A Fatal Encounter with a Shark.
A melancholy accident occured in our harbour on Thursday afternoon, which spread a general gloom over the town. John Balmer, a well-built young man, about 20 years of age, belonging to the Hand of the 05th Rcgt., by whom he was greatly respected, was bathing at the head of the Hay, after the musical performance had concluded on Te Aro, when an enormous shark, supposed by Cant.vii Allen of the Chieftain to be at least IS feet long, attacked him, biting him on the (hick part of the thigh and the calf of the leg ; ihe poor fellow screamed out, and a boat, which was about twenty yards from him at the time, went to his assistance, which as soon as he saw, he made a desperate leap into it, but in consequence of ihe femoral vessels being so dreadfully lacerated, he only survived a few minutes after reaching the boat. On Friday morning, an inquest "as held on the body of Ihe unfortunate man at the Thist'e Inn, when the above facts were elicited. Captain Allen deposed, that he was standing on the poop of the Chieftain at the lime, about 150 yards from where the deceased was, and lli.it at the lime he liwird ihe shriek he saw part of a fish which he supposed to be the tail of a shark ; the water all around was coiomed with blood. He immediately went to his assistance in his own boat, but on reaching that in which the body lay no si.'ii of life was exhibited. He took the boat in° tow up the bay towards the Co'onhtl Hospital, hailing as he passed the Midlothian to send on board the Calliope for the Surgeon. The deceased at the lime of the accident was about 200 yards from the shore. Dr. Prendergast deposed as to the fatal character of the wounds, after which the jury brought in the following verdict, "that the deceased was killed by the bite of a shark while bathing.— Il'ellingloii Independent.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MMTKM18520226.2.11
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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 4, Issue 83, 26 February 1852, Page 4
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341A Fatal Encounter with a Shark. Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 4, Issue 83, 26 February 1852, Page 4
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