The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-22

CAPT. JOSH GETS A WHALE.
Saw 1t First, Launched the First
Boat, and Got the First Iron in.

Boat, and Got the First Iron in.
From the New York Sun
Amagansett, L. l., March 15.-There will
be no sleep in this village tonight. Fires
are burning under the try kettles on the
beach, and the entire population, covered
with blubber grease and blood, are cut
ting up and trying out the sixty-foot
whale which was captured off this place
to-day. Like a great mound of black rub
Der, the carcass lies on the beach, where
it was lowed after the chase, and the
natives are hacking and digging away at
the blubber and carting it off to the trying
kettles.
When Capt Josh Edwards arose this
morning he scented a whale in the air.
"Whale weather sartin," he said.
Singing his glasses over his shoulder
he climbed the ladder leading to the crows
nest
Smells like a whale to windward," and
he leveled his glasses in that direction.
Two jets of water a mile west of the
boat house caught his sight. Another
glass glance and Capt. Josh almost fell
out of his perch.
Thar she blows! Thar she blows!' he
shouted as he hustled down the ladder.
Up through the streets of the village he
cantered like a race horse.
Church bells were set ringing, women
entire populat ton of the village headed he'll
ter SHELTER for the boat house on the
beach. Stores and shops were deserted,
and there was great scramble to launch
the first boat. Capt. Josh led the van.
Close at his heels followed his brother,
Capt. Gabe Edwards. Then came Capt
Joshs two sons Bert and DaVe-as good
whalers as ever pulled an oar-who, with
Charles milford and Daniel Lopez, made
up the first boats crew.
tremendous surf was running. Capt.
Josh ran his boat to the waters edge.
but there was considerable hesitancy
| about Drawing the boisterous sea. Hardy
fellows, used to the tumbling surf, held
back. In vain capt. Josh ragged up and
down the beach. No one was willing to
| help his sturdy crew put off.
Thar she blows" screamed a future
| whaler in knickerbockers, and the whale
| came to the surface not more than half
| a mile from the excited crowd on the
beach, Everybody hereabouts men and
women, is a born whaler "A whale with
in half mile of the shore was too much
for them, and with wild shout a dozen
| men seized Capt. Josh's boat, and in an
| instant ii was pitching about in the heaV-
| ing surf, threatening every minute to turn
| upside down. But the crew got their boat
| through the breakers and were soon off
| in pursuit of the whale. Then a second
I
| breakers in safety and the hunt was on.
The race was to the westward. Capt
| Josh's boat was the first to get within
| striking distance.
Easy now" said Capt. Josh, who
handled the tiller. Pull ahead"
The boat got within a few feet of the
| whale but before the harpooner could
launch his weapon the whale scented dan
ger and dropped from sight like ton of
| iron.
"Durn itr' calculated Capt. John.
The men waited on their oars. Sud-
denly Capt. Josh yelled
Lay to, you bloomin' landlubbers; pull
| away!
Two miles further to the westward the
| whale had come to the surface and was
! cutting up capers as if in high glee at haV-
ing fooled an old Long Island whaler Ike
Cant. Josh. 1t was a long pull and hard
pull against a pitching sea, but again capt.
Josh put his boat alongside the big game
a second time. Stretched out in his wake
were the three other boats.
STEADY ALL" commanded Capt JOSH
| determined not TO be outwitted this time.
| Can't. Gabe, harpoon in hand, braced
| himself in the bow of the boat. In its sport
the whale turned slightly on one side
! "Give il to him." shouted Capt. Josh.
There was a swish through the air, and
! the harDoon was buried 10 its hilt IN the
onivering flesh At the same instant Capt.
| josh, from his station. shot the bomb
| lance.
| Back. you sab-sided, clam-eating land
mbbers," yelled Capt Josh. Back all, or
not a mothers son of you will ever reach
dry land again"
For an instant the great whale lay
motionless. Then his black bulk heaved
| upward i'm the air and he sprang bodily
| from the water A great splash ana loud
| report followed as the whale struck the
water again. Whirling around as II to get
| its bearings. Il struck out to the eastward
| and the fight was on ia earnest. For two
hours the big whale raced UP and down the
coast IN a vain effort to shake of it's pur-
| suers But Capt. Josh and his crew were
| Ia the hunt 20 stay The line smoked as
| Il rolled out Of the tub. and several times
the crew came near being capsiaed by the
whale suddenly sounding and then COM
| ing up again dangerously close to the boat
Weakened by the loss Of blood and It's
| exertlons, the whale finally stopped. Then
| the other boats. which had been chasing
around eager TO take hand In the ray
scrambled to be IN at tho death. They clus-
| tered dangerously near In the hope OF get
ting a hold with a harpoon or parting
shot with bomb lance.
\ "Durn your hkins," yelled Capt. sh.