FIGHT WITH A SHARK.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1275, 9 December 1884, Page 3

FIGHT WITH A SHARK.

A fearful shark adventure is reported from Passade, a small fishing village between Nice and Villefranche. Two fishermen returned late id the evening with a shark, measuring 10ft in length, in tow. The monster had been harpooned and lost considerable blood, which fact enabled them to draw it on shore easily, and secure it in their hut, intending to take it for exhibition to Nice the next day. \bout two o’clock in the morning a horrible noise arose from the hut, the unearthly howling of a dog mid screeching 'of children predominating. The two fishermen hurriedly lit their lamps and hastened to the spot, when a terrible sight met their gaze. The monster, whose wounds were not mortid, had so far recovered that he was seen flapping about snapping at everything within reach. The dog, which had been left sleeping by the bed of the two children who, with their mother, occupied the hut, had been nearly bitten in two. The mother herself, in trying to shield the infants, had her two legs cut off below the knee. One of the men seized a harpoon and managed to strike the brute in the eye, but in the terrible bounds that it gave the lamps were knocked over and extinguished, and a struggle of unprecedented horror took place in the dark. The fishermen suddenly made for the door, hut were unable .to open it. lu the meantime, a neighbouring fisherman had been drawn to the spot by hearing the fearful din. With his help the two children were first rescued through a small window above the door, after which this was broken down by the united,efforts of the men. Tho shark was held by means of the table, the legs of which were almost bitten through as so much straw, and, directlv tho door was opened, it flapped its way outside and sought tho sea. It was mastered in the end, however, through a harponn thrust in the remaining eye. Dr Gahrielli was immediately sent for, and amputated the stumps from the mother’s legs j it is expected she will recover, The children luckily escaped unhurt. Galignani’s Messenger.