Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-03-16
TOO Coc,AsLE A WHALE.
Experience o. Q United States Gutter
With q fiobaek.

WIN y rtVUWCW.
Longest Of oil the whales, the An. |
back Is regarded by ali mariners as
the least desirable 10 fall in with. He
yields no bone and very little oil, and
Is seldom pursued by the whalemen
on account OF his dangerous propen-
stiles. He will smash more boats, |
run out more line and carry of more
harpoons than any other whale. But
sometimes he is found to be curious
and socially inclined. He will range
up astern or beside ship and ap.
pear to examine the bottom. This
always causes more or less uneasi.
ness aboard, since but u few planks
intervenes between the sailor and
deep. Butts with the head or strokes
with the tail, should the whale be
disposed to give them, might cause
the loss Of vessel.
1t was in the Behring sea that one
afternoon, as the United States
revenue steamer Corwin was forging
slowly along under sail alone, through
q long rolling swell, q finback came
up astern. He rose and sank with
great regularity. and gained steadily
upon the ship. He presently
reached the ruddsr, ut which he
seemed to smell; Then giving loud
puff or blow he showed some fifty
feet Of his great hack above the sur.
face Of the water and sank slowly,
ranging as he did so along the star.
board side. He next was seen close
to her bi!ge slowly rising to the sur.
face to blow. lie came up with
scarcely three feet between him and
the vessel, and the spray from his
spouting fell upon her deck. He
slowly sank again, passed beneath
the keel, and rose on the other side.
Ho blew once more. settled, and
Ngaiu passed beneath, accommodate.
Ing his speed to that Of the ship.
II was altogether too companion.
able for those on board. many Of
whom had heard OF the fate OF the
haplcss whuleship Essex. sunk years
ago by the attack of u whale In the
South Pacific ocean. This finback
seemed to take the Corwin for q
monster Of his own species with
whom he wished to scrape acqunint.
ance, and 1t was not certain what
demonstration he would next make.
Officers and men were closely watch.
Ing him from tho rails. moving from
side 10 side to view his successive re.
appearances rs he passed and re-.
pissed beneath them. Whether
belligerent or merely playful, there
was an unpleasant element Of dan.
ger in his familiarity. and various
suggestions were made for Kidding
the vessel OF his company.
Get up some rifles, Mr.. Howison, +"
said the captain to the first officer,
rs the whale continued his move.
ments, showing no signs OF depart
ure. This whale Is too sociable.
Let's sting him with few bullets,
and see II we can't get rid OF him. .
Soon half dozen sailors with
breechloaders at ready" were
ranged along the rail eager to begin
ut once the work Of ballasting the
Anback with lead.
Zone ball only ut first" COM
manded the captain. Don't pelt
him SO that he will 60 wild ut once.
Why, men, II lie sends that tail ur
among you, you IRE gone; not Il
speak Of the boats and davits that
would 60 with you. There he comes
now, johnson, you fire. Hit him
Just abaft the blow hole, and lets
see what he'll do"
Crack went the rifle, and "sput'
went the bullet us 1t sunk deep In the
blubber. The whale seemed not tG
mind and settled as before.
"Give him two next time. STAND
by on the other side" cried the cap
tain. There he rises. Now put
them into the blow hole. Try to hi
o bone"
The anxious eyes Of oil on dock
wero watching every motion Of the
whale as his shimmering bulk came
toward the surface. At forty FEEL
depth his color was nearly black. A,
he rose this tint was successfully re
placed by dark green, light green
silver green, until as he reached tho
surface In swash of foam he dis
played che actual dark green gray o
his huge back.
Fought" went the spout just be-
side the bridge, and the rifles
cracked. Tho whale gave q heav,
and went down rapidly, edging as HI
did so some 80 feet away.
"Aha! He doesn't like 1t? Hell
soon DO up again. stand BY ant
give him q volley next time, and let
see him throw himself" said tn
captain.
Soon the monster was seen com
ing to the surface, and six heav!
rifles were aimed, each marksmal
anxious to beat the others. Tn
whale was evidently startled, AN,
meant to 60 down for q good Will
next time, for as he came up he CAV
. heavy blow preparatory to drawing
Q deep breath. His plans wer
Sudely interfered with.
Crash went the volley. Every bull
let seemed to take effect, Up wen
the huge head for an instant, show
ing some 40 feet OF the body. Dow
it came with a splash, and into tn
air went the great tail or fiukes
until over 40 feet of that end OF hin
rose perpendicular from the water
In that position 1t seemed to paus
an instant ere ID went straight down
ward intothe depths. lie had go,
enough OF the Corwn, which ha'
sailed miles away from him when h
reapDear red Mt the surface, and he di