Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-04-27
NORWEGIAN WHALE HUNT
EXCITEMENT OF A CHASE AFTER
THE MONSTERS OF THE SEA.

In the Middle Of Flock Of Giants of
the Sea-An Enormous Blue Whale
Full Speed Ahead "a Shot at the
Game-A Widowed Whale.
of the sea. The enormous brown and blue
bodies rise out Of the sea; the back is bent
upward, it LOOKS like the bottom Of cap
sized ship; il disappears; but the ssa be-
comes almost calm where the whale went
down, and several minutes elapse before the
waves are able to conquer the calm From
time to time deep-dull snorts are heard,
laundering and trembling, as if the deepest
strings OF a dozen double-basses were being
played down below; AMI at Others a sharp
swishing sound, like an enormous fountain
suddenly set to play, and column OF
crystal spray ascends some thirty feet into
the air. The gigantic, glistening body ap-
pears on the surface; the back Is bent up
ward second, and it again disappears 1t
looks as if the whale was warm and com
Portable enough; tie sea water, to US look
Ing so cold, plays pleasantly around it; hot
steam issues from its dilated nostrils, and it
seems like a man en- .oying refreshing
morning dip. During the last quarter OF
an hour we have seen some forty whales,
but ncas have come within range. The
gun has no certainty much beyond thirty
yards 50 that the whale must be nearly
under the ships bow when firing.
GREAT COLUMN OF DAAPyEsS
AS we stand looking at this magnificent
spectacle the water close around the ship
suddenly becomes light green in color. and
somewhat calm. Then a deep, heavy thun-
der; the snip trembles from stem to stern;
great column of dampness Is shot into the
ali, drenching us all; a dull snort, and an
enormous blue whale rises out of the sea
few yards on our starboiri side. Now the
captain will fire, We think, individually
holding on To the wire rigging: but Foyn
stands by his gun without making the least
movement, and the next second the whale
again descends into its watery homo. The
range was probably not good one \
lew minutes after the same thunder, the
same sensation, the same column and the
same snort-another whale appears on tho
port side The captain turns tie gun. while
we watch with beating hearts tine move
ments of the animal as well as his own.
Every seconl seems an eternity. He raises
the gun, aims! Alas. a heavy sea strikes the
vessel, heels her over; the gun is lowered,
but the whale is gone. They seem all to
have disappeared now, not q put to be
seen.
We stand and talk about the incident,
and somebody suggests to go aft and have
a smoke when suddenly two whales are
seen some distance off, now going side by
side, now behind each other. The helm Is
turned, and we follow them in hot haste
through wini and waves A complete
silence reigns on board during the pursuit,
only now and then broken by the captains
short words Of command, who stands calmly
watching the animals Now the vessel
heels over-the whales are within range.
STOP sounds in the engine-room But
the speed was too great and we shot past
them Full speed ahead sounds again.
Two men at the helm The vessel turns
swiftly, and we separate the couple The
whales disappear. We follow the direction
they are taxing and look,-a little before
US the sea becomes emerald groom SLOW"
again The vessel moves slowly forward,
and the whale reappears twenty yards of.
stop" shouts the captain.
A REPORT RENDs THE AIR
The gun is turned, raised, and again low
ered-not sound is heard on board-the
whale has puffed-the back Is bending; the
captain aims-and laundering report rends
the air. and makes the vessel tremble In
every section We have watched all this
with every nerve strained, and hardly feel
the icy foam Of the sea which bedews tho
cheek and benumbs the hands.
Did you hit him.' we shout to the cap
tain.
Don't know Is the laconic answer. al
most absurd to attempt it in such sea; one
risks losing the gear and frightening the
whale
In the meantime all the crew are busy
clearing the line OF the harpoon, and we arc
still in doubt whether we have hit him. but
the suspense does not las. long, as immedi-
ately look cut is shouted by the captain,
and the line runs out with terrific speed and
a great noise. Full sped ahead, is shouted
below; but the ship is running double her
highest speed, such is the strength OF the
W hale which has her in tow. The animal Is
f,cs ing at the top OF its speed and we follow
ri ut through the breakiny Ten min
utes pass by they seem ten hours-when
suddenly blood-s;resked columa Of water
is seen on the horizon II is our whale
Another moment, AM clear one Is sen
II Is his companion which follows her
wounded mate Both 20 down; the line
does not run SO fast; the wounded whale
appears unse or twice more, when he sinks
The whale is dead After a while the haul
ing-in Gegins very carefully, ami finally
the great body rises q the surface, the
ship Keeling over After few hours hard
work in securing the monster to the vessel
with chains and ropes, the course Is sha2tsi
FOR homa
What doyou think o: it, Captain ask
Not bad, lie answered simply. st wsrd,
give the crew drink all around, And let
us have something 70 eat
The whale measured more than eighty
fee; in length
Once more his widowed mate takes a
turn round the ship, when she stands out to
sea while we, with our noble spoil in tow,
slowly make for the whale station in South
N,raas Journal