Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-17

sett the joyful news is published by shov.
ing out 1.-THE weftV The weft il
tattered old flag, bat it ALWAYS
cSuses sensation when il makes its
Trg 1a IN the sleepy little village.
IueIe Is tremendous hustle, gigs. har-
"a e~Gus ana Iances are prepared for use,
anu the villagers dock down 10 the shore
10 Watcn the departure of the whalers
anu 10 see what they can Of the battle
RON the land. Three boats started ont
Iu saturday with six men in each. Cant.
1uen was IN command of one with his
pIotner, Capt. Gabe Edwards. The other
ooS'S We're commanded by Jesse Edwards
anu anu .Johathan Edwards, all of the same
1anIly' Capt.Josh was the first to start, but
tne whales, as il anticipating the attack.
ndu moved OF to the southeast and there
was slim chance before the whalers.
AHey Dent vigorously to their oars, how
ever, ana from time to time were encour-
aged Oy capt. Josh, who was at the helm,
and sang out cheerily: Thar she blows,
When the whales came tO'the surface for
| breathing spell. Sometimes the animals
stayed nearly halt an hour under water,
ana the faces or the men would grow long
at the thought of losing their prize But
at length great jet of water would again
reap into the air, and each time nearer
anu nearer, till at length the boat was
"iGnln lew yards of the great animals.
Inc Two whales were evidently a cow
ana bull, the cow about so feet in
length, the bull about 20. rich prizes for
the poor fishermen. Each man felt his
heart beating like sledgehammer against
MS RIBS as Capt. Gabe stood UP in the bow
OF the boat, examined the rope Of his har-
poon 10 assure himself that it would run
smoothly through the groove In the bow,
balanced in bis hand the heavy piece of
ASH with its three feet OF cold steel. and
stood ready TO throw. The whales were
playing innOcently together as whales do.
suddenly the harpoon went whizzing
from Capt. Gabe's hand and buried itself
up TO the handle in the poor COW. There
was commOtiOn, a shower of spray
tinged with blood, and a glimpse of the
huge Tins and tiuke lashing the water.
Back her away" shouted Capt. Gabe,
and the men obeyed promptly.
nave you made fast?' sang out Capt.
Josh from the stern sheets.
AYE, ave." replied his brother.
Ihen come aft and handle the boat,
while l take the lead" said Capt. Josh.
Gabe oheyed, and his brother took the
! place In the bow, lance in hand, waiting
for an opportunity to infict the death
blow, but the whales were resolved to die
game, If die they must, and the whalers
had stubborn battle before them. The
wounded COW and the bull rolled over and
over together until the harpOon line was
wound around the body OF each, flashing
them firmly together. Then down they
| plunged, hoping to escape their pursuers
by seeking the depth Of the sea. The line
smoked as it ran through the groove, and
the men bFeathlessly waited for the ami
! mails to reappear. At last they began to
rise. The line was hauled in and coiled,
and Capt. Josh got his lance ready for
use. The other two boats now came up,
and when the whales again appeared on
the surface they were greeted with a show
er OF missiles. The animals diVed and
fought. The lines became hOpelessly en-
tangled. Boats and whales lay side by
side, while the great flukes lashed the
water, and from time to time a lance
darted through the air and pierced one of
the black, shiny backs, making the flesh
culver. The bows of two of the boats
were soon stove in by blows from the
whales tails and the men were hard at
work battling out the water. The animals
fought desperately for their lives, although
the cow was now spOuting blood, a sign
that she had been touched In vital spot.
Once they broke the harpoOn lines and
got away, but their pursuers were again
upon them and fresh harpoOns we're
buried in their bodies. Through all the
fight the whales kept close together,
rising each time side by side and striking
with their fiukes as il their movements
were governed by single brain. At
last, after being pierced on every side,
they began to chow signs of exhaustion.
The whalers approached them more boldly
and still speared them mercilessly. After
two hours fight the cow rolled over on
her side dead, and within two minutes
the little bull was dead too.
When the battle was over the men
found themselves ten miles from ANA
gansett. One boat made fast to each
whale and start Was made for the shore.
1t was no easy task, however, to tow these
huge careasses through the water, and it
was midnight before the COW was safely
hauled up on the beach. Then a watch
was set to guard the carcass against be-
ing carried away by the tide, ana the
whalers, sore and weary, though proud
and content, returned to their cottages.
The bodies were eventually cut up
and the blubber and whalebone taken
out. Each animal is worth over $1,000,
and the Amagansett women are already
planning what presents they want for
Christmas.
vr,Errr INT Urn,H1 TNr Dor TnV6sG