Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-03-24
Frm Sarihons Whaling and rishiae
fS,nnonn1au, mn. ogu,fsuv

of the place, IN order thai We might work AT a
little disadvantage possible.
Consequently We. the mates boats crew had
been ordered to prepare far general cruise. We
provided ourselves with store Of bread and beef.
filled the boats breaker with wuter spread our
sn 10 the light brroze, and inted the boats
bow toward the nearest island. Landing here.
found nought but Il wilderness Of low jungle,
which scarcely penetrahle. together with
poor landing. We examined three or four Of the
islets, and having at last fixed upon suitable
place where Ia commence operations. were about
to ret1rn on board, when the mate said,
- Trim aft. Tom, there's n good breeze, fair
coming and going. and we'll take II look at the
mainland" Accordingly, the boats head was
laid shoreward aud spread ourselves out at
full length upon the thwari~, enjoying an unusual
frcat of some cigars which orr chief officer had
good naturally brought with him.
When within about n mile aud a hall of the
mainland. found the water shnaling. being
then not moie than three fnthoms-eighteen feet
deep.
Il saw black skin glisen in the sun just them,
said the boat steerer, who was aft, the mute hay
iug stretched himself upon the bow thwart to
inke n nap.
1T nothing bat putting pig, said he
drnwsily.
There it is again. and no putting pig either
porpose-nor-n no" said he with some de-
gree OF anmation--"n anything else that wears
black skin that ever saw before
This had the effect of rousing US up. every one
casting his eyes ahead 10 catch sight Of the
questionable black skin"
There he blows ~. land there again -
and over here too" said several voices in success
sion
ut amt spout at all, boys; lets pull up and
what it isl"
We took 10 oars. and the boat was soon dart
ing forward at good speed towards the place
where had last seen the object of our curiosi
~.
Stern all =" suddenly shouted the mate, as the
boat brought up all standing against some oh
ect which we had not ablo 10 account of
the murkiness of the water the collision nearly
throwing upon our backs into the bottom
If tho boat. AS we backed off an enormous beast
slowly raised his head above the water, gave a
loud snort and inconflnently dove down ngain,
almost before we could get fair look at it.
"What is i?' was now tho question which
no one could answer.
'Whatever it il" said the mate, whose whaling
blood up,''if it comes within reach of my iron
I'll make fast to it, ledsso pull ahead" We
were again under Roadway keeping bright look
out for the reappenrance of the stranger.
There they are, whole school" snid the
mate, eagerly pointing in shore, where the glis
tcning of white water showed that a number of
the nondescripts evidently enjoying them
selves Now boys, rull hard, and we'll soon
try their mette."
"Thore's something broke water, Just ahead
sad the boat steerer
Pull onsy, Lads him here-way O..
nough there's his back!"-
"Stern MI - shouted he H. he darted his iron
into n back as hroad small sperm whales
',Stcrn all-back water-back water, every
man +" and the infatuated bra,t made desperate
langcs in every direction, making the white water
fly almost eq ual to n whale.
We could the whole shape of the crca-
tu,c, as in his agony and surpri-ehe raised him
self high above the surface. We all recognized
Mt once the llippopoiamus, rs he is represented
in books of natural hist 'ry.
Our subject soon got IA little cooler, and giving
IA savage rom, bent his head round until he
prnspcd the shank of the iIon between his teeth.
With one jerk he drew it out of his bleeding
quarter, aud shaking it savagely, dove down to
/ thu bottom. The water was here but about two
fathoms deep. and we could see tho direction in
which he was travelling along the bottom by
line pf blood. rs well us by the air bubbles which
rose To the SUFFICE Us he breuthed.
Give me another iron Charley, and wen not
give him chance to pull it out next time
The IRON was handed up, and We slowly sailed
in the direction which our prize was following
along the bottom.
" Here's two ar three OF them astern OF Us,
/ said the boat sieorer.
Just then two more rose one on on either SIDE
of the bont. and in rather unpleasant proximity,
aud before we had begua to realize our situation
! the wounded beast. unable any longer 10 stay be-
meath the surface, came up TO breathe just ahead.
Pull ahead little; lets get out OF this >narl.
/ Lay the boat around -so-now, stern all aud
/ the iron wns planted deep in the neck OF our NC
/ tim. With roar louder thsn dozen OF the Wild
! bulls of Madagascar, the now maddrned beast
made for the boat.
Buck water,--back, say! Take down this
/ bontsn and stern all! Stern. for your lives, men
/ rs two more appeared by the bows, evidently
! prepared to assist their comrade. Ho was max
| in, the water ny in all directions, and having
/ fail To reach the boat, now valnly essay.
| ing TO grasp the iron. which the mate had Pur-
/ posey put into his short neck. so close TO his
head that he could not get il in his mouth
"Stck out line til, we get clear of the school,
and then we pull up on the ether side OF this
| fellow and soon settle him with a lance"
This was done. and as again hauled upon
! the still furious beast the mate poised his bright
| lance for II moment, then sent 1t deep mt" his
heart With "A tremendous roar, aud despe-
rate final struggle, of scarcely a minutes dnta-
ton our prise gave up the ghost and after sink
ing for n moment rose again To the suriace,IYlng
upon his side, Just does til" whale when dead
His companions had left US, and we now. Civ
ing three cheers for our victory, towed the car
ca>s to the not far distant shore. 1t was luckily
high tide, and got the body up TO high
water mark. where the speedily receding waves
left it ashore. When we here viewed the giant.
and thought of the singular agility he had dis
PLAYED in the water. could not help acknowI-
edging to one another that to get among school
of Hippopoiami would be rather desperate
game.
Duel nj the Oaks.
hostile meeting took place Yesterday morn