The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-30
EXCITING MARINE DUEL,
A Whale and a ThraSher Have
a Fight in Monterey
Bay.
Generals Wade Hampton and For
syth Critical Spectators OF
the Combat.

Beguiled by the antics of a school of roll
licking grampus a big whale wandered
into the confines of Monterey Bay on
Thursday. 1t was general game of tag,
but business tag those fish were playing at
The water was a scene of the most inces-
SAINT activity. The salmon were pursuing
the sardines and the grampus the salmon,
when the big whale dropped in to see how
the kelp crop was getting along. General
Wade Hampton and General Forsyth, both
heroes of many battles, were standing on
the bathhouse wharf as the leviathan ap-
preached, and thus Unexpectedly became
the umpires of an exciting marine contest.
The grampus were not disturbed by the
appearance of their colossal cousin. They
rolled and tumbled, and were, to all ap-
pearances, out for real good time. The
hale kept away from them toward the
northern side of the bay. They were not
in his set, and he despised their frivolity.
Ned Greenway, contemplating the gyra-
tons of picnic of the Fern Leaf Social
Cub, could not have shown more con-
temptuous Indifference than this monster
But there was an enemy on his trail, a
keen and active foe, who was after his
scalp, and doubtless had he known of the
presence of this implacable and formida BILE
sleuth, he would have not been diverted
from his journey to the waters of Alaska
The ex-Confederate general and the
commander of the military division of the
Pacific were deep in discussion on the
attack on Port Hudson, when a tremen-
dous whack, sound like the falling of
gigantic shingle upon the cuticle of a bad
boy, attracted their attention. They
looked seward and saw the beginning of
fierce and most interesting battle. The
whales musings in the kelp had been
rudely disturbed by the terrific onslaught
of thrasher, that vindictive and muscular
hoodlum, who has sworn vengeance against
the entire leviathan family. The thTasher,
shark-shaped fellow, from sixteen to
twenty feet in length, launched himself on
the broad back of his foe, and hit him an
awful slash with his tail.
The whale rolled over and attempted to
sound. But the thrasher never goes alone
on these excursions. When he takes the
warpath he engages the services of the
swordfish, who attends to the deep-water
part of the job Therefore when the smart
ing and frightened whale dives for the
bottom he encounters the lance of the
thrasher's chum, which sends him quickly
to the surface again to take more punish
ment. Now this ally, so far as can be
observed, does not prod the whale on his
own account. 1t is only when the monster
him the business end of his snout
Again the thrasher let go his powerful
tail, catching the whale this time on the
flank, and apparently knocking him silly,
for he waltZed around in circle before at
tempting to sound, doubtless with pain
full appreciation of the swordfish He en-
deavored to do some slashing on his own
account, but the thrasher was too quick
for him, and, in the graphic literature OF
the prize-ring, lodged and countered
heavily.
Five to one on the whaler' cried
General Hampton excitedly, on the execu-
ton OF this last assault.
81 don't want the big end of it this
time," .rejoined General Forsyth, "for I'M
less the whale executes a flank movement
and that promptly he is lost
THAT thrasher is bringing up his re-
serves" said General Hampton as the
whale was foiled by the swordfish in his
third attempt to sound.
The next attempt of the thrasher was an
overwhelming success. He hammered and
hammered away at the enemy; he hit him
under the tiuke and in the back OF the
neck and at the base of the spinal column
until the whale did not know whether he
was off Cape Horn or at the north pole.
Evidently the swordfish, who was not seen
at any progress of the duel but who was
undoubtedly felt, kept the big fellow
properly posed on the surface for the de-
location of his employer.
The two old soldiers were delighted, and
General Ham pton's wooden leg thumped
his applause on the wharf. No bets were
booked, because to even the eye unfamiliar
with martial spectacles the thrasher's supe-
riority was manifest from the beginning.
The grampus played around the arena,
and must have been extremely gratified to
see their naughty social relative crucified
in so scientific fashion.
Finally the whale turned tail and
doomed away for Point Cypress with the
thrasher hot in his wake. Science had
once more prevailed over brute strength.
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