Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-17
CROWDS ARRIVE FOR DUNDEE FIGHT DEATH CALLS GERMANY SCHEFFER
DAY OF REAL SPORT

"Jocko" the Sailor! Sinbad of old,
would fall down and worship my old
friend John S. Tanning of New York
city, whose experience before the
mast in the capacity of Seal Shoot
err, carried him to the frozen zone
on many different voyages; introduce
ing him to many exciting adventures,
which he tells in a most interesting
manner One of the most expert
trapshots in America, he is we'll
known to the shooting fraternity.
Jack sailed out of the port of San
Francisco. to the seal rookeries near
Pribiloff Islands, in Bering Sea, and
has four voyages of approximately
ten months each to his credit. He
Is replete with authentic adventures.
which fell to his lot during these voy-
ages.
On one of his trips aboard the
Arctic" a 135 foot New Foundland
Bank Fisherman" he saw and graphi-
cally describes fight which he wit
messed between an octopus of un-
usual size and a sperm whale. Let
him tell it himself "The first inti-
nation we had that there was a sea-
battle under way, was unusual agita-
tion of the waters (off our port bow)
soon to be lashed into a foaming
mass. by this fight to the death,
between two monsters of the deep.
We approached until our boat was
nearing the danger zone. where we
stopped and watched for an hour the
most aggressive and defensive fight
ever staged. The long arms of the
octopus, would swing into mid air,
in his attempt to gain a strangle
hold. At that time the whale would
stand on his head, spinning and per-
forming unheard of stunts in his
efforts to crush his adversary by the
weight of his body or the swinging
of his tail, thisg he apparently ac-
complished and the octopus sank
beneath the waves. leaving the sur
face of the water, dyed a dark red
color, while numerous pieces of the
arms of the sea spider, were seen
floating about. The whale had won
the fght."-Perhaps some thoughtless
person had awakened "Jocko." at
any rate it is a good story.-On this
same voyage the Arctic" put into
the harbor of Portage Bay, Alaska,
for water. The captain instructed the
seal shooters to go out in quest of
fresh meat as the adjoining country
abounded in large game. Shooters
always paired that they might be of
assistance to each other in case help
was needed.
was the shooting mate of the cap
tain's brother, who was an excellent
shot. they agreed to hunt close to-
gether as Alaskan grizzly bear were
reported quite numerous in that To-
cality, being the most courageous
and dangerous of the grizzly family,
hunters safety, depended upon
numbers and timely assistance. 1t
was showing and Jack was soon sep
arated from his hunting pard, ex-
pecting to Join him at every turn of
the trail. He plodded along. doing
his own thinking and conjuring up
way of successful bear attack. AS
he rounded a knoll, he was greeted
with a growl and a mountain of bear
flesh reared on his launches, to better
locate poor Jocko; then with a sue
cession of grunts, he Immediately
charged the enemy with a full head
of steam. Jack could neither run or
climb. he must fight this onrushing
desperate monster. His rifle was put
in action. every bullet was placed
where he thought it would have the
slaught was unchecked and the bear
getting nearer every jump. Every
time the rifle spoke. there was a
momentary hesitation in the bears
mad rush, but his foot seemed to be
on the accellerator and his pace was
quickened, he added speed to guttur-
al growls, while his course toward
Jack, was "as the crow flies" "Jocko"
had fred his last shot,-no time to
re-load.-his rifle was empty and