Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

During the voyage of the U. S. sloop of war Saratoga to the island of St. Thomas, off the coast of Africa, May 24th, the coxswain in charge of the tiller, broke it and fell overboard. While in the act of swimming towards the ship, he was seen suddenly to disappear, and thereupon the fins and tail of a huge shark emerged from the water, and splashing for a few moments, sunk beneath the surface. I saw, says a spectator, nothing but a crimson stain of blood and a hat floating at a short distance. Not a cry was heard, it was so sudden. Again the splashing of the shark occurred, another was seen to seize the hat-two boats reached the spot; but to late-scores of fish were leaping about for the torn pieces of the poor sailor.