Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-03
ATTACKED BY SHARKS.
A Whales Terrific Battle With a
School of Thrashers.

A Whales Terrific Battle With a
School of Thrashers.
Early one morning while engaged IN
building new quarters for the light
house keeper at Breaksea island, near
Rottnest, Western Australia. the con-
tractor and his men noticed a bull
whale. with a cow and calf, passing
the island some distance of. They
watched them with interest for awhile,
noting the immense size OF the two
parents and the methodical regularity
with which columns OF water rose
from their blowholes and then resum-
ed their labors.
An hour or so later-about 8 o'clock.
to be exact-the men were startled by
an extraordinary noise, apparently
coming from the eastern end Of the is
land, a noise unlike anything they had
ever heard before. 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 800 yards from the shore.
was being waged Il battle to the death
"a fight between the great cow whale
previously seen and school OF thrash
er sharks. The calf was swimming
about distractedly. but the old bull
had disappeared. having basely desert
ed his family at the first approach 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 upon
the cow. Again and again they charg-
ed In upon her, their jaws swapping,
tearing at her mighty sides until the
sea was red with blood. Meanwhile
the COW dashed her tail furiouSly, hurl-
ing up sheets of Redeemed water and
occasionally crashing down with ter
rife 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 a
persistency and feroclty that made the
fascinated onlookers shudder. Now
and again the wildly flashing tail would
catch one Of the assailants, driving it
beneath the waves-no doubt killed or
disa bled-but the remainder rushed in
undisma yed, tearing viciously at the
mammals bleeding tanks or butting
her with the force Of battering rams.
Presently the spellbound spectators
realized two facts-frst. that the calf
had disappeared in the melee and, sec
ond. that the tortured whale was IN
doubtedly becoming weaker. 1t was
obvious that the unequal struggle
could have only one ending. Still,
however, she fought on doggedly, win
ming admiration and sympathy by her
exhibition Of hopeless courage. Alter
ing her tactics. by a supreme effort she
harled her whole great bulk clear of
the water for a moment. and the fasci-
mated onlookers beheld the sharks
hanging 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 amid
masses Of foam, heavily colored with
the poor mammals lifeblood. Rising
again. she essayed another change Of
plan. making for the rocks and desper-
ately striving to rub off the clinging
sharks against their edges. But the
thrashers 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 ecstasy of