Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-24
WHALE FISHING IN GLOUCESTER.

! Vrs.ys Editors $50 unusual an event AZ The cap
turs of whale in the waters of the Chesapeake
deserves to be recorded and | therefore lake The
liberty OF sending you brief nstaTe ct the exploit
and description OF the monster.
On Wednesday, the 4th nst- al unusual excitement
manifested among the hsier,n-n M Inc mourn oil
North AID Ware rivers, on MO6ack DAY ahd' IL Il
few moments scores of canoes might have been seen
pulling up stakes and anchors and making ior the
shore every direction.
II was reported that an immen3r Hsli ruppoe"u
TO bs whal. OF incredible dimensions, was cutilng
all sorts Of capers in the bay; blowing like ever ="
many bulIs spoung wafer thirty or forty fest high,
and amusing himself generally by Kicking up row
aud rumpu-, contrary 10 The peace ana dignity u
the Commonwealth, and 10 the great terror ana peru
of some of her citizens who 20 down To the sea IN
ANAL canoes" but after the lapse OF 8 lew nours
nothing more was seen or heard OF the monster, and
tbs report of his visit scarcely excited attention. even
If il commanded creden0s
On the Monday morning following. however, an
extraordinary noise on the river NORTH, near Belle
willie. the residence OF Warner T. Tallaferro, Esq nj
trsced the attention of the family, about day break
aud fastening 10 the shore they beheld lie creature
aground on bar near the landing.
The gentlemen determined 10 attempt has capture,
instantly ieaPed into boat and cent OH 1f giIs
small hsrpoons USED by our fishermen Tor striking me
bonito) pulled around him TO r.connoltre whist lie
weapons were being procured.
Whilst they were laying off, however, quietly re-
COnnUitering the salient and weak poiHte ~ a''hch'
measuring with their eyes, the length and breadth o
their immense adversary and impaiien'ly awaiting
the collection and arrival of the materials ot war, the
tide which unfortunately WA tOodng iiifed MIN lns
before the preparations for the attack c"uid De com
peted from his p-riIous bed IN me SAND and WIN u
urodeious Effort hr threw himself OF the bar. bound
ed into the channel, and III an instant was out oil
sight.
Nothing more was o. hin, 6nd /: was feared ne
had mada his way out Oi the cApts aad to lhc Dergs
ala -
comfortable experience. 81 sha!ow wafer. But on
Wednesday evening The 18th INST. he was ngain deS
cried making his way like small propeller, 2traigh'
up North River, raising every ten or fifteen MINUTES
throwing graceful JETS dc eGn into The air more than
thirty ice; high, aud sporting the surface of tha
water When uG Burgh Westra, the r-sldencs OF
DR. +. Taaterro, that gentleman, with bis brother
Edwin Taliaterro, Esq accompanied by Mrs. -,
who, carried away by the excitement Insisted under
threat oil having her own boa; msnned) upon joining
the expedition, and witnessing the sport az well as
sharing the peril. Having hastily collected all the
irs arms M hand, consisting OF shot guns ana i've
shooters and having fastened sword 10 a stab tor
.,they pushed of with iru.ty crew OF negro oars
men in a launch OF twenty feet Ill length, anu ro"ed
boldly Tor the huge monster.
He Arose usually ;u breathe and spout water about
every ten or fifteen minutes, and then cesrend.d re
appearing AZ the expiration OF that time, between p
quarter and halt mile distant from The place oi descent
Closely calcium ing the distance At which he would
peareu, they succeeded IN measuring 20 accurately
time end space that tho third time he came TO the sur
face sitter they startled, they found themselves within
few s-t Of him. as be ay with bis whole length exposed
upon the wafer.
To pour heavy charge Of buck shot into his flank
Yves with DR.. I. the work o! an bstan when off the
creature dari.l like lightning, pursued with heRry
cheer by the bOat's crew.
Again and again he rOse, and again end again wRs
The gallant boat End her undaunted close beside
him. pulling Tor their lives 10 head him and cut oil his
retreat from the river 10 the bay
For some moments, at one Il ne, he wal sean swim
ming under the water with his immense mouth, wide
enough TO have taken in and crushed the fra boat,
extended and making directly for her. but few quick
aud lu-;y back strokes of The oars put hsr beyond
peril and "a he within ten ieet OF her quarter
.eCubi discharge ui ba aud buck drove him frantic
upon bar, aud the blood tirged column OF water
which u spouted INTO Tie ar Told the story OF NOR.
tq wound.
Puli.ng the boat within few feet of bis body, i.r
enou yh Of ~ escape blow from hs ta, DR.. L. cour
agsnusiy ieaprd overheard into live feet water. aud
boldly attacked him with the mpromp;u lance, made
of old Toledo blade that had done service i'll several
wars.
Though mo-tally wounded, however, and attack ID
sword n hand the Whale would not yet yield himself
vanqulshed sud prisoner without another struggle,
and. 10 the dsnay OF The sssaants and The crowds
| which had by this time collected The beach, by a
convulsive aud violent effort he a0undersd into deep
wafer ana made straight run for the bay
But he now too much exhausted 10 escape, and
the boat pulling fear!essy upon him. headed him
within a .-w hundred yards, and drove aim again
upon the shore upon the estate and near the real
dence of Gen Tsaf-rro, where csbes and ropes were
fast. his ;sIl snd NJ dragged 20 the shore
By force Of one hundred and fifty negroes, who
mad assembled 10 witness the sport, and dispatched
after most exciting contest from fret TO ast OF over
three hoars.
I'm unable 20 de!-rn,ne 10 what particular sIecie
w..ae Ills sp-rlmed rcty belongs. bur from the
descr. pt;ons OF the fab in such encyclo adias
(3rande's aud Ncholsons and other books a. have
within reach sm dsposed to thiok that it is the bs.
Iona hoops or pike headed whale, though it very
| nearly resembles the description by Brsnds OF The