Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1881 — A Man Eating Shark. [ARTICLE]

A Man Eating Shark.

Providence R. 1. Journal. On ‘Friday a number of boys and young men were bathing in the Heekonk river, near Carpenter’s wharf, which is on the west si le, when tljife was an occurrence that'will ; not soon be forgotten. Among the party was a young man named Jerry Lowney, who lives on Gano street, Providence, and a young man named Fleming,‘who lives on Wato street this tpwn. Lowney went into the water, leaving a Eair of dry pantaloons to put on when e came out. Fleming, seeing the pantaloons, for a joke put them on, unobserved by Lowney, who on coming to the shore and auding his pants gone, and that Fleming had taken them, to be square with him put ou a pair of overalls which Fleming had left upon the shore and again entered the water, and to the change of pantaloons he probably owes his life, for he had swam but a little distance when a huge shark made-an attack upon him, seizing hold of his pantaloons near the hip, but the overalls hanging so loosely about him his flesh was not pierced. Tne shark dragged him for some distance, making a terrible splashing as he turned over in the water, sometimes pulling Lowney under the water until the pantaloons gave way. The young man of course was greatly frightened, but was not so paralyzed that he could not swim, and called to a man who was rowing a boat near him, who came to his assistance, and helped him into the boat. The overalls bear the marks of the attack, being ripped the whole length of the leg. Sharks are frequently seen in the river at this season of the year, though this is the first instance where a person has been known to have beeen attacked by them in this vicinity. They are reported to be uncommonly numerous this year in Nat • ragansett Bay. Lowney feels that he has had a narrow escape from a terrible death.