Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-09
A WHALE IN THE RIVER.
Alsperm spOuttng mOnstsF Said 60
Have Bsen Seen in the DeIaxs are.


Alsperm spOutinR mOnstsr said 20
Have kssen Seen in fhe Delaware.
The Philadelphia Times of Sunday
prints the following: The Unusual sight
Of whaling expedition in the Delaware
river will be inaugurated to day. The
object of the whale hunt is sperm Whole,
which has been seen at different points
in the bay and river during the past week
by crews of vessels liz and outward bound
The amphibion is calf and his length is
variously placed at from 80 to 40 feet
His unusual presence in the river is
ascribed to the recent of-hhore gales
which have prevailed for the past two
weeks, and it is believed that in a severe
blow he became separated from a small
school which vas heading of for warmer
water, and that, becoming lost he swan
into the Delaware bay and made his way
up the river. The whale was first seen
by Captain Clark of the schooner viii
liam IL. Rutan, from Lewes, Delaware at
8 O'Clock on Wednesday morning, half
way between the Shears and Brown
buoys Captain Clark places his length
between 80 and 40 feet. The whale
seemed dazed and was swimming in
zigzag manner from shoai 10 sLonl. He
was next seen on Tbursdsy mprrdne by
Captain Sabean Of fhe British barque
Sarah Cam, from StettiIi for this port,
in ballast.
Or Thursday morning, JUS Rfscrhe en-
tered tue blight of New Castle the Nl,,itt
was spoutDg two miles and hal AHEAD
and wa swimming as Though hurt by
contact with the bottom. On the SANE
day Captain Hassenfuss, Of the German
/ ship Sophie from Hamburg for this port
sighted the monster of Red Bank. He
was navigating along just on the surface
Of the water and RpoutinR ne regular in-
tervals Captain Bassenfus9 sized him mp
SIS measuring about 40 fest in length.
John Richardson, one Of tie crew Of the
Philadelphia schooner Thomas A. Shnte,
states that while lying at anchor on We'd
nesdsy night on Reedy Island with ,aut
cable they feitn shock as thongh ano'her
vessel had ran into them and they were ina
qnaudary to know whit caused their mis-
hap. Siucc hearing Of the whale they at
| tribute their misfortune to his striking
the cable.
The only chase the whale has been
given was made by the tug Argus, under
command of Captain Clarence Iiugle.
They sighted him just after the ship
Sophie had passed up and putting on q
full head Of steam mHde chase for him.
AS soon as the whale saw he was being
chased he made toward the Jersey shore.
but striking shoal water lie headed down
the river and was soon lost 10 view.
'tReddy" jackson, boarding house run
ner, who keeps boats at Sou-h street
| wharf, was on beard the Sophie when the
! look. out on the fo'castie sung out that
there was whale ON the starboard bow
He says that the whale went down after
being sighted aud reappeared half hour
later about mile nstern. He was seen
again yesterday OF Delaware City by
some sturgeon fishermen heading up the
river. Expeditions have been organized
at Marcus Hook, Biilingtport, Red Bark
and other river towns, and M effort will
be made to day to concentrate the fleets
and capture the monster Of the deep for
his money value which is estimated to be
between 5000 and $500