The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-08-18
A Pitched Battle.
Golden Days.

ship who is afraid Of a whale. " said the
captain of the Magnet, sharply, one
afternoon, when three of our boats had
come alongside, with nothing to show
for several hours OF hard pulling; "and
he'd better be m purgatory than here!"
he added. with a menacing look at
mates and boat-steercrs.
We had met with one or two mishaps
from whales during the voyage, and he
was apprehensiye that such accidents
might inspire in his subordinate a
feeling detrimental to success. But
the remark was unjust; for no one
had as yet shown the white feather.
Our lookouts, the next morning. had
but just reached their stations when
they raised a large sperm whale, and
at the same time reported ship be-
yond him. It being calm, neither yes
sci could approach any nearer 10 the
game, and three of the magnets four
boats were Immediately lowered, the
stranger sending off a like number.
As the chase was to be only for a
single whale, our captain did not take
part in it, nor did the master of the
other vessel. We were somewhat
nearer to the prey than were our rivals,
and pulled smartly to prevent all dam
ger of their interference.
Somebody afraid Of whale!" mutter
ed Mr.. Garvis, oursschief mate, as he
stood at the steering oar of his boat
And it was plain that the captains
remark of the day before had beft &
soreness upon a mind sensitive in nj
matters involving professional honor
We were going upon the animal finely
out were hardly near enough for fail
dart, when he bumped his huge back
upon the point of sounding.
"Try him, Littlefeld, try him!'
said the mate, hurriedly, to the short
square-built Block Islander who headed
our boat. "Quick, now! Give it t,
himl"
1t was long, throw yet Littlefeld'
iron was imbedded in the blubber
and disappeared with the monster, a
with fukes in the air, the old sperm
turned head downward and rushe'
to the depths below, leaving a'whir
in the place he had occupied.
He had not, however, descende'
more than fifty fathoms, when the har
poon drew out, and we hauled it o.
, board. The boats of the ship Chill
the vessel in sight-had by this tim
arrived near us, and their men, lik
ourselves, were keeping sharp look
out for the reappearanco of the whale
when. all on sudden, he breache
right among them.
Ina moment, one of the Chili's boat
was pulled directly upon him, an6
with the feeling that We were beater
we saw the harpooner send both h
irons in quick succession into the dar
and glistening back.
--Beaten?" said Mr.. Garvis. "The
have got him after all? That's too bad
But, as he uttered the words, thel
was sharp crash of cedar boards frOl
the direction of the successful boat.
She was thrown completely out {
water, stove along the entire length
and turned bottom up.
The boat sterned" with all thei
might, but in vain: then leaped he
l ter skelter, overheard, while the cracl
ing behind them told of the fate
s the boat.
Wen goright on to him. said NJ
/. Garvis, as the whale again lay stil
j 'If I can only get in a lance, we'll g
him yeti You know, men, we ma
: heard that somebody among US
u afraid of a whalel"
y y Our .econd mate and the third ma
I of the other ship, having picked
Z. the two wrecked crews, were now
at at elcUmbered with men that they col
!" do nothing further; so that Mr.. Gar
ST o,,4 .L, C,i,;I;.. cI,;of ,,afo ,-o,., 81,