The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-02
A SCRAWNY WHALE.
MADE IT WORTH SIXTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS.

The Very Latest Theory as to the Origin
Of Ambe ergris--what IL Is and the Use
Made Of 1.-THE Foundation OF Almost
Every Perfume Formula.
Three spermaceti whales were compan-
ionably floating about in southern waters
one sunshtny DAY not 20 very many years
ago. Two were lne specimens of the genus
pbyseter. The third, howeve: though Of
the same species, was lank and scrawny
and lolled listlessly on the dark blue sur
face OF the gulf stream, while its more ro-
tund and sportivo comrades slashed abous
vigorously and sent the limpid waters far
above them, TO fall In refreshing sprays.
Perhaps IL the two we'll conditioned ami
mails had been less frolicsome and the third
more aroused. they would have been on
the alert for defense. AS it was, a long
narrow boat, pointed nc both ends bore
down unobserved upon them, and the
whalomen sent with unerrlng aim their
weapons straight into two hulky creatures.
The scrawny whale escaped, though it
made no motion to get away.
Next day, TO the amazement of the
wbalenen, tho animal was seen In almost
exactly the same spot, as though inviting
death. We'll, called out the captain OF
the whaling feet, who had been of the
party Of the day before, If you wish TO
die, you poor, crazy lubber, you shall"
And forthwith Ii, too was disposed Of the
easiest tHsk, tho mon ugrcod, that they
had had In many day. But little more
than two barrels Of oil was found In tho
emaciatcd whale Another and vastly moro
important discovery was the largest single
lot of ambergris ever sold in this country.
It was exchanged for check signed by q
well known drug firm Of this city, whose
figures rounded close on 10 $50, 000l Never
had so large check been seen till then in
the little Cape Cod fishing town, where IL
was divided among the whalemon OF the
ship. as each man on whalor receives n
certain percentage Of the proceeds OF the
voyage. The number Of pounds found in
this whale aggregated over $50, valued
at ESQ per ounce, the price paid Tor the
best ambcrgris.
Ii would seem that the animal had sick
ened of a malady caused by the unnatural
growth, and such was undoubtedly the
case, and II Its sufferings had not boon
brought TO an end by tho vhalemen, it
would have fingered till the disease Itself
had finally caused death.
What Is ambergrls' In the "Arablan
Nights" we are told Of eastern beauties
whose cheeks wero marked with moles like
bits OF ambergris, and in the story OF the
sixth voyage Of "Sindbad tho Sailor" we
read in the description Of the place where
the voyagers were wrecked, Here Is also
fountain of pitch and bitumen that runs
into the sea, which the fishes swallow and
then vonit IL up again, turned into am
bergris" That antique author, Robert
Boyle, considered IL TO be Of vegetable pro-
duction md similar 10 yellow amber; thus
Il received Its name, smbor-g -gris--gray am
ber
This and other even more plausible che
ories are but indeed falacles that puzzled
sayants have set forth when they were at
a loss 90 account for it, origin. IL Is now
ascortained beyond "a doubt 20 bo gennrated
by the large headed sperm whale and IA
the result Of a diseased state Of the animal.
The victim Of this rare malady may posi-
bly, throw OF the morbific substance, or
finally die OF the ailmont The disease is
located In the intestinal canal, and some
savants suppose IL 10 be caused by bill
larry irritation. After q deep study on tho
subject several modern scientists have
agreed that the disorder Is akin ~. that