Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-16
TRAGEDY OF THE SEA.
Terrific Fight Between Whale and
School of Sharks.

Terrific Fight Between Whale and
School of Sharks.
An hour or so later-about O'CLOCK
to be exact-the men were startled by
an extraordinary noise, apparently
coming from the eastern end Of the Is
land, q noise unlike anything they had
ever heard before, writes contributor
to Wide World Magazine. Dropping
their tools and staring toward the
east, they beheld such sight as 1t
falls to the lot Of few people to wit
ness. There, not 500 yards from the
shore. was being waged a battle to
the death-a fight between the great
cow whale previously seen and school
of thresher sharks. The calf was
swimming about distractedly, but the
old bull had disappeared, having base
ly deserted his family at the first ap-
proach of danger.
The sharks, as though acting In ac-
cordance with some preconcerted
plan, had completely surrounded the
two whales, and apparently realizing
that nothing was to be feared from the
calf. concentrated all their efforts up
on the cow. Again and again they
charged in upon her, their jaws snap
ping, tearing at her mighty sides until
the sea was red with blood. Mean
while the cow lashed her tail furiously,
hurting up sheets Of REDEEMED water
and occasionally crashing down with
terrific force upon one Of her voracious
opponents. Maddened with pain and
rage, she dashed this way and that, but
the sharks hung to her side with per-
sistency and ferocity that made the
fascinated onlookers shudder. Now and
again the wildly-lashing tall would
catch one Of the assailants, driving 1t
beneath the waves-no doubt killed or
disabled-but the remainder rushed In
undismayed, tearing viciously at the
mammals bleeding fianks or butting
her with the force Of battering rams.
Presently the spellbound spectators
realized two facts-firstly, that the calf
had disappeared in the melee, and Sec
ondly, that the tortured whale was un-
doubtedly becoming weaker. 1t was
obvious that the unequal struggle could
have only one ending. Still, however,
she fought on doggedly, winning ad-
miration and sympathy by her exhibi-
ton of hopeless courage. Altering her
tactics, by supreme effort she hurled
her whole great bulk clear Of the wa
ter for a moment, and for the fascinat-
ed onlookers beheld the sharks hang
ing from various parts Of her cleaning
body by their serrated teeth. Then
down she went again, with a crash like
thunder, and for an instant whale and
sharks were buried amidst masses Of
foam, heavily colored with the poor
mammals life-blood. Rising again,
she essayed another change Of plan,
making for the rocks and desperately
striving to rub off the clinging sharks
against their edges. But the threshers
were equal to the occasion; while
those on the outside maintained their
grip, the others dived under their enc
my and charged her anew, tearing at
the whales side in an ecstasy Of fero-
city that was blood-curdling to wit
ness.
More and more feebly grew the
whales struggle, and at last-to the
heartfelt relief Of the spectators, for
her death fight had been terrible to be-
hold-the great body turned over and
sank beneath the red-tinted water.