Whale Fights Several Swordfish and a Huge Shark-Conflick Witnessed by Many People.
New York.-An exciting battle royal between a whale, several swordfish and a thrasher shark was witnessed by many passengers of an ocean liner which arrived in this port the other day from Liverpool. The fight lasted nearly an hour.
The combatants were first sighted one morning. A great disturbance was noticed in the water, dead ahead, about a mile from the ship. Just what the trouble was was not ascertained until the ship was within half a mile of the scene of the encounter. Then the passengers saw a big whale beset by half a dozen large swordfish and a monster thrasher shark, the fiercest and most voracious of its kind. The water was being lashed into foam, which was tinged with blood. It was evident that the fight had not been in progress long as the combatants seemed to be active.
The whale was lashing the water with his tail and was standing off his antagonists, although he was greatly outnumbered. Several of the swordfish would attract his attention in front while others would steal around to attack him broadside. The thrasher’s great tail was busy flailing the whale’s back at every opportunity.
The passengers were spell-bound by the sight and their sympathy was with the whale. As the battle continued the water was dyed a deep red. The whale was gashed in many places by the swordfish, which moved with speed and it was able to strike with effect.
Before the ship was out of sight the thrasher was disabled, a blow of the whale’s tail striking him full on the head. One of the passengers, who had a strong pair of glasses, said he saw the whale swim away and that the swordfish did not follow him.
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