A Horrible Sight

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 234, 24 December 1887, Page 3

A Horrible Sight

Another warning against the practice of bathing in the Paramatta River occurred at the Ryde Wharf, near Sydney, on November 4th, at about half-past 11 o'clock in the morning, when a young man named William Cochrane, 26 years of age, who was in the employment of Mr T. Small, of Ryde, met with a horrible death right before the eyes of his companions. It seems that Cochrane and several other young men had been sending a dog into the water, and it was then proposed that they should have a swim. .. Three of the young fellows at once divested themselves of their clothing and entered the water. After returning to the wharf, two of them sat down on the edge with 'their feet dangling in the water, while Cochrane made another plunge into the river. One of his comrades then sang out that he saw a shark, and the swimmer at once made for the landing, bub just as he had his hands on the woodwork the monster, which was about 15ft. long, made a dash at him and caught him in the side, completely disembowelling him. This sickening sight was witnessed by those on the wharf, two of whom were knocked over by the tail of the shark as it rushed towards its victim. As soon as the shark had seized Cochrane his body sank and rose again in a few seconds, but only to sink again, and though the Water Police dragged the river till dark they did not recover it. Several times while the men were at work the shark was seen out in midstream. Some two years ago a young man named Lysaghb was seized by a shark whilst bathing in the river, and a few weeks ago a dog was also devoured. This is the place where the Victorian eight-oar crew, when over here last, used to go in bathing every day. The " Evening News " says : "It was a terrible scene for those who witnessed it. A wild agonising cry was the first thing that called attention to Cochrane. It was then seen that he had been seized on the right side by the man - murdering demon. Those standing on the wharf were electrified into a state of almost speechless stupefaction, and then the disembowelled man disappeared — dragged out of sight. The water then became tinged with blood. A few seconds' silence, and then could be seen the terrible struggles of the doomed man. He seemed to be making a fight with the caved mouth gaping monster. Then, as if by a supreme effort, the youth wrested his lacerated body from the veritable jaws of death and rose to the surface of the water. But it was a respite of but a moment, for the shark made another plunge and the shark and Cochrane disappeared for ever. Deceased was 25 years of age, and was well-known at Ryde, where he had lately been in the employ of Mr T. Small. He was unmarried. Two days later the body of the young man Cochrane was recovered by Captain Mance, of the steamer Swan. Tho body was noticed by Captain Mance floating in the river some half-mile from the place whore the tragedy occurred, and when taken from the water presented a horrible sight. The flesh had been totally eaten away from both the shoulders and legs, and the greater part of the body had also been devoured, the only portion not showing signs of terrible mutilation being the head and face.