Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-19
a Fight on the Ocean, &c.

The little Baltimore clipper Aquidneck,
from Pernambuco, bad two curious occur
rences to report. The captain writes that
three big whales, with noses somewhat
turned up, at us small fry, perhaps" sud
denly came up on the surface of the sea,
swimming leisurely along, as if they were
out for an afternoon promenade. All bands
crowded to the side to see the monsters.
Among Them" the captain goes on, "two
huge threshers--or thresher sharks-ap-
peared 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 pru-
dent here to state, for various reasons. II is
enough to say that the smallest whale was
many times larger than either thresher, but
lacked, apparently, the means of defence
against the giant killers
"There was a clear chance of escape for
one only of the two, but the chance was ne
elected, for reasons that we might attribute
worthy of tha very Prince of Whales.
While the fierce attack was being made on
the smaller whales, the noble big fellow
stood gallantly by and made tremendous
demonstrations for the defence 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 interesting. One of the
threshers, after having done considerable
pounding, jumped twice his length out
of the water, and landed fairly and square
ly on the head of its intended victim. In
the act of taking breath, we all ex-
claimed Dead whale!' The poor thing
settled almost lifeless in the water under
the burden and the heavier blows of its
muscular enemy, when the tide of battle
was suddenly turned by our interesting
Prince, whose hukes, poised high in air,
quivered a moment, and came down with
unerring aim and stupendous force across
the back of the thresher. A lighter blow
would have smashed the side of ship.
After this we could see but one thresher,
for repairs. The Prince laid about him
blows Git to annihiate all other monsters,
| tabled or real
"We had hauled to couple of points in
order to get near view Of the fight, and
the fighters. We skoered oifa 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 small swordGsh re-
| curing his attention.
1--WE now headed north, and these leva.
thans south. They passed us, churning the
ocean up like the paddles Of big steamers.
There was no sign of any swordfsh in the
fray, aud that there would soon be no
thresher left we felt certain from the lusty
use our old champion made Of his fukes."
During the gale on Wednesday last Sea-
man Olaf Andersen, a Norwegian, disap-
peared. He had been furliug sail on the
main yard, and the Captain thought he had
fallen overheard. He SO reported to the
ship news Office. The bark was locked just
north of Wall street ferry at eight o'clock
yesterday morning. Second Mate William
Kali was walking the deck about three
oc'o:k in the afternoon, when he saw q
specter rise up from the lazarette. The
figure was partly enveloped 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 vapor, like all respectable ghosts
with sea going regulations. instead ofvan
| ishiug, it let the sheet fall off, and, running
to the port rail, leaped over on TO the pier.
| The mate saw that it was very substantial
specter, and ran afterit. 1t did not utter a
word, but kept on until it reached the street
| when the mate gave up the chase.