THE DEATH FROM THE BITE OF A SHARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10033, 21 January 1896, Page 5

THE DEATH FROM THE BITE OF A SHARK.

\y% give , the following from the Sydney papers in reference to this case, which has already been mentioned in ' our' cable news"' ' ' •" ■ "

' " About a quarter past two o'clock on Saturday afternoon (January 11) five young boys; quite oblivious of the danger iuc'urWq in op^ji'soa-biUhing; went' for a swim in j Johnstone's Ray Pvrmonb. ' Their namoa ] were Williim 'Reddie, E. Brown, J, Blake, J. Morgan, and R. Clegg. The first-named, William Reddie, was 11 years and 9 months old. Within a stone's throw almost of the ryrmoiib Baths, at the foot of Point-street, was the place-the lads selected' for their swim. 1 A number of persons we're standing close by, and jhe bathers were diving off a wharf and joyously splashing about in tho water. Among the group of persons near was a man named Alfred Johnson. Johnson, who was 'watching the boys, noticed some object near them, which »■ closer observation showed to be the fin : and tail of a large shark;' Realising the tertiblo danger the boys r wero in, Johnson called but to apprise them of the presence of the shark; and ran' down to the water's edge! A bettor view of the shark, which was then almost upon the boys, could be obtained, and it was seen to be a monßter about fourteen feet in longth. Almost simultaneously with Johnson's arrival at the water's edge, tho shark dashed past one boy and seized Reddie. So near did the monster go to the other bather that its tail actually struck Brown as ib seized Reddie.' Regardless of personal danger, 'Johnson bravely plunged into the water with his clothes on, and waded oub until he reached Reddie. The poor boy'saw his rescuer coming, but lie was unable to speak, and feebly stretched forth his band in supplication. Johnson immediately clasped 1 him by the hand, only to find that the shark still retained its hold. A second effort bo drag the boy away was more successful, and Johnson brought the boy to the shore. It was then found that the boy had suffered most severely in the short time that he had been at the mercy of the voracious monster. The right leg, hip, and side were' almost completely torn away, besides a portion of the entrails up to the ribs. ' The left foot had also been bibben, and a parb of ib was missing. Despite the extensive injuries the boy was still alive, and all haste was mado in conveying him to the baths near at hand. Soon after reaching there, however, Reddie expired. The police state that it is impossible to keep boys from bathing in dangerous places. On different occasions they have been warned away from the very spot at which this fatality occurred. Only a few days ago on the opposite site of Johnstone's Bay, near the Jubilee Dock, a monster shark was soon in the clear water, and this in tho immediate vicinity whore lads frequently swim, and higher up the bay, a few weeks back, near the Bald Rock, another large shark was seen near the ferry wharf. Fishermen state that during the months of November, December, and January, the harbour-is dangerously infested with sharks, hence extreme caution should bo exercised in swimming in the open harbour. On the other aide of Balinain, in Iron Covo, where young Torrill was disembowelled a few weeks back, the sharks are particularly numerous. Only a few days ago a fine retriever dog belonging to a gentleman that was bathing here was taken bodily. At the inquest, Elijah Brown, aged 11, stated thab doceased was standing in the water up to his waist when the shark seized him.