Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-12-04
A Sperm Whale Fight.

One of those little episodes which sometimes
diversity and give zest to whale fishing, occurred
on the Goth of August last, in the South Pacif.
ic OCEAN. On that occasion the ship Alexan-
der, Captain Deblois, of New Bedford, was de-
stroyed by sperm whale, being the second in
stance of the kind on record-the first having
beemthe destruction of the ship ESSEX about
twenty five years ago
Twosboats were in pursuit of whales, and a.
bout noon the larboard boat, commanded by the
mate, harpooned large sperm whale, which
after running some time, turned on the boat and
chewed 1t to pieces in his tremendous Jaws
The crew, nine in number, saved themselves by
Jumping from the monsters Jaws into the arms
of Neptune, and were rescued from DavyJones'
locker by the other boat in command of Capt.
Deblois. Another boat was procured from the
ship, and the whale sr,ssir1 ss~s.sod.-
AS soon rs the fish perceivod his enemy again
approaching, he made rush at the boat nearest
to him, and bit it to pieces Again the Captain
rescued the crew from the water, into which they
had barely time to throw themselves to avoid an
unpleasant masticatory process. As they were
returning to the ship, the whale made for them
again with extended jaws, but fortunately, pass
ed them and they regained the ship in safety
After reaching the ship, sail was set, and
Capt Deblois resolved on pursuing the sharp-set
fellow with his vessel. They soon overlook the
whale, and lance was thrown into his head.--
The ship passed on by him, and it was soon dis
covered that he was making for the ship mad
dened by his wounds from the lances and har-
poons which had been thrown into him. AS he
approached, they hauled on the wind and allowed
him to pass. After he had fairly passed, they
kept off to overtake and attack him again
When they had reached within about fifty rods
of him, they discovered that the whale had set
tied down deep in the water, and as it was near
ly sundown, they concluded to give up the pur-
suit. The ship was working along at about five
knots per hour, and in a few minutes the whale
again came rushing on at a rate of fifteen knots
per hour, striking he devoted ship with great
violence, abreast of the ioremast, about two feet
above the keel, knocking great hole complete
ly through her bottom, through which the water
rushed like a cataract Attempts were made
to tighten the ship, but she sunk 50 rapidly tn at
the crew had barely time to escape in the boats
with only about twelve quarts Of water, and not
mouthfu of provisions of any kind The
next morning they ventured to return to the
wreck, which was still ahoat, and cut holes in
her deck, but only recovered about five gallons
of vinegar and twenty pounds Of wet bread
With this scanty store only, between them and
starvation, they steered northwaad, and the
22d of August had the extreme happne IS Of
falling in with the good ship Nanjucket. Of Nan
tucket, on board which they were received and
treated with great kindness, and conveyed to
Paita, where they arrived on the 18th Of Sept.
They subsequently took passage for Panama,
and arrived there on the 18th ult., on their way
home.
This is one of the most extraordinary and
eventful disasters on record. In reading de-
tailed account OF IL, from lne IdudUd IlGId4"i
we were struck with the idea that if these whale
men had been provided with the shooting har
poons, invented two or three years ago, they
could have dispatched the monster IN their
boats, and so prevented the catastrophe which
befell them. BY the shooting harpoon an iron
is discharged from distance of several feet into
the body of the whale, carrying bomb which
afterward explodes, tearing the gizzard of the
biggest whale iuto giblets, If the sperm whale
is to prove such game fish, it will be advlsa-
BILE for whale fishers to arm themselves with the
more deadly shooting harpoon.-BosiO" .N"-
scum,