The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-01-31

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For nearly five minutes the two
combatants appeared almost motion
less In the water. From the sides Of
each little crimson eddies ascended.
showing how badly both had been
injured. 1t was a drawn battle, and
both seemed disinclined TO renew the
conflict. But clearly one Of them had
to be the victor,
The sworddsh slowly moved of.
with scarcely a perceptible swish Of
tail or fms. II seemed as II II was
being moved by some under water
force that had no connection with it's
| body.
Perhaps a hundred feet away IL
checked It's movements and once more
lay quiet the shark watching it care
| fully and anXiously. 1t knew better
than the sailors the meaning Of these
tactics.
The swordfish began to circle
around again in a quick, ierly way,
as if trying its power OF speed. The
shark remained stationary. waiting
for the attack. With ever Increasing
circles and speed the swordhsh con-
tinued its movements. It's speed at
times seemed almost incredible It
| swept in a clean circle around the
boat, plunged deep into the water,
and then leaped up toward the sur
face.
Apparently satisfied that It still had
the sped and strength necessary for a
continuance of the fight, it approach
ed close to its waiting enemy. It
played tag with the shark for a few
moments. dashing in and away as II
to test its courage, but at such dis
tance that the shark made no effort to
pursue.
Then suddenly with a swish of its
fins the swordfish turned and darted
straight for the shark. It never
swerved once from a straight line, but
shot forward like an arrow from a
bow.
The shark saw the approaching at
tack and once more sought to dodge
the terrible sword. But this time, eth
er through clumsiness- or weakness it
was slow in its movements. 1t de-
layed its jump a second too long.
There was a thud, a violent impact
Of something hard against flesh, and
then a mighty motion of the water.
The two big fish thrashed about so
violently that for a moment the
watchers could not tell which had
the advantage.
Blood and foam were whipped to-
gether. The waves created by the
struggle rocked the boat. When for
an instant the two combatants ceased
their fighting the men got a glimpse
of the true state of affairs.
The sword of the smaller creature
was sunk to the very hilt in the body
of the shark, the end protruding from
the opposite side. The blow has been
delivered squarely in the side of the
shark, and 1t was doomed.
There was an Intellectual struggle
on the part Of the shark to pull away
from its adversary. 1t threshed the
water violently with its tail, gasped
and spurted blood from its mouth and
then lay quite still on the surface.
The blow was mortal, and death
came quickly. The big, heavy body
was seen to jerk and move violently
even after death, but the movements
were caused by the swordhsh trying
to withdraw its long lance. Again
and again 1t jerked and tried to back
away from its enemy. But the sword
was too deeply embedded in the
flesh.
Its loss Of blood and the fearful
wounds it had received from the
shark rendered the swordfsh helm
less. Its own mortal wound had been
delivered before the last attack. and
it was now only matter of time be-
fore it would succumb.
Out of mercy for the victorfoua
creature, the sailors rowed I'D to the
two and with few well directed
blows on the head with their oars
they put the swordfsh out of its ag.
ony No strength which they could
exert would serve to release the
sword.
Later the two carcasses were tow.
ed to the side of the ship and the
shark was cut in half before the
sword could be removed. BY actual
measurement it proved to be nearly
four feet in length, and the big man
eating shark weighed a ton and a
half in bone and flesh.