Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-30
A SEA FIGHT.
WADE HAMPTON AND GEN. FORSYTH
INTERESTED SPECTATORS.

Begulled by the antics OF a school Of
rollicking grampus big whale wander
ed 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 scene Of
the most incessant 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 on. Gen. Wade Hamp-
ton and Gen. Forsyth, both heroes Of
many battles, were standing on the bath
house wharf as the leviathan approach
cd, and thus Unexpectedly became the
umpires of an exciting marine contest.
The grampus we're not disturbed by
the appearance Of their colossal cousin.
They rolled and tumbled, and were, to
all appearances, out for real good time.
The whale kept away from them, toward
the northern side Of the bay. They were
not in his set, and he despised their friv-
olity. But there was an enemy on his
trail, keen and active foe, who was At
ter his scalp, and doubtless had he
known of the presence of this implacablc
and formidable sleuth, he would not have
been diverted from his journey to the
waters OF Alaska.
The ex-coufederate general and the
commander Of the military division of
the Pacific were deep in discussion Of
the attack on Port Hudson, when ire
mendous whack--a sound like the fall
ing OF a single upon the cuticle of bad
boy---attracted their attention. They
looked seward and saw the beginning
OF fierce and most interesting battle.
The whales musings had been rudely
disturbed by the terrible onslaught Of a
thrasher, that vindictiye and muscular
hoodlum who has sworn vengeance
against the entire leviathsn family. The
thrasher, a shark-shaped fellow from lG
10 20 feet Ia length, launched himself on
the broad back OF his foe and hit him an
awful slash with his tail.
The whale rolled over aud attempted 10
sound. But the thrasher never goes
alone on these excursions. When he
takes the warpsth he engages the serv-
ices Of the swordfsh, who attends TO the
deep-water part Of the job. Therefore,
when the smsrting and frightened whale
dives for the bottom ne encounters the
lance of the thrasher's chum, which
sends him quickly To the surface again
TO take more punishment. Now, this
ally, so far "a can be observed, does not
prod the whale on his own account. Ii
Is only when the monster plunges down
for sanctuary that he gives him the bu,i-
ness end Of his snout.
Again the thrasher let go his powerful
tail, catching the whale this time on the
flank, and apparently knocking him sill
", for he waltzed around In a circle be-
fore attempting TO sound, doubtless
with painful appreciation OF the sword
fish. He endeavored to do some slash
ing on his own account, but the thrasher
was too quick for him, and in the graph
ic literature Of the prize ring, lodged
and encountered heavily.
Five TO one on the whale" cried Gen.
Hampton, excitedly, on the execution of
| this last assault.
IL don't want the big end Of II this
time" rejoined Gen. Forsyth, "for un-
less the whale executes flank move
ment and that promptly, he Ia lost"
"That thrasher Is bringing up his re-
serves. stlu zen. Hsfupton, rs ti'
whale was foiled in his third attempt "a
sound.
The next attempt Of the thrasher was
an overwhelming success. He hammer
ed and hammered away at the enemy
he hit him under the iluke, and in the
back of the neck, and at the base OF the
spinal column, until the whale did not
know whether he was of Cape Horn or
at the north pole. Evidently the sword
| fish, who was not s'en ut any progress
Of the duel. but who was undoubtedly
felt. kept the big fellow properly poised
on the surface for the delectation OF his
employe.
The old soldiers were delighted and
Gen. Hampton's wooden leg thumped
his applause on the wharf. No bets
were booked because to even the eye un-
familiar with martial spectacles the
thrasher's superiority was manifest
from the beginning. The grampus play
ed around the arena, and must have
been extremely gratitied to see their
naughty social relative cruciiied 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.