Wichita eagle., 1888-03-02
LONG ISLAND WHALE
AN EIGHT HOURS CHASE OFF THE
EAST END.

EAST END.
How Whale Catching Is Conducted BY
the WhaIemsn Of AmaGansett-The
First Catch of the Season-An Exciting
Chase-The Bomb Lance.
The whale was sighted early, and very
soon the boats were manned under the lead
ership Of competent men. There proved to be
two whales, bull and cow, as they are
designated by the whafemen. They were
playing short distance from the beach, and
at times reared their great bulk on the topof
the surges, looking to an inexperienced obser-
yer like great black threatening rocks, sud-
denly, by some force, sent to the surface.
Then again, with snort like the rush of air
out of a cavity which is suddenly being
forced full of water, the whole mass, without
any other motion would drop out Of sight.
Experienced eyes could trace the motions of
the monsters under water, and tell with some
certainty where they were likely to show
again.
The wind was high, and the sea rolled with
great, heavy, menacing surges upon the
beach The cold was intense, but warmed
with the quick rush of blood dine to the ex-
element of the moment the people rushed to
the beach or thronged the tall towers of the
village churches There is sort of excite
ment IN the shout Of "Whale!" when re-
peated by running men, which is contagious,
and when it rings through one Of these little
towns ACCOMPANIED by the blowing of horns
summoning the crews, and the tramp of
hurrying feet as the hardy men rush away,
leaving other business to answer the sum-
mons and take their places in the waiting
boats, which sends the blood in surges to
ones brain and puts new life in his limbs,
and creates a disposition to shout with the
rest, although he may not know for the life
Of him what all the commotion is about.
The sea did not prevent the launching Of
the boat, and amid the shouts Of PULL"
'sHoldw ''Let her go iveiyp the double
enders were soon beyond the Line of breakers,
and the backs of the oarsmen were bending
to their work, while the ineman and the
boat steerer stood looking seward from their
respective positions in the bow and stern of
the craft
From the shore q shout goes up which is
meant as 'Godspeedn and q recognition Of
the first danger passed. The work before
the crews is full of perilous excitement. The
fact that there were two whales in sight, ap-
parently mates, made the work even more
dangerous, for aside from the fact that the
male Is inclined to be more ugly, the female
is apt to break up the best calculations Of the
seamen in their attempts to kill the male
and at the same time keep clear Of his tire
mendous fukes, and, when victory seemed
near, was liable to rise up under their boats
or in their midst and make the battle one of
desperate struggle for life on the part of
pursuers as well as pursued.
On the boats went. The spray which
dashed over their bows transformed the
clothing of the men into sheets of ice. Some
times the boats would appear with alarming
distinctness on the very top of q huge billow
which, despite the bending oars, seemed roll
ing them irresistibly toward the shore, where
hundreds Of anxious friends watched the
battle. If it were desperate struggle to re-
ieve shipwrecked crew, the fight of these
hardy men against the forces of nature would
be heroic; as it was it evidenced q high stand
ard of personal bravery. Every time the
boats appeared, disappeared and reappeared
on the swell, it was seen they were advanc-
ing toward the game. No matter what the
excitement on the shore, in the boats all was
calm and deliberate. Once the wind brought
the hoarse notes Of Capt Gabe's voice to the
shore, and the shout, "There she blows,
boys" was heard as the boats head was
turned slightly, and it was found that the
old whaler had distanced the other boat and
was heading for the largest Of the two
wha.es.
The boats had gone about two miles to sea.
All sounds except the dull roar Of the ocean
were lost to those on the beach, but earnest
men and anxious women watched the crews
through marine glasses.
"Capt. Gabe Edwards is up with them,r
shouted an old bronzed whaleman, who was
out by age, and whose manner indicated that
he was barely able to stand still on the sand
dune which he had chosen as his point of OBJ
servation "Yes, Gabe is up with 'em. He
has cleared away his harpoon. He is got it
over his head-steady-
out, Gabe-let her go, whiN-bang-b gosh,
he's fast to the big fellow" and the old man
partly slid and ran down the bank, swinging
his arms and hallooing at the top Of his voice,
.'Gabe has fastened to the whale, and sun
dry expressions of delight and evidences of
the excited state Of his mind.
The people on shore ran along the beach to
keep abreast the boats. Capt. Edwards had
thrown his harpoon and fastened to the bull
whale, and the fight had commenced. The
rope was whistling out over the bow with a
sound familiar to the old boatmen and not
unmusical For time they let the monster
have his own way. He started to sea at ter
rible pace, the boat trailing behind. The
rope is tautened, but not sufficient to stop it
The men rest on the oars, ready at the word
of command to "hold, /" pull" or stern all.n
The motion of the whale slackens- He has
sounded The rope must be kept taut, as this
establishes sort Of telephone communication
between the whale and the boat By this the
whalemen are kept informed Of the motions
of the whale. The rope is hauled in slowly
and cautiously. It won't do to get too close
just vet. the wounded whale rises with a
great sigh, which sends the water spoutfns
into the air. She other boats have come up
and the whale is besieged- Suddenly he darts
toward the boats. Monster that he is, over
sixty feet long, he moves with almost light
ming speed The line Is hauled IN Is rapidly
as possible, and the oarsnen are backing
water as fast as they can "took cut fer
him. shouts Capt Gabe, as the huge tail Of
the whale rises high In the air and after de
scTibing two or three graceful sweeps, comes
down with . crushing blow upon the water,
throwing the icy spray In every direction
and nearly swapping one OF the veneresoEne
boats. Down he gees again and away uEaer
one Of the boats, and Oh like shot toward
Montauk point But the whale was not
quick enough to escape fcur bomb lancas,
which in rapid SUCCESSION pierced his tough
hide.
They failed 10 reach . vital spot, and only
added to the rage Of the whale. Out goss tbs
line again The crews are nearly periSGed
with the cold, but they have 10 time 70 think
OF that The whale Is worto tSun he