The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-04-10
NORWEGIAN WHALE HUNT
EXCITEMENT OF A CHASE AFTER
THE MONSTERS OF THE SEA.

In the Middle OF q Flock OF Giants Of
the Sea-An Enormous Blue Whale
"Full Speed Ahead pa Shot at the
Game--A widowed Whale.
We are in tho middle OF focS OF giants
Of the sea. The enormous brown and blue
DO lies rise out Of the sea; tho back Is bent
upwarI, it looks like the bottom Of u cap
81 @ snip; it disappears, but the sea 10
ZONES almost calm where the whale went
down, and several minutes elapse before the
waves are able TO conquer the calm From
time to time de9p.au!l spcrts ara heard,
thuniering AMI tren tdg, a il tn, deepest
st ings OF do en- douDle-baSses were being
play ed down below; TN at Others, sharp
swLih.ng sound like an enormous fountain
suddenly set to play, and column OF
cryst.l spray as end, some thirty feet into
the air. The gigantic, gli,tennS body APP
pears on the surface; tho back is bent up
ward second, and it again disappsars 1t
looks as if the whale wai warm and com
Portable enough; the sea water, TO Us look
ing so cold, plays pleasantly around it; hot
steam issues from its dilated nostrils, and 1t
seems ike man en- Dying refreshing
morning dip. During the last quarter of
an hour we have seen some forty whales,
but non9 have 1one within range The
gun h ~ no certainty much beyond thirty
yards, so that tho whale must To nearly
under the ships bow when firing.
A GREAT COLUMN OF DAMPNESA
AS We stan looking at this magnificent
spectacle, the water close around tho ship
suddenly becomes light green in color, and
somewhat calm Thea deep, heavy thun-
der, the ship trembles from stem to stern n
great column of danpneSS is shot into tho
al, drenching US ali; dull snort, AMI an
enormous b ue whale rises out Of the sea u
few yards On our starbolr d side. Now tho
captain will fire. We think, involuntarily
holding on to tho wire rigging; but Foyn
stands by his gun without maSing the least
moyen., Mt and the neXt second tho whale
again descends into It's w,tery home. The
range vas proba ,ly not good one
lew minutes after the same thunder, the
same sensation, the Same column and the
sam snort-another whale appear, on tho
port ide. The captain turns the gan, while
we wat IA with boating hearts the move
ments of the animal as well as his own
Every secon seems an eternity. lie raises
the gun, aims Alas h avy sea strikes the
vessel heels her over; the gun is lowered
but the whale is gone. They seem all TO
have disappeared now, not pun to be
seen.
We stand and talk about tho incident
and somebo ly suggests to go aft and have
smoAe; when suddenly two whales are
seen s0ne distance OF, now going side 5y
side nov behind ea h other The helm Is
tlIrne /, and we follow them in hot haste
throA w.nl and waves complete
silen reigns on board during the pursuit,
only nov and then urol, IL by the captains
shot words OF command, who stands lallnly
wat him the animals. Now the vessel
heels ov r-the wha are within range
Stop" sounds in the engineroom, But
the speed was too great and we shot p ST
them Full speed ahead" sounds again
Two men at the helm Tbs vessel turns
swiftly, and we separate the couple. The
whales disappea" We 70 iow the direction
they are tn ing and loos,-a little before
Us the SEA becomes emerald green. Slow
ugau he vessel II owes owly forward
and the whale ieappears twenty yards OIL
Stop" shouts the captain.
A REPORT EENDS TIE AIR.
The GLn IS tn mel, raised, and again low
erei-not a sound Is heard on hoar1r-the
whale has putfedtha back is bending; the
captain aims--and a tauuGti = l,I urt rcul3
the mir, and makes ths YES ct a. mN.' ia
syey section We have tenet al. Clls
with 9 cry rye strain Il, and hardly feel
the icy foam of the ga which Jcdews the
rueei; and benumbs the hanis.
Did you hit hlm.' we shout to tho cap
tain
Don't know" is the lacoui' answer. AL
most absurd 10 att 'mpt it IN such sea; one
risks losing the gear and frightening the
whale"
In the meantime all tho crew are busy
i IL. l ..,..,
still in doubt wdeth we have hit him, but
the suspense does not last long, as immedi-
ately look out is shouted 10y the captain,
and the line runs out with terrific sped and
great noise Full speed ahead, is shouted
fellow; bat this ship is running double her
highest speed, such is the strength of the
whale whica has her in tow The animal is
fleeing at the top Of its speed, and We follow
right through the lreaking seas Ten min
ues pass Iy-they seem ten hours-when
suddenly bloUd-S;r9 aked column Of water
is seen on the horizon 1t is our whlle.
Another moment, and Clear one Is 5 Ell.
1t is his companion which follows h r
wounded mate Both 20 down; the limo
Jloes not run so fast. the wounded whale
appears on Q or twice more, when he sinks
The whale is dead After while the haul
ing-n begins very carefully an! finally
the great body rises u the surface, lhe
ship heeling over After u few hours hard
work in securing the monster to the vessel
with chains and ropes, thl course is sha ped
for homr
What do you think Of it, captain | ask
Not bad" he answered simply. steward
give the crew a frink all around. And let
us have something to eat
The Whale measured more than eighty
feet in length.
On,e more his widowed mate takes
turn round the ship, when she stands out to
sea; while we, with our noble spoil III tow
slowly make for the whale station ia Souis
Neranycr { Numbers Journal
The Animate and Illuminate in a Fire.
Three nights ago Mr. Israel Sw.tzhcimer,
South Clark street pawnbroke", was
awakened by the smell o. smoke He and
Al.