The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-14
HIS WHISPERS WON.
Aquatic Whale Handicap Race and
How il Ended.
The Skipper Backed tho Winner.
Spurred Them With Revolvers.

when the British four mastcd bark Sar-
atoga, from Calcutta, row discharging Jute
and ginger root at the German American
stores, Brooklyn, was In north latitude
1922 and longitude 67. 04 west on Sattr-
day, Juno 20, her officers and crow were
spectators of q strange contest.
AS the bark lay becalmed school or
seven whales drew near and began TO
swim round and round the vessel Ihey
ranged in length from 20 70 80 feet They
came so near that the myriads OF barnacies
and other deep sea parasites infcstihg their
glossy, naked skins could be seen.
What at first was merely lcisurely
frolic of the marine monsters soon grew
into u trial of endurance and speed. APP
prentice Davidson, the captains s son, says
these rolling sports of the Atlantic kept
circling the bark for half "a day.
For several laps the shiny backs OF the
contestants flashing in tho sunlight formed
q confused and shifting field Captain
Davidson and Mr.. Tet, the mate, watched
the performance from the poop. The crew
swarmcd along the bulwarks, the off watch
tumbling out of their berths 10 witness the
aquatic event.
In few minutes Apprentice Davidson
was able to make out the positions of the
blowing racers. In the lead was female,
apparently "a feet long, and distinguishes
ble by her short measure, and snout by
snout with her a bottle nosed fellow, with
a massive head, stored with spcrmaceti.
Behind the two leaders hustled second
pair, the inside one being black and gray
whale. To port and stMboard swan two
more, one on each side of the quartet.
At the tail end of the field was young
whale with bristlcs on its upper lip. 1t
was an open race for several circuits OF the
bark The inside TANKER q Whale with
pronounced snout, crept up bit on the
rail, but the pace was too hot The out
side black jackets of the second pair slipped
through the field to the front.
The whale with tho mustache jumped
into the gap and squeezing between the
female and the bottle nose pressed hard the
leader.
The big black fellow with a bumped
back, which had been the outsider OF the
second pair, kept up an unfiagging pace.
The mate became impressed with its
staying abilities and offered To back the
humpback for any amount The mus
tached whale was tho captains choice.
Hopelcssly beaten, the bottle nose, the
COW and the black and gray whale dropped
back.
Angrily working its stubby dorsal fin,
the humpback shot around, with the cap
tain's whiskercd favorite scarcely length
behind. Captain Davidson and his crow
let loose their enthusiasm in cheers and
shouts of encouragement to the speedy fin
ners.
The skipper sent for a British bulldog
and box OF cartridges. Into the blubber
of his favorite the captain fired several
chunks Of lead. The young bull quickened
his gait.
Then the mate indulged in a little jock
eying too. He got his revolver and spurred
the wrinkled humpback, which responded
gamely Both leaders leaped half "a length
and spouted lofty jets of foam.
The canvas began suddenly to I'll, the
rigging to creak and the bark to heel to it.
AS the Saratoga broke the sea under her
bow his whiskers reused himself and
swept by his humpback, outfooting tho
mates choice by lcngth.-New York
World.