West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-11-05
CAPT. CASTLES WHALE.
Monster of the Deep Usej . riiotbost
FOR n Scratching-pose.

FOR n Scratching-pose.
One night the pilotboat Lady Mine,
Capt. Steve Castle, was lying becaimed
nbout ten miles southwest OF the main
Faralloacs, says the San Francisco
Examiner. Not ship was In sight,
and tho cGrtain improved the oppor-
tnnity to shit the schooncr's canvas
for her lighter summer suit. All
hands were engaged on the work. and
70 secure more room the yayylbcat
used for boarding vcSsels was hcaved
over the side and made fat astcrn by
Blk o. eight fathons OF painter.
The sea was fail of whales, loliiug
about on tho CLASSY surface, PLAYING
And blowing, and emitting an uuplcas-
ent, oily oaor, rs whales arc wont to do
when the sun il shining, the air Is still,
md tbs water smooth. Oac particulars
Iy big fellow OF the 1abSclS variety,
commonly called California grays, Iaan-
ifcsted r1uch interest aal camc cloag-
Side to invcst;,at2. Tho first notice OF
Ills approach waa received from tro-
fnentlous focl5 OF arsaall scabirds that
Skinned along the surface, flying
down TO snatch their food OF parasites
every time the whale came TO the sur
face. All the birds few away when the
whale sounded cables length from
the Lady Mine. and the crew thought
he had taken his Departure. In this
they were erroneous, for IN about two
minutes the schooner set up violent
rocking, huge black bulk suddenly
doomed up alongside, there was sound
rs of escaping steam, and half the deck
was wet with a cloud OF ill-smelling
spray
1t was an awful big whale for fn-
back. 1t was longer than the Lady
Mine, which measures eighty-threo
feet.
When he came UP he touched the
schooner, but did it very gently, not
with jar or a bump, but with u slow
upheaval that simply showed the vessel
off sideways and caraened her over q
little until her round bottom slid of the
monsters back. The whale appeared
highly delighted, and repeated the per.
formance. For two hours he was never
two hundred yards from the Lady Minc,
and half the time when he WIS ebove
water tho crew could have touched
him by simply extending their hands
over the side. A dozen times ne rubbed
against her side, but always with the
frst contact, and often his hinge IN
protruded above the rail as big as
boat sail.
He was al old bull and his back and
head were literally covered with
barnacles. II was to rid himself of
these that he rubbed up against the
boat. the crew soon learned. Several
times it looked very scary 10 see tho
tcrrible bullr rising swiftly from the
depths of clear water, but he was con-
siderate enough to always slaclscn
speed just before striking, so that the
contact amounted to no more than a
gentle push.
The crew did not mind the whale
using the Lady Mine for baclsscratch-
er rs long as he continued good natured
about it, but they cid protest egainst
the odor and finally,' RRiifJJ.1- an attempt
to drive ~kfsn away. The boatlseeper
prodded hira with sharp pointed spin
maker boom just as he rose near tho
schooner's stern.
Down he went like fash and in his
furry he preached directly across the
little yawl's painter, which was hang.
ing slack foot or so beneath the sur
face of the water. Ono OF his flulScs
caught the line and as the sever
nj tons of blubber and whalcmeat went
down the yawlboat went too. The bow
plunged under with terrific dash ard
the oars and Loose tottor-boards Of the
boat few for yards around in all dircc-
tons.
The entire boat was lost TO sight for
over a minute, when II popped up like
cork, full Of water, but right and
tight and perfectly uninjured. The
crew used garniahed language, bailed
the boat ont, gathered up the gear that
strewed the surrounding ocean, and
hauled the rescued craft aboard.
The whale manifested no anger
whatever, but returned IN few minutes
as If nothing had happened. He rubbed
Of a couple or three more barnaclcs us
gently as before, firted his fnOnstrous
tail contenPtuously, and took his de-
parture.