The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-25
Fights with Whales.

eyes, we did see something of n school
of sperm whales" said Captain King, OF
the steamer Tropic, but it was good
ways off and we didn't take especial no.
tice. We were bowling along at about
ten knots an hour with light breeze
and fair sea, in latitude 81 deg. % min.
and longitude ID deg. "a min. had
the wheel and was talking with one of
the men, when all Mt once I saw as
pretty sperm whale spout as ever saw
in my life. Am sure about it? should
say I was, for am an old whaleman,
having started to follow the sea in nh
old-time whaler. The whale was going
about uthsouthwcst, L should think
1t was going slowly and evidently hay
ing good time. After awhile I saw
another one following and swimming
fast, rs if to catch up with the first one.
Next day I It.saw another whale great
ways off, but I couldn't tell which way
it was going. There may have been Il
school of them, but I didn't see only
three. Sperm whales stray in that part
of the ocean only once in great while,
and then they are probably chasing their
favorite food.
Sometimes they are dangerous to
whale hunters, especially when crank
whale is met. I have heard men say
that the sperm whale will not show fight,
but it struck me that they had never
sailed III Il whaler. The first fight with
sperm whale in which I took hand
was i'll 1869, when I was with the whalcr
Mary G. Currie We sighted one after
noon fine large whale, about fivo miles,
OIL, and when we were hear enough we
lufied up and lowered away the boats.
The captain himself had one boat, the
mate had one and m old whaler had
another. l was with the mate. You
have heard about whales running from
boats, but this one stood his ground and
didn't seem to be afraid Of us. Our boat
reached him first, but rs soon ms the
whale saw lis coming he came Mt us Bows
on We lost no time in getting out of
his way and it made us laugh to see the
other bonts dodge around. This made
the men trifle nervous and when we
tried him again they backed away for
dear life, afraid to go near enough for
the harpooner to throw his weapon.
This mado the whale raving mad, and,
as consequence, we went SO near next
time that the whale opcncd his caver.
nous Jaws and bit the boat in two.
After the men had been tishcd out OF
the water by the old whaler's boat the
mate got into the captains boat and
tried the whale again. When they start
ed the mate stood up in the bow and
yelled: '"The first man who looks out OF
this boat Mt that whale will get stabbed
with this harpoon.' Away they went
right up to the spouter's head. The
harpoon was driven home and the boat
was backed away. The cold steel had
done its work well, for soon the sea was
red with blood and the monster whale
after thrashing the water into foam, lay
dead.
81 wns i'll another fight with whale
hear the same place, the Conell grounds
Ill 1871. We came out of the fight witt
two smashed boats and two or throe dis
abled men, but VIC killed the whale. Tho
mate was with in the first fight was
killed two years ago in fight with nj
ugly whale. I understand they fought
for three hours, but the whale got the
best of them. He was one of thc4argcs
ever seen and had half dozen harpoons
sticking in his back. The mate was al
ways game and would never givo up, bu
he met his match that time. 1t was {
fight to the death and the mate wen
into one fight too many.