Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-10-05
WHALE AND THRAsHER.
The Enormous Fins of the Latter
Too Much for the Big Fish.

4 The Enormous Fins of the Latter
I Too Much for the Big Fish.
The steamer Northern Light, which
arrived this morning from Shields,
brings to port the latest fish story.
Capt. Parton of the Northern Light
is bold and fearless mariner, who
has sailed the Western ocean for
many year. The Northern Light
plies between this port and Rotterdam
She sailed from that port on June II,
calling at Shields to replenish the coal
bunkers and resumed her voyage on
the 9th. The ship made a northern
passage, passing through the Pent-
land, Firth, which separates the main
land from the Orkney Isles. Nothing
unusual occurred to break the mono
tony of dull voyage across the North
Atlantic until July /, about p. M,
( when about 250 miles west of Rock
I Hall. The weather at the time was
fine and clear, with smooth sea. The
officers had just returned to the deck
from below. having finished their
evening meal when an officer on the
watch suddenly drew the attention of
Capt Parton to Il great disturbance ON
the sea, about nine miles ahead, ON
the weather bow. A general rush was
made for the binoculars to investigate
the cause of the commotion, when a
large whale was sighted, apparently
in deadly conflict with some marine
monster, which appeared to be rcv0ly.
ing over the whales back. Within
short time the Northern Light was
a tfta m f.f
was plainly visible 70 the naked eye
1t proved to be fight to the death
between the whale and an enormous
fish called the thrasher
The fish is the deadly enemy OF The
whale, and when these leyiathans Of
the deep meet fight ia the death is
the result. The thrasher usually
comes off best. and never ceases until
the whale is dead, n mass Of floating
blubber and bone. The near approach
Of the steamer to witness the duel ala
not in the least deter the thrasher
from delivering its two large fms Of
horns with tremendous force on the
whales neck, which, at every blow.
tried to get out Of his way by diving,
and at times jumping almost ont at
the water in his frantic efforts to avoid
the enemy, the whale meantime
spouting on coming to the surface. aud
throwing upward such on immense
body Of water that the conflict could
not be seen for several seconds at
time The battle ragged furiausly.
Mean while the Northern Light driffed
slowly ahead, and as time would not
permit those on board to witness the
finish. the steamer proceeded on hnr
course, but for some time afterward
they could be seen long distance
astern still fighting furiously. The
thrasher with his enormous frs.
which II could move like the arms 1T
! man, appeared above the sea quite
twenty feet in vertical position IN.
fore striking a blow on the whales
back The estimated length OF tEe
whale was fully 100 feet. while that
Of the thrasher was about eighty fegt
The chief engineer Of the Northern
Light made z pen and ink sketch III
the battle on the sDot and faIly ycrl.
iies the truth Of tie captains story
lie concluded his yarn BY saying that
# the whale in which Jonah spent
three days and three nights was Az
large as his one, Jonah had coed ae
commodations.-BrO Brooklyn Eagle.