A GIANT STINGRAY.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 165, 30 December 1926, Page 1

A GIANT STINGRAY.

ENTRAPPED IN BATHS. Frantic Efforts at Capture. A great fuss has been made of one stingray in Sydney recently. Certainly it was no ordinary stingray. In ho lirst place ho was a giant, measuring Bft 6in long by 6ft wide. In the second place he was placed in most extraordinary circumstances eircunr themselves in business, art, science, stances, indeed, which compelled more limelight to be thrown upon him than a dozen theatrical stars. While the Domain Baths, the city’s principal enclosed swimming pool, were Doing repaired recently a portion of the fence had to bo taken down, and while it wms in that condition tho stingray nosed in, and curled himself up in the deepest and darkest corner until after the fence had been re placed. Some scared bathers one morning came in contact wi h the creature, and thereupon all bathing ceased, for a wound from the stingray’s barb or tail can be most painful, and a hue and cry was raised. For three weeks the hunt went on. Effor s were made to harpoon the stingray. Thrice it, was struck and thrice it escaped, with tho harpoon eventually buried in its flesh. Men tried to cap urc it on a hook. They tried to enfold it in a net. Then, desperate, hey brought charges of dynamite to bear. These were exploded, but though small fish floated to the surface dead, the g'ant stingray was merely seen for a flash and then disap pcared. It began to bo surrounded with a mythical clusivoness. Then came *i day when the stingray could no longer be seen. East Monday Mr Albert, Sydney’s foremost underwater exp* rt. donned his heliv.c and rubber dress, and began to grOp'round the bains to see if all tlic fence was intact. During his submar m peregrinations, he came across tho s ingrav. dead. What caused its death is problematical. It might have been the effect of the harpoon, which was found in its flesh, or, more probably, the charge of dynamite used might have wrought such effec's that. although not immediately fatal, they eventually brought about the end. But in his few weeks of unwilling cap ivitv. that stingray was given more publicity in the Sydney newspapers than a matinee idol. Paragraphs appeared daily describing the efforts to capture him. Special writers were sent to work their imaginations and typewriters upon him and the hunt for him. The customs, whims and weaknesses of the stingrav tribe were explained at long h. Photographers pictured harassed men in their search for it. And even in death, his huge bulk was portrayed in picture and written description. Truly, the mos wonderful stingray in the world, all because it was silly en/ough tjo wander into a pla.ee which man had reserved for himself.