St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-05
LIVELY SPORT.
Shooting Whales Off Province
town---A Three Hours Fight
With q Monster

Shooting Whales Off Province
town---A Three Hours Fight
With a Monster.
For the past two weeks small school
of right whales has been seen from the
shore sporting around in the bay off
PrOvincetOwn, Mass, but the whales
managed to keep beyond reach until
last Friday, when the schooner John w.
Smart, Capt. Smith, got within reach of
one of them in seine boat. The whales
when first sighted were, says the ST.
John On. b. Sun, ten or twelve
miles off Race point and slowly
worked up into the bay. Capt
Smith followed them with his vessel,
and, when within short distance of
them, manned his boat, which was
quickly fitted with two whale guns,
straps and all the spare ropes on board,
and cautiously rowed up to the school.
The whales were rather shy, but, after
much hard work, he managed to get
within shooting distance. He quickly
darted a lance into monster bull
whale, the king Of the herd. with all the
force he could muster. Then, grabbing
his whale gun, which lay within easy,
reach, he shot an explosive bomb into
the monsters head. AS the boat slid
along, the captains brother, who was
steering the boat, placed another bomb
from his gun near the first.
Then commenced some exciting work.
Down went the whale, but the bombs
had done their work, and he quickly
came to the surface again and spouted
blood. Back and forth went the whale.
turning in every direction and coming
up where least expected, often, in his
mad fury. throwing his head or his tail
ten feet in the air, and towing the boat
ten or twelve miles in ALL Suddenly
the line parted and Off he went. Finally
his struggles ceased. The boat ap-
preached and the whale was made fast
to buoy or anchor. Capt. Smith came
INTO port after a whale boat. which is
lighter and more easy to handle than a
heavy seine boat, obtained some new.
strong lines, bombs and other appa-
ratus, and started out again at mid
night in order to be on the spot at day.
light in readiness should the school
still remain in the bay.
When morning broke the cry rang out
from man OH watch, "The1e she blows.'
Again all was excitement on board the
schooner. She was worked up as
near as possible, the boat was again
manned, and started for the encounter.
They were soon fast to another whale
with iron and stout line. This time it
happened to be COW whale, and She
showed signs of fight immediately.
1t required man of skill, daring and
good Judgment to handle the boat and
keep her out of the reach of the power
full t1ukcs, one blow from which would
make kindlingwoOd of a boat. The
same tactics were taken by this whale as
by her consort. Back and forth she
went, turning at sharp angles and circlfng
around the boat, sounding and coming
up, throwing first her head high out of
the water, then tossing her tail still
higher in her fight for life. Capt Smith
in the bow and his brothers in the stern
were on the alert and following her
every move. First the order would be
''Pull ahead!" and then as she came
dangerously near, it would be ''Stern
all!' and at opportunity an explosive
bomb was fired into some vital part.
Three hours she fought her purSuers
before she showed signs of weakening.
and thirteen bombs were exploded in
her body. Her bloody spouts kept
growing darker and darker, until finally
she sounded to the bottom and remained
sulking, occasionally rolling over and
was freed from the whale.
Night coming, the chase was aban-
doned. The whale which had been
killed the day before was looked after
and made more secure, and the schooner
was headed for home. The steamer
Longfellow was chartered to go out
after the whales, and started about
O'Clock Sunday morning. The first
whale was left buoyed nine miles off
Race point and the steamer was headed
for sea, searching for the wounded
whale. After an unsuccessful search of
an hour the buoys and anchors were
picked up. and the first whale towed to
the oil works at Herring cove. About
noon the schooner found the other
whale floating dead.
The two whales. as they now lie on
the beach, represent value of
about $1,000 in oil and bone. which will
make handsome wages for Capt. Smith
and his crew for their three days work.
This is the whale from which is pro
duced the whalebone of commerce.
valued at present at nearly 81 pound.
The whales have been visited bv MANY
old whalemen, who say that they are
among the best they ever saw. 1t is
something new for right whales to be
away from their habitation, and there is
no reason why they should be here.
though the old Wfalers have their
theory, and every one is different from
the other. The other whales are also
in the bay, but are shy.
Ritter Observation-Disclosures