Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-06-11
ATTACKED BY SHARKS
A Whales Terrific Battle With a
School of Thrashers.
AN AWE INSPIRING CONTEST.
Tho Unequal Fight Was Ended by the
Death Of the Courageous Mammal.
Who Was Torn to shreds by Her
r. ~eious ASSISTANTS.

Who Was Torn to shreds by Her
r. ~eious ASSISTANTS.
L.tly 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 bull
whale. with 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 0 o'clock,
TO be exact-the men were startled by
an extraordinary noise. apparently
coming from the eastern end Of the Is
land. noise unlike anything thoy had
ever heard before. Dropping their
tools and staring toward the east.
they beheld such sight as II falls to
the lot OF few people to witness.
There. not 800 yards from the shore.
was being waged battle TO the death
II fight between the great COW whale
previously seen aud 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 nc-
cordance with some preconcertcd 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-
cd In upon her. their jaws swapping.
tearing at her mighty sides until the
sea was red with blood. Meanwhile
the COW lashed 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
persistency and ferocity that made the
fascinated onlookers shudder Now
and again the wildly lnshing tail would
catch one OF the ASSISTANTS. driving Il
beneath the waves-no doubt killed or
disabled-but the remainder rushed In
undismayed. tearing viciously at the
mammals bleeding tanks or butting
her with the force OF gathering 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 un.
doubtcdly becoming weaker. II 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 supreme effort she
hurled her whole great bulk clear OF
the water for 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 O
crash like thunder. aud for mn Instant
whale and sharks were buried amid
masses OF foam. heavily coIored with
the poor mammals lifeblood Rising
again. she essayed another change OF
plan. making for the rocks and dcsper-
aiely striving 10 rub of the clinging
sharks against their edges. But the
thrashers were equal to the occasion.
a
their grip. the others dived under their
enemy and charged her anew. tearing
az the whales side In an ecstasy of
ferocity that was bloodcurdling to wit
ness.
More and more feeble grew the
whales struggles. and ut 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 rcd tinted water.
The unequal battle was over. having
LASTED from 0 o'clock until noon. as
awe Inspiring n contest rs man was
ever privileged to witness. The men
went back to their work greatly Inn
pressed by the unique spectacle. and
expressions OF sympathy for the whale
were heard ON every side.
Forty-eight hours afterward the
whales body. which had IN the mean
time become distendcd with gas. rose
10 the surface and exploded with
roar like a miniature powder maya
zine. causing the startled people to
rush 10 the shore 10 discover what had
happened. On examination Of the re-
mains II was discovered that every
shred OF the outer flesh of the whale
had been torn OF by the sharks. who
had doubtless gone OF 10 repeat their
tactics upon some other hapless levia-
thnn.-victor Pitt. Kcthley in St Louis
Post Dispatch.