The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1881-11-17
TALES OF THE SEA.


A remarkable story of sea life is
told by Newfoundland correspond
ent of the Toronto Globe. The wri~
ter was standing with some friepds
on cliff between Placentia and st
Mary's bays, There was no breeze
ami the sea was quiet Within a
few minutes the surface Of the wa
ter became alive with cod and les
ser fish and while the members OF
the party we're endeavoring to find
an explanation of the odd occurrence
whale came up near the cliff The
huge fellows jaws were agape and
spou,iDg column of spray like a
geyser. Something was the matter
with him. He evidently was try
Jog to get away, and his struggles
had frightened the smaller creatures
round about. AZ the whale drew
near the shore the men saw the fms
and formidable weapon of large
sword-fsh and a moment later q
thrasher, or fox shark, fastened
himself so the monsters back. =
The sword fish was piercing the
whale below, driving him to the sur.
lace, and the tbrasher was giving it
to him from above. When the
tbrssher struck bis huge antagonist
the sound was a dull thud and when
missing his aim, be- hit the water,
the sharp crack was heard for half
mile. The waves were beaten into
foam, the whale trying TO ply his
tail upon his enemies, but before he
could get his ungainly body into
position they were out of harms way
and making a new attack upon an
unexpected quarter. The contest
continued 30 long that at the point
of battle the sea was colored with
blood, but the whale escaped final
", and the last seen of him he was
blowing Lin triumph five miles fl
the coast. Many fishing crews
rOwed TO the scene of the action aud
were excited witnesses of what they
declared to be the most unique
spectacle of their adventurous lives.
When the Cyprian was wrecked
on the coast of Wales few weeks
ago, the 200 people who stood hor
ror>stricken along the shore saw an
act Of heroism rarely witnessed I'M
der any circumstances. The Cap
tain. John A. Strachan. of Liverpool
had told those on board that every
one must look to himself. Most OF
the crew had dropped overheard,
and Capt Strachan also prepared to
leap into the pillows. He tied a
life belt about his waist and mount
ed the rail. At that moment he no
ticed the pale face of a boy peeFiog
from below decks. The lad was a
stowawsy. A fewIhours ago he was
a sneak, an unworthy thing, a mis-
cradle piIferer of privileges ; but
now the skipper only remembered
he was 6 human being, to be saved
if possible, at any rate not to De LET
behind Without word Capt
Strachan uubuckled the life bel
J from his waist ard dashed it ship
shape upon the little stowa@ay, bid
ding him save himself. IL car
swim" said the captain take the
belt" Over the side went the stow
away, LITE d upon the surf like
cork over the -de went the cap
tain, trusting, Ike the good, brave
fellow that he was, to his strength,
enfee bled with long watching and
anxiety. But swimming was i'm
| possible in such sea. The boat
swain, struggling for his own life,
caught at the ca tain, who was still
making Roadway and both went
down, never to be seen again ;
while the little stowaway, with the
good captains life-be!t about his
waist, was flung upon the Welsh
coast, battered about, but alive to
tell the story of his strange fate ard
his kind friends heroism. --Phita