The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-11-25
STORIES OF THE SEA.
A Strange Battle-captain strsehsn's Hero'sm-
Two Hundred Pirates Slain.

A Strange Battie-captain strsehsn's Herosm-
Two Hundred Pirates Slain.
aremarkable story of sea life is told by
correspondent OF the Toronto
Globe. The writer was standing with some
friends on a cliff between Placentia and st'
Mary,s Bays. There was no breeze and the
sea was quiet. Within few minutes the
surface Of the water became alive with myr-
lads Of cod and lesser fish and while the
members of the party were endeaVorihg 10
find an explanation Of the odd occurrence
whale came up near the cliff. The huge fell
lows jaws were agape and spo"'ing COZ
umn Of spray like geyser. Something was
he matter with him. lie evidently was try
ing 10 get away aud his struggles had fright
eued the smaller creatures round about As
the whale drew near the shore the men saw
the fins aud formidable weapon OF large
,wor,l-fish and moment later thrasber, or
fox-shark. fastened himself upon the mon
ster's back. The sword-fsh was piercing the |
whale below, driving him TO the surface, ana
the thrasher was giving IL to him from above,
seeking TO drive him below. When the
thrasher struck his huge antagonist the SOUND
was dull thud, and when, missing his aim,
he hit the water, the sharp crack was heard
fora half mile. The waves were beaten into
foam, the whale trying to ply his tall upon
his enemies but before lie could get his I'M
calmly body into position they we're out OF
harms way and making new attack upon
an unexpected quarter. The contest cohtlh-
ned 80 long that at the point of battle the
sea was colored with blood, but the wfa'e
escaped finally and the last seen Of him ne
was blowing in triumph five miles oil the
coast. Many fishing crews rowed TO the
scene of action and were excited witnesses OF
what they declared 10 be the most unique
spectale of their adventurous lives.
When the Cyprian was wrecked on The
coast of Wales a few weeks ago, the Two
hundred people who stood horror-stticken
along the shore saw all act of hereism rarely
witnessed under any circumstances. Inc
captaln. John II. Strachan, Of Liverpool, had
told those on board that every one must look
10 himself. Most of the crew had dropped
overheard, and Captain Strachan also pre-
pared to leap into the pillows. He tied a
IIfe-belt around his waist aud mounted the
rail. At that moment he noticed the pale
face Of boy peering from below decks. The
lad was stowaway. A few hours ago he was
a sneak, an unworthy thing, miserable pill
ferer of privileges; but now the skipper only
remembered be was human being, to be
saved II possible, ut any rate not TO be left
behind. Without word Captain Strachan
unbuckled the life belt from his waist and
dashed IL ship-shape upon the little stow
away, bidding him save himself. 81 can
swim" said the captain, "take the belt.
Over the side went the stowaway, lifted'upon
the surf like cork; over the side went the
captain, trusting, like the good, brave fellow
that he was, 10 his strength, enfeebled with
long watching and anxiety. But swimming
was impossible in such sea. The boat
swain, struggling for his own life, caught at
the captain, who was still making Roadway
ana DOJD WeUb uOWh hSFSl w 40 S|~'
again; while the little stowaway, with the
good CAPTAINS Iife-belt about his waist, was
flung upon the Welsh coast, battered about
but alive to tell the story Of his strange fate
and his kind friends heroism.
A daring feat In navigation was performed
recently by Captain James Hart, Yankee
skipper, now In the employ Of the Chilial
Government. More than q year ago the iro'
screw steamer Rimac was wrecked by tn
Peruyians. The burned and sunken hulk wa
left In the harbor at Callao. Last mont
Captain Hart raised the hulk, repaired tn
engines, and steamed southwark to Valpa
raiso, distance of 1858 miles. Every pal
ticle of woodwork had been burned from tn
Rimac and her ribs shone like those Of me
gatherium's skeleton. The deck beams wer
cracked and twisted as II they had been thi
iron wires. Very heavy weather was en-
countered, and rs the vessel would dip int
the seas or they would strike her abesm th
water would rush into the hold, threatenin
TO swamp her at any moment. All hands
from captain to cook, were wet through th
entire trip. Several of the damaged dec
beams broke through the straining Of I'll
sides, and one day the remains Of the bridg
tumbled into the hold, carrying with 1t I'll
pinnacle and the wheel which had been ten
porarily fixed up.
fierce encounter between the crew Of
Chinese gunboat and gang OF freebooter
under the famous pirate Of the Pacifi
Kwang-king-man, took place near Ningpoo
September 18th. The action was who'll
with small boats. The pirates sought refut
In shallow water and the gunboat capital
was obliged TO send out his junks. The me
Of the latter were armed with repeating riff
and the marauders with muskets. The figh
ing was terrific. More than two hundred
the pirates were slain, nine were capture
alive, and seventy, including the chief, e
capped. Kwang- king-man's stronghold
Tong-tsew-shan is said to be impregnable.
Is approached only by narrow pass In u
mountain and is defended with artiller
The Chinese Government has standing Q
fer OF 5000 fer his head.
A lake In the rear of Manzanillo, Mexic
burst its confines last month and poured
waters into the sea. The lake was full
alligstors and the barber Of sharks. When u
monsters met a water battle Immediately b
began and It was waged for several days in u
presence Of most Of the people of Manzal
lilo. For long time victory trembled
the balance, but the sharks finally preyails
and took dinner on the last Of the routed !
irudes. The inhabitants OF Manzanil
pronounced II better than bull-fght.
Utilization or worn-Out Horses.
The utilization Of horses not at to eat al
too old TO be Of working service In France