THE CABLE AND THE WHALE.
Audran's humorous conceit of the "Torpedo and. the Whale" was not so far-fetched as frequenters of comic : opera may possibly have imagined when listening to tbe lilting strains of that absurd ditty. As a matter of curiosity and unique exp erience m connection with the working of submarine telegraph cables, it is related by the Chairman of the V* est Coast of America Telegraph Company that a whale voluntarily attacked a cable, and, having had a free fight with it, paid for his temerity with his life, being held prisoner for seven days, and then mangled unto . death. In its struggles to get free the cable cut right mtd its Bide, the whole of its. entrails cojaing out,, and great streams ot blood. In its last dying struggle it parted the cable on the. bow sheaves and floated to wind" ward of the steamer. The cable was twisted up m the form of a wire rope for about two fathoms, and m six different parts it had the appearance of having been bitten through sufficieat lv £o stop all communica- j
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1332, 28 October 1884, Page 2
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186THE CABLE AND THE WHALE. Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1332, 28 October 1884, Page 2
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