SHARK SMASHES SKIFF

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2013, 21 March 1914, Page 13

SHARK SMASHES SKIFF

WELL-KNOWN SOULLEIi'S PEIIL. Two scullers had an exciting -expcrieneo on Leichmirdt Bay lass, week, says the Sydney "San." Shortly after' 7 o'clock Miss Eadith Counsell and Albert Haydon left one of the sheds at Leiehhardt in a. 16ft. racing skiff, and pro'o'e.e,d.ed down the. bay to White Horse Point. Th<e scullers took things easily q.u tho. way, anci it was 8 o'clock when they ..were on the mark ready to do their tiki row before the race, which is to bo held ttcxt "Saturday. The pair, together with two pacemakers, set out at a great bat, and allwent well until they wore oft Dalian, Park Point.- Between there and Bpdd Island immense s.lro.als of mullet wereseen, and so thick Were they in places, that the scullers wets compelled to ease up. - Shortly after; the fish had disappeared two big sharks- passed quite closo to the skiff. She occupants were of tho opinion thai the. sharks •■were chasing the mullet, end to.qlj little notice, of them. To' their consternation,, however, one of the sharks ciroied round the skiff, and then crashed into it. Miss Counsell test her stalls overboard.

The scullers _ were ail this tia* abreast of the' is'ksd and tlieii' skiff was rapidly filling. ■ A plank On the starboard side had. bc-e.ii stoYfr-ta,, and in order to save the boat from staking it was necessary to stuff ft cushion ana a wrapper in the-liole. MjsS CqltnsCU having recovered f'je-m the shock, was ablo to bail out, wlj-i'je her partner rowed hard for tho. shore. Tlicy got safely on to tho flats-neat tho TLeiehhardt Baths, and from- thssre it was easy to reach the shore. Tho skiff was left thoro, and later on it was taken in hand by Mr. Dearing, a boat-bu.tkler, for repairs.