A THRILLING ADVENTURE WITH A SHARK.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1158, 29 March 1884, Page 3

A THRILLING ADVENTURE WITH A SHARK.

Alfettof the Spanish diver, met with a | remarkable adventure and had a very narrow escape recently while engaged in diviDg operations on the coast of North Carolina, near the little town of Morehead. The Atlanta, one of the best known coasting vessels in these parts, was capsized in a squall on the 22nd of September, and sank just inside the bar. The owners of the craft contracted with a diving company to have her raised and to recover as much of her cargo as was still serviceable. Alfetto and another diver were engaged to do the work. They made several successful descents, but on the fourth trip the Spaniard met with the adventure of which we speak. He signalled hastily to be drawn up, and when he had been hauled in the boat he related how Alfetto had been seized by a monster white shark and carried off; but scarcely had he done speaking when Alfetto rose from the water about fifty yards from the boat, and was picked up insensible, with several holes punched in the metallic part of his diving suit. Meant were succesf ully adopted to bring him round, and the. next day he told the i following story :

"As you know, we had made our fourth descent, and while my companion clambered into the vesel, 1 waited on the ground till he should attach (he cords to draw something out. I was just about to signal to be drawn up for a moment's rest when I noticed a shadowy bodymoving at some distance above me and towards me. In a moment every fish had disappeared, the very crustaceans hiy still upon the sand, and the cattle-fish scurried away as fast as they could. I was not thiuking of danger, and tny firiit thought was that it was the shadow ot a passing boat. But suddenly a feeling of terror seized me ; I felt impelled to flee from something, I knew not what ; a vague horror seemed grasping after me such as a child fancies when leaving a darkened room. By this time the shadow had come nearer and taken shape. It scarcely needed a glance to show me that it was a man-eater, and of the largest size. Had I signalled to be drawn up then, it would have been certain death. All I could do was to remain still until it left. It lay off 20 or 25 feet, just outside the rigging of the ship, its body motionless its fins barely stirring the water about its gills. It was a monster as it was, but to add to the horror the pressure of water on my head made it appear as if pouring flames of fire from its eyes and mouth, and every movement of its fins and tail seemed accompanied by a display of fireworks. I was sure the fish was 30 feet long, and so near that I could see its double row of white teeth. Involuntarily I shrunk closer to the side of the vessel. But my first movement betrayed my presence. I saw the shining eyes fixed upon me ; its tail quivered, as it darted at me like a streak of light. I shrank closer to the side of the ship. I saw it turn on one side, its mouth open, and heard the teeth snap as it darted by me. It had missed me, but only for a moment. The sweep of its mighty tail had thrown me forward. I saw it turn, balance itself, and its tail quivered as it darted at me again. There was no escape. It turned on its back as it swooped down on me like a hawk on a sparrow. The cavernous jaws opened, and the long shining teeth grated as they closed on my metal harness. It had me, I could feel its teeth grinding upon my copper breastplate as it tried to bite me in two; fortunately it had caught me just about the middle, where I was best protected. Having seized me it went tearing through the water. I was perfectly conscious, but somehow I felt no terror at all. There was only a feeling of numbness. I wondered how long it would be before those teeth would crunch through, and whether they would strike first into my back or my breast. Then I thought of Maggie and the baby, and wondered who would take care of them, and if she would ever know what had become of me. All these thoughts passed through my brain in an instant, but in that time the connecting air tube had been snapped, and my head seemed ready to best with pressure, while the monster's teeth kept crunching and grinding away upon my harness. Then I felt the cold water begin to pour in, and heard the bubble, bubble, bubble, as the air escaped into the creature's mouth. to hear great guns, and to see fireworks and rainbows and sunshine, and all kinds of pretty things; then I thought I was floating away on a rosy summer cloud, dreaming to the sound of sweet music. Then all became blank. The shark might have eaten me then at his leisure, and I never would have been the wiser. Imagine my astonishment then when I opened my eyes on board this boat and saw you fellows around me. Yes, sir ! I thought I was dead and ate up, sure. '