SEIZED BY A SHARK.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11985, 6 February 1903, Page 4

SEIZED BY A SHARK.

STRUGGLE -FOR LIFE. The fearful risks that bathers take in -swimming in the waters of the Sydney -Harbour, even ia the uppermost reaches, •was iliiiStrateJ. ia a- shocking manner on • a recent fcsatuiuay afternoon. Stanley James, twenty years of age, while bathing in the Lane Cove river, was seized by a . shark, which after a desperate struggle, . snapped off his leg several inches above ■ the knee. Although rescued shortly alter ..the tragic occurreuce, the young man suc- • eambed a few hcrirs subsequently, despite ■ all the restoratives and aids that medical . dMII could dense.

Tempted by the heat of the day, deceased and two younger brothers left home for a swim, in the river, only a short distance from their home. The elder brother, for a while watched the children, amuse themselves in shallow water, and after cautioning them not to venture out, he dived and swam into deep water. Suddenly he heard a splash, produced he thought by a dog jumping into the water, and was almost simultaneously conscious of a mysterious movement in the stream near his body. He was filled with a vague dread. A few moments later the powerful jaws of a big shark gripped his left leg between the knee and the body. A desperate struggle took place between the mm and the monster. With its brute instinct the »hark tugged at .its victim to take h"™ into deep water and devour him. With all the strength of despair born of the love of life, the young mart swam desperately for the shores First the man triumphed, then the monster. Young James had almost succeeded in his purpose, -when the shark quitted its hold. It was only for a fresh attack. A sudden swirl in the -water, a snap of the powerful jaws, and the monster was away down the blood-stained stream with the youth's limb. When James was first attacked he cried loudly for help, and succeeded in attracting the attention of Mr G. 11. Marsh, junr., and a few ladies, who were in a skiff about forty yards away.As the party rowed to him they were urged' to greater effort .by the young fellow's piteous cries: "Quick, quick, for God's sake. A shark has me." The ladies shrieked and almost fainted. They were witnesses of a tragedy that might have caused strong men to* blanch. Having assisted James to the river bank, Mr Marsh :speedfly improvised a tourniquet with a silk handkerchief on the Spanish windlass principle. Another boating party was attracted by the screams of the children. The .men quickly wrenched a door from an adjoining boatshed, and becoming a stretcher party, bore the injured man through scrub and over rocks to his step-father's home. James was conscious all the time, and repeatedly told his bearers with evident satisfaction, "I fought the brute." In the meantime a doctor had been telephoned for. Transport was commenced as speedily as possible for the Sydney Hospital, but the patient rapidly collapsed. Restoratives were applied, but without avail, the unfortunate young man expiring about 9.45 p.m. r