The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-04-05
MoRE ABOUT THE WHALE.-We


MoRE ABOUT THE WHALE.--We
have received from a correspondent in
Smi,hville, the following facts relative
to the Whale, which we think may per.
haps prove interesting to our readers, as
full account has not yet been publish
ed.
The Whale recently captured, is of
the large fn.back species and was first
seen about sunrise OH Tuesday. March
goth, and soon after grounded on an
oyster rock near Smithville. He got
clear, however. and started up the chan.
mel, agitating the water more than an or.
dinary steamboat. He shortly afterwards
got agound again. this time opposite
the residence of Mrs. Stuart Mr.. War.
rem, gentleman in Smithvillc, fred at
him while in this position, bnt he appear
ed perfectly regardless Of the shot, and
extricating himself again, started up the
channel a small Schooner, named
the Planet then started in pursuit, and
found him stuck on Shows marsh, op.
posite Fort Fisher, but on coming up
will him it was discovered that he had
again succeeded in extricating himself,
and was making directly for the Schoon.
or. This movement on the part OF the
Whale caused great deal OF constcrna.
ton among the crew Of the vessel, which
was immediately faced about, and all
haste was made from the scene of action
bnt on proceeding short distance, they
observed that the Whale, who was pro.
badly as badly frightened as the crew.
had also changed his course, and was
making all speed il an opposite direc.
ton, and was in a short time seen to
run ashore near the place where he had
just gotten of.
A small boat was sent to reconnoitre
his position; finding him fast aground,
and the tide failing, the Schooner pro
teeded to Smithville to get the assistance
Of the Sloop Flash, and also to obtain
the services of gentleman residing in
Smithville who had several years expe-
rence in the whaling business.
On their return, the tide having fallen
considerably, the hugo monster was dis
covered to be almost entirely ont of The
water. The first object was to kill him.
accordingly hole was cut in his side,
and the old whaler ran a sword in, until
his arm was almost entirely imbcldcd
in his body. Flis heart was eventually
pierced, but even then it was nearly two
hours brforc'he ceased TO breathe. Tn
his fury, he coald throw stream of wa.
ter six inches in diameter, fully hun.
dred feet high. His dimensions were
asccrtained 10 be as follows: Sc feet
long. and 27 feet in circumference. The
head is about one third of the entire
length. The jaws are l6 feet long on
either side, and feet wide across the
throat. The tail its about II feet wide.
and serves him as weapon. He is
only about half grown, and weighs So
tons or 10000 pounds.
To give some idea OF his immense
weight. it is stated that even after the
upper jaw and skull were cut away it
was impossible. owing to the immense
weight, to get the under jaw on the
deck of the schooner, so it must remain
in the water until the flesh decays, be
fore the bone can be saved
The carcass would have made 60 bar.
rels of oil, if facilities ronld have been
obtained for cutting and trying up the
blubher. AS it is, only about 25 bar.
rels, or 500 gallons, have been saved
Wilmington Journal.
w AslIINGToN CoILEGE.-We are