NARROW ESCAPE FROM A SHARK.

North Otago Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 5065, 20 January 1886, Page 4

NARROW ESCAPE FROM A SHARK.

The Melbourne Daily Telegraph states that a narrow escape from being devoured by a shark occurred on Saturday last off the Oarrum beach at Mordialloc. Rlr John Wright, "who owns a c n'reboard biat about 20 feet long, was 6>h ng in his boat, in company with one of the officers of a ship now berthed at Sandridge. At about 12 o'clock noon he was leaning a little out the craft hauling in her anchor, about 300 yards (mm shore, and he drew back just in time to escape the smart click ol the jawa of a monster shark, which had sprung out of the waUr at him, i.i much the fame fashion as a hunyry salmon leaps at a fly. Somewhat terror stricken, Loth gentlemen sat still (or a moment in the boat, while the shark made a second dash at the bout which ehoik it from stem to s'ern. For nearly an hour afterwards the om nous triangular (in of o( the monster wuß sein circling round the boat, and he wns onlyk«pt at a distance by throwing over from time to lime pieces of meat and o'^er bait which tbe fisiurj bad with them At last a rough hook was extemporised from a piece oi iron wire ; this was baited, and run out on ft strong inch cord. The buit was qu'ckly taken, but although the naval cflicer playid his fish nscarelully as a pike or a salmou. his fore linger was nearly cut ofF by a desperate plunge made by the shark, and which broke the hook awuy Irom the tackle. Tbe monster tbeu made, out to sta.