Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-07-19
LAST PORT MADE
BY PEt0RUS JACK
FAITHFUL DOLPHIN SUCCUMBs
TO IMFlRMiTlEs OF AGE.
After Plotting Ships 35 Years, He
Grieved for Absent Friends
and About War.


Sydney, Australia. - Pelorus Jack
Is dead. The famous New Zealand
pilot fish had conveyed steamships
from Wellington to Nelson at a point
near French Pass for the last thirty
five years. According to Ben Riddles,
the tarry-handed, bronzed, and beard
ed bo' sun of a British freighter, the
fnny pilot died from the infirmities
of old age aggravated by grief of the
war.
IL knew Pelorus Jack back in 1885,"
said Ben Riddles, when was bo'sun
Of the old Wanagatiki, running be-
tween Australia and New Zealand, and
he was a smart. young dolphin dazzl-
ing blue and white in colsr and about
fourteen feet long.
"In those days Jack, as the fish was
known by all men in the coasting and
deep-water trade to New Zealand,
could swim like a streak, and moved
80 fast that when the sun wa. shin.
ing strong all the officers on the
bridge and lookout forward could see
was a flash as he jumped out of the
water ahead to show his dexterity.
Jack always kept on the starboard
bow as he knew that was the Cap.
tain's side of the ship, and was a
regular nautical aristocrat IN manner.
Shippers who followed Pelorus Jack
never grounded on any shoals or hit
nd hnn N
that many of the older mariners would
not 60 thru French Pass unless he
was ready to pilot them.
"They all took delight in feeding
him with pieces Of beef and small
fresh loayes, which Jack had great
fondness for. One of his best friends
was Captain Inman r. Sealby, Of the
White Star Line, who afterward had
the Republic, and the two were &c
chummy that Jack would miss two OF
three vessels when he knew that Seal
by was about to leave Wellington fol
Nelson.
SIN 1904 some young landlubber
with more money then sense, came
along in his yacht and fired shot a,
the old pilot fish as he came under
the bow and knocked a chunk of his
starboard fin. This cruel act upse
Pelorus Jack so much he swan ava,
and was not seen for three months
and many of the coast shippers believ
ed that he had given up his job.
FINALLY the New Zealand govern
ment sent dispatch boat to lock fo
him, and Jack was discovered hidin.
up q small inlet in a lonesome stat,
and brought back to French Pass. Tt
protect him from further attacks thu
governor of New Zealand issued {
special order in council establishing
fine of $500 for any person who at
tempted to injure Pelorus Jack.
Just before the war began it wa!
noticed that the famous dolphin wal
| in other ways. He took on a shovel
nosed whistling grampus called Bill.
| to teach him the pilot business, bu
Billy had lost his port headlight, ant
had to carry so much starboard helm
that he was continually going aground
Then Jack got hold of a frisky youn,
| dugong named Wiffin which indulget
in 80 much skylarking around thu
.nips that the officers would not trus
him, and the sailors used to chucl
coal at him to chase him away.
What with his age and sciatica, II
the part which wagged his tail, ant
missing all his old friends who ha,
been called away to the Atlantic trad
by .he war, Pelorus Jack just pine,
away and died. His body was foun'
on the sandy shore near French Pass
and out of respect for his long an,
faithful services the crew of a coas
steamer dug a trench and put tn
body of the old finny pilot in it OF
bed of seaweed and planted blu
gum tree at the head and tail to mari
the spot"
Ben Riddles, who seemed much al
fected by the death of Pelorus Jack
said that after the war the officer
and men in the Australian and Ne,
Zeaiand coast trade would take up
collection for a monument to the ,onl
fish ever known to have been honor
ed by a special order in council
| BOY CLIMBS LOFTY TREE