MAD WITH ANGER

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1924, Page 7

MAD WITH ANGER

CROWD ATTACKS SHARK. The capture of a 10ft. whaler shark at Bondi, following so closely on the savage attack at Brdnte, created a tremendous sensation amongst the 30,000 surfers on the beach. It was also responsible for some unprecedented scenes when the crowd, enraged almost beyond description, attacked the shark and literally beat it to death. It is considered that the capture prevented a tragedy, for the monster was ravenously hungry, and had eaten a smaller shark, its savage cannibalism being responsible for its own end. There is no doubt it would have attacked some of the surfers. Messrs Ironside and Self, two amateur fishermen, had been out in the morning, and set the bait on a kerosene tin when they came in for lunch. The spot where they set the line, was about 150 yards away from the surfing portion of North Bondi beach, dnd thousands of men and women were in the waves there throughout the morning and afternoon. It was at 2.30 p.m. that the tin commenced to bob about in the waves, indicating that something large was hooked, and the cry of “shark” brought all the surfers to the rocks at the northern end of the beach, from which the fishermen were'even, then hauling in their capture. The scene was remarkable. The rocks in a few minutes presented a spectacle such as the old Roman Amphitheatre must have done, . aiid when the monster was landed, the actions of the crowd enhanced that impression. . When the shark had been dragged close to shore it commenced to fight, lashing the water into foam, and testing the strength and endurance of its captors. But the startling phrase of the capture was presented when the shark was finally landed; and it was seen that it had bitten in two a smaller shark already on the hook. . The action of the dreadful jaws closing .on the captive youngster..had resulted in the hooking of the cannibal.. _ ■ Spears., and -harnoons were- driven, into the shark while if lay ' on: the rocks, and as each blow was dealt the crowd lost, its cheered mightily. Some *bf. the. meii and women, with, the memory of,'the attack on Miss Derrett..’at.. Bronte still fresh, picked .up pieces of wood and rocks and. helped in .the extinction’ of. the monster. .The shark was literally beaten to death.,