Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1910 — A SHARK’S BITE. [ARTICLE]

A SHARK’S BITE.

Am Officer In the Philippines Loses t Piece of His LearJudge J. H. Stewart of Marion, Ga., has received a letter from his son, Lieut. James H. Stewart of ther Philippines constabulary, in which the lieutenant tells of being attacked and bitten by a shark, and that although his leg wound will heal, he will walk lame for the rest of his life. The letter contained a clipping from a Manila paper, as follows: .“Lieut. James H. Stewart, an excellent swimmer, entered the water for a-deep-water swim and when out about 100 meters noticed a shark swimming parallel with him. He at pnce turned for the shore and at the same time splashed water at the ‘man eater* for the purpose of frightening him off. For a while the big fin Of the fish followed at the same distance, but suddenly it disappeared, and from the rush of water around him Stewart knew that the fish was making a circle preparatory to diving. Stewart held his breath and stopped swimming. He began to tread water and look around him to await the attack he expected to be made. The shark arose under him and seized him by the calf of his leg and again dived to the depths below, dragging Stewart down. The teeth of the shark dug deep into the flesh, and for a time all the lieutenant’s struggles were in vain. With the water strangling him he fought for life against the big brute, striking It in th.e head with his other foot and with his fists. He finally with a supreme effort tore himself loose, leaving the muscles of his leg in the maw of the shark. Striking out with all his might he swam to the surface and headed for the shore. The shark, satisfied with its bite of flesh, did not follow him. On reaching shore he was in an exhausted condition. He tore up some of his clothes and bound up his injured leg as best he could to stay the flow of blood, and then made for town to seek such surgical assistance as plght be at hand ” ===-