The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1886-08-26


tips, after the manner in which an
arrow is feathered, to secure guil-
ing power. 1t was early morning
when the white signal fluttered to
the top of the staff of the mast on
the cliff. and, having previously oh
tanned permission to join the hunt
with Captain Mariano, the quarter
master was speedily seated in the
stearushests, awaiting the siginal to
shove off This wns soon given.
and six miles to the northwest the
three boats came up with their
game, which proved to be an un-
usually largo specimen of tho Cali
fornia gray variety
The gigantic fish rolled lazily
about on the top of the water, all
unconscious of impending danger,
and did not even deign TO notice the
approach of the boats, that came up
on either sido and behind her. 4
hundred feet away the men lay on
their oars, and Captain Mariana
sighted over his swivel~gun. Tho
men bent over their oars, with every
muscle ready to phil or back water
at the slightest hostile movement on
the part OF tho enemy. 1t was II
moment that seemed an age of awful
suspense to the green hand, but
suddenly the captain had n fair
mark presented, aud pressed tho
trigger. The boat quivered under
tho shock accompanying tho report,
and the eye could plainly catch the
flash of the harpoon as it cleavcd
the air and buried itself out OF
sight somewhere in the right shoul,
dor. Attached % tho steel missile
was the stolt wlu'lln line cDlel iu
tho bow, aad il bore tue appRr.
Guco Of Il fash of brown lightning "a
it Aigzpggol through tho air after
it's powerful motor. Tho whale
hardly seemed to comprehend tho
trouble that had oyortaken her ut
first ana il was fully half n minute
before she emitted an angry snort
aud started for the bottom at rate
that made tho line smoke sud emit
sparks las 1t rnu over TOO 'yows.
Both tho captain and tho boat
steerer peered uneasily into the
clear depths as the line stopped run
ming, and minute later the former
shouted : "Back all Back hard!
Tho five ashen bludos bent
AMI qniverod with the strain put
on them, but it was mono too much,
as the boat was scarcely u dozen feet
away when the hugo bulk of the iu-
furiated whale rose to tho surface
and spouted twin columns Of brine
high in the air, bucket or two
seeking the back of the reporter =
neck for resting place as it de,
scended. Before tho animated wa
terspout could repeat the dose the
bont was ont Of range, both Of the
iire,eXtinGuishing apparatus anl
the terrible dukes that Eoon CONS
menced to thrash the water iutu
foam. Her contortions we've so vic.
lent that the Captain could not gel
in shot with his bOmb-gNG, wblch
he raised and lowered hall II dozen
times without pulling tue triggo!
Finally the Aukes quit their thrash
ing, aud liku fash tho lcviathaI
dashed away at terrific rate, barry
ing the boats bow between two
walls Of the water fully eighteen
inches high, but the speed was 0nch
that scarcely drop entered the
boat. This gait was kept up for /
good ten minutes, Gnl then tha
speed commenced to shckon, an,
tha Ivnunlal unnpsINr s,yntn ougil ,
and quietly on top Of tho water,
The living tug came to tota
standstill at last, and pulling around
to broadside position tho Captain
was given his opportunity.
81 The second explosion was follow.
ed by tho whistliug of the rubber,
winged bomb, which buried itself il
tho great mass of blubber with ,
dull karchug. Scarcely had the
smoke cleared away from the bow
before the mutllsd boom of the
bomb exploding in tho historical
residence of Jonah sounded th,
death-knell of tho poor old whale
The victims hugo bulk grew animat'
ed again, but for only moment
The aukes thrashed violently for I
few seconds while the waterspouts
became tinged u warm rcd. Strug