Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-08
The Whale in the Chesapeake.

A correspondent of the Richmond Enquirer
gives detailed account of the capture of a
whale in one of the estuaries of the lower
Chesapeake: -
On Wednesday evening. the 18th ins tant,
he was again deserted. making his way like 6.
small propeller straight up North river. r. g
ing every ten or fifteen minutes throwing
graceful jets deau into the air more tt N
thirty feet high, and sporting on the sur ace
of the water. When off the residence of Dr.
p. A. TaiaferrO. that gentleman. with his
brother, Edwin Taliaferro. Esq., accompanied
by Mrs, who carried away by the excite
ment, insisted (uuder threat of having Der
own boat manned) upon joining the expedi-
ton and witnessing the sport as well as shar-
ing the peril Having hastily collected all
the firearms at hand, consisting of shot-guns
and five-shooters and having fastened a sword
to staff for lance, they pushed off with a
trusty crew of negro oarsmen in a launch of
twenty feet in length, and rowed boldly for
the huge monster.
He rose usually to breathe and spout water
about every ten minutes. and then descended.
reappearing at the expiration of that time.
between a quarter and half mile distant
! from the place of descent.
Closely calculating the distance at which
he would rise, pulling in the direction in
| which he disappeared, they succeeded in
measuring so accurately time and space that
| the third time be came to the surface after
they started they found themselves within a
| few feet of him, as he lay with his whole
length exposed upon the water.
To pour heavy charge of buck-sbot into
his flank was with DR.. t. the work of an
instant. when off the creature dart, d like
lightning pursued with hearty cheer by the
boat'screw.
Again and again he rose, and again and
| again was the gallant boat with her undaunt-
ed crew close beside him, pulling for their
lives to head him and cut off his retreat from
! the river to the bay.
For some moments at one time he was
seen swimming under the water with his
| immense mouth wide enough to have taken
| in and crushed the fral boat, extended and
making directly for her, but a few lusty back
strokes of the oars put her beyond peril. and
| as he rose within ten feet of her quarter a
second discharge of ball and buck drove him
| frantic upon a bar, and the blood tinged
column of water which he spouted into the
| air told the story of a mortal wound.
Pulling the boat within a few feet of bis
body. far enough off to escape blow from bis
| tail, DIR. T. leaped overheard into five feet
water, and boldly attacked him with the
| impromptu lance, made of an old Toledo blade
| that had done service in several wars.
Though mortally wounded, and attacked
sword in hand, the whale would not yield
himself vanquished and prisoner without
another struggle; and, to the disnay of :i'e
ASSISTANTS aud the crowds which had 10y this
| time collected on the beach, by q convuisiF.
and violent effort he foundered into Gacl
water and made straight run for the 3 Y.
But he was now too much eXhau tel q
escape. and the boat, pulling fcarlessiy rro
him, headed him within IA few hundred yard
and drove him again upon the shore, wi r
cables and ropes were fastened to his la
and he was dragged to the shore by force a
over one hundred and fifty negroes, who al
assembled to witness the sport, and dispatch j
after most exciting contest, fIOm first l.
| last. of over three hours.