FIGHT WITH A SHARK

Shannon News, 2 November 1926, Page 2

FIGHT WITH A SHARK

CHASED BY SURF BOAT. AN EXCITING STRUGGLE. Several thousand people witnessed a thrilling chase after a shark off the Queenscliff end of Manly Beach on Sunday,' October 17, says a Sydney paper. Four surf boats took part in the chase, and the shark Avas harpooned from one of the boats, man. ned by members of the Freshwater Surf Lite-Saving Club, and killed. About 10 a.m., a large crowd of surfers, attracted by the bright sunny weather, . was on the beach. The Queenscliff Club had its patrol on the beach, and following its usual practice, one of the men was stationed on the rocks. This lookout man signalled the presence of a large shark, and the surfers, warned by the beach patrol, left the water without delay.

Two surf lifeboats, manned by members of the Queenscliff and North Steync Surf Life-Saving Clubs, were launched, and set out in pursuit of the shark. These boats were later reinforced by two boats from the Freshwater Club, and for some lime cruised about in search of the monster. The shark, when located, showed signs of fight. One of the oars used by the Freshwater crews was bitten by the shark, but soon afterwards Percy Smith, the Drummoyne long-distance swimmer, who, armed with a knife attached to the end of an oar to do duty as a harpoon,' was stationed in the bow of the boat, got within striking distance. With deliberate, aim, Mr. Smith, throw the weapon. Tho first jail struck.ithe shark, and after a furious chase the men were, able to sink the knife into the shark behind his head. But tho knife came away from the oar shaft. Maddened with pain, tho shark rushed at the boat, and in the efforts to evade its charges the boat became half-full of water. Rowing in through tho surf at Queenscliff, the men bailed out their boat and gave the alarm. The harpooner, after sharpening the point of the oar shaft, went out with the Queenscliff boat, and after a short search the crew located the shark again.

As soon as the shark came to the surface, the harpooner jabbed !him

with the pointed stick, rousing the shark's fury again. He rushed at the boat with his mouth wide open, and, seizing the opportunity, the man handling the stick plunged it deep down his open jaws into his gullet. Apparently it was a fatal blow, for the shank fell away, and the surfmen saw his body turning over and over in the water as it sank to the bottom. Hundreds of residents and visitors watched the final stages of the extraordinary battle from the cliffs near by. The lentgh of the shark w r as about lOfl.