The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-07
TfKTNG 4 SW'ORDFIyH.
Terrible Struggle with an Atr-tight Barrel
Attached TO uavpoon.

From NE Forest and Srerm.
II was some time before we could distin-
guish tho speck. rising and falling with the sea
which had attracted the old whalcman's attcn-
ton. Soon he pronounced 1t fish, !" and aft ct
putting US ON the other tack to run down partly
to leoward of IT. went below to bring up the
irons When we had worked perhaps mile
before 1t. we lay TO for our final instructions
the skipper took the wheel to :" keep her head
on II yer can" and tho one who held the mir
struck him. over with it,"
lie was ia coo as cucumber as he took the
hnrpoon and cutting spade forward. coiling the
line Zone end OF which was fast to the harpoon.
the other 20 the harreD carefully on deck, with
tho caution. Ware when it flakes out. >" and
taking only enough with him to his roost on
the bowsprlt end to give him ample elbow room.
His station reached, he fixed the spade in the
support ready to receive it. laid the iron in
front OF him across the cagc. waved his hail .
AMI We filled away, close hauled; Never was a
milo more slowly sailed by the little group in
hearts beaten iastcr than as we neafed the If.
teen feet fish. rolling, asleep. in the trough Of
tlic sen. Now the pilot is almost over him
hurts II with all the strength Of both sincwy
arms, The iron sinks deeply into the sleeping
overheard as quickly as thought, the float
splashes rs II dlsapppears beneath the water
then al is still; W. luil and wait. Presently up
OF the airtight barrel too severe Is coming 10
tho surface. Now the water bubbles and bois
Just under our lee. and tho swordhsh breaches
half his length out of his clement, shakes him
self savagely. and swms ut lightning speed for
the barrel. He strikes 1t again and again with
his sword. but II rests SO lightly on top of the
water that he cannot injurc II. Then ho stops.
looks AZ US an instant, and darts toward the
boat We have not time to bring her head
around, and II he strikes i will be- amidships.
Tho pilot comes quickly aft. bringing his long
handled, thrce-cornered spade and rs the fish
comes within striking distance, aims ono swift
blow forehead l.
bile sword drops harmless the upper muscles Mt
lbs base are severed. and he passes under us.
Earring NO boat ana spashing us with water as
lie sounds
Again the float goes under and is ont NJ sight
alonger time than before Again the fish throws
himself ont OF water, showing his sword hang
ing down ut an angle of forty-fve degrees He
swims once or twice around the barrel. q IN
starts TO wlndward M too furious n speed - last
with the float poughing behind him. When We
beat up he Is iceby lighting IL. He sounds for
short time. hut comes NJ exhausted. once or
twice he rolls over on his side but RECEIVERS D. M
self and swims on In short tH'6s We press him
too. closely. and h. charF's us again hut we
make no effort 10 avoid MN. knowing that now
he Is powerless TO lpi'irc us. nor does he try To
strike apparently realizing that his weapon IS
useless. but goes under. coming up the other
And So he sounds and swims. fights and runs.
until NJ last he succumir- 10 exhaustion and lies
stil. We work up alongside. and AS we luif the
plot puts n lance into his very life. There Is a
shuddcr along his whole body, his fms work
t9ny9syoy dso nIon, gn Gn ne on res m9
mast and after considerable labor got him
aboard, where We can examine Mt our leisure
his peculiar shape. and admire his graceful
clipper build" Our Nantucketer estimates
his weight at between 500 ana GOO pounds. His
sword Is over three feet in length. its broken
point and nickcd edges proving that its owner
was m old rs well as fighting fish.
our fish is on bonrd. and after rcserving few
choice cuts turned over 10 our pilot who asks
thatwe run In to Martha's Vineyard that he may
dispose OF him before he spOils And So We set
gaif and jill topsails. haul of before the wind.
and lay our course nOrthward.