The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-17
WHALES IN A wATERsPOUT.
Remarkable scenes witnessed on
Cape HRtteras.


From the Philadelphia Press.
A school OF thirty large and healthy
whales, battling with half dozen water
spouts during a terrific hurricane, was
the unusual sight beheld by the crew Of
the British steamer Bendo. on July 3.
while passing Cape Hatteras.
1t IS seldom such a large number Of
whales is seen at one time. and It Is not
frequent that six huge. whiring, roaring
waterspouts sweep down upon a vessel, 50
that when half dozen columns OF water
are met by an army of sea monsters. the
event becomes OF considerable Importance
and interest to seafaring men.
Though the Bendo. which arrived at
Philadelphia on Monday last from Rio ia
Metro. Travelled over the route upon which
sea serpents are frequently seen, there Is
no claim made to having sighted any Of
these very common reptiles, and for this
reason. the crew asserts that the terrible
marine fray which they witnessed must
be accepted as truth
The water spouts caused by the cyclone
on the deep were OF immense proportions,
measuring about $50 feet IN diameter at
the base, and taperng up gradually like
huge cone, to point whore the dame
ter was less than a foot. Above this the
cone was formed an inverted shape, until
1t resembled a great funnel. There were
six of them, and they resembled beauti-
fully tinted columns, supporting the heavy
masses Of dark black clouds above, while
below rolled the Atlantic.
The Bendo struck the storm about noon
and had considerable difficulty In wealth
ering the hurricane. When the crew first
caught sight OF the waterspouts they were
moving down on the steamer at a rapid
rate and threatening to engulf her. They
were In a line and swept forward in such
regular order that they resembled squad
of soldiers moving under orders. When
the towering masses of water, which the
crew Of the Bendo already decided would
cause their death, had arrived within less
than a half mile OF the ship, they veered
off 10 the windward and then the truthful
sailor men beheld the strangest sight in
all their nautical experiences.
Capt. Doyle gave the Press reporter a
graphic description of the scene as he be-
held It. After telling of the storms APP
proach, he said:
1T was about O'Clock in the afternoon
when the waterspouts turned on our
windward, and We were watching the
beautiful sight when we saw a great
number of large whales among the col
umns Of water, spouting streams OF water
into the air. and flashing the water into
foam with their tails. There were at least
thirty In the school, and from their ac-
tons 1t was evident that they were en-
ragged at the waterspouts. for with dumb
fury they would blindly rush into the
whirling cones, as II 10 shatter them to
pieces. 1t was an awful sight.
"A huge whale would swim off a short
distance, and then with squirt which in
creased his momentum as he proceeded
would dash his many tons of weight
against a waterspout. Striking, as he
would, the base Of the cone, there would
be caused a arrangement of the spiral
movement; the column would totter, and
then in an instant the mass OF hundreds
of tons Of greenish water fell back into
the ocean with a mighty roar.
THE whales were then in glee and
would sport among the water as If pleased
with their victory.
But the cyclonic movement would re-
establish the connection between the
clouds and the sea, and a new water
spout take the place Of the one destroyed
The excitement became tremendous and
the whales rolled over one another in their
fierce battle with the forces Of nature.
Some would dive into the waterspouts and
be carried into the air few feet, only
to be hurled back into. the ocean, while
the cone broke over them Others would
almost arise erect in the ocean. A few
into the fight their tails would be thrown
into the air and the rotary movement of
the sea would spin them around like tops
They did not appear to tire OF their at
tempts to destroy the waterspouts, and
during the four hours In which we were
in sight OF the strange conflict, they were
constantly engaged.
THE prevailing tempest made the affair
one Of the weirdest things imaginable,
and never before in my life have I seen
anything like It,"