Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1893 — Drowned by a Shellfish. [ARTICLE]

Drowned by a Shellfish.

Among the showy shells of the Pacific Coast of the United States none are better known or more widely distributed than the sea-ears or abalones, and none are more eagerly sought for by Chinese fishermen. One would scarcely anticipate danger, much less disaster, from the pursuit of an object so harmless in itself; but it is reported that a Chinaman once lost his life near Bartholomew Bay, on the cost of Lower California, while gathering abalones. The foot of this shellfish is capable of taking a firm hold on a flat surface, and in most cases it becomes almost impossible to detach the shell without breaking it into frs.jpn«vnts. The unfortunate fishtreiwi referred to was collecting the shells unde: a shelving rock between tides, and had thirst his arm around a sharp edge to dislodge a large one which he saw on the surface. Having no stick convenient to pry off the abalone, he placed his fingers under the shell and tried to detach it by a quick motion. The abalone. however, contracted suddenly and held the fingers of the Chinaman so tightly that they could not be pulled away. Tire tide rose and the man was drowned. His companions returned to search for him at the next low tide and found his body still imprisoned by the powerful grasp c< the abalone upon the rock.—[Forest and Stream.