Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-04-14
SEA MONSTERS IN A FloHr.
pierce STRUGGLES Ia Witch Oress and
Wha,s. sometimes Engage.


Hank Welsh. who has followed
whaling for many years, was lucky
enough to be one OF a crew beyond
the gulf Of the Holy Cross last
spring that came upon a large whale
in distress. surrounded by three
monster orcas. or billers. which had
him winded and badly wounded The
story was thus told To San Francisco
Chronicle man by Welsh.
I'VE saw big broadhead half o
mile away TO windward, and he kept
a-iumping so hard that We knew he
was in trouble When we got closer
We saw some thrashers or billers
afoul OF him, and the water for an
acre or two around was bloody. The
orcas were pretty big ones and
yiclous. especially one which was
fully twenty feet long, aud when the
whale went down few
iathoms this old boy rushed
down after him aud give il
to him hard. You see a whale can
stay under about half an hour. and
he can 90 down 400 or 500 fathoms
without minding the pressure. but he
cant do single submarine trick
ahead OF an orca These orcas some
times chase a whale 50 hard that
when he hits the bottom he breaks
his jawbone Well. this old orca
followed the whale so sayagely that
no did not stag down over i've min
utss at time. and when he came up
he was jumped by the other two,
which kept watch on him like two
hungry wolves When he saw tho
ferocious gang he seemed to lose
heart. FOR they werJ two quick for
him think he was Just about
worn out, Or dOwnhearted or some.
thing. for nc anchored Tor "a second.
This gave the big orca chance to
slide up and catch him b. the under
lip and bite a piece out The old
fellow lashed and diyed. but down
went another Orca after him
when the whale came up the orca
had him by the lip and the ihird Que
caught him BY the tongue Now a
whales tongue is six feet loag aud
weighs as much a. mar Tho say
the ORA, ierked IL all out o. him
piece by piece aud then ate on his
lower lip 10 spite Of all he could do
Oeat all the fights under the sun
How that whale did suffer tiil We got
mp and lot dynamite bomb INTO
him When Bll Peters lanred him
he seemed 10 enjoy Ii ,Or no rnrnsd
over and died easily
l. seems 70 be agreed among all
whaiers that no fight ever seen
equals the awful combats which
these sea monsters wage against one
another wi'h uniaggiug feroc n.
The orca y the only grampus ur
warm b,Ooded animal 81 the ocean
that constantly prcys upon warm
bloDdcd creature. % his own kind.
preferably the whale the largest Of
his species Tho orcas habits ara
predatory and his strength and
ierocity are remarkable
"thc orcas often travel ufh
swordhsh. said Captain Thompson.
an old whaler aud have sometime.
seen q whole schoo in combat with
four or i've Orcas and 4 fr4 sword
fish When the swordH-h got under
a wha.e and the orcas commence 90
tear his under UP and tongue. which
are choice morseIs Tor them. hr
seems to know hts days arc number.
ed. J don't know how long q whale
can live after these savage creatures
attack him, but our crews have foppd
several carcas-cs Of whales which
had BLEED 70 death from tho wounds
thus inflicted b. their enemies I
nave also seen broken backed oreas
which had been strucl, by a thalc'4
1u<cs 4"