The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-10-28

{: In the Pacific some whales are very
friendly, especially of the coast Of Los
Angeles county, GAL, where on more
than one occasion they have astonfshed
if not alarmed sailing parties who have
been becalmed. These whales, it should
be said, are perfectly harmless, and
their attentions are merely from curiosi-
ty. but to have several Of theme huge
creatures from 40 to so feet long float
ing about In close proximity is not alto
gether pleasant. What is supposed to be
the same whale has earned a reputa-
ton for friendliness. and during tho
summer months 1t frequently seems to
meet lnrge steamer that plies OF
shore, and either follows IL. along or
plays about, entertaining the passen.
gers by sponting. On one trip the whale
placed itself ahead Of the steamer and
swan with 1t SO deliberately that the
captain was obliged to slow down and
finally step, fearing to run into the huge
creature.
Perhaps the most remarkable instance
OF friendliness on the part of whales
was experienced by the owner Of yacht
that sailed from one Of the southern
Oaiifo11,ia porta She became becalmed
the second day out. and suddenly four
or Ave large whales camo alongside and
Ter several hours amused themselves at
she expense Of the Grew, who were q
good deal frightened. They rubbed their
backs against the bottom Of The yacht
and blow and spouted so that the drops
tell upon tho decks. II the yachtsmen
had thrown over some oil OF other dis
agreeable fluid, they would seon have
Cotton rid Of these companions. whi' \
only left them when breeze sprang up
aud they got undcr way.
Fishermen on the Atlantic coast are
occasionally troubled with inQuisitive
whaleR One boat or dory was followed
for miles, the whale once gently lifting
IL and rising beneath 1t, terrorizing tho
fisherman, who pulled for the shore as
fast a. he could, the whale following
until the water began to shoal.
Why whales should follow vessels
might seem a mystery, but tho solution
is that in all probability they consider
the vessel o companion, another whale
Of some kind. This was we'll illustrated
on the California coast by a whale
which evidently took the ship Plymouth
for ono Of its kind. This whale was q
sulphur bottom. about 90 feet in length,
and it joined the ship of the Golden
Gate as It left San Francisco and re-
NAMED by 1t through the entire voyage
to Realejo, South America The big
hah soon became . nuisance It swan
alongside i'll suoh close proximity that
it's breath discolored the paint Of the
ship. Then It would rise gently beneath
the keel, which would cut aud tear 1t.
At other times 1t would swim along d.
rectly in front and keep the crew in
constant fear Of collision that might
under certain circumstances dismast tho
ship The men tried almost every device
they could think Of to drive tho whale
away. They shot at it with rifles and
pistols, struck itwith pieces Of wood
and bombarded it with bottles and hot
Goals a. it came up. but all 10 no pur.
pose It went on keeping company"
until the ship finally entered such shoal
water that it was obliged to sheer Of. )
The sooiability Of dolphins and por-
poises is we'll known, their graceful
gambols about the PROV Of vessels being
q very common sight. No matter how
rapid the pace, these attractive creatures
10 time their motions that they pass and
repass the flying cutwster with the
greatest case.
The close proximity Of such large AMI
mails to vessels might suggest possible
danger, yet fatalities are rare and few
are known where the whale has not
been attacked. The terrible incident Of
the Essex is perhaps the only one. Here
the whale was run down by the ship,
the shock from the contact being 50 Sc.
we're as to throw the crew to the deck
and almost dismast the vessel. The
whale swan oil and few moments
later the lookout cried out that it Wal
coming for them ON the surface. The
tnimsl was inspired by revenge, and 81
full speed struck the ship in the bow ~
powerful blow that the bow was crush.
ed in, and the vessel went TO the bot.
tom ten minutes later, leaving the men
in boats 700 miles from the coast Of
South. America. A survivor Of the acci.
dent still lives in the little town Of San
t. Monica, Cal Cor. New York Post.