The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-04-19
Youth's gDe par { nan m I.
A NOVEL SEA FIGHT.
"Whcre swan the huge leviathan
The monarch of the sea"

"Where swan the huge leviathan
TIE monarch of the sea"
"Ocobef, lS4l. On the fifth day out from II al.
fax at O'clock our attention was ca He'd by the
captain, 10 what appeared 10 be whirIwind appa-
rently about mile 10 lccward, but which the
captain assured US over three miles distant
AS The ship neared the spot, we discovered the ag
itaiion ofthe water was produced, not by winds
and currents, but by a contest between thrasher
and a sword fish one side, and tremendous
whale on The other. OF all The battles seen
by me--and have fighting amy day,
having been engaged during the late war with Eng
land, at Bladensburg, and at the White House be-
low Alexandria this was tho most terrific. The
thrasher now threw his body out Of sra ight line
curving the head and tail nwards, thereby bring.
ing his most powerful muscle in the best position
for effective use; he then eaped INTO tho air from
forty to fifty feet, and dropping upon the whales
back with tremendous force, giving his saline maj
esty such shock as TO confuse and perplex him.
While the whale in this quandary, the
sword fish made at him with much violence, and
gave him dreadful stab in the side. The whale
now in great agony, bleeding copiously, Ieaped
with mighty effort from fifty tosixty feet Into
The air and descended with crash resembling the
ioudest thunder, shaking old TO her centre.
The thrasher then gave the mighty victim another
thump, taking care TO select tho most vulnerable
place for the point Of Descent and then the sword
fish sheathcd his weapon in the victims side
again. Another Notwithstanding with blood
and the whale lay motioness the water. At
length the sword fsh touched vital part, and for
several minutes, the whale continued TO leap from
the ocean into the air, snoring and sporting wafer
TO immense height, while streams Of blood pour
ed from his black body like lava from volcano
wrapped in night. At length overpowered by
wounds, and exhausted by loss of blood, he gave
| one mighty roar, the most awful the human mind
can conceive of, and loaied lfoess upon the sea
After the show of resistance on the part of the
whale had ceased to my establishment the two VIC
tofious comba,an,s took themselves Off II respec-
| table distance, and they seemed to be intensely
| anxions about their prize any human being
ond be abou; valuable treasure not perfectly
secure watching the slightest movement or indica
ton ofremaining lie the part of the victin.--
| Al last, the sword fish, whose additional duty il
seemed to be, to that the monster fairly
done for, made circuit Of the body and, stopping
the tail, penetrated il first at its Jun ctnre with
The fukes-a part considered vital by naurasts
and Psychologists, on account of its being the erm-
nation of the brain of the nnmal--,herehy placing
the power Of further resistance out Of the question,
and rendering his own safety certain.
The whale being now dead, curiosity prom pied
me 10 what disposition the victors would make
! of him: so remained watching their movements
Al length discovered the sword fish pass from
his position at the TAIL and move in the direction
of the mead. When about ten feet from the place
where the head joins the body. (as as could
judge) he thrust his sword into the side of the
whale and ripped him longltndinaly, length of
from fifteen to twenty Geei then Withdrawing his
sword, he inserted it about one yard higher up,and
retraced his course IongiudlnalIy, to the water
line, or level with The first CASH He then Gu.
cross-wise each end, through into the body, and
dislodged the piece by pushing it awards The
,hrasher, who all this time seemed unn,eres,ed
spectator Of what was going on. and of whom
began 10 hive rather bad opinion, discovering
what had been done. rushed up, and begun TO help
himself to the spongy flesh. The sword fish seIec.
ted his favorite morseI the heart, and cutting il in
halves with his sword, devoured it in twinkling
Having bo.h satisfied their hunger, as supposed.
the sword fish plunged his snout back of the fore
fin OF the monster, while the thrasher took up his
position n, the dividing line of the fukes, and sci
zed the point between his ponderous jaws. So
they took up their line nrmarch with him, and we
Ieft tDen1 ana went On our iCHei( way, WIN i"
thunder storm 10 the westward fired minute guns
over the dead monarch Of The sea-.
The Ihrasber and the sword fish never attack the
whale unless in company; but when they sail TO-
gether, wo be unto tho Sea King that lifts his
mountain form above the waves in their track
NJ That youth is the happiest who strives TO
live in obedieuce his parents, and TO all the
commandments OF God.