SHARK NEAR BATHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19490, 20 November 1926, Page 14

SHARK NEAR BATHERS.

ALARM AT. BO NO I BEACH. SURF RAPIDLY DESERTED. The appearance of. a big shark in tho water at Bondi Beach one afternoon last week was the signal for a rush to the shore by a large crowd of Sydney bathers. The shark was first seen shortly after 2 p.m. by the look-out on the watchtower. and Was estimated to be "well over 100 yards from the-beach. Judging by the size of its fin and the rough outline of ; its body, the life-savers considered that r the shark' was between 14ft, and 16ft. in length. The alarm bell was rung, and a wild i scatter of bathers ensued. There were ! nearly 400 people in the water, and soma | of the expert surfers, including a few of | the club men, were a fair distance outside I the first line of breakers. Displaying a ; surprising turn of speed, however, and catching "shoots" whenever possible, every man reached the beach in quick time. Within' a minute the shark had tho surf practically to itself, . Very . soon the ; shark- cruised : out ;of sightj.'apd. gradually .the, bathers, returned to"the water., Twice the monster returned to a spot * Within sight of ths watch-tower, and twice the surfers were forfced to leave the water.; The shark was last seen about 3 p.m. t Great caution, was exercised, both by the 'look-out and the surfers during the remainder 1 df ! the afternoon. ■ On the previous : Sunday the ringing of the alarm bell caused consternation among the largo ( number, of, people who- were bathing, at, North Bondi,, and there wag a wild scramble for the'beach. The members 6i "the Jooktidt 'tower : cSticed' a large shark :swinMing at the southern end of the beapb, toward the Crowd.,of bathers. Fortunately, a. schopl,. of salmon/ were swimming in 'the centre of the bay, and the shark., instead of attacking the bathers, riished after the salmon and disappeared.