New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-04-27

thought, she swept her luke from eye to eye then
raising it her back to nearly touch the top
Of her head threw it back upon the water with aston
ishing force in the meantime spoutng most furiousy
1t is truly fghtful to witness those ferocious and
threatening attitudes which seemed to evnce much
wrath, disappointment and chagrin. A mingled feel
ing of awe, fear and insignfcance came over me- as
beheld this mighty monster make its mad gestures
How easy it would have been for her, while in her
dreadful anger, to have consigned us all to watery
grave Fortunate, indeed, for man. their mortal en-
envy, that they know not their power!
Again she made another circuit, and as she came
alongside the calf threw her fin over it, and huggng
it to her side sped away the second time to make good
her escape but the distance of few yards straight
on taking the boat after her, the line having been
made fast to the oggerhead of the boat. Seeing at
length that she gained nothing in distance from her
enemy, she relinquished her hold, and, with an omi
nous sweep with her tukes, went down.
The boats formed nearly circle, and each one
prepared to give her harpoon when she came up if
there was an opportunity. As we were waiting
CHANGED to look down into the water by the side of
the boat, and could just discern object deep
down. 1t rapidly grew more distinct and was appa.
renty rising to the surface but ere the word of warn
ing could be given she had risen under striking the
bottom of our fra boat little forward OF midships
with her head, knocking hole through the thin bot
tom boards, and throwing the bow oarsman some six
seven feet into the air. Fortunately he came down
into the stern sheets of the boat where we were all
most unceremoniously piled by the unusual motion of
Il
and the boat rested fairly Oh the water, but COM
menced filing rapidly, and ere we could thrust coat
some loose garment into the breach, she had shot
ahead about her length and thrown corner of her
ukes up into the bow, and elevating that portion Of
the boat to angle of about thirty degrees started
Off with us at railroad speed.
We were promiscuOusy thrown into the stern of
the boat and the water rushed over us through the
breach while cloud of Vapor and foaming spray
covered the boat. must confess that among us by
this time there pale lips and livid visages,
my visual organs deceived me; although there
one among our number who, am inclined to believe,
had no kind of appreciation OF danger and that soil
citude for his personal safety something which he
knew nothing of. Even now he not lacking in
point of good humor and recklessness, for as we
swept by one of the boats, the crew of which were
struck with fear and establishment at singular and
dangerous situation he swung his hat and shouted at
the top of his voice, Here we go, boys, homeward
bound, free passage-jump aboard !" This sally had
the effect of breaking the spell somewhat, although
could not bring ourselves to the belief that it was
all joke. distance of quarter of mile or SO
and our journey was accomplished.
On letting us down, sweep to the right and left
with her fukes, gave us nothing but the fragments
of a wreck to buoy us from the depths of the sea.
Fortunately she left then, for had she given one
more with that powerful weapon, some, if not all of
rs, would then and there have ended career.
She now returned to her calf, which was dying from
the effects of its wounds.
One Of the boats hastened to our relief and took
US aboard the ship in the meantime the young
whale died and sunk and one OF the remaining boats
succeeded in fastening to the old one After severe
struggle of about three hours she was made to spout
blood, which was soon followed by the death struggle,
point OF no small interest in the capture of whales
Our prize was towed alongside the ship and made
fast with stout ropes, ready for dissection the NOR
row. Her length about ninety feet, and the
iukes from one corner to the other about eighteen
feet, with the other portions Of the body large in
proportion
As we had furled the light sails and coiled up the
last rope the sun had sunk again into the blue waves
Of the sea of Japan.