The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-06


that something OF the glory and emoluments
of thu, ancient harpooner are once more at
tached to the successful boat header. w
Two weapons employed in killing.
Whalers call the first one u :" darling gun" 1t
is queer-iookinG contrivance. mounted on q
wooden shalt from eight to ten feet long. and
bearing more resemblance to clumsy three;
tnel iork with the tines of eaual size and and
is the gun. and the others nre respectively the
ha,poon and the trigger, But tho harpoop is
ssn s i iron apo some and in
length; with u loop near the butt to which tho
whale line pIr,Ycr Is made fast Hall q dozen
riv.t. When closed for penetrating. this hinge
rres mt u harp. cutting edge and a gradual
n move nee" through the bIubber. avn
The slightest resistance from the rear. such
Ele ,aint to right angles and the lower end Of
tho hinge presents n broad concaye surface
Tns ion penet.ates much ,deeper than any
whse fe "a% in ash any followed OWE IN event
| the bomb fails to do Its work
proper aud a queer. Ionking gun it is: 4 cop
rer cylinder an inch to an inch and hall In
diameter, firmly fastened to little squire ,ne
Is visible OF the mechanism. and there is moth
| ing to suggest gun, about either cylinder or
ever. and when that is opened n lor k and trig-
ger are disclosed. which connect with tho
mira tine. pn 1ne lnSluS OF tne bON tus tTlk-
gsr tlre. an ounce Of powder in the butt Of
tho cylinder. and this prorcls the bomb from
the mouth Of the cylinder, ut tho same time
chamber 81 the bomb.
Tho bomb looks more like brass railroad
destruction. 1t is slightly larger than a rail
road spiHS.s; however. and Is CHARGED with
fata commotion in the int Interior OF the largest
All uni ,rstanding Of tho simple method Of
n ON la mi ia al pt ~
Guilty. Tho bow is the location OF the whaler
VINO plays the part Of tho harpooner of old.
lust back Of the fin. Twenty-Five feet is con-
sdered long cast. hut there are q few much
iRh This 1thot Ens n ang Of 'Hl ep
accuracy of aim. Tho keen toGG!e iron. pushed
~ the weight Of the other hammer pcnetrates
the soft bluuucr to u depth Of four or live feet
u;:l to hold It 70 tho heal of the wooden shalt:
Gsoo tim thrd Il line Of
trigS"r performs IL; its Part. THIS triEggeris
IN Violent contact. end on. with tho whales
hide when thI corner cylInder servin: us a
If" rs rod assnf th or tn
| trigger: this explodcs the powder charge and
nrIowler G i, spee%ds The 93me After the
| the outlying blubber.
| from whales standpoint. but when that ex-
plOsiOn Of t0nin occurs in his inner con cious-
ness II Is usually SulIccnI 10 put any thoughts
| OF future existence out Of his head Not al
| ways. though; rho bomb may not so near a
vital spot ~ the fuse may n OF ignite tho tpnite
| and there Is IN anxious minute or two while
| the monster goes below. impelled by the
| shock Of his wounds. II he comes up in a
| Hurry. as whaIemen call the death agony,
| well and good. but II there is nm intelligent
| yigor in his movements, hetokening II desire
for revenge or escape, there Is another bomb
| CUR. Tor which tho mead killer in the bow has
| exchanged his dartIn. gun. This latter. by the
| way. is MI rcrovo ed but tho bomb. The pow
| dor charge ri liz it Of tho bomb and the toggle
| iron AMI the gun and tho Fri ggcr remain fixed
! to til" wooden shaft. which is connected with
| tho boat by II few fathons OF light line.
! The real whale line l. Fast to tho toggla iron,
whirrng ont of its tub to such lmitless longt his
| that thrrois no possibility OF the whales drag.
gng the boat down with him. IL is II light line
| but tough. and whale couldtowi boat around
| by il all dav without iear OF its breaking.
| Tho guns reserved for tho finishing bomb
| ara Of two patterns. One Is I'm extremely
| heavy affair. bordering or being young can
| whio tho uther Is large edition OF tho cut on
! shotgun, with u cushion OF rubber In the stock
| to save tho shoulder Of the man who fires IT,
| Tho hOmt,s are of the same character as those
| used in tho hand propelled darling gun. but
ar" larger and moro symmetrical In shape
| ana arc icathorod with rubber. arrow fashion,
| to inSur" their voynging end on.
| whal"mnn don't care IL IL takes half n dozen
81 thcm to Eil! If they only get the bovhead.
| lho hnwheAd = Jaw contains loo pounds OF
| lone on nm average. 50 that there is aprOiit
| over the cost of an extra bomb or two. espe-
| claliy when bone Is in demand at 81 per pound