The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29
SWORD FISH GIVES BATTLE
TO SCHOOL OF WHALES
Terrific Combat Between Ancient
Foes Witnessed by Crew of
Atlantic Schooner.
WAS A THRILLING SIGHn

PHILADELPHIA, May 2s-According to
that portion of the Atlantic coast from
Florida to the Delaware capes has become
the home of all sorts of sea monsters. The
latest TO bring TO port proof of this Is Capt
Conwell. of the schooner Thomas Wins
more, and of all the yarns spun by an hon.
est son of the sea this shippers is the most
interesting.
Let 1t be known tina, to sight a whale or
two is common thing, and pressed indeed
for news would the maritime reporter be
VINO would chronicle it, But, when hun
dreds of these mammoth inhabitants of the
deep are encountered. the matter becomes
too important TO ignore. More than this,
when the whole visitation is accompanied
by a genuine combat between that ancient
foe of the whale, a swordfish, the element
of the most exciting is added 70 the event.
Captain Conwell's whole S Dry Is but
modest recital of facts, and is but brief.
Here it is: ION Sunday last, between
latitude 81 to 1910. and longitude "a to $780,
i passed hundreds of sperm whales" No.
much in that, but just think a minute and
see what 1t means. 1t means that for thirty
miles there were whales in front of the
schooner, whales on port and starboard,
and whales in the wake of the gallant craft.
1t was an experience that can be truthfuly
said that has seldom been the lot of a sea-
farer. unless it was in the days of old when
whale fishing was a great industry.
The whale feature of the voyage of the
Winsmore thrilling in itself. Look
ing at the huge creatures as they swarmed
in great schools, the affrighted crew did
not know the minute when a squadron of
them would charge the vessel Had this
been done only disaster could have fol-
lowed. All sail was crowded on the schOon-
er in the effort TO leave the whales in the
rear. But the whales would not be left.
Perhaps II is just as we'll ii was so, for
the sailors were enabled to see what they
may never see again-a swordfish and
whale combat-of the LOWEST kind, too
And this SwordfiSh was as plucky as ii
fierce. Just abeam off the starboard
side of the WinSmore clustered school of
at least twenty-five of the largest of the
whales. AS the crew gazed intently upon
the huge bodies of the whales they were
thrilled to see suddenly appear among them
the glistening form of a swordfsh. There
was an instant dispensing of the whales
but too late, for their ferocious foe had
already begun the boldest of attacks
The Swordfish could be plainly seen TO
make thrust after thrust with the skill of
a deft fencer. Many of the bewildered
whales sounded, and thus escaped the
cruel darts of the swordfish, but those that
had been pierced soon began to spout
blood, and then for yards about the sur
face of the sea took on reddish hue The
sailors looked on amazed. 1t seemed in
credible that one foe could work such
havoc.
And still that deadly thrusting of the
vicious blood-seeking swordfish continued
until, firing of its murderous work, it. was
seen to suddenly dart away, while the
school that had been attacked, or what
lows. AS one of the seamen said: For a
Sea-fight i never saw its e0uaI 4"