The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-03
NOT a ROYAL HARPoR.oNR
Kaiser Wilhelm Kills Whales With Ex-
plosive Shells.
From the London STANDARD.

From the London Standard.
Half an hour before noon on Aug. Is, the
emperor and five gentlemen Of his suite
went on board the whaling steamer Duncan
Grey, while the other gentlemen embarked
on board a companion vessel, the Nancy
Grey. Both vessels belong TO the wealthy
whale fisher, Herr Johannes Gjaver, who
was on board the former, and whose son
was on board the other. He had placed
them at the emperor's disposal in the most
amiable manner They were In holiday
trim, and, considering the nature of the
whale fisher, were very clean, though it
had proved impossible TO get rid Of the all.
pervading odor of train oil.
They are screw steamers, about twenty
meters long and more than proportioually
broad. They make from five to nine knots
an hour, are able to turn very rapidly, and
go with little noise They are painted black,
carry two masts, and can sail il necessary.
The deck, which is only few feet above
the water, Is very small, and is surrounded
by low iron railing. There is a little
cabin in the poop below the deck. On the
foremost top is fastened barrel, in which
a man stands on the lookout. On the
broadly rounded bow stands the gun which
hurls the harpoon.
When che expedition started the wind
was cold and there was considerable swell
There were no whales at the place where
they had Teen reported the day before, aud
the party had to steam on. On board the
Duncan Grey the place behind the funnel
afforded some protection against the cold
wind; the stencil of train oil was too strong
in the cabin. At about + o'clock in the
evening the man in the lookout reported
whales In sight Numerous little fountains
were TO be discerned ON the horizon, being
the water blown out by the whales.
The Duncan Grey now made straight for
the school" and by 6 40 o'clock was among
them. At 1908 O'Clock the harpoon was fired
at whale that swan right in front OF the
bow OF the vessel. A streak of blood marked
its course before the ship, which it dragged
after it for about five minutes. Then the
shell exploded, aqd the fish vanished below
the waves. Soon after it was pulled up by
the rope and fastened alongside. The voyage
back to the shore was slow as the ship had
to tug the whale along with it, 1t was 80
o'clock in the morning before the emperor
stepped on board his o Nn yacht again.
The fountains were visible from the
Nancy Grey at g. At she was SO near the
whales that one could see their enormous
backs from time to time moving like ser
pents above the waves. Soon after, one
heard their snorting aud saw the backs OF
their heads and their uostrils. AS the ship
approached they suddenly dived down and
ESnppchIcA dOOub IbO ulbbOTS OIL on Inc
right or on the left. They swim far faster
than the ship can steam, but as they always
swim in curves the art Of the whale
fisher consists in observing the direction
In which they dive, and then steering so
as to be nearer them on their re-emer-
gence.
a. In this manner. always taking the string
of the bow, the Nancy Grey chased four
whales, which swan one behind the other
SaV1ral timaa he tbaFn that he
passengers were astonished the gunner did
not fire and GOODNESS with which he bided
his time excited their admiration. After
about an hours chase the whale suddenly
appeared right before the bow, right and
left, the third in the procession right in
front and not twenty meters off.
Then the man fired, and the leviathan
vanished amid powder smoke beneath the
waves. The rope. which had been rolled up
on the bow, hoated for a moment on the
water, and was then pulled down by the
sinking monster. which reappeared immedi-
ately after close to the ship on the right, on
a level with the bow incarnedining the
waters. One could just see little bit of
the harpoon sticking in It's back. The shell
must have exploded almost simultaneously
with the shot, for no second defamation was
heard. The whale vanished again. The
ship was thrown rapidly around to the
right lest the fish should get under her.
After about two minutes 1t was seen again,
about thirty meters before the bow, mov-
ing swiftly forward and throwing its
huge jaws vertically out Of the water
Soon, however, it sunk again and was
drawn up lifeless.
Thirty-two meters Of the rope had run
out. The fish re-emerged, hanging by the
harpoon, athwart the bow. A boat was
lowered and the crew fastened strong
chains around the tail and gills The huge
ened in the water to the starboard side Of
the ship. 10 was almost us long as she, Is
meters and more. The Nancy Grey reached
the emperors yacht at $3.50. The value of
such a whale is about 5000 Norwegian
crowns.