EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE WITH A PORPOISE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 331, 5 July 1875, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE WITH A PORPOISE.

The Townsville Times (Queensland) relates the following extraordinary adventure with a porpoise : —“ One of the most singular accidents that we have ever heard of happened to the captain and two hands belonging to the schooner Henry Albert, on her last trip to the Herbert river. On arriving off the mouth of the river, the captain and two hands started from the vessel to the shore in the ship’s boat, and when about half-way were not a little surprised at receiving t no heavy bumps in quick succession on the bottom of the boat. Next came a volume of water, and w\th it came something floundering into the boat, which knocked the man pulling the bow oar clean into the water, and before the other man had time to turn round, he received a similar blow on the b iok which sent him overboard also. The captain at this got up from his seat in the stern sheets to find

out the cause of the mysterious disappearance of his men, and on his stepping across one of the thwarts he received a blow on the back of the head which sent him into the water after his crew. Up to this time they were perfectly ignorant as to what manner of animal or monster they were indebted to for thus taking possession of their boat. One thought it was an alligator, while another swore it must have been a shark, but the night was so dark it was difficult to tell. Presently their doubts were removed by the boat filling with water, when a large porpoise, about 7ft in length, suddenly scrambled out of it, apparently as much terrified as the men at his extraordinary position. Fortunately the water was rather shallow where the accident occurred, or the men might have been drowned, as none of them could swim. The captain, on tumbling into the water, found bottom, and, after quieting the men’s fears, they righted the boat, and bailed her out with their hats. They lost one of the paddles in the excitement, and had to wade ashore, dragging the boat after them. The porpoise, on getting out of the boat, passed over one of the men, who imagined it was a shark, and that his last hour had come."