Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-22
A FIGHT ON THE OCEAN.
Three Whales Conquer Two Threshers
After a Furious Fight.
Fronl az RaLtinore A1nericnn.

From, tie Baltimore American
The little Baltimore clipper Aquidneck,
owned and commanded by Capt. Joshua
Slscum, from Pernambuco, whose arrival
in New York has already been announced,
had two curious occurrences to report.
Capt. Slocum gives the following account
of a novel scene ON the only pleasant day
that occurred during the voyage, which is
sworn to by himself and all his officers
and crew:
The captain writes that three big whales
"with noses somewhat turned up, at us
small fry, perhaps" suddenly came up on
the surface of the sea, swimming leisure
ly along, as If they were out for an after
noon promenade. All hands crowded to
the sides to see the monsters. "Among
Them" the captain goes on, ''two huge
threshers-or thresher sharks-appeared
They began dealing blows right and left
with their long, whip-like tails that must
have hurt the feelings OF the whales. How
large these fishes were it is not prudent
there TO state for various reasons. 1t is
enough to say that the smallest whale
was many times larger than either thresh-
er, but lacked, apparently, the means Of
defense against the giant killers
"There was a clear chance OF escape for
OuC Only vi bnC bWOS Oub tHC CnduCG WAS
neglected, for reasons that we might at
tribute worthy OF the very Prince Of
Whales. While the fierce attack was be-
ing made on the smaller whales, the noble
big fellow stood gallantly by and made
tremendous demonstrations for the defense
of what may have been his wife and
daughter, or his two wives, allowin' him
to be kind OF monster marine Brigham
Young. The fight became very interest
ing. One Of the threshers, after having
done considerable pounding, jumped
twice his length out of the water, and
landed fairly and squarely on the head of
its intended victim. In the act of taking
breath, we all exclaimed: Dead whaley
The poor thing settled almost lifeless in
the water under the burden and the heav-
Ter blows of its muscular enemy, when
the tide OF battle was suddenly turned by
our interesting Prince, whose 1ukes, poIs-
ed high in air. quivered a moment, and
came down with unerring aim and stu
pendOus force across the back of the
thresher. A lighter blow would have
smashed the side of a ship. After this
we could see but one thresher, the other
having been sent to Davy Jones for re-
pairs. The Prince laid about him blows
fiC TO annihllate all other monsters, IA
bled or real.
eve had hauled to a couple Of points In
order TO get near view OF the fight, and
we were then within a quarter OF mile
OF the fighters. We sheered of little, as
old Brigham, or Prince, as we called him,
from the great swell he cut, seemed able
to take care of the fight, and we feared he
might mistake our bark for a small sword
fish requiring his attention.
ave now headed north, and these leVia-
thans south. They passed us, churning
the ocean up like the paddles Of big
steamers. There was no sign Of any
swordnsh in the fray, and that there
would soon be no thresher left we felt
certain from the lusty use our old cham
pion made OF his fiukes."
During the gale on Wednesday last sea
man Olaf Andersen, a Norwegian, disap-
peared. He had been furling sail on the
main yard, and the captain thought he
had fallen overheard. He so reported 10
the shin news Office. The bark was dock
ed lust north of Wall street ferry at s
O'Clock yesterday morning. Second Mate
William Kaif was walking the deck about
8 O'Clock in the afternoon, when he saw
spectre rise up from the lazarette. The
figure was partly enyeloped in white
sheet, and had pale face, which the mate
recognized as that of Seaman Andersen.
The mate stood still, expecting the ghost
10 vanish in yapOr, like all respectable
ghosts with sea-gOing regulations. Instead
OF vanishing. 10 let the sheet fall of, and.
running 10 the port rail, leaped over on TO
the pier. The mate saw that IL was a
very substantial spectre, and ran after Il.
10 did not utter word, but Kept on until
IL reached the street, when the mate gave
ND the chnse.