The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-09-21
TALES OF THE SEA.

The writer was standing with some
friends on cliff between Placentia and
st. Mary's bays. There was no breeze
and the sea was quiet. Within o few
minutes the surface Of the water became
alive with cod and lesser fish and while
the members Of the party were endeavor-
ing to find an explanation OF the odd oc-
currence whale came up near the cliff.
The huge fellows jaws were agape and
spouting column OF spray like gey-
ser. Something was the matter with
him. He evidently was trying to get
away, and his struggles had frightened
the smaller creatures round about. As
the whale drew near the shore the men
saw the fins and formidable weapon of a
large sword fish and moment later
thrasher, or fox-shari, fastened him
self on the monsters back. The sword
fish was piercing the whale below, driv-
ing him to the surface, and the thrasher
was giving it to him from above, seeking
to drive him below. When the thrasher
struck his huge antagonist the sound
was dill thud, and when, missing his
aim, he 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 be-
fore he could get his unsainly body into
position they were out of harms way
and making new attack upon an unex-
pected quarter. The contest continued
SO long that at the point Of battle the
sea was colored with blood, but the
whale escaped finally, and the last seen
of him he was blowing in triumph five
miles off the coast. Many fishing crews
rowed to the scene of the action and
were excited witnesses Of what they de-
clared to be the most unique spectacle
of their adventurous lives.
When the Cyprian was wrecked on
the coast of Wales few weeks ago, tho
200 people who stood horror-stricken
along the shore saw an act of heroism
rarely witnessed under any circum-
stances. The Captain, John A. Stra-
chan, of Liverpool, had told those on
board that every one must look to HIM
SELF Most of the crew had dropped
overheard, and Capt. Strachan also
prepared to leap into the billows. He
tied a hfe-belt about his waist and
mounted the rail. At that moment he
noticed the pale face of a boy peering
rom below decks. The lad was stow
away. A few hours ago he was a sneak,
an unworthy thing, miserable pilferer
of privileges but now the skipper only
remembered he was human being, to
be saved, if possible, at any rate not to
be left behind Without word Capt.
Strachan unbuckled the hfe-belt from
his waist and lashed it ship-shape upon
the little stowaway, bidding hin save
himself. "I can SWIM" said the Cap
tain "take the belt" Over the side
went the stowaway, lifted upon the surf
like a cork over the side went the Cap
tain, trusting, like the good, brave fell
low that he was, to his strength, en-
feebled with long watching and anxiety.
But swimming was impossible in such
a sea- The boatswain, struggling for
his own life, caught at the Captain, who
was still making headway, and both
went down, never to be seen again,
while the little stowaway, with the good
Captains life-belt about.his waist, was
flung upon the Welsh coast, battered
about, but alive to tell the story of his
fate and his kind friends herolsm.-.
Philadelphia Times.