Journey in a Shark's Month.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2012, 30 May 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Journey in a Shark's Month.

A Si'anisu diver, while at work beneath the sea on the wreck of a vessel, met with a*thiilling adventure, and gives the following graphic account of it : — " At the time I was at the bottom of the eea," says Alfetto, " I was just about to signal to be dra^vn up for a moment's rest, when I noticed a shadowy body moving at some distance above me and toward me. In a moment every fish had disappeared, the very crustaceans lay still upon tho sand, and the cuttle fish scurried away aa fast as they could. I was not thinking of danger, and my first thought was that it was the shadow of a passing boat. Bat suddenly a feeling of terror 3eized me, I felt impelled to flee from something ; I knew not what. A vague horror seemed grasping after me, such as a child feels when entering a darkened room. By this time, the shadow had come nearer and taken shape. It scarcely needed a glanco to show ma that it was a man cater, and one 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 until it left. It lay off 20 or 25 feet, jubt outsido tho rigging of the ship ; its body motionless, its fins barely stirring the water above its gills. It was a monster as it was, but, to add to the horror, the pressure of the water upon my head made it appear as if it were pouring flames 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 .50 feet long, and so near that I could see its double row of white teeth. Involuntarily I shrank 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 Bide, its mouth open, and heard the teeth snap as it darfeel by me. It had missed me, but only for & moment. The sweep of its mighty tail had thrown me forward. I saw it turn, balance itself, and its tail quivered at 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 jaws opened and the long shining teeth grated as they closed on my metal harness. It had me. I could feel its teeth grinding on my copper breastplate as it tried to bite me in two — for, fortunately, it had caught me just across the middle, where I was best protected. Having seized me it went tearing through the water. I could feel it bound forward at each stroke of its tail. Had it not been for my copper helmet my head would have been torn off by the rush 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 bo before those teeth crushed 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 burst with pressure, while the monster's teeth kept crunching ai-d grinding 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 oreature's mouth. I began to hear great guns and to dee firewoiko and rainbows and sunshine and all kinds of pretty things ; then I thought I was floating away on a rosy Summer cloud, dreaming the sounds of sweet musio. Then all became blank. The shark might now have eaten me at his leisure and I should have been none the wiser. Imagine my astonishment, then, when I opened my eyes on board and saw you fellows around me 1" Alfetto was found by his comrades a few minutes after the snapping of the line. He was picked up insensible, with several holes punched in the metallio part of his diving suit. — Catsell'i Satwday Journal,