St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-26
IN THE ORIENT.
Hunters Witness a Strange Bat
tie Between "Tigers Of the

Hunters Witness Strange Bat
tie Between "Tigers Of the
Deep"
sour arrival was hailed with deli ght
by the crew of the lightship, who placed
the cabin at our disposal, and we turned
in carly" says writer in Forest and
Stream. Il say we q believe the doc
tor spent some time that night teaching
the major our national game. and was
informed that he had q pupil so apt
that what few rupees he had brought
out with him went ashore with
the major. We slept well, and
were up in time to see Old
Sol get out of his bed in
the Indian ocean and lick the dew off
our decks. After plate of fruit, some
fine fish, and fresh eggs, with Il cup Of
fragrant coffee. we got out our battery
and watched the movements Of a clumsy
lugger that the outgoing tide and the
gentle morning breeze had brought
down from the city with the very Odor
ferrous carcass Of a horse, which, the
major explained, was the decoy we were
to shoot owe. The dead horse was hOisted
overheard and anchored about eight
yards below the lightship, and the
lugger stood about for home.
One of the sailors went aloft and kept
lookout from the lantern cage. while
we ranged ourselves along the breast
high culwarks. rifle in hand. ready for
the first flight. We had not waited long
when the major said: Nov, boys,
don't shoot the decoys," and the doctor
observed something about its being his
blind; this irrelevant conversation was
interrupted by a There is onen from
the l0ok-0ut,a and we saw a sword-bladed
fiji shooting toward our boat at ten
knot speed, cutting ripple on the
smooth surface of the water, and
leaving wake that flashed in
the morning sunlight. We knew
the game was there, but how to
hit it? In a moment we saw
another finland then another, until there
were full dozen in sight. The great
fish first circled around the horse as il
to make sure that he could not resist
their attack, when we saw one turn in
the water and portion of his white
belly show above the surface as his saw
like teeth tugged at a great chunk of
hOrsefieSh. Crack went the majors
express, and bright red circle where
the shark sank testified to the accuracy
of his aim. The other fish did not
notice the shot, but attacked the horse
like pack of ravenOus wolves, while
we shot at every spot Of shark that
showed above the water, until we had
converted the turquoise blue of the
southern sea into saDguinary red.
While the sharks paid no attention to
the shooting, they seemed infuriated
with the blood, and battled around the
dead horse until the water was lashed
almost into a foam. They soon became
so numerous that it was impossible to
get shot at any particular one, and we
stopped firing and watched the fighting.
seetlIing. bleeding mass. The Justice Of
the title, "Tiger of the Deep" was APP
parent to all now. as no more ferocious
andbloodthirsty creature lnhabits either
land or water than the shark of the
South seas.
When the battle was at its height the
major led us to the foredeck Of the lit
larger one and were soon among the
took no heed of our arrival, but cOntin-
We steamed around and around the
horse, shooting every fish that APP
peared. Some of them would go down
when hit, while others would continue
the fight. 1t is doubtful if single
shot killed any one of them. The crew
brought up some small harpOOnS and
fastened to three large sharks. which
were toWed out of the battle and hauled
away up to the town to be skinned.
The fish seemed 60 have exhausted their
fury after an hours struggle, and we
steamed back to the wharf.