FIGHT WITH A SHAKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19469, 27 October 1926, Page 15

FIGHT WITH A SHAKE.

CHASED BY SURF BOAT. AN EXCITING STRUGGLE. VICTORY FOR THE BOATMEN, Several thousand people witnessed fc thrilling chase after a shark off the Queenscliff end of Manly Beach on Sunday, October 17, says a Sydney paper. Four surf boats took part in the chase, and the shark was harpooned from one of the boats, manned by members of the Freshwater Surf Life-Saving Club, and killed. About 10 a.m. a large crowd of snrferu, attracted by the bright, sunny weather, was on the beach. The Queenscliff Clnb had its patrol on the beach, and following the usual practice, one of the men was stationad on the rocks. This lookout man signalled the presence of a larga shark, and the surfers, warned by thd beach patrol, left the water without dei lay. Two surf lifeboats, manned by members of the Quneenscliff and North Steyne Surf lofe-Saving Clubs, were launched, and se4 out in pursuit of the shark. These boats were later reinforced by two boats from the Freshwater Club, and for some tima cruised about ia search of the monster. The shark, when located, showed signs of figlit. One of the oars used by the Freshwater crews was bitten by tha shark, but soon afterwards Percy Smith, the Drummoyne long distance swimmer, who, armed with a knife attached to tha end of an oar to do duty as a harpoon, was stationed in the bow of the boat,, got within striking- distance. With deliberate aim, Mr. Smith threw the weapon. The first jab struck thfl shark, and after a 'furious chase the men were able to sink the knife into the shark behind his head. But the knife carae away from the oar shaft. Madiened with pain, the shark rushed at the boat, and in the efforts to evade its charges the boat became half-full of water. Rowing in through the surf at Queecncliffe, the men bailed out their boat and gave the alarm. The harpooner, after sharpening the point of the oar shaft, vent out with the Queenscliffe boat, and after a short search the crew located the shark again. As soon as the shark camo to the surface, the harpooner jabbed him with the pointed stick, rousing the shark's fury, again. He rtished at the boat with bia mouth wide open, and, seizing the opportunity, the man handling the stick plunged it deep down his open jaws into his gullet. Apparently it was a fatal blow, for the shark felt away, and the surfmen saw his body turning over and over in the water as it sank to the bottom. Hundreds of residents and visitors watched the final stages of the extraordinary battle from the cliffs near by. The length of the shark was about 10ft.