The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-30

TIE Career a.a THE A~to,ishinr last Ex-
pictt or wicked Bii, the Whale.

Cppvrich. 1898. BY Charles q. L.,ri.
We were running down between the Azore
and Madeira when l got my first sight OF tn
whale which had been known to the whalinI
fleet for five years as Wicked Bill A whal
known as Mocha Dick had a career OF ten O
twelve years. Another known as Dom Pedr
destroyed eight boats and killed fifteen me-
and passed out OF sight after sevcn or elgh
years. The whale known as Wicked Bill mad
his debut. so to speak. of the Falkland islands
Cape Horn. where he STAYED two boats an,
carried on two harpoons belonging to tn,
ship Yankee Land OF Nantucket. He was esti
mated to be sixty feet long. and ut some tim,
he had Injured his head in such n manner NJ
to leave a V-shaped scar plainly visible n goot
distance away. on the mouth of tho l.,
Plata, the Same season he STAYED II boat AM
carried of q harpoon belonging to the bari
Chieftain OF, Aberdeen. 1t was the custom
which had escaped after creating any hnyae
or, which had displayed an UNUSUAL,
Of seasons Wicked Bill was. pretty we'll knowt
to all whnlemen. Daring tho first five year.
destruction. of more than a dozen whulsboats
entailing q loss OF almost as many lives. bur.
Ing that time he was hsrpooned nine or ter
Orel. cspied. him In the north Atlantic. one
afternoon with u harpoon sticking out Of his
body that his activity was greatly interfcred
with. lie was rolling about on the surface
astern. but at - O'clock. without any one
aboard having cauEht sight Of him or suspect-
Ing his lpresence. he came rushing down from
the windwnrd. struck tho craft atnidships. and
fifteen, minutss later she was on her way to
the bottom. The crew got away, in the yawl
was circling round the spot at the time. Tho
boat was fortunately picked up next day. and
bIs OF Ti"@Sii, Wicked pf Blil' VIA ist aot'I 'nov es last as posi-
The whaling ship James Crosby OF Salem
had a singular adventure with this whale tile
next season. On the morning OF tho 18th OF
April. when she was about 100 miles to tho
east OF Cape St Rogue. with the wind very
rose 10 I'm ,ne s sea without ~ lay white Ian cap; the nsl
ward. and 50 quietly tina. the first sign Of
MS presence vas the peculiar odor always
her company. His identity was establishes at
attempting his capture. on the contrary. or n.
ders We're given. for tho crew to move about as
quietly as possible. and the course Of the craft
was changed from south to southwest. The
whale shifted his course to keep her company.
She was then headed due west. but he still kent
bel, original, course Wicked Bill was still a
cables length to windward; After q few weeks
MAROON 1a driven hs en into 2 whale rusts OF close to
portion OF the iron remaining in his hluhber
may cause him no pain it creates a swelling.
such spots were to be seen on the side OF the
whale nearest the ship. He maintained his
puHllOu iTOln q TO " q CLOCK. ana tnen suddenly
and silently sank from sight. Twenty. eight
days later. and, 100 miles to the southeast. the
Tr5Sosh nI Lowered for a whale Just after dinner;
lanced., He was In his death throes and cir.
reeosnized as m"WSfi Wicked T Bill. b Mn.sh sS elose m ban
Side him; shot upward until he seemed to
other and carried at,; hin him o u Of of s sient af TRs line ine
had to be cut to prevent the boat being drawn
under M and neither whale was seen again.
three years after the first. and l am one OF the
nve or six men still living who got a last view
Of Hb hin: / was one Of the crow Of the Plymouth
about 200 miles to the west OF the island of st.
Helena; He was tail on to us and making
i9osoHt. and 1fe Therefore had no show to
identity w. him nn. ] was alo;t with a glass when
always felt sure the whale got instant warn.
s .1fi nj stoned IN c fI%est 9 Whom Sns9 ht and BE- 'SSs ssa
shaped scar, and sailed out 90 the Captain
that he miaht stop the boats; They had got
faith in the many tough yarns he had heard
about this fish no decided to let them have a
try Ht hun; ddtopr proved to he TIE worst thing he
lead and got, within striking distance first. As
soon as the harpo,on entered. the whale sottled
like q wild locomotive. preaching hi full
the mates boat with the waves kicked up by
his fall. He rested a moment and then slowed
around and started for the boat. Hs caught
tiers OF It and Killed three men at the same
time. For five minutes the mate. who was
the fish and rubbing against his body. but he
finally pushed himsslf clear and reached one
boats at his mercy. but f%pns some nn reason ase an Wss
satisfied with the destruction Of the first. Per-
haps 1t WAS becau So the others remained per
fectly quiet while he seemed to be searching
for them. Fifteen minutes after destroying
the boat he moved slowly away. and those WHO
were at this time over half full Of oil.
One hundred and fourteen days later. when
d d9Xca miles IN w tss south Of the Htya isIna1 W. Of sut Tristan K stan
last whale. cleared the decks OF the tryworks,
end set our coarse for Plymouth; We were
OF the best seasons on record. In about three
ths w we had the ship cleaned up and most of
We were about to begin painting when. at
noon on the fourth or Nth day after turning
on our heel for home. a whale suddenly
than. 300 feet away. I was at the wheel at
the time. and We were going or beforeh four
as he broke water. ana the sight OF him
standing on his tai caused me TO- shout an
he fell back on the water. ana It seemed to ali
His fall raised, three or four waves. which
in "a gale. and though tue mon ster had settled
WAY out Of sight at once we had identified
as W lckcu Dill. IL may seem queer 10 you |
10 read that every man aboard. from captain
70 apprentice. was badly frightened AS soon as
t WAS known that our old enemy had hunted
as down. as it wore. We had left him almost
our months before ut a poil. 1000 miles
away. and vet he had overhauled us. as II he
had been a steamer sent IN search and in
'ormel rs to our cruising ground. His breach
,ng SO near us WAS taken as evidence of his
'vil intentions. and some argued that he had
meant to strike the ship.
All work was ut once suspended. and the
men were ordered to move around the decks
IN tiptoc. We hoped Tho leviathan had not
'ron us. and TINT his preaching 81 close
board was uuite accidental. and after half an
lolIr had passed away without further sight
him everybody began to feel easier. 4 man
lad Just started aloft with n glass to scan the
'ea whom the whale rose to tho surface about
stones throw to w~indward. In most cases u
whale comes to the surface head on and
trusts at Toast half his length out, oil water.
n sounding he generally goes down head first.
nd his fukos whip the water as they disap-
'ear. But a whale can rise TO the surface
n a horizontal position so quietly AS
careely to cause u ripple. and hs can
ettle away AS rapidly rs II he had
ons Of rock pulling him down. Wick
ID BIZ had simply toatedt to tho surface. head
hief was brewing, Not II stroke OF work was