Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-12
A REMARKABLY VICIOUS WHALE.

The Edgartown Gazette publishes the following part
cuar relative to the attack upon and final capture of an
ugly whale by boats crew from the ship Hector Of New
Bedford, furnished BY Capt Thos A. Norton, who was
the first mate of the Hector at the time:
In October, 1882, when in lat II g. lon SO w.. the
ship ninety days from port we raised large whsle
The joyful cry was given of there she bowsn and every
thing board at assumed aspect of busy pre
paraon for the capture The boats were lowered and
the chase commenced When got within about three
ships length OF him he turned and rushed furously
upon u.s. lie struck US at the moment we fastened
to him. He stove the boat badly but with the assistance
OF sails which placed under her bottom and constant
6aing, she was kept above water. The captain, John
Y. Morse, came to our assistance. Told him he had
better keep clear of the whale but he said he had very
long lance and wanted try it upon the rascal Capt
NJ to the whale when all once he turned upon
the boat which he took in his mouth and held right up
on end out Of the water and shook all to pieces in
moment. The men thrown In every direction and
Captain Morse fell from distance Of at least thirty feet
into the water Not being satisfied with total destruc
ton OF the boat he set to work and chewed up the boat
kegs and lantern kegs and whatever fragments of the
boat he could find floating the water. At this stage
Of the fight told Capt Morse that if he would give
again 1t desperate work to all appearance, and up
to this time the vicious fellow had had it oil his way
The captain was in favor of trying him from the ship
but finally consented for US to attack him again from
boat. With a picked crew we again approached the
whale, now lying perfectly STILL apparently ready for an
other attack, as the event proved Seeing approach,
be darted towards with his mouth wide open his pom
derous jaws coming together every moment with tremen
dous energy We gave the word to stern all, which
was obeyed in good earnest. As passed the Ship
heard the captain exclam, there goes another boat
She did to be sure, through the water with all speed
but fortunately not to destruction. The monster chased
US in this way for half mile more, during most Of
which time his jaws within six or eight inches of
the head of the boat Every time he brought them
gether the conclusion could be heard the distance of
at least mile. | intended to jump overheard il he
caught the boat Told Mr. Mayhem the third mate who
held the steering oar that the whale would over
soon to spout and that then would be time to kill
him. After becoming exhausted he turned spout,
and at the same instant stopped the boat and buried
our ances deep in his life One tremendous convul
sion of his frame followed, and all STILL He
troubled US We towed him to the ship, tried him
out, and took ninety barrels Of oil from him.
81 When we cutting him in found two irons in
his body marked with the Of the ship Barclay and
belonging to the mates boat We afterwards learned
that three months before, when the whale in
lat s. lon w. he was attacked by the mate Of the
ship Barclay who had desperate struggle with him. in
which he finally lost his life.
Capt Norton, at the time of the adventure with this
whale had seen SERVICE but he freely confesses
that never before since Though he has had the but
tons bitten off his shirt by whale has he in
tact with such an ugly customer this rogue whale
he termed in sailor parlance He seemed possess
ed of the spirit of demon, and looked as savage
hungry hyena. Our readers may imagine the effect such
encounter would have upon of green hands
During the rghul chase Of the boat by the whale their
faces Of livid white and their hair stood erect
On their arrival at the first port they all took the
tains and few any of them have been since
"Capt Norton informs us that whale was never be-
fore known to attack boat before being struck In this
the whale had evidently experienced much trouble
from the irons left in his body and took the first oppor
tunity which presented for revenge Taken altogether
think this viii rank high among the whaling stories Of
our day"