The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-08-02
FEARFUL ADVENTURE wlrHA WHALE

TGANr ~ nDs1 CIV OhEs W LII Il WHALE
The mate was determined, IL possible, Ia
strike the leader Of the troop Of whales
He was Of prodigious size, and worth an,
two Of the others; but he was wary aud
watchful, aud led his pursuer ,iresornc
chase, far away from bis mates; aud then
BY circuitous route, he came back again
to his scattered convoy. Still did the bal
fled mate return to tine chnrgc, and endca-
vor TO head his antagonist us he should rise
to blow.
At last, the bubbling ripple from below
indicated the approach Of the animal to the
surface, and lew vigorous pulls brough,
the boat to the spot where il was Judged he
would rise to its side. The oars were cas-
ed, and tho word given 10 tho harpooner Ia
stand up Tho bow WAS turned to the
spot-the oarsmen rested on their oars,
rendy to back otf-and young Starbuck
stood erect. cleared his line. aud balanced
his iron. He placed himself in the posture
for striking. and was bracing his knees Ia
tho bow, when the bump Of the monster
emerged from the winter. |. was a mo.
ment Of Understandable anxicty---but 10 no
one more than the hnrpooner. But wha,
was the CONSERVATION Of all, when the head
Of the animal turned suddenly over! Il 10
motion made BY The sperm whale prcpas-
atory to using his teeth upon an object
floating upon tho snrface Of the water. His
huge under jaw armed with immense ivory
iusks, parted with the rapidity Of thought.
The bow of tho boat struck suddenly a.
gains, his jaw, and poor S,nrbnck, in the
&C. oi launching his hnrpoon, lost his foot
hold. md pitched headlong into living
tomh!-the jaws Of the monster closed up.
on his body, leaving the legs of the victim
projecting from the mouth!
The frightened mate los, his presence Of
mind, and omitted 10 give the word 10 back
off, lie held his steering oar ~it,uu, the
power IL motion. But one Of the crew sec
ing the opportunity 10 be avenged for the
loss Of his companion, seized tho sharp
lance ot the mate, and plunged it to the hill,
in tho body of tho whale, ms he turned Il
escape. In mn instant the boat and the
crew were driven Into the mir, by stroke
d the animals TAIL The frnii bark was
shvered into thousand pieces, md the
men. bruised and lsceraled, fell into the
br"nd ocean.
All that had thus tran.pired was seeu
from the ships; aud boats were despatched
forthwith to the relief OF The wounded crew
Some had seized upon fragments of the
boat; while others sustained thcmselve,
with pieces Of broken oars, supported I've
meath by the strong saline buoynncy n
em'nently peculiar 10 the uniathomnbls
depths Of the occnn.
| The unfortunate crew were rescued il
time to witness the last agonics Of the des
pernte whale, which, like Sampson crush
ing tho temple in his might. dealt death an,
destruction on all sides, while he himsel
wns overwhelmed 10 the general ruin.
Tho animal, blind with rage, and feel
ing the sting Of the de,th-wound in hi.
heart, whirled round the ships in regular
circles fur long time, aud then descended
The crews lay upon their onrs, watching
where no would next appenr, while ,I,s
ships were hove Ia, 10 await tho result.
Suddenly mighty mass emerged from
the w"'er, and shcs up perpendicularly
with inconceivabIe velocity, into the mir
Il was the whale, and the effort was his lss
expiring throe! Ie fell dead, but in hi,
descent he pitched headlong across the
bows Of the ship 'Grampus,' md in one Eel
swoop carried away the entire fore part O
the vessel.
Tho crew escaped, by throwing them
selves into tho boats alongside, and rowing
quickly off Tho gslIan. ship Instant,
filled with water, and settled from theil
sight.