The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-10-17
Catching a Whale.

Catching n WhRle.
The following graph; account of the capture
of whale is from an interesting volume emit
tied Life and Adventures in the South Pacific,
which has just been published by the Messrs.
Harper & Bros.
The morning of the 22d commenced with light
breezes from the northeast; pleasant weather.
Suddenly, about A. NJ, the monotony was
broken by the welcom cry from masthead,
There's she blows! There she blows!
Where away y
-Four points off the lee bow, sir.
How far off,?
I About two miles, sir
What does it look like?'
Sperm whales, sir 49,
'Ay, ay +; sing out every time you holler.'
By this time the captain vas aloft, and, Oh
taking view with his spy glass at the 'spouts,
singing out, Sperm whales! Call all hands
bear hand there, and get your boats ready
'Ay, ay sir is the reply All hands are cali
ed, and the different crews stand by their re-
spective boats, all eager for the fray, and ex
pressing their determination to capture Whale
before returning to the ship, taking for their
motto, "A dead whale or stove boat.
Lower away the boats + shouts the captain
as he descends to the deck. They are instant
ly lowered, followed by the crews, and now
comes the tug of war. Each boat sets her sail
and the men pull in good earnest. While they
are skimming the waves the whale is still spout
ing and all are anxious to reach him before hi
"spouiings are out" 1t frequently happenH
when in pursuit, that, just at the moment the
boat-steerer stands up to strike the whale, he
suddenly descends; but experienced whalemer
can generally tell the direction they take while
down by the position of the 'fukes" when going
down. The boats are then pulled in the direc
ton the whale is supposed to have taken. They
also Judge of the distance the whale Will 90 un
der water by the velocity OF the animal when
last seen. After tn boats have pulled what i;
Judged to be the proper distance, they 'heave
up or cease pulling A large whale when not
'gaIlIed, or frightened generally spouts from
sixty to seventy times before going down, anc
remains down from IF y TO seventy minutes
The boats have now got clos IN Those
left on board the ship a,e watching with breath
less anxiety. occasionally exclaiming, ooh, pull
boys! do pulp Meantime the men in he boat:
are bending backs to it, but the bow boat ha
the adv intage she is the head boat Mi. X
is jumping up and down in the stern, crying
Once more, my hearties give it 10 her! a few
more strokes, and we have him pull, my child
ren! Thus one moment coaxng and the mex
scolding but 10 one heed, him. a. all are ben
on taking the v hale. Stand up = shouted ht
and the boat-steerer rose to his feet, graspeC
his iron, and as the boat neared the monster
Give it to him !! is the next cry, and 'chock tt
The socketweut the first iron, followed as quick
as thought by the second One deaiening cheer
and the CRY resounded over the waters, w
are fast ace are .aStH The sea, which but q
moment before lay still and quiet with scarcely
ripple to break its even surtaceis now dashed
into foam by the wri things OF the whale Stern
all = shouts the officer. The boat is immediate
ly backed, and removed from present danger
Al, hot off, bo 1c, p5 thoh au
steerer takes the steering oar to manage the
boat; the whale is sounding, and the line is
running through the 'chocks,' or groove in the
head of the boat, with the rapidity lightning
and as it passes round the loggerhead it gnites
by the heat produced by friction, but the tub
oarsman is continually dashing water upon il
in the line-tub The whale sounds deep, and
the line is almost out; signal is made to the
other boats, which are coming down. They
come near enough, and bend on their lines but
presently it ceases running out and slackens
the whale is coming to the surface again AL
hands now commence to haul in line as fast as
he rises, and the boat steerer coils it away as
fast as it is hauled in, in the stern sheet lie
soon comes to the top of water, and the boat is
gradually hauled up to him. Another boat no"
tastens, and he again attempts to sound Dut,be
ing weakened by loss of blood, he is soon at the
surface again. The boats now draw alongside,
ana the othcer OF the hFst boat prepares MS
lance. He darts it for his vitals Gust behind
the fns) and the first one proves fatal, for in 3
moment he shows the " red flag )" the blood
flows freely from the spout hole in thick dark
stream the sea is stained for some distance,
and the men in the boats are covered with the
bloody spray.
The monster now attempts to sound, but is
obliged to keep to the surface, and soon goes in
what is technically termed by whalemen his
furry" but what landsmen would call his dy-
ing agonies-and terrible they are. The sea is
beaten into perfect foam by his writings and
contortions and, after short time, as with &C
celebrated strength he starts off, with iightning
speed, describing in his course circles, each
growing smaller than the preceding one, and his
speed sackening until he finally gives one mon
ster throe and dies, rolling fin out, with his
head to the
The battle is now ended, and the "huge levia
than lies victim to the superior power and
mind of man"
Now that life is extinct hole is cut in his
head the line made fast, and all the boats "hook
on and tow him to the ship, where he is made
fast by means of fluke-chain being passed
around his tail. which chain is brought to the
forward part of the ship, and passed through a
"hawse-hoIe," aud made fast to the "bowsprit
bits bringing the whale with his head point
ing aft, and il proper position to commence
,he operation OF cutting in"