TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER WITH SHARKS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2221, 30 April 1880, Page 3

TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER WITH SHARKS.

A sad occurence is reported at Port Clair : “On the evening of Christmas Day one of the 89th Ecgiracut, named Kenny,’ went out to the bay to have a swim—a daily recreation between five and six p.m. When he was out a distance of about 150 yards from the jetty, he found himself attacked by a small shark, which bit oif one of the fingers of his left hand, and lacerated another and the thumb. The man being a good swimmer bravely resisted the attack, and had nearly succeeded in checking it is said, bis cnemj r , when he found himself attacked by a larger monster who seized him below the cap of the right knee, causing an incision of about four ’inches long by two deep. The w'ounded man still fought his way bravely swimming towards shore with his right hand, with his other mutilated one he defended himself. When doing so the second and fiercer antagonist managed to seize his wounded leg just behind the kneecap, rendering it perfectl} l - useless. Life, however is sweet and notwithstanding his crippled condition Kenny struggled on towards a boat he saw coming to his aid, when a third shark attacked him from behind and tore off nearly the whole of the flesh from his hack. Even in this dreadful state he managed to swim some fifty yards further and to reach the boat before-mentioned, when he was picked up. He was immediately conveyed to shore, laid in a doolie, and carried to the hospital, where he received every care and attention; but after lingering for thirty hours, andsuffering tha greatest agony, he expired. When the corpse was examined the intestines were plainly visible through the exposed ribs three or four of which were broken. The dimensions of the last bite were seen to be Min by 12in. The deceased was only 231 years of age.’’