The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-04-29
TRAGEDY OF THE SEA.
Terrific Fight Between Whale and
School Of Sharks.

Terrific Fight Between Whale and
School of Sharks.
An hour or 50 later-about nine
O'Clock, to be exact-the men were
startled by an extraordinary noise,
apparently coming from the eastern
end of the island, noise unlike any,
thing they had ever heard before,
writes contributor to Wide World
Magazine. Dropping their tools and
staring toward the east, they beheld
such a sight as it falls to the lot of
few people to witness. There, not
500 yards from the shore, was being
waged battle to the death-a fight
between the great COW whale pre-
viously seen and a school of thresher
sharks. The calf was swimming
about distractedly, but the old bull
bad disappeared, having basely de-
serted his family at the first approach
Of danger.
The sharks, as though acting in
accordance 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
upon the COW. Again and again they
charged in upon her, their jaws
swapping, tearing at her mighty sides
until the sea was red with blood.
Meanwhile the COW lashed her tail fu-
riously, hurting up sheets Of redden-
ed 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 persistency and
fefocity that made the fascinated on
lockers shudder. Now and again the
wildly-lashing tail would catch one
Of the assailants, driving it beneath
the waves-no doubt killed or dis
abled-but the remainder rushed in
undismayed, tearing viciously at the
mammals bleeding hanks or butting
her with the force of battering rams.
Presently the spellbound specta-
tors realized two facts-firstly, that
the calf had disappeared in the me-
lee, and secondly, that the tortured
whale was undoubtedly becoming
weaker. It was obvious that the un-
equal struggle could have only one
ending. Still, however, she fought
on doggedly, winning admiration and
sympathy by her exhibition of hope
less courage. Altering her tactics, by
a supreme effort she hurled her
whole great bulk clear of the water
for a moment, and tor the fascinat-
ed onlookers beheld the sharks
hanging from various parts Of
her cleaning body by their
serrated teeth. Then down she
went again, with 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 enemy and
charged her anew, tearing at the
whales side in an ecstacy of ferocity
that was blood-curdling to witness.
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
behold-the great body turned over
and sank beneath the red-tinted wa
ter