Catching a Shark.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 196, 12 August 1873, Page 7

Catching a Shark.

I Dr ‘Staines got from the carpenter some I sheets of zinc-, and spare Copper* and some | flannel ; these he cut into three inch squares, and soaked the flannel in acidulated water, He then procured a quantity of bell-wire, the greater part of which he insulated by wrapping it round with hot gutta percha. ho eager was he that he did not titrii in all night. In the morning he prep ired what he called an electric fuse* he filled a sodftwater bottle full of gunpowder* attaching some cork to make it buoyant* put in the fuze and bung, made jto watertight, connected and insulated his j main wires, enveloped the bottle in meat, j tied a line to it, ami let the bottle over- | board. Ihe captain and officers shook ! their heads mysteriously. The tai's peeped i lllll l gi'tomed from every rope to see a doc- ; tor catch a shark with a soda water bottle | and no hook* but somehow the doctor I seemed to know What he was about* and Iso they hovered round and awaited the ' result mystified* but curious, and showing i 'heir teeth from ear to ear. The only | thing I fear, said Staines* is that the iUo* j ment he takes the bait he will cut the i wire before I can comp'ete the circuit and ; fire the fuse.” Nevertheless, there was j another objection to the success of the I experiment. The shark had disappeared, ; “ VVell,” said the captain, “at all events lyon have frightened him away.” “No,” | said little Tadcaster, white as a ghost, “ he jis only under water, I know ; waiting, waiting. “ there he is !” cried one in the | ratlines. Taere was a rush to the taftVail | —great excitement. “ Keep clear of me,” said Staines quietly, but firmly; “it can only be done at the moment before he cuts the wire,” The old shark swam slowly round and round it. “He Won’t take it,” said on-, “he sUSpccts something.” (Jh yes, he will take tne meat somehow, and leave the pepper. Sly old fox, he has eaten many a poor Jack, that one. The shark turned slowly on his back, and instead of grabbing at the bait, seemed to draw it by gentle suction into that capacious throat, ready to blow it out in a moment if it was not all right. The moment the bait was drawn our of siyffit Staines completed the circuit; the bottle exploded with a fury that surprised everybody who saw it; a ton of water flew into the air, and came down in spray ; a gorv carcase floated belly uppermost, visibly staining the blue water. There was a roar of amazement and applause. The carcase was t >wed alongside at Tadcaster’s urgent request, and then the power of the explosion was seen. Confined, first by the bottle, then by the meat, then by the fish, and lastly by the water, it had exploded with tenfold power, had blown the brute’s head into a million atoms, and had even torn a grt at f irrow in its carcase, exposing three feet of the backbone, Taddy gloated on his enemy, and began to pick up again from that hour.