The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-19

ueiu lcdu- lie says ne VII Hol diioN
the regular members of the team to
compete in picnics, and this means that
entries will be sent only to games pro-
noted by genuine athletic clubs. Mr..
Pilgrim gives very strong reason for
tabooing the picnic. for he is of the
opinion that 1t is the pivot on. which
rests the graft System of amateur
'thletits.
had seen that part of his tail was MISS
ing.
The shark had caught the swordhshi
off guard and snapped fully six inches
of its tail. 1t was from this wound that
the blood came.f
Swordfish Peaceful
Now, the swordfsh is usually a quiet
creature. rarely ascending to the surface
and disposed to let other fnny inhabi-
tants of the deep alone If they do not
molest it, But when in search of food or
when its anger is aroused by an attack
it is capable of executing some pretty
rapid and long sustained motions.
With a movement so swift that the eye
could barely follow it through the water,
the giant swordfish dashed toward the
shark with its powerful lance aimed for
the others vitals. But sharks are quick
acting fish,, too, and the big man eater.
thrown, suddenly on the defensive, lodged
and completely turned over.
The sword struck it a slanting blow on
the side and ripped surface wound
yard long. At the same moment the
jaws of the shark snapped viciously, and
another portion of the laerated tail was
shipped off.
The two combatants remained thus for
10 seconds, facing each other and watt
ing for. the next round. The sailors, for
getting their own danger watched the
two fighters with fascinated gaze.
Once more the swordfsh began the
attack With incredible sword except by
lodging. When the swordfish was within
a yard of 1t the man eater sprang up
ward and tried to escape the deadly
weapon. Fully two feet out of the water
the shark leaped
But once more the sword raked its
side, cutting and tearing through skin
and flesh until the blood poured forth
in stream. This second wound brought
all the lighting blood of the shark to
the surface.
Taking advantage of the muddled wa
ter created by the commotion, 1t
plunged downward to a great depth and
then sprang upward with the huge Jaws
extended. The. swordfish lost sight of
1t for an instant and barely escaped
DtlnS cut III TWO as the QOuDl4 row OF
teeth closed.
Swordfish Injured Again
There was another swift and dexter
Gus move on the part of the swordfish
to escape. But this time the teeth
grazed its side and ripped a piece of
skin from It,
The shark, taking advantage of the
situation, made a frantic close quarter
attack, 1t snapped and lunged viciously
missing the swordfsh each time by
only fraction of an inch. The latter
lodged and leaped sideways to escape
the cruel jaws.
The fight was so fierce that neither
combatant could keep up the pace for
long. At one moment the two big crea-
lures floundered around on the sur
face of the water, and the next dropped
entirely out of sight, but the foamng
water rising to the surface showed that
there was no let up in the struggle
Always now 1t was the shark that
was pursuing and the swordfish that
was lodging and trying to retreat They
sank at one time so far down that the
sailors concluded they had seen the last
OF the combat. Then, with the swift
ness of an arrow. the swordfsh leaped
upward and cleared the surface of the
water by yard. The shark was close
behind, its jaw dripping with blood
and its beady eye flashing vicfously
Then down again they plunged and
around the boats they raced several
times W
But their efforts We're beginning to tell
upon their strength. The attack was
less vicious, and s the lodging of the
swordfsh was slower and less dexterous
1t was bleeding from half a dozen
wounds.
Suddenly the swordfish swept toward
ne Ia 4.
straight through it,. but It dipped at the
critical moment and disappeared under
IT, Close behind 1t the shark came, and
followed beneath the boat.
Boat Struck
But 1t was less accurate lin its move
ments and its body struck the bottom
o. the boat in a resounding whack. Tenn
porarily disconnected by this accident, the
shark turned to snap angrily at the thing
that had struck its head
That Interruptions short as 1t was, gave
the swordish the time to gain on its pur-
suer. When it reappeared on the opposite
SIDE of the boat it swerved sharply and
darted away to a safe distance.
1t was out of harms way now, for in
test of speed and endurance the shark
could not hope TO win Once more the
watchers expected to see the combat ter
inmate by the retreat of the discounted
swordfsh.
For nearly five minutes the two COM
batants appeared almost mptionless 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. 1t was
a repetition of the old tragedy of the
survival of the tittest.
The swordfsh slowly moved off with
scarcely a perceptible swish of tail or
fins. Ii seemed as if 1t was being moved
by some under water force that had no
connection with its body.
Perhaps 100 feet away II checked its
movements and once more lay quiet The
shark watched it carefully and anxiously.
Il knew better than the sailors the mean
ing of these tactics. 1t knew the spirit
and ferocity of its enemy better than any
human being.
The swordfish began to circle around
again in quick. jerlSy way. as IL trying
it's power of speed. The shark remained
-st;.tionary, waiting for the attack. With
ever, increasing circles and speed the
swordfish continued its movements. Its
speed at times seemed almost incredible.
II swept in clean circle around the boat
plunged deep into the water and then
lesped up toward the surface.
Aprarently satisfied that 1t still had the