Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-10-15
A Harnessed Whale.

A Har1leSSed whale.
Wandering around ON tho wharfs 6
day or two ago, among the remnants
of what was once the scene of hustle
and activity in the good old days OF
whaling, q Union reporter encountered
An old sea captain who had story te
tell. Near by was moored whaling
vessel, and casks of oil were ranged
about, 30 that the old tar OeemedI o.
home. The conversation turned OF
the recent boat races and the time
made for two miles by the Harvard anG
Columbia freshmen crews. The OLD
sailor thought that the boys rowed vel
and went pretty fast, but he had gone
faster, and probably faster than many
men ever went in rowboat The scribe
zrRed the mariner to tell the story
which he did substantially as follows;
T. ID about thirty five years ago since
i went out from New London as boat
steerer. That 10 q pretty lively berth,
q any whaleman can tell you, especial.
" when the whale is tackled. The
Steerer has virtually the control of the
boat and the safety Of the men in it,
and when the whale begins to lash the
waters with his tail, look ont; there's
danger in being near the big fuke.
Sometimes you can put an iron into q
whale and he won't splash on the sur
face. but will start of like rocket, OF
perhaps will 60 right down. and you
have to cut loose and lose your line and
irons. Stilla whaleman gets used to
these things, and when boat is stove
bya whale. or when the crew get into
any difficulty, they generally know
what to do, and take matters philo-
sophically. They are tough fellows, and
can row for hours land without train
ing), and with heavy oars resting on
Mo gunnel" (gunwale) Of the
boat.
In those days q different class of men
went whaling from what go now. Pre-.
vi0us to the war-that is, some years
previous-there was money in both oil
and bone, though just before the wal
shey sold for less than you could get
'elfsla for. Sut when there was money
in whaling captains could get passable
pick of men for their crews. Stout
young fellows, who couldn't make
moro than their salt on the farm, came
down to New London to 60 to sea
They had heard OF the big chances, fol
. good voyage. il realized, would give
them in few months more money thar
they ever saw. II the owners got the
lions share of the money, there wa,
still good lot left to be doled out in
Lays (proportionate shares) to the
men. In fact, fortunes were made in
one voyage, or what passed for an accept
able competency for the man who wal
oontented to live moiestly. Well, OF
the ship ON which I was boatsteerel
this time there was as fine set Of men
pluck and endurance considered, Q,
you ever saw. In my boats crew Their,
was some particularly good men. Blu
what happened TO rs one day tried thu
mettle of several of them.
We were laying, he claimed one day
CT the Cape Of Good Hope. It was a
smooth A. . mill-pond for miles; 70,
couldn't zee ripple on the water, To-
not breath Of wind stirred. Their,
were several whslers lying off the land
close in, waiting for . wind or some
thing to give them occupation. p,
and by we saw three whales coming ri
] to blow, about two miles away. TIL
captain called the. watch up, and
couple of boats started for the whales
which were laying still as il summing
themselves. In my boat was q biz
negro, black - the ace OF spades
Every time he rowed stroke the boa
would shoot ahead, and he would opel
his mouth and grin, Allowing Q wonder
fnl display Of ivory. We raced viii
the other boat and got ahead. for m,
men were little and tough, and by an,
By We got alongside of one OF the BIZ
fellows. The steering oar was pulle,
in; the oars were packed-that is, pull
cd IN 20 that they couldn't strike tn
water; then an iron was thrown int,
the floating island.
The whale Laid still for minute. q
Il struck with amazement that any on
should dare to touch him. The rope
which was coiled mp in the tub in tn
bottom Of the boat, didn't seem to b
OF any use tor . moment. In the mean
time the other boat had come up. Sud
denly the whale made up his min,
what to do. He started of like loco
motive, the rope whixzed around in
way to ast0nish . landlubber. Tn
boat didn't follow slow. When th
rope was out We were rushing by tn
captains boat like mad. The captain
took of his hat and waved it 1T me
shouting" Go it. young man; you're
going out Of town faster than you'll
ever 60 again" All that We could d.
in that double-ended boat was to 81
still and see her &C through the water
! candidly believe that We went at tn
rate of mile minute, and the waite
Vas Q very wonderful sight. It remind
me. now that I think of il, Of Poe
description of the interior Of the mael
stxom, where the water went round 81
fast and was 90 black that it must hsv,