The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-02
R0CKAWAY'S SEA MONSTER.
a REPORTERS ADVENTURES IN SEARCH
or A STRANDED WHALE
What the Sen Cast Up "a Lonely Bcseh-A
Whale &c Feet Long-uow n Might was
Spent In the Fog the Edge OF the Breakers


what the Sen Cast Up on "a Lonely Bc.eh-A
Whale &c Feet Long-uow n Night was
Spent inthe Fog On the Edge ofthe Breakers.
On Sunday last the dead body of a largo
right whale was reported of the southern
coast Of Long Island. On Tuesday morning
news was received from Rockaway that Mr.. Van
Iandt Of that place had discovered tho monster
high on the sand OF lonesome and remote
beach; md the reporter started 10 find the
whale. Thinking Of Rockaway Beach only as a
summer resort. easy OF access. Astounding in
CLAIMS and beer. and bathod in everlasting sun
shine. he made no particular preparations for
the expedition. nor did he lay in any of the
supplies with which whalers usually provide
themselves. But difficulties were encountered
Mt tho outset. No boats run to Rockaway Mt this
senson Of the yenr. The daily train Of cars had
already gone. Tho only feasible method of
transportation WIS horse car TO Gravesnnd. n
tramp to shccpshead bay. and there to ht out
nm expedition to proceed by sea to the remote
beach now tenaniied by the whale.
At Shecpshcad Bay Capt. Isaac Corson wns
perfectly willing to pilot the expedition. Hans
would go rs crew. and the good sloop Josephine
and Hans was, pushing on from the beach.
small boy in blue shirt and patched trousers
bilious to become whaleman. Under clear
sky ind with brisk . 6reez.' the Joseph inc
bar Oft Shceushead Bay. But. MS the hnr was
n,enred the tickle breeze gradually died away,
The passage OF the bar was alnost effected, and
the Josephine WIS creeping slowly against tho
strong tide current. past the last ledge OF rocks,
seized her. and in 2 minute she was fast on the
lodge. The sens dashed over her. sho bumped
heavily. and the expedition bid fair TO come to
disastrous Termination. But the tide was ris
ing. and the ledge was so narrow that. after ten
minutes Of hard polling and heavy humping.
she slid OF into deem water the other side.
and with the returning breeze. the VOYAGE
Finally the Josephine lay quietly beside the
arrival was hailed by u tumultuous ringing OF
the grent bell in front Of the billiard room, for
. distance on. You can't miss it il you Keep
fur enough up the beach"
So the party set of across the narrow Rocka-
way peninsula to the ocean beach, then two
miles through the sand. and in a little bend OF
the comet they saw what the Captain said WIS
very like whale" stranded on IFS back. and
partially buried in the sand, but looming W.
flesh. They clambered up its smooth sides,
looked into tho huge. cavernous mouth lined
il ,xty-two feet long. and the spread OF the
ful ~ OF its tai is twelve feet. 1t had not been
long dead. and it's blubber was in good con
ditlcn. but no efforts had been made 10 utilize
i. In the carcass. ut a rough estimate. are three
hundred pounds OF marketable bone, and Nifty
barrels OF oil, but only the sea birds that circled
about It with Wild cries, appeared to appreciate
Us value. IL lies about two miles west OF the
| Hurl HOUSE, ana IL only the tnlrd WnAle ever
known to have been stranded on Rockaway
bcach. One. stranded three years ago, and
another seven years ago. were both cut up. and
various portions Of their vertebre still orna-
ment tho fronts OF houses in the village In
addition 10 these, n few years ago a worry small
whale found It's way into the inlet and was cap
tured and killed by Frank Swif's men. from
Night was coming on and II thick bank Of
| log. rolling in. although stlll far out at sea,
J warned tho crew ot the Josephine that they had
but scant time 70 rotrace their steps, The whae
WIS left 10 tho birds and. amid the cheers of the
| men on tho pier the vessel sped away into the
| gathering gloom. In half an hour the fog was
grasped the helm. was the wind. and he kept
| her close To it, But. imperceptibly this guide
| hauled round TO tho westward. and in anoth n
hall hour grating sound from under the keel
! warned the crew anxiously pcering into the
dense blqckness. that they were on tho reef
| Quickly the little vessel was nut about. With
| lifted centre board. she scraped clear. and
The wind had yeered still moro to the west
ward, and in n few minutes Hans. who WIS
sounding called out. " Hard lee. Ike; hard
oyeri Another fadom. and YOU'RE on Runie
Again she spun round and again dashed
away from tho threatened danger. this time
h"ndcd for tho breakers on Rockaway Shoals.
All hnnds were summoped aft for consultation;
nndthr majority ruled that the Joseph Inc should
como 70 anchor. The outlook was gloomy the
| Josephine had not been provsioned for a yoy.
| age Of long duration. and the party had good
appeiitcs. Thu boy, however. dove down into
| the little cabin AMI begun to explore the lock-
ers. He found onion. potatoes / very small
piece OF fat pork half CUP ground coffee. half
| pound prepared -four. half plug of tobacco and
| "A bit OF soap. fire was started in the tiny
stove. and thu party were soon teastng on what
Hans called flop locks AMI muddy coffee.
Then the party SIT ali night on the wet deck Of
| the Josephine and listened 10 the foam OF the
breakers. The fox did not llit until hours after
tain, Hans. and tho boy were startled 10 soc the
| breakers almost IN ren"h OF their hands. We'll
on that course last night. aud we should have
been IN EN-