NARROW ESCAPE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 358, 12 February 1937, Page 7

NARROW ESCAPE.

Shark Attacked Launch in Botany Bay. Sydney, February 5. Two men had a terrifying experience and p rliaps a narrow escape from d ath when, fishing in Botany Bay, a shark tore a large hole in their' 16ft launch. Several of TTie shark’s te th were found embedded in the boat. The men v' re Albert Cree, 54, of Kogarah, and John Blacksall, 72, of Brighton-le-Sands. They left Brigh-ton-le-Sandf: in Cree’s open launch and steered for the open s p a, intend ing to fish off Cronulla. The Botanj Bay h ads had been almost reachec whi n, with a suddenness that, s.eni both men sprawling, the shark crashed into the boat, immediatelj after they had heard a great surging noise. The shark's te th sank in th( half inch planks and tore away abou a foot r.; the timbers. Water poure.

in, but the men kept the boat on an even keel. In thr e minutes the boat ’ sank to the gunwale. By kneeling op the bottom and remaining motionless the men were able to remain in t7i 1 submerg'd boat, but they saw v.'lt.h alarm that they were being slowly j was;h-’d out to sea. The journey cut from shore had been begun in early morning darkness, and although they had hoped I to see several boats, they were i alone in the bay when dawn broke. | The shark did not return, but they | expected every minute that the boat would sink and leave tliejm to an al-

most certain drov'ning. When the launch was almost 1 vel with tho heads Cree wanted to swim ashore, three miles, for help, but Blacksail persuaded him not to risk his life in shark-infested waters. As they waited for h ip they kept up their spirits with jokes about their fate if the shark returned. For nearly four hours they knelt in their submerged craft, until a launch party sighted thom and rescued them. ‘‘lt w’as an experience v<hich we shall never forget,” said Cree, after being landed. “It was a wonder that we were not eaten by the shark, but the probability is that the monster injured itself and feared to return. How we escaped drowning, in the circumstances, is a miracle.”