The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-08
AN OCEAN FIGaTER.


The orca is veritable fighter, far
more to be dreaded than the shark, be-
ing most rapacious creature, attack
ing everything from whales to man.
They are found in various seas, but in
the Pacific attain their greatest size
and ferocity, if the reports of whalers
and others can be credited.
The rapacity of the orca is past be-
lief and its ferocity can only be COM
pared to that of a bulldog, as it will
repeatedly attack large animals, and
even risk its own life in the attain
ment of its desires.
Some years ago some sealers and sea-
elephant hunters were in camp on some
| Of the coast islands of California. Their
method was to row around the island
in the morning and shoot the seals.
| One morning, in making their tour,
| they saw an enormous fish. as they sup
posed, leap clear of the water and seize
a seal that was hanging over the edge
| of the rocks. In another moment an
! other dashed out, showing itself an
| orca of at least twenty-five feet in
! length. The tide was low, and the
rocks, covered with kelp, gave the
enormous creature soft bed to lie on,
and it f1oundered about in mighty
struggles, finally making its way back
into the water.
Soon another orca made a similar
leap; and it was evident that these car
| nivorous whales were circling the rocky
| shore in search of seals, which they at
tempted to pick off the rocks as hawk
| would sparrow.
When hungry and crazed by their
chase they will attack anything; but
their legitimate prey appears to be the
great whalebone whale-an ungainly
and cumbersome animal four times its
size. These whales, while they are
large and powerful enough to throw
large boat into the air by a toss of the
tail, are in other ways entirely defense
less, the great mouth being de-
void of teeth. This helpless giant
is attacked by a dozen of these
wolves of the sea, and then be-
gins a battle of giants. At their
first appearance the whale generally
sounds hoping in this way to avoid its
tormentors, the big animal at times
diving almost a mile perpendicularly
and, If wounded, often striking the
bottom with such force that they are
seriously injured.
The willy orcas do not attempt to fol-
low, knowing that the whale must re-
turn to the surface, when their attacks
are renewed. Three or four of the ami
l. ~
attaching the vulnerable parts, as the
lips. and with their sharp teeth doing
great damage. The whale has no de-
Tense, except its tail, and this mighty
organ is whirled about like a sledge-
hammer with force that would stave
the largest ship; but the orcas cleverly
avoid il.
The crew of a whaler once observed
whale leap entirely clear of the water.
rising ten or fifteen feet above it, and
clinging TO its sides were several orcss.
The whale fell with crash that sound
ed like thunder, then thrashed about,
beating the water into foam in vain
Efforts TO rid itself of its terrible foes
who chung to it and undoubtedly sue
ceeded in the end in killing it.
The oreas will often attack the young
of whales when terrific fights occur.
the parent being reused to the greatest
frenzy. The mother endeavors to place
the young whale, which is perhaps as
large as the oreas, in front of her, just
below the mouth, and encourages it to
remain in this position. swimming
Oft as rapidly as possible; but the
orcas are as cunning as wolves.
Several viii now attack the mother
from behind and upon the side. while
others. after the fashion of the
privateer, rush in and endeavor 20 cut
the baby, which, demoralized at the
confusion. swims out OF reach of its
mother and is Immediately seized by
the oroas. the mother whale charging
the cannibals with savage but vain
rushes-
The ferocity and appetite of the orca
can hardly be realized. One sixteen
feet in length has been known to de-
your thirteen porpoises and fourteen
seals IN a few hours. all these animals
having been found in the stomach of
one captured. They kill and devour
for the mere passion of killing; and.
when charging school OF porpoises,
have been known 10 devcur as many as
possible and then slaughter and main
the rest, driving scores of them high
and dry upon the beach.
In chasing the porpoise. they often
toss them high into the air by rising
mp beneath them, when another orca
win leap upward and seize the por-
poiSe literally in the air and bear il
away.
The largest of the marine mammals |
avoid the area o. the killer, a. II :
often called The sca-lions- whose |
powerful jaws make them active enc
.-siAs Of ai h4r .nir,aals Hx bafnre them