at nbout nine o'clock, pretty thoroughly exhausted and generally upset.