The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-26
CAPTURING A BIG WHALE.
An Exciting Catch Made by "a whale or
the Island of bermuda


From the Worcester Spy.
In years gone by there was a whaling
station here in Bermuda-this speck
lying upon the bosom of the Atlantic
ocean, 700 miles east by south of New
York and 600 miles east of Charleston,
S. c. But of late years the whales
have been living away up in the
North Sea-" and the industry has been
abandoned. Recently, however, the
writer had a thrilling experience dur
ing the capture of a whale on the reefs
of these coral isles. While the staunch
steamer Trinidad was nearing the
coast. Captain Frazer spied a school
of eight whales. The sun was at its re
NTH, and it's rays shimmered from the
whales backs. No such levfathans of
the sea had been seen in this neighbour
hood for many years and the fact was
signalled to the islands. BY code of
military flag signals this information
was soon known from zone end of the
group to the other.
Presently Joseph c. Fox and a crew
in the whaleboat Shamrock, put out
from the shore and started In pursuit.
At the same time a pilot was brought
in a skiff to the Trinidad and the writ
er, on informing the captain that he
represented the Spy. was allowed to
leave the ship in a small boat. The
Trinidad passed on with its joyous
passengers. and the whalers went in
the opposite direction. BY this time
the whales 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, and taking advantage
of a change in the direction of their
course. he so Unanswered the Sham
rock as to get directly in the path of
the nearest whale.
AS the monster approached, quite un-
conscious of his danger, for sperm
whale cannot see an object lying di-
rectly ahead. a skilfull 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 whalelets" mad. for
instantly his tail flew up straight in
the air and he began what is termed
"sounding'-that is. diving straight
down. The coil of rope ran out so rap
idly that 1t kept three men busily en-
gagged in drenching IL with water TO
prevent fire by friction. The whale
was a good diver. for he stayed under
half an hour before he came up to do
his "spouting."
While he was in the act of throwing
off the vaporized water. which was just
beginning to form a pretty siphon.
Mr.. Fox fired a bomb lance which ex-
ploded in the whales side. This en-
ragged 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 harpoon, rode
several miles before II occurred to him
to get off and suffer himself TO be res
cued by his companions, who in the
meantime had been picked up by the
larger boat. The hero of the hour was
the man who rode on the whales back
Isaac Nadele, a native of Ohio. who
had served in the French army during
the Franco-Prussian war He has had
many exciting adventures. but he vol
unfairly told the Spy representative
that IL was the first time he was ever
really frightened.
Then the attack began again. There
were many thrusts of the harpoon,
while the bomb lance was fired occa-
sionally to vary the monotony.
The big fish" did not sound" any
more, but lay most of the time on the
surface of the water rolling and beat
ing the sea with its fins and tail. After
a struggle of two hours and half the
whale succumbed. and another hall
hour sufficed to strap up the carcass
and take ii in tow.
1t was Is miles from land. The whale
was so feet long. and IL is estimated
that the blubber will yield so barrels OF
oil. The catch is said to be worth over
goo, or something like $1,000.
The writer had a steak cut from the
whales side, and the French chef al
the Princess hotel toasted IL to a beau
tiful brown. 1t lacked that toothsomt
flavor often discovered in the steaks OF
Worcester boarding houses. Enough
was as good as a feast" The waiter
was told to take IL away.