The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-08-14

An Exciting Catch Made off the
Island Of Bermuda
Harpooner's Thrilling Ride on
the Loviathan's Back

In years gone by there vas a whal-
ing station 10 Bermuda-this speek
lying upon the Bosom Of the Atlantic
ocean, seven hundred miles east by
south Of New York aud GOO miles cast
Of Charleston, s O. But Of late years
tue whales have been living "avay
up Ia the North sea, aud tho indus
trg has been abandoned. Recently,
however, the writor had a thrilling
experience during the capture Of
whale on the reefs Of these coral isles.
While tho stanch steamer Trinidad
was nearing the coast, captain Frazer
spied a school Of eight whales. The
sun was at its zenith aud rs rays
shimmered from tho whales backs
No such leviathans Of the sea had
been seen in this noighborhood for
many years, and the fact was signalcd
to the islands. BY code Of military
flag signals this information was soon
known from one end OF the group to
the other.
Presently Joseph O. Foxand a crew,
in the whaleboat Shamrock, put out
from the shore and started in pursuit.
AT the same time pilot was brought
in a skif to the Trinidad, and the
writer, on informing the captain that
he represented the Spy, was allowed
to leave the ship in u small boat The
Trinidad passed on with its joyous
passengers, and the whalers went in
the opposite direction. BY this time
the whalers had divided into three
groups-two in one group, and three
each in the other two groups. Mr..
Fox decided to attack one Of the
whales in the third group, aud, TAX
ing advantage Of a change in the direc-
ton Of their course, he so maneuvred
the Shamrock as to get directly in the
path Of the nearest whale.
AS the monster approached, quite
unconscious of danger, for a sperm
whale cannot see an object lying
directly ahead, a skilllul movement
of the steering oar brought the boat
within five feet of the whale and en-
abled Mr.. Fox to send a well-aimed
harpoon into its body near the right
fin.
This made "his vhalelets" mad, for
instantly his tail few straight up in
the air and he began what is termed
sounding" -that is diving straight
down. The coil of rope ran out so
rapidly that it kept three men busily
engaged in drenching it with water to
prevent fire by friction. The whale
was a good diver, for he stayed under
half an hour before ho came up to do
his ''spouting."
While he was in the act Of throw
ing off the vnporized water, which was
just beginning to form pretty siphon,
Mr.. Fox fred bomb lance, which
exploded in the whales side. This
enraged the monster so greatly that
he upset the small boat with his tail,
and threw one whaleman high into the
air. The man fell on the whales
back, and while holding on to the har-
poon, rode several miles before it oe-
Cured to him to get off and suffer
himself to be rescued by his compan.
ions, who in the meantime, had been
picked up by the larger boat The
hero of the hour was the one who
rode on the whales back, Isaac Nadele,
native of Ohio, who had served il
the French army during the Franco
Prussian war. He has had many ex
citing adventures, but he voluntarily
told the Spy representative that it was
the first time he was ever really
frightened.
Then the attack began again
There were many thrusts of the har
pooh, while the bomb lance was free
occasionally to vary the monotony.
The "big fish" did not "sound" an.
more, but lay most Of the time on thu
surface Of the water, rolling and beat
ing the sea with its fms and tail
After struggle Of two hours and
half the whale succumbed, and an
other half hour suhiced to strap u
the carcass and take it in tow.
1t was fifteen miles from land. Tn
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