Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-08-26
A WHALE HUNT.
Pursuing the Gigantic Fish in a
Boat Containing Two Largo
Guns-The Destructive
Whale Bombs Work.

n santa CruH correspondent vi INC
San Francisco IHa Caiif0rnjG writes:
The quartermaster Of the Aggic re-
turned from n cruise to Monterey this
morning, and is glowing with the
consciousness of his bravery in partic-
ipating in q whale hunt that resulted
in q capture. The Montery Whaling
Company is about the oldest institu-
ton of tie kind on the coast. The
business office, store room, and eating
and sleeping apartments of the COM
pany are in q white abode building in
the western suburbs, and a half mile
further south is high cliff, whereon
is located the company's lookout. He
is armed with q powerful glass, and q
tall mast is rugged with hallards for
hosting q signal when game is sight
ed.
The hunting tools consist of three
of the regulation double pointed boats
in use by whalers the world over, five
long oars to each boat, two hundred
fathoms of line smoothly coiled in
tubs in the bow, and two guns to each
boat. The larger of the two has the
proportions OF young cannon and is
mounted on pivot. The missile dis
charged from it is a steel bar, four
feet in length, and provided with a
folding barb, that opens out when the
harpoon buries itself in the whales
interior. This takes the place of the
old time harpoon, and is much more
certain and effective. The lighter gun
is fired from the shoulder, and looks
like q large sized fowling piece. 1t is
an inch and half bore. 1t is used to
put the finishing touches on the whale
after the harpoon has made him fast,
and the method is to fire an explosive
bomb into a vital spot. The bomb is
an inch and half in diameter by
eighteen inches long, the butt-end be-
ing winged with rubber tips, after the
manner in which an arrow is feather
ed. to secure guiding power. 1t was
early in the morning when the white
signal huttered to the top of the staff
of the mast on the cliff, and, having
previously obtained permission to join
the hunt with Captain Marino, the
quartermaster was speedily seated in
the sternsheets, awaiting the signal to
shove of. This was soon given, and
six miles to the northwest the three
boats came up with their game, which
proved to be an unusually Large spec
linen of the California gray variety.
The gigantic fish rolled laziIy about
on the top of the water, all uncon-
scious of impending danger, and did
not even deign to notice the approach
of the boats that came up on either
side and behind her. A hundred feet
Gway the men lay on their oars, ana
Captain Mariana sighted over his
swivel-gun. The men bent over their
oars, with every muscle ready to pull
or back water at the slightest hostile
movement on the part Of the enemy.
1t was moment that seemed an age
of awful suspense to the green hand,
but suddenly the captain had fair
mark presented, and pressed the trig-
ger. The boat quivered under the
shock accompanying the report, and
the eye could plainly catch the flash
of the harpoon as it cleaved the air
and buried itself out of sight some
where in tie right shoulder. Attach
ed to the steel missile was the stout
MANILA line coiled in the bow, and it
bore the appearance of q flash OF
brown lightning as it zigzagged
through the air after its powerful
motor. The whale hardly seemed to
comprehend the trouble that had over
taken her at first, and it was fully half
O minute before she emmitted an an
cry snort and started for the bottom
at q rate that made the line smoke
and emit sparks as it ran over the
bows Both the captain and the boat
steerer peered uneasily into the clear
depths as the line stopped running,
and minute later the former shout
ed "Back all Back hard ~ The